I'm not sure why I never started watching POI when it first premiered in 2011, but I think it's because it 's a CBS series, which appeared to be a case of the week procedural. And to that extent it started out that way. A limping computer genius named Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), working out of a library, employs an ex-CIA assassin named John Reese (Jim Caviezel), who's on a path of self destruction. A machine spits out a social security number and it's up to these two to figure out if that person is either going to be killed or about to commit a murder. Throw in an inquisitive detective, Joss Carter (Taraji P Henson) and a corrupt cop Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman) to make up the recurring cast and there you have it.
But what I didn't realize was that it's the creation of Jonathan Nolan, brother of Christopher Nolan, who wrote Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight. That should tip you off that what he's delivered is much more than a CSI/Criminal Minds show. POI does start out like a typical case of the week procedural, but slowly turns into an awesome multilayered-serialized show with twists and turns and a host of kick ass characters. Quite literally, it's the best sci-fi show on TV.
Netflix has the first three seasons up now and is adding the fourth on the 22nd so you won't miss an episode.
If you don't want to invest in watching all the episodes at first, this article is fantastic. PERSON OF INTEREST: THE ESSENTIAL EPISODES THAT WILL CATCH YOU UP
Looking to get into CBS' stellar Person of Interest but don't have the time to watch all the episodes? Follow this path.
Last week, I went on and on about how awesome and amazing CBS' Person of Interest is. I listed off five reasons you should be watching it with hopes of the show gaining some ground here at IGN, where I think the readers would totally dig it the most. It's an action-packed, thought-provoking ride that smacks of The Dark Knight, WarGames, and even Philip K. Dick.But it's not exactly the easiest show to play catch-up with...read on
I followed their path and it worked like a charm. After I finished season four, I went back and watched the rest of the episodes I missed because I enjoyed the characters so much. IMDB has the show rated an 8.4, which is very high and many episodes rate as high as a 9.0-9.8.
(As a bonus, Amy Acker has the best role she's had since Winifred 'Fred' Burkle / Illyria)
