The Devil's Share
Final part of a trilogy ending the HR storyline.
"The Devil's Share" is the tenth episode of the third season of the crime thriller drama *Person of Interest*, airing on CBS on November 26, 2012. It concludes a trilogy that started with the eighth and ninth episodes, "Endgame" and "The Crossing." This episode ends the series' long-running HR storyline and follows John Reese as he hunts for revenge against Detective Joss Carter's killer.
Series creator Jonathan Nolan and co-executive producer Amanda Segel wrote the episode, with Chris Fisher directing. It picks up immediately after Carter's death in the previous episode, showing Reese's vengeful pursuit of corrupt NYPD officer Patrick Simmons, while the rest of the team tries to stop him. Flashbacks for multiple characters appear throughout.
The episode was watched by 11.89 million viewers, earning a 2.2/6 ratings share. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its writing, directing, and acting.
The plot begins with a montage set to Johnny Cash's "Hurt": Finch, Shaw, and Fusco attend Carter's funeral; Finch learns Simmons is their next POI; Shaw and a grieving Reese separately interrogate criminals across the city for Simmons' location. Simmons obtains fake Canadian passports for his escape. A flashback shows Finch in therapy after his friend Nathan Ingram's death, discussing survivor's guilt. Finch questions the therapist's assurance that his feelings will pass, insisting everything is his fault.
In the present, Finch brings food to the imprisoned Root, who offers help and warns of larger dangers. Fusco calls Finch about an SUV Reese crashed, belonging to forgers working for Seamus Yorke. Shaw has already found Yorke and interrogates him, agreeing to locate Reese only to save him from gunshot wounds. Yorke says HR leader Alonzo Quinn knows Simmons' escape plan. After finding Quinn's lawyer dead and learning Russian mobsters are also targeting Simmons, Fusco and Shaw reluctantly ask for Root's help.
A second flashback shows Shaw, as a physician, being interviewed about her lack of sympathy. The interviewer says she is a "fixer," not a "healer." Root is freed and directs them to an apartment where Quinn is held under police custody. They evade U.S. Marshals and Russian mob forces while Reese detonates a nearby car as a distraction.
A third flashback shows Reese being interviewed by a CIA psychologist about how far he can be pushed.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Person of Interest
- Season
- 3
- Episode
- 10
- Airdate
- 2013-11-26
- Writer
- Amanda Segel / Jonathan Nolan
- Director
- Chris Fisher
- Production
- 2J7610
- Prev
- The Crossing
- Next
- Lethe
- Episode List
- List of Person of Interest episodes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The episode picks up from Carter's death at the hands of corrupt NYPD officer Patrick Simmons. A montage of events plays to 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash: Finch, Shaw, and Fusco attend Carter's funeral; Finch learns Simmons is their next POI; Shaw and a grief-stricken Reese ruthlessly interrogate criminals for Simmons' whereabouts. Simmons receives fake Canadian passports to enable his escape. Flashbacks show Finch in therapy after his friend Nathan Ingram's death, Shaw being interviewed about her lack of sympathy as a physician, Reese being interviewed by a CIA psychologist (whom he then kills as a traitor), and Fusco revealing to a therapist that he deliberately shot a drug dealer out of retribution for killing a rookie cop.
Reader's Guide
The episode was written by series creator Jonathan Nolan alongside co-executive producer Amanda Segel and directed by Chris Fisher. It was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences, praised for its opening sequence, writing, direction, and acting performances, especially those by Jim Caviezel and Kevin Chapman. Matt Fowler of IGN gave it a 9.3 out of 10, and Phil Dyess-Nugent of The A.V. Club gave it a perfect A rating. The episode was watched by 11.89 million viewers with a 2.2/6 ratings share. Its significance lies in concluding the HR storyline and providing character-focused flashbacks that deepen the motivations of the main characters, particularly Fusco's concept of 'the devil's share'—righteous revenge.
Did You Know?
- The episode features flashbacks for multiple characters: Finch, Shaw, Reese, and Fusco.
- The opening montage uses the song 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash.
- Fusco's flashback introduces the term 'the devil's share' for righteous revenge.
- Carl Elias kills Simmons in the episode's final scene.
More in Person of