If possible, I like to see at least two episodes of a series before reviewing it; it’s always difficult to assess a show based solely on its pilot, which tends to have a bigger budget and must do a lot of work introducing the characters and setting up the premise before getting down to weekly business. And so I thought I’d follow up on week two of Person of Interest (which I lauded in EW’s Fall TV Preview) and Prime Suspect (which I chided as misguided in a What To Watch review), since their networks, CBS and NBC, had made available only one episode each at the time of my first reviews.
Quick summary: Person of Interest turned in a notably weaker second episode, while Prime Suspect surged in quality with an hour much stronger than its premiere.
This week’s Interest, which featured a script co-written by creator Jonathan Nolan, spent too much time with its visual gimmick of showing us people as spied-upon and recorded by the vast computer system devised by Michael Emerson’s Mr. Finch. While I liked the revelation that Finch’s “cover” is to work as a cubicle drone in the vast company he actually owns, the plot that propelled the week’s action was lacking in distinctiveness. Jim Caviezel’s strong man of few words John Reese was used like a bullet to rip through difficulties, but the relationship between Reese and Finch didn’t progress much. Instead, there were some fun action scenes, such as Reese chasing the young woman he wanted to protect through, among other places, a Laundromat, and while it was a good notion to have Reese get trounced by a bad guy for a change (proving he’s not a superman), the hour was rather slack. I’ll keep watching, for sure, but this was a disappointing hour overall.
By contrast, Prime Suspect episode two was a lot snappier than its pilot was. Maria Bello’s Jane Timoney evinced both more humor and more tamped-down frustration in her dealings with both her colleagues (led by a terrific performance from Brían F. O’Byrne as the lead detective in a missing-girl case). I detected more of the hard-boiled sarcasm running throughout the hour that I’d expect from a team of producers that includes Peter Berg and, especially, John McNamara (Profit, Eyes, The Fugitive).
Suspect took a premise that could have been ripped from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — a missing tot may be in the hands of a man previously convicted of child abuse, who swears he’s reformed and innocent — and assiduously avoided the weepy grandstanding that L&O:SVU traffics in. The hour was exciting, poignant, and, yes, funny. I’m even developing a very slight fondness for that hat Timoney waves around like a magic wand whenever it’s not clamped down to her eyebrows.
Did you watch either or both of these shows? Did you find any difference in quality in their second episodes, up or down?
Twitter: @kentucker
I found Person of Interest to be slower paced this week, however I still found it a good episode, It helped lay the ground work for Finch’s character and his attitude. The closing shot of Finch’s friend who had died helped lay that nugget of why the machine might now look at the irrelevant info now. I thought it was intriguing. Yes the shots of people being watched was a bit overused, but that is easily corrected. The script was well done & they are setting the story up nicely.
I thought that was a bust of Finch. Was it a bust of his friend? That wasn’t clear, the bust didn’t look like his friend.
Really? I thought it was really clear that it was the friend that Finch was talking to in the flashbacks throughout the episode. The bust didn’t look anything like Finch.
Caviezel’s John Finch is absolutely the baddest dude on TV since “24″‘s Jack Bauer…BTW,I wanna share a good news to you.My best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire man who is a businessman!they met via richfriends.cc ..it is the largest and best club for rich people and their admirers to chat online. …You do not have to be rich or famous. ,but you can meet one , It’s worthy a try,Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends!
No that was definitely a bust of the Brett Cullen character although I can’t remembe his character’s name. I wonder if he was murdered and that’s why Finch changed his ideas about what was revelant and irrelevant about his spying.
And xiangyu–Caviezel’s character is John REESE–Michael Emerson is Finch. And you are a pox on websites because you are nothing but a sexual panderer and scammer.
Anyone notice that the bust had a date of 2000 as his death date but the flashbacks occurred later? Or did I misread the bust? If not, does that mean the partner is not really dead?
At first I thought it was a bust of Finch, but it did not look anything like him. Then I realized it was a bust of the Brett Cullen character. The date of death was 2010 (not 2000, Kathi) so that was probably the reason Finch changes his mind about the “irrelevant” data.
I was very skeptical of person of interest, I thought it was going to be another bland G-rated “save the person without hurting anyone”. This show is actually pretty good, the *hero* actually shoots / kills people which makes it more gritty. The tech like the wire taps is completely ridiculous (didn’t know there was an called “wire tap” lol) but I’ll be tuning in. I like the vigilante concept.
I really enjoyed both episodes of Person of Interest. I didn’t think there were pacing issues at all. Of course it’s going to be slow going for Finch and Reese’s relationship development- the series has the whole season to work it out!
Sorry, but i’m dumping it – one-trick pony!
Haven’t watched Person of Interest yet. It just… yeah it hasn’t grabbed me. Prime Suspect on the other hand. I actually looked forward to coming home and catching the show. There is more aggression and tension in the show. Bello does a great job conveying someone trying to help the person she loves spend time with his son, and at the same time not sure she wants to be part of that family.
Re Person of Interest: I thought it was very gripping, and I liked the bit of backstory/flashback about Finch, and the reveal he was a cubicle in his own company. I would have placed it on same good level as the pilot. I do agree that Prime Suspect was better than the pilot (which we liked); good performances by the guest stars.
In my experience, many dramas have a lackluster second episode. Seriously — go back and check. It’s like they burn off that weakest script early on, if they can. Glad to know Prime Suspect didn’t fall into that trap, though!
I like both shows, although “Prime Suspect” could lose the boyfriend and would still be ok…he is the weakest part of the show, I really hope they give both shows a chance to find the audience they deserve.
I’m actually pro with the boyfriend. Most of the time, strong women on TV are Forever Single or moving from one unsuccessful date to another. It’s refreshing to see in PS that a female character can bust heads at the day job and have a Hot Boyfriend to go home to.
The point of the boyfriend is to show she has a life outside of her job. It’s what seperates the show from other procedurals, IMO.
I still hate the hat – it seems all wrong for this charector. It says LOOK AT ME, I’m quirky, cool, stylish, different,,.when I think this person would rather be noticed for her skills.
UGH! I hate the hat too! She wants to be taken seriously, but she wears this stupid poseur hat…it doesn’t make any sense.
The hat reminds me of the stupid sunglasses on CSI Miami. Can’t even think of the main characters name anymore-but every time he deliver shis corniest line he puts his sunglasses on. It’s horribl;e!
Will everybody just get over the hat! Sheesh–the Neil Caffrey character on “White Collar” wears a fedora and nobody complains about it! And none of you seem to be watching “Castle” either or you would realize that Detective Beckett doesn’t dress blandly either (she’s fond of leather).
Obviously you’re all too young to remember ‘Kojak;” he not only wore a similar hat to Jane’s, he sucked on a lollipop. And then there’s Columbo’s raincoat. Many detectives use to have satorial quirks; they’ve just gotten bland over the seasons.
What’s already starting to bug me on PoI is Finch’s limp and 90-yard stare; probably because we saw him out and about so much in the 2nd episode.
That hat alone (which they keep showing in every promo spot) will make me never want o watch the show.
I liked Person of Interest’s second episode, but I agree the computer shots of people should be cut back. I most enjoy the two lead performances. Emerson and Caviezel are both very intense and I am enjoying their performances so far.
I’m sure it’s just a visual ‘device’ for he writers, but the ‘spy cameras’ transitions also highlighted the change in years for he flashbacks to 2000 (2002?) & 2007. The bust at the end that showed 2010 was a good visual clue tie in to the Finche character. This basically served as a backstory episode for Finche, so I’ll give it a pass as a good change of pace from the opener. Thumbs up from me.
I love Prime Suspect. Maria Bello is riveting. Think the show and cast are great.
Agree. The acting on Prime Suspect is top notch. I have seen Brian O’Byrne on Broadway and he is fantasitc. Can’t think of his name but the Spanish actor from “Oz” is really good too. I did not see the premiere but thought this episode was well done. Glad they opted out of a clean, happy ending.
uh, i think you mean kirk acevedo, who isn’t actually ‘spanish’ (which would mean he is from spain), but was born in brooklyn and is of puerto rican descent. and yes, he’s a great actor who i have most recently enjoyed in ‘fringe’.
He was super in The Brotherhood. Another failed excellent series.
I definitely agree that Person of Interest lost a step while Prime Suspect took a big one forward. Although, unlike you Ken, I was very impressed by the potential shown in the Prime Suspect pilot. I just hope the ratings pick up from last week. I’d really like to see this show make it.
Maybe Person of Interest lost a step because Finch limps. It was still great though.
Really like Person of Interest and hope it will be around a long time! Jim Caviezel is a fabulous actor and has brought us a very different new character than what TV usually has to offer. Like that they are dropping bits about the back story for Finch. Looking forward to more of that and more back story for Reese should be interesting in future episodes too. It’s a very different show & I hope the powers that be let it grow!
I hated the first Prime Suspect and didn’t even make it to the end so I didn’t watch the second one. I wanted to love it because I love Aidan Quinn and I like Maria Bello. I also liked the original British PS shows that I’ve seen but something just turned me off during the first episode. Maybe I’ll give it another go next week to see if they can win me.
Prime Suspect had to improve in the 2nd episode–the first was ridiculously sexist. Really, the male detectives all acted as if they had never seen a female detective before (and I didn’t buy the whole ‘she got the job because she had sex with her boss’ rationalization ). They all acted like drunken pigs with 1950s attitutdes about women. And Aidan Quinn’s commander was a disgrace for not standing up. As another reviewer pointed out, some NYC detectives may still really think that way but since they are all required to go through departmental sensitivity training they would be supremely stupid to be so publicly and blatantly obvious even in their own precinct. That’s the kind of piss and moan that reserved for cop bars. Talk about a boys club!
That first epiosde really did make it look like the men had never worked with a woman in their entire careers. Yes folks, Jane Timoney is the ONLY woman on the entire New York police force.
Sexism two decades old. Original was too. Should have made this a period piece. Not going back.
It was rumored she got the job by sleeping with her boss instead of her actual skills as a detective. That is why they treated her that way (not simply because she was a woman).
I liked the second episode of Person of Interest. Perfect blend of action, drama, and mystery. The mystery being what happened to Finch that’s crippled him and what about the friend/business partner?
I agree, the second episode worked just fine for me too. Jim Caviezel kicking butt and taking names (but not being superhuman, thankfully), Michael Emerson being mysterious and shifty, Finch’s background getting revealed… what more do you want?? I really don’t know what Tucker is complaining about.
I liked the show. I want to learn more about Finch. Why he limps, why his intense interest in those “people”, etc. I will keep watching (oh, that sounds like I am a watcher),,, LOL
I am really digging Person of Interest. But, given my love for Emerson and Caviezel, it could probably be crap and I’d still love it. I hope CBS gives it a full season. I know they seem to have higher expectations when it comes to ratings than oher networks. I do agree that the hidden camera shots need to be dialed back just a tad. Maybe just open and close with them or something. We don’t need them at multiple points throughout the episiode. We get it. The machine sees all.
Also, Finch’s limp is distracting to me. I kind of wish they had not added that in.
I really like the show and it already has a season pass on the DVR. However, the extreme hotness that is Caviezel and his bada$$ery is enough to keep me tuning in.
I have Prime Suspect recorded but have not watched it yet. I know it did not do so well in the ratings last week so I don’t really want to get involved if it’s just going to get canceled. I’ll wait and see on that one. And, yeah, just based on the promos, the hat needs to go.
Caviezel’s John Finch is absolutely the baddest dude on TV since “24″‘s Jack Bauer…
Sorry, make that John Reese…
I agree. Love Caviezel’s character. It’s what keeps me watching. I loved when he went into the bar and those two stoogies threw him out, into the garbage. Then as cool as ever went back in and gave them all a big beatdown.
it was the truck scene that did it for me.
caviezal is a bad a$$
The elevator scene was cool too.
I haven’t watched Prime Suspect. But I do watch Person of Interest. I like it and think it has potential. Besides, this week we had Ben Linus and Goodwin together again!
I’m with you; I was getting misty eyed and nostalgic, wondering if Ana Lucia or Juliet would show up…
Prime Suspects and Person of interest are 2 very different show. PS is bit more realistic and gritty and POI premise is a bit unrealistic, but I personally prefer Person of Interest over prime suspects.