The "Person of Interest" episode, "Triggerman," was a perfect example of each of the team members' strengths. Reese (Jim Caviezel) is the braun, Finch (Michael Emerson) is the brains, Fusco (Kevin Chapman) is the guy who can keep tabs on the bad guys because he looks like one of them, and by-the-book Carter (Taraji P. Henson) sets the team on a straight path. Even Elias (Enrico Colantoni) seems to join the team as the resident bad guy with power over other bad guys. Each of those skills were on display in this episode, although slightly different from normal. Carter's role was temporarily reversed, and Reese and Finch disagreed on whom to focus attention.
Reese still knows how to flirt
This can't go unmentioned. The moment lasted all of two seconds, but Reese actually flirted with a woman, Annie (Liza J. Bennett), who is connected to the next person of interest, Riley (Jonathan Tucker). She actually flirted back. He's still got the goods!
Reese and Finch disagree
Reese decides to protect Riley, who is a victim of the Irish mob. The problem is that Riley is also the Irish mob's "enforcer." The reason Riley is targeted is because his girlfriend is Annie, whose husband was taken out by the mob (namely, Riley, but she doesn't know that). The boss, Massey (Kevin Conway), gives Riley the mission of killing Annie, but Riley protects her instead. Finch tries to change Reese's focus to protecting Annie, but Reese decides it's best to protect them both, since he shares the same goal of protecting Annie with Riley.
Finch: Mr. Badass #2
Reese's tool of bad-assery is his fists, but Finch also has an incredible tool of bad-assery: trigonometry. He is amazingly able to find Riley and Annie by using trigonometry to figure the point of origin of a photo Annie took. It is an especially awesome moment for math geeks. You make us proud, Mr. Finch. You make us proud.
Carter throws out the book (temporarily)
Carter does Reese a solid by throwing her fellow cops off Riley's trail. This marks the first time Carter has committed a crime in order to save a bad guy, based solely on Reese's promise that she is doing the right thing. It takes a bit of soul searching, but she comes through for Reese, and everything turns out the way it should because of it.
Finch calls on Elias
Elias finally meets "the boss" of Reese's operation: Finch. When mobsters are coming after Riley and Annie from all sides after a bounty is called on their heads, Finch asks Elias for help. Elias's payment for his help? A game of chess with the other master of the chess game of life, Finch.
Reese sees door #1 of his possible future
One of Reese's secret reasons for wanting to protect Riley is that he sees a little of himself in Riley. Reese also killed people and escaped that life. He just didn't know he was sometimes killing innocent people. Riley is also trying to escape that life while protecting an innocent woman.
Unfortunately, being surrounded by so much violence and death is bound to end in disaster. Riley stays behind to fight off a large group of men while Reese takes Annie to safety, and is shot and killed in the process. Reese needs to be more careful if he wants to avoid the same fate.
Finch checks himself
Before Finch realizes that Reese is beginning to sympathize with Riley, he calls Riley "bad code." That was a term Root used to describe people in general. He later realizes what a mistake he made when Reese asks him what he meant by that. Finch corrects himself, stating that the term does not apply to people.
More from this contributor:
'Person of Interest' Episode 'Masquerade' Recap: John Reese as Babysitter
'Person of Interest' episode 'Bad Code' recap: Reese follows Finch's breadcrumbs
'Person of Interest' Season 2 premiere recap, review: Human 'code' is flawed
