Finch recruits Fusco to stick close to the latest POI, a professional "wingman," but learning how to approach women soon becomes the least of his worries. Meanwhile, Reese must find a way to play by the rules at his new day job as the Machine sends Finch and Root on a mysterious errand.
"Wingman" is just a really funny episode of Person of Interest largely because it enjoys - perhaps a bit too much - putting the regular characters in uncharacteristic positions. So, Fusco gets to bond with the latest person of interest (a professional wingman); Harold gets to be threatening while tagging along on a mission with Root; and John gets to be the hard-working by-the-books (mostly) police detective. It's a fun shake-up to the typical formula for the series. And yet, a lot of it did feel emotionally empty. The main plot didn't really excite or pull me in. I expected John's cases to intersect with what was happening with Fusco at the beginning because I didn't think the show would sideline John from the action that much. Then, Harold and Root's mission to get a missile and a pile of cash seems like the show setting things up for the future - and whose payoff isn't immediately felt in the present.Fusco gets to act as the John stand-in for the week. He even gets to mention the "concerned third party" line as well as utilizing a neat trick to get out of a tricky situation - using his cufflinks to pick the lock on his handcuffs. The best part about this episode is seeing Fusco reacting to the situation he continually finds himself. However, it does seem like the hour enjoys mocking his views about life and dating a bit too much - at least until the very end where he is shown being competent and on a date with a beautiful woman. The immediate threat to the wingman should have become apparent much sooner. For a long stretch, it was largely just the "Fusco learns how to date but can't really because he's on the lookout for danger" show. And then, the explanation for why this guy's number came up never felt earned. We met the threat early in the episode and saw that it raveled him a bit. And yet, the connection wasn't earned. It was largely just people the show's core characters had to deal with to serve as plot for an episode. That ultimately just isn't that satisfying.
Meanwhile, John is dealing with the new captain at the precinct and learning to follow the rules. Well, he just solves a handful of crimes. The new boss is just willing to look the other way as long as the evidence to lock the criminals up is solid. That doesn't immediately present her as that interesting or strong of a character. Her only really defining trait is that she is trying to quit smoking. That one exterior trait does not make a well utilized character. The best part of this story was seeing John work as a regular detective interrogating a handful of crooks and getting one to turn on the other. It was a heightened version of a scene we've seen a dozen times on dozens of crime procedurals. But the show is acutely aware of that.
Lastly, Harold is forced into embracing a new identity under the guise that the Machine has a big plan for him. He's committed to the mission again but he's still not completely trusting of the Machine's motives after the events at the end of last season. Because of Lost, we know that Michael Emerson can be very intimidating. But it's so wonderful watching Harold put on that persona for a brief second or two because it's what he feels the situation lends itself to. And yet, the climax of the plot hinges on Harold being unable to go through with the deal to trade a missile for cash because of his morals. That's a little off. But hey, now the team has a missile as well as money to fund their operation again.
Some more thoughts:
- "Wingman" was written by Amanda Segel and directed by Fred Toye.
- Money has never been a prime focus for the show because Harold has always had a ton of it. Because they had to embrace new identities, the show could have emphasized the lack of funds more. But it doesn't really make that much of a difference at all. It's just a logistical concern they have to deal with and then quickly move past.
- Despite everyone else getting to play a different role this week, Shaw remains the same largely because her cover allows her to spend all day tailing Fusco and Andre.
- That opening sequence with John and Fusco running after a criminal and John just shooting him eventually was just way too over-the-time. But hey, a tourist bus clapped for him!
