Deus Ex Machina (Person of Interest)
Season finale where Samaritan activates and the team scatters.
"Deus Ex Machina" serves as the 23rd episode and season finale of the third season of the television drama *Person of Interest*, marking the 68th episode overall. The episode was penned by executive producer Greg Plageman and co-executive producer David Slack, with direction from co-executive producer Chris Fisher. It originally aired on CBS in the United States and on CTV in Canada on May 13, 2014.
The series follows a government computer program called the Machine, which predicts terrorist acts and identifies those planning them. A team—John Reese, Harold Finch, and Sameen Shaw—handles lower-priority "irrelevant" crimes. In this episode, Finch and others connected to the Northern Lights project face trial by the hacktivist group Vigilance. Reese and Hersh attempt to locate them, while Root and Shaw work to prevent the activation of Samaritan. The title references the "deus ex machina" plot device, where an unsolvable problem is abruptly resolved by an unexpected occurrence.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode drew an estimated 10.95 million household viewers and earned a 1.9/6 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. It received critical acclaim, with praise for its writing, acting, ending, and the new direction set for the following season.
**Plot**
*Flashbacks* In 2010, Peter (Leslie Odom Jr.) is kidnapped after receiving a message from an unknown person. He is taken to a warehouse where someone communicates via television, identifying themselves as a spokesperson for Vigilance, a hacktivist group aware of Peter's Darknet activities. Vigilance wants him to join, and upon accepting, he is told he will now be known as "Peter Collier." In 2012, Collier helps his group obtain a hard drive but is pressured by the unknown person to increase his efforts, convincing the group to retrieve more drives. In 2013, after another mission, Vigilance agent Adams (Peter Scanavino) questions Collier's methods and calls for action. Vigilance discovers Adams is an FBI informant and kills him. They leave a storage unit, revealing Jason Greenfield's code in the darkness.
*Present day* Collier begins broadcasting the trial worldwide. Root (Amy Acker) instructs Reese (Jim Caviezel), Shaw (Sarah Shahi), and Hersh (Boris McGiver) to go to a location. Worried for Root, Shaw decides to help her while Reese and Hersh proceed.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Person of Interest
- Season
- 3
- Episode
- 23
- Director
- Chris Fisher
- Writer
- Greg Plageman & David Slack
- Photographer
- David Insley
- Editor
- Mark Conte
- Production
- 2J7623
- Runtime
- 44 minutes
- Airdate
- 2014-05-13
- Prev
- A House Divided
- Next
- Panopticon
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Meanwhile, Root and Shaw work to avoid Samaritan's activation. At the courthouse, Hersh discovers a bomb that detonates when electricity returns, killing him and everyone else in the court. Greer has Collier killed, but Finch's execution is thwarted by Reese. Seeing the explosion, Garrison authorizes Greer to activate Samaritan. Root tells Reese and Finch to leave the Library with new fake IDs. The team separates and starts new lives as Samaritan begins identifying and killing Vigilance members. The episode ends with Samaritan asking for instructions and Greer replying, 'What, my dear Samaritan, are your commands for us?' The answer: 'Calculating response...'
Reader's Guide
Deus Ex Machina serves as a pivotal turning point in Person of Interest, marking the end of the third season and the beginning of a new status quo. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the writing, acting, ending, and the new focus for the next season. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was seen by an estimated 10.95 million household viewers and gained a 1.9/6 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, a 4% increase from the previous episode. With Live+7 DVR, viewership rose to 14.63 million with a 2.8 in the 18-49 demographics. The episode's title refers to the plot device 'deus ex machina,' where an unsolvable problem is abruptly resolved by an unexpected occurrence. The episode's resolution—the activation of Samaritan and the team's dispersal—set the stage for the fourth season's exploration of a world under surveillance by a rival AI.
Did You Know?
- The episode was written by executive producer Greg Plageman and co-executive producer David Slack, and directed by co-executive producer Chris Fisher.
- The episode was seen by an estimated 10.95 million household viewers with a 1.9/6 ratings share among adults 18-49.
- Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a 9.5 out of 10 rating, calling it 'commanding and shattering.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the Person of Interest episode "Deus Ex Machina"?
This season-three finale centers on the full activation of the Samaritan surveillance network, which forces the core team to scatter and go to ground. Reese, Finch, and Shaw each end up in separate, precarious situations as they try to regroup against the new existential threat.
Who wrote and directed "Deus Ex Machina" (Person of Interest)?
Executive producer Greg Plageman and co-executive producer David Slack penned the script, while co-executive producer Chris Fisher directed the episode.
When did "Deus Ex Machina" (Person of Interest) air and where?
The episode premiered on May 13, 2014, on CBS in the United States and CTV in Canada. It is the 23rd and final episode of season three, making it the 68th installment of the series overall.
Why is "Deus Ex Machina" (Person of Interest) a turning point in the show?
It marks the moment the series shifts from battling rogue elements within the Machine to confronting the far more powerful Samaritan system. The team's forced separation at the episode's close restructures their entire operation and sets up the season-four storyline.
Where does each main character end up at the close of "Deus Ex Machina"?
Reese is left stranded in a remote wilderness, Shaw is on the run and in hiding, and Finch is taken into custody. These three separate fates drive the opening of season four as the group works to reunite.
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