A masterpiece. The first time you realise what is happening just leaves you in shellshock, and then the end just cements it. I love how they manage to inject humour into it with the simplified simulation and it so perfectly captures the characters. What strikes me so hard is the way that it in all this drama and action, they manage to make you feel for The Machine and understand it more. The flashback lessons to the chess game, the way that so much of how The Machine works is influenced by the way Harold taught it (and what kind of person he is) vs Samaritan and it's teachers. It has such humanity in it - even down to the solution for Sameen was empathy, something she struggles with, not action. That she has learnt so much and that it leads perfectly into her decision at the end. Genius, and your reaction was perfect and the same as all of us when it first aired.
I love how the machine is barely seen but we are right there with it powerless to save Shaw in those moments scrambling for any way to make the situation turn out better than we fear.
You're completely right about plot armour. Shows where all the main characters always survive lessens the feelings of dread or threat. You know they're indestructible so nothing that happens is truly dangerous. I love the chess conversation in this episode. "The lesson is that anyone who looks on the world as if it was a game of chess deserves to lose". This is one of many Person of Interest episodes where using the pause button (or plenty of rewatches) adds so much more to your enjoyment. All the data on the screen can be fascinating (the tv show The Good Place does something similar).
Fun fact though, Reese was supposed to actually die in this ep and they changed it because Sarah got pregnant so Jim remained on the show to not have them lose 2 main characters at once.
It's probably not the only one, because the machine couldn't have actually analysed ALL possibilites, that's what the first flash-back is about. Sometimes you can't know it all, so you have to make a choice (obviously she probably analysed the beginning of a fckton of simulations to make that choice, or she looked at the main variables, but in the end she didn't test all the simulations. Had she done that it might've ended in them surviving all, and it could've possibly involved splitting). But what you're saying is absolutely true. Never split, it's always a bad strategy, especially when outnumbered.
@@math9172 "but in the end she didn't test all the simulations. Had she done that it might've ended in them surviving all" No, had she done that, nobody would have survived. It would have taken maybe even years to calculate everything, and she only had 13.5 seconds. So she only tested a few and choose the best outcome among them.
@@z3r0ut78 That was obviously a purely theorical proposition notwithstanding the time restrictiction. -___- I was not saying that The Machine made a bad choice or that she didn't do as she should've or that she was able to test all simulations in the given time but didn't. I was just pointing out through a thought experiment that splitting could've possibly be one of the winning strategies. Also OP was implying the one strategy that ended up being chosen was the only one to have a favorable outcome. This is false, because she didn't (and *couldn't* , because of time constraints) actually check ALL the different strategies.
This episode had me on the edge throughout, and as my favorite character is Shaw it ended with such a wrenching moment. Carter, then Shaw, were my characters and each time I had to struggle to come back to the show to see what'd be next. Harold's teachings on life and chess... sigh. It was such a great episode. Also, it gave life and heartbreak to the growing LGBTQ community support for the characters of Root and Shaw together. I won't spoil but Martine is now Official Enemy of Root, as you could likely imagine. Next episode is Control-Alt-Delete and these two together are just amazing, amazing 1-2 punch of TV.
Shaw's actress was pregnant, so they had to write her off the show, unfortunately. They gave her an amazing send-off though, didn't they? This episode is considered one of the best, if not THE best of the whole series.
It's a shame, cause shaw was a badass in season 3 and I would have liked to have seem more of her and root. This felt very definitive despite leaving it open ended.
@@catewright1575 Sarah Shahi needed for Shaw to be written out as they couldn't hide her pregnancy bump under that pea-coat any more. I got so upset first time I watched this episode.
That's not the reason. The reason is that each one of the billions of possible scenarios basically change each and every possible variable in the equation. Meaning there is a simulation where they just stay inside the room, another one where they all split, another where they dance in front of Samaritan agents, and even one where samaritan agents dance with them too. (you can make an analogy with the multiverse shit in fiction). That's why this simulation has this random element (that doesn't actually end up happening IRL), because it *technically* could happen and this is a simulation. There is no actual reason behind the kiss, it's entirely random, that's why it's funny, because of the inherent randomness of the principle of the simulations themselves.
![American reacts to Posts That Prove American's Think That Only They Exist [part 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KZ_wRzra8yo/mqdefault.jpg)
A masterpiece. The first time you realise what is happening just leaves you in shellshock, and then the end just cements it. I love how they manage to inject humour into it with the simplified simulation and it so perfectly captures the characters. What strikes me so hard is the way that it in all this drama and action, they manage to make you feel for The Machine and understand it more. The flashback lessons to the chess game, the way that so much of how The Machine works is influenced by the way Harold taught it (and what kind of person he is) vs Samaritan and it's teachers. It has such humanity in it - even down to the solution for Sameen was empathy, something she struggles with, not action. That she has learnt so much and that it leads perfectly into her decision at the end. Genius, and your reaction was perfect and the same as all of us when it first aired.
I love how the machine is barely seen but we are right there with it powerless to save Shaw in those moments scrambling for any way to make the situation turn out better than we fear.
