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'Person of Interest' episode ‘Proteus’ becomes a murder mystery with a horror twist [recap]

By Kristen Dyrr | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Mar 8, 2013 9:37 AM PST

"Proteus" -- Reese (Jim Caviezel, left)
joins forces with an FBI agent (Luke
MacFarlane, right) to track track a killer
on PERSON OF INTEREST, Thursday,
March 7 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on
the CBS Television Network.
Photo: Giovanni Rufino/CBS ©2013
CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

"Person of Interest" changed things up again with the episode "Proteus." It's probably the most unusual episode to date and is completely different from anything fans have seen from the series. The episode is not only packed with the usual intrigue, but also with a high level of suspense. A couple of moments are downright scary. Even if you know who the killer is from the moment he shows his face, as it is fairly obvious, there are so many other surprises to keep viewers glued to the TV.

Glitches in the Machine

The episode starts out somewhat ominously, as the Machine has been completely quiet for three days, and the weather is harsh. Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Finch (Michael Emerson) take in a movie with Bear while they wait for a number, when lo and behold, the Machine calls them up as they stroll down the street after the film.

The Machine has given them six different numbers for people all across the country. All of them are dead. They initially believe it's another glitch, but something strange is going on. The latest POI, Jack Rollins, has a New York connection, so they check him out first. Finch heads for Rollins's home, while Reese takes a trip to Owen Island to check out Rollins's rental property.

Glitches in the brain

Finch and Carter (Taraji P. Henson) work together to find that the Machine has put the gang on the trail of a serial killer who steals the identities of the people he kills. The killer's latest victim was at his vacation home on the island. The storm prevents Finch from getting word out to Reese, so he flies to Owen Island on his own plane in order to help out.

Meanwhile, Reese has been posing as a U.S. Marshal in order to team up with FBI Agent Fahey (Luke MacFarlane) who is also on the case. Because the killer can disguise himself so easily, he could be almost anyone on the island. His only problem is that he is stuck there. Finch rigs up a lie detector to see if he can figure out who is lying, while Reese and Agent Fahey question everyone.

The confrontation

The best part of the episode is when Finch's lie detector reveals the Agent Fahey may be the serial killer. The chapter suddenly becomes a combination of horror and murder mystery, as the killer cuts the power and kills the deputy sheriff (Becky Ann Baker). As Finch searches for proof that Agent Fahey is actually the killer, Fahey steps up behind Finch and puts a gun to his head. He even steals poor Finch's glasses and begins imitating him. How rude! Finch refuses to fly the psycho killer off the island, so he decides to kill Finch and find another way off.

Every moment between Finch and Fake Fahey is delicious. The scene is so creepy, you can feel your skin crawling as Fake Fahey speaks. We also see a whole new side of Finch, as Fake Fahey claims that he is living the lives of the people he kills better than they ever could, and Finch bravely calls him on it.

Carter and Beecher to the rescue

Carter finds out who the killer is on her own but is unable to get the word out to Finch and Reese. The weather is dangerous, so Beecher (Sterling K. Brown) decides to drive Carter to the island. On the way, Carter confronts Beecher about his problems with IAB. She goes so far as to reach for her gun when Beecher accelerates in annoyance, but he takes offense. He's seems surprised that Carter actually believes he could hurt her.

When Fake Fahey is on the verge of killing Finch, Carter takes him down from the front. Fake Fahey rises again (a la horror movie) because he was wearing body armor, and Beecher makes the kill shot from the other side of the room.

Kara Stanton's virus lives

At the end, Finch wonders whether the virus planted in the U.S. infrastructure by Kara Stanton is what caused the Machine to go dormant for three days. Without that glitch, Finch and Reese could have saved the last two victims, Agent Fahey and the Deputy Sheriff, on the island. Perhaps the Machine will get a mind of its own.