Television Review: Get Carter (Person of Interest, S1X09, 2011)
Get Carter (S1x09)
Airdate: 8 December 2011
Written by: Greg Plageman & Denise Thé
Directed by: Alex Zakrzewski
Running Time: 44 minutes
Following a couple of episodes that demonstrated a clear uptick in quality and narrative ambition for Person of Interest, the ninth instalment, Get Carter, represents something of a slight reverse. The script, written by Greg Plageman and Denise Thé, is undeniably functional and serves its purpose as a procedural crime drama, but it feels as though the creative well has been significantly depleted. Almost all the creativity appears to have been exhausted in the titular choice, which happens to be a weak reference to the classic 1971 British gangster film starring Michael Caine. The episode borrows its name from the movie, yet the two share no plot similarities whatsoever, making the title feel like a lazy nod rather than a thematic link. The reliance on this established IP suggests a lack of originality in the writers' room.
The premise sets up the inevitable tension when The Machine declares Detective Joss Carter to be their newest Person of Interest. This development simultaneously simplifies and complicates the dynamic between Reese and Finch. It is a fortunate circumstance for the duo that they already possess a history with her and have conducted surveillance, yet it renders the task significantly more arduous because of the sheer volume of danger surrounding her. Carter’s refusal to bow to corrupt practices has alienated powerful figures both within the criminal underworld and within the NYPD itself. The Machine’s prediction places Reese and Finch in a difficult position, as they acknowledge that her survival is a complex issue given her enemies.
In a fairly standard exercise of deduction, Reese and Finch identify three principal vectors of threat against the detective. The episode opens with the murder of Ronny Middleton, one of her informants, pointing the finger at the arrogant gunrunner Hector Alvarez (Jason Manuel Olazábal). In a parallel narrative strand, Carter is attempting to extract a long-suffering wife from an abusive husband named Eddie Kowach (Flint Beveradge). However, the true architect of her peril is Carl Elias. As Carter digs too closely into the rise of Elias and connects the murder of a former detective to the old murder of his own mother, she incurs the wrath of the mob boss.
Despite the high stakes, the script fails to provide any significant surprises, largely adhering to the established formula of the series. The episode feels like a procedural exercise where the outcome is predetermined: given that Carter is a main character, her survival is never genuinely in doubt. Consequently, the narrative neatly wraps itself up: Carter successfully arrests Hector Alvarez and manages to put Eddie Kowach behind bars, while Reese executes his trademark efficiency, arriving at the eleventh hour to rescue her from an assassination attempt. The episode is competent in its execution, but it lacks the narrative twists that make Person of Interest truly stand out from generic ensemble dramas.
The only genuine novelty in Get Carter is the substantial effort expended on fleshing out Joss Carter’s character, both in the past and the present. The narrative is punctuated by flashbacks set in Afghanistan in 2004, where she is serving as Military Intelligence. Here, she interrogates a potential al-Qaeda informant named Yusuf (Anthony Azizi), playing on a thematic note of protection and failure. She promises him safety, only to see another soldier have him killed, an incident that fuels her determination to prevent such losses as a police detective. This backstory adds necessary gravitas to the character, providing a motivation for her "cop who cares" mentality. Furthermore, the episode introduces her teenage son, Taylor (Kwoade Cross), providing a glimpse into her personal life that contrasts with her professional vigilance.
Beyond the focus on Carter, the episode serves to broaden the network of characters associated with the Elias crime syndicate. We are introduced to Gianni Moretti, Elias’s incarcerated father, portrayed with regal menace by Mark Margolis, an actor best known for his role as Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad. Additionally, Artie Lynch (Michael Mulheren), a corrupt NYPD captain, is introduced as a figure who approves of the hit on Carter and is later coerced by Reese into delivering a message to Elias to cease further attempts. These additions help expand the show's lore, though they feel somewhat utilitarian in service of moving the main plot forward.
Amidst the tension and procedural elements, there is a moment of levity that stands out. Carter demonstrates her playful ingenuity by manipulating the two girlfriends of Hector Alvarez, pitting them against one another to discover their secrets, ultimately turning them against their boyfriend to testify against him. This scene offers a brief respite from the grim atmosphere, showcasing Carter’s sharp intellect and ability to navigate social dynamics effectively. It is a charming sequence, but it feels somewhat isolated in an episode that otherwise struggles to find a distinct identity beyond the sum of its parts.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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