Root and shaw are my favorite characters so in one fell swoop, that slow yet beautifully heartbreaking end shattered me completely!
I couldn't wait for you to get to this episode. It is one of my favourites its just so good.
You're completely right about plot armour. Shows where all the main characters always survive lessens the feelings of dread or threat. You know they're indestructible so nothing that happens is truly dangerous.
I love the chess conversation in this episode. "The lesson is that anyone who looks on the world as if it was a game of chess deserves to lose".
This is one of many Person of Interest episodes where using the pause button (or plenty of rewatches) adds so much more to your enjoyment. All the data on the screen can be fascinating (the tv show The Good Place does something similar).
Fun fact though, Reese was supposed to actually die in this ep and they changed it because Sarah got pregnant so Jim remained on the show to not have them lose 2 main characters at once.
@@SelineSnape Oh thank god for all those sperms.
Love how this episode rams home the cliche of never splitting up as the only simulation they had a fighting chance is when they were all together.
It's probably not the only one, because the machine couldn't have actually analysed ALL possibilites, that's what the first flash-back is about.
Sometimes you can't know it all, so you have to make a choice (obviously she probably analysed the beginning of a fckton of simulations to make that choice, or she looked at the main variables, but in the end she didn't test all the simulations. Had she done that it might've ended in them surviving all, and it could've possibly involved splitting).
But what you're saying is absolutely true. Never split, it's always a bad strategy, especially when outnumbered.
@@math9172 "but in the end she didn't test all the simulations. Had she done that it might've ended in them surviving all"
No, had she done that, nobody would have survived. It would have taken maybe even years to calculate everything, and she only had 13.5 seconds. So she only tested a few and choose the best outcome among them.
@@z3r0ut78 That was obviously a purely theorical proposition notwithstanding the time restrictiction.
-___-
I was not saying that The Machine made a bad choice or that she didn't do as she should've or that she was able to test all simulations in the given time but didn't. I was just pointing out through a thought experiment that splitting could've possibly be one of the winning strategies.
Also OP was implying the one strategy that ended up being chosen was the only one to have a favorable outcome. This is false, because she didn't (and *couldn't* , because of time constraints) actually check ALL the different strategies.
Can we "Root" for a love-story between a religious fanatic and a sociopath? I certainly can
I cry every. time.
One of the best episodes in the entire series, I’ve been looking forward to this one
I've been telling you since the first episode... it gets better every single episode
This is my fav episode from the entire show. I think about it so much lol
This episode had me on the edge throughout, and as my favorite character is Shaw it ended with such a wrenching moment. Carter, then Shaw, were my characters and each time I had to struggle to come back to the show to see what'd be next. Harold's teachings on life and chess... sigh. It was such a great episode. Also, it gave life and heartbreak to the growing LGBTQ community support for the characters of Root and Shaw together. I won't spoil but Martine is now Official Enemy of Root, as you could likely imagine. Next episode is Control-Alt-Delete and these two together are just amazing, amazing 1-2 punch of TV.
@GreyWolf TV about to learn why people like Person of Interest in one episode.
Edit: It always hits like a ton of bricks.
This show just keeps getting better.
You _did_ miss the first time at the end of the first simulation "resetting to real time"
shaw was the queen who sacrificed herself
Shaw's actress was pregnant, so they had to write her off the show, unfortunately. They gave her an amazing send-off though, didn't they? This episode is considered one of the best, if not THE best of the whole series.
It's a shame, cause shaw was a badass in season 3 and I would have liked to have seem more of her and root.
This felt very definitive despite leaving it open ended.
Welcome to one of the best episodes of television ever made.
This episode would probably be my 2nd favourite of the series, just brilliant.
Great reaction. I always love the Machine talk scene
4:56 Your reaction to that was incredible 👌.
Another great video and you should check out Supernatural and Warehouse 13
All I can say about this episode is that looks can be deceiving...or not sometimes.
Did you feel like you were in a time loop trying to get this reaction live? 🙄 This is my fave episode.
It is one of the most fun episodes.. well until i bawl my eyes out
@@catewright1575 Sarah Shahi needed for Shaw to be written out as they couldn't hide her pregnancy bump under that pea-coat any more. I got so upset first time I watched this episode.
@@wavydavy7489 oh i know. But knowing that doesn't stop me from crying every time i watch this scene...
I laughed so hard when Fusco kissed Root.... heck why not we are all gonna die
That's not the reason.
The reason is that each one of the billions of possible scenarios basically change each and every possible variable in the equation.
Meaning there is a simulation where they just stay inside the room, another one where they all split, another where they dance in front of Samaritan agents, and even one where samaritan agents dance with them too. (you can make an analogy with the multiverse shit in fiction).
That's why this simulation has this random element (that doesn't actually end up happening IRL), because it *technically* could happen and this is a simulation.
There is no actual reason behind the kiss, it's entirely random, that's why it's funny, because of the inherent randomness of the principle of the simulations themselves.
Don't mind me just waiting for the next Walking Dead reaction
relax shaw isnt really dead