Harold Finch and John Reese versus an assassin and a faceless hacker. Tonight, I’ll take a deep dive into the 13th episode of Person of Interest (Season 1), “Root Cause.”
Spoiler warning: This post contains major plot spoilers from the episode. If you haven’t watched it, please do so before reading my analysis.
Navigation: Introduction, Episode Breakdown, Thoughts & Feelings, Standouts, Conclusion
Episode Breakdown
After Finch poured and drank a hot cup of tea, he checked on Reese, who was fighting a man named Ted Billick in a small apartment. The Man in the Suit subdued the perpetrator, stopping him from killing his ex-wife. He updates Finch, who sends the address of the next number. The numbers never stop coming, indeed.
Inside The Machine, a recording of a conversation was revealed, and one of the voices was distorted. “He’s perfect.”
The Number
Scott Powell is Leslie’s husband, Owen and Mia’s father, and was a construction project manager. His family knew he had been working every day, but after Reese followed him in the park on a rainy day, he learned that the family man had been looking for work. Finch checked the outdated city employees database and found out he had been let go eight months ago.
Victim or Perpetrator?
To make ends meet, he has been selling his possessions to a pawnbroker, including a watch. When Reese saw them from afar and the pawnbroker only offered USD 50 for Powell’s other possessions, the unemployed man almost fought him, and the pawnbroker threatened to call the police. Finch also discovered Powell’s credit card status, which was almost maxed out.
In Finch and Reese’s first stakeout together, the hacker used the packaging of potato chips (an aluminum cylindrical can) to capture Powell’s home Wi-Fi signal and gain access to his computer. Finch found out Powell’s Internet history was mostly on political websites, and he had been blogging about Congressman Michael Delancey. There was a big encrypted file on his computer. Powell also got a call for a two-day job, and the man was humbly grateful for it.
The next day, Detective Joss Carter called the duo about Powell’s police record (which is mostly clean) and a firearms license application. Finch discovered the encrypted file was an anonymous email account, and all the emails were addressed to Congressman Delancey’s office. It turned out the congressman pushed for budgetary cutbacks that led to layoffs of city employees, including Powell. Their person of interest went out of his vehicle with a big duffle bag. Reese asked if Powell had any registered weapons; Finch shared Carter’s discovery and the anonymous email’s contents, which were all death threats. Reese said, “He’s going to assassinate Delancey.”
Reese went inside the event where Powell was (a fundraiser), but he couldn’t use the employee entrance because of the security personnel. Finch and Reese (who disposed of his weapon) went to the main line’s metal detector and into the fundraiser proper. A senator talked to Delancey and his campaign manager, Pete Matheson. Reese went downstairs to the staff area, and Finch watched the congressman close by. The man with glasses also discovered that the anonymous emails were being flagged by his system, and he was approached by security personnel to take a seat.
The event started with Matheson introducing Delancey, while Reese accessed the staff area for Powell. Finch discovered that the anonymous emails were copied from a remote location. Reese went upstairs, saw Powell setting up a rifle, and tackled him. The Man in the Suit discovered that Powell had a confetti gun, and Finch worriedly said, “I think Powell’s being set up.” Suddenly, Delancey was shot, and panic erupted in the crowd. Reese saw a man from the shadows; he ran after him, but lost him outside. Powell stood up, and people and a spotlight pointed at him. Finch and Reese saw Powell being arrested by the police.
Back at The Library, Finch and Reese talked about the elaborate plan to frame Powell. Reese said, “Fooled us… and your machine.” Finch argued that The Machine doesn’t get fooled and that Powell may be in danger. Reese then assumed that Powell was not supposed to make it out alive; both Reese and Finch assumed they were dealing with a two-man team: a shooter and a hacker.
Scott Powell is the victim.
Did They Stop The Crime In Time?
To be updated soon.
Reese stopped the hacker and the assassin from murdering Powell.
Other Threads
To be updated soon.
Navigation: Introduction, Episode Breakdown, Thoughts & Feelings, Standouts, Conclusion
Thoughts & Feelings
The Episode Title
According to the Collins Dictionary, root cause means “the fundamental reason for the occurrence of a problem.” As for the word root, in computing terms, it refers to a superuser of a computer/network with complete access and control of everything.
The episode title is obviously a nod to the perpetrator, the elusive hacker named Root.
On Scott Powell
I remember the few times I was unemployed (after college graduation and after resigning from my first job), and while those periods gave me time to rest, not being able to look for work and earn money for months was hell on earth. Whenever I get a temporary gig or a full-time job, I feel like Reese, who was offered a new purpose in life by Finch in the pilot episode, and I’m always grateful whenever that happens.
That’s also why I feel bad for Scott Powell, a man who’s working hard to give his family a comfortable life and who got laid off because of budget cuts. I also feel happy that after all Powell and his family have been through, Finch gave him a new job at a business facility he controls where he can get back on his feet.
Navigation: Introduction, Episode Breakdown, Thoughts & Feelings, Standouts, Conclusion
Standouts
Reese Kidnaps Powell
I noticed a pattern in some episodes: whenever Reese attacks a vehicle, “Knock Knock” plays in the background. In “Root Cause”, he attacked a vehicle manned by FBI agents, kidnapped Powell from them, and got him to safety. It’s such a badass sight to behold. Also, the gas mask and smoke added a bit of vigilante flair to the attack while not giving Reese’s face away to the three-letter agency.
Root Infiltrates Finch’s System
While The Library has been this ultra-secretive base of operations, in “Root Cause”, it can be infiltrated if Finch and Reese are fooled. Finch falling for Root’s honeypot led to his computer system being compromised, and it was frightening as hell. It’s a good thing that Finch has a contingency plan for such an event, and he can be mobile and operate in places such as a library (an actual one with other people in it).
Root somehow reminds me of an evil, morally depraved Finch, and is a villain no one should mess with. At this point, it looks like we haven’t seen the last of her.
Zoe Morgan Helps The Team
There’s a phrase called pay it forward, and in this episode, the sassy Zoe Morgan, a former number Finch and Reese protected, did just that. With her impressive knowledge of the city’s political players, she was instrumental in finding out who hired Root and the assassin, Congressman Delancey’s campaign manager Pete Matheson.
But, of course, Ms. Morgan’s services come with a price: a drink with Reese. Oh, that’s lovely.
Navigation: Introduction, Episode Breakdown, Thoughts & Feelings, Standouts, Conclusion
Conclusion
In “Root Cause,” the team, with the help of a former number, Zoe Morgan, took down the assassin who was after their innocent current number, Scott Powell. The assassin’s hacker partner, Root, escaped the authorities and the vigilante team, while leaving a lasting impression on Finch and Reese, two dead bodies, and a compromised computer system at The Library. It looks like we found another recurring villain in Root, and I’m excited for her next appearance.
The episode also dealt with themes any ordinary employee can relate to: working hard for a comfortable life and the heartbreaking possibility of being fired despite that. The fact that certain people used Powell’s unemployment to their advantage for their personal gain is downright cruel.
Overall, the theme and action made “Root Cause” a gripping episode while adding a new person to Team Machine’s rogues’ gallery (even if she doesn’t have a face yet).
Rating: 👁️👁️👁️👁️👁️
Navigation: Introduction, Episode Summary, Thoughts & Feelings, Standouts, Conclusion
Disclaimer: This is simply an in-depth analysis from a fan. No copyright infringement is intended in any of the show-related media featured in this post.
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