Television Review: The Contingency (Person of Interest, S2X01, 2012)
The Contingency (S2x01)
Airdate: 27 September 2012
Written by: Denise Thé & Jonathan Nolan
Directed by: Richard J. Lewis
Running Time: 44 minutes
The Contingency serves as the bridge between the explosive cliffhanger of Season 1 and the sprawling narrative that defines the remainder of the series. The Season 1 finale left the audience in a state of suspended disbelief, with the core figure of the show, Harold Finch, whisked away by a ruthless, computer-savvy antagonist. The magnitude of this loss was so significant that any attempt to fully resolve it within the confines of a single episode would have felt rushed and unearned. The production team was acutely aware of this narrative weight, understanding that Finch's return would require more than a simple deus ex machina; it necessitated a multi-episode arc, potentially stretching through the entirety of the season. Taking these limitations into serious consideration, The Contingency manages to navigate the post-cliffhanger landscape with considerable finesse, establishing a solid foundation for Season 2 even if it cannot immediately deliver the complete resolution the audience craves.
The episode opens with a necessary exposition sequence in the form of a flashback, this time dedicated to Finch rather than Reese or Carter. These glimpses into the past are crucial for grounding the show's sci-fi elements in human emotion. We see the moment the Machine gained sentience and how Finch began to train it. This visual storytelling powerfully illustrates that the relationship between the Machine and its creator is not merely one of servant and master, but rather akin to that of a parent and child. The Machine is learning, evolving, and relying on Finch for guidance, which creates a poignant subtext to the technological narrative.
However, the present-day narrative immediately shifts the focus to Reese, who finds himself at an emotional impasse regarding his continued mission. At the conclusion of the previous season, he commanded the Machine to assist him in locating and rescuing Finch from Root’s captivity. In The Contingency, he receives his answer, though it is delivered in a cryptic form: the Dewey decimal system. This is an ingenious piece of code utilised by the Machine to transmit Social Security number, proving that the system is indeed working for him, albeit in ways that are not immediately obvious. To execute this retrieval, Reese enlists the help of Fusco and Carter, who utilise NYPD resources to conduct a standard police investigation into the murder of Alicia Corwin, the former federal official killed by Root during Finch’s abduction. This procedural angleis swiftly thwarted. The Special Counsel, Corwin’s superior and one of the few individuals privy to the Machine's existence, dispatches Hersh (Boris McGiwer) to the 8th Precinct. Hersh’s arrival marks a brutal turning point; he systematically destroys the computer files and evidence related to the murder, effectively sabotaging the investigation and leaving the heroes without a clear paper trail.
In the interim, Reese acts on the Machine's instruction and visits a bar to locate a man named Leon Tao (Ken Leung). Initially, Reese believes Tao might be connected to Finch’s disappearance, but he is surprised to discover that Tao is actually a corrupt Wall Street investment banker whose elaborate scheme to steal millions of dollars from the Aryan Nation has backfired spectacularly. Here lies a fascinating dynamic: the Machine, true to its programming, does not prioritise finding Finch; instead, it fulfils its primary directive of helping people in trouble. Reese is somewhat reluctant to assist a criminal, but he eventually intervenes using his military skills when Tao is pursued by neo-Nazis. During the chaos of Tao's rescue, he even goes on a sort of mini-strike, pleading with the Machine to help him with his original financial aim, which the Machine ultimately does. It is during this rescue operation that Reese meets Bear, a Belgian Malinois dog, a bond that would eventually become central to his personal life. Tao, having lost most of his ill-gotten gains to his enemies, remains grateful for the simple fact that his life has been saved.
Meanwhile, the primary antagonist, Root, is shown with Finch, yet she employs a different tactic than physical restraint. She relies on psychological leverage, informing Finch that she will harm random, ordinary people if he does not comply with her wishes. Finch is evidently repelled by her ruthlessness but is also fascinated by her exceptional computer skills. Root demonstrates her terrifying efficiency by poisoning Julie Davenport (Beth Laufer), a woman she traced in a restaurant, simply to use her house keys to abduct her boyfriend, Denton Weeks (Cotter Smith). Weeks is a subordinate of the Special Counsel and is therefore aware of the Machine's existence. Root’s dialogue during these scenes reveals her true motivations; she views the Machine not as a tool, but as the next logical step in human evolution. She wishes to set it free, a philosophy that would become increasingly relevant and heavily promoted by transhumanists and accelerationists in the years that followed.
The actual procedural plot of The Contingency is somewhat underwhelming; at least the storyline involving the Aryan Nation is generic, featuring villains whom the audience would readily despise and whom Reese dispatches with comparative ease. It serves more as a vehicle to showcase Reese's abilities and introduce his relationship with Bear than as a compelling mystery in its own right.
However, what truly elevates this episode is the casting, particularly concerning the morally questionable characters. Ken Leung, best known for playing Miles Straume in Lost, is excellent as Leon Tao. He portrays a nervous, shady character who fits perfectly into the morally ambiguous world of Person of Interest, where the line between hero and villain is perpetually blurred. Leung’s portrayal of a greedy white-collar criminal makes him a character the audience might not initially root for, yet he imbues him with just enough humanity to make us genuinely care about his fate.
Perhaps the most significant improvement in the cast chemistry is the evolution of Amy Acker’s character. She is clearly delineated here as a villain, but her performance reveals a complexity that goes far beyond standard antagonism. She establishes a strong and electric chemistry with Michael Emerson, and the scenes they share are some of the best in the episode. The most fascinating aspect of Acker's character, however, is the philosophy she espouses regarding the Machine. Her views on humanity versus artificial intelligence, positioning the Machine as the superior being destined to replace or surpass its creators, aligns with a modern transhumanist ideology that would become a defining theme of the series. It is this blend of intelligence, ruthlessness, and profound conviction that makes Root such a compelling presence, turning a simple kidnapping plot into a philosophical debate about the future of the human race.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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