Continuing with last week’s post, television 2011 has brought us a large lineup of new programs hoping to find a permanent home on the networks. After giving almost all of the new shows a try, I’ve picked a few that have definitely peaked my interest and earned a spot on the DVR.
For those of you with just enough time for a few programs a week, this is for you!
We’ve already discussed why Revenge is Sweet, so today we’re going to talk about what happens when someone’s number is up.
Post 9/11, the U. S. Government hires Mr. Fitch (Michael Emerson,Lost) to build a computer with the programming capabilities to predict terrorist activity. Fitch’s machine produces numbers, specifically social security numbers, indicating who the country should add to the watch list. Of course, not every number that it generates is indicative of terrorist activity and those are thrown out.
Fitch decides to save the portion of his computer the government deems irrelevant, and he discovers that he can find individuals who may or may not be involved in a crime tomorrow, the next day, or a year from now.
Realizing he doesn’t have the required resources to follow each lead on his own, Mr. Fitch seeks out former CIA agent, John Reese (Jim Caviezel from major motion pictures including The Passion of the Christ). Reese is the perfect partner for Fitch; he’s presumed dead by the U.S. government, and he possesses the highest level of training and skills the U.S. military has to offer. Better yet, his beloved was murdered years before and Reese has nothing to lose.
Person of Interest begins when hoodlums on a subway train attempt to mug Reese. Notice we said attempt….Reese, dirty and resembling a bum, fights back and incapacitates each and every one in the gang. The police take Reese in for questioning, where he meets Detective Carter (Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Det. Carter isn’t buying Reese’s story, but he is bailed out by a mysterious benefactor (Fitch) before she has the chance to question him further.
Reese cleans up and Fitch pitches his idea to him – “the machine” generates a social security number, and Reese will follow the individual gathering Intel to determine whether or not the individual is going to be the victim of a crime, and when, or whether or not the individual is going to be the perpetrator of a crime, and try to prevent it. Mr. Fitch will provide Reese the necessary funds for each investigation; money is no object.
The first social security number Reese receives belongs to a young and beautiful district attorney. Reese follows her with the intentions of protecting her from whatever danger is ahead, but he soon discovers that she, along with others on the NYPD, is dirty. Reese uses this opportunity to blackmail and pocket one of the dirty cops, Detective Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman, Rescue Me), which really comes in handy considering Det. Carter refuses to forget about the subway vigilante.
The phrase, “act first, ask questions later,” describes Reese perfectly. He’s not afraid to punch, kick, or even shoot anyone he considers dangerous and a threat to the individuals he is tasked with protecting. We’ve likened Reese to Michael Westen (Burn Notice) in our house, except Reese has even less to live for than our favorite burned spy, making him one dangerous dude.
And, what about Fitch’s past? Person of Interest provides flashbacks giving the audience tiny pieces to the puzzle. We know that Fitch is the brains behind the computer; we know that the “face” of Fitch’s organization, his partner Ingram (Brett Cullen, The Gates), has been murdered; we know that Fitch now suffers ailments from a previous injury, and that he too is presumed dead.
What happened? Is it possible that the government tried to cover up the fact that it asked Fitch to build this technology?
Do you watch Person of Interest? What do you think? Do you think the government has a “super computer” they use to track potential threats? How long before Det. Carter learns the truth, and will she join the team or arrest Reese? I’d love to hear from you!
Remember – the final season of Chuck premieres this Friday night on NBC…..What do the writers have in store for fellow Nerd Herd and Buy More fans? Will Morgan survive the Intersect? Will Sarah and Chuck, Ellie and Awesome, and Casey save the world and live happily ever after? What antics does JeffSter have up their sleeves this season?
Let me know in the comments section if you’re a Chuck fan too and what you hope to see as the series comes to an end!
Tiffany A White's Ooo Factor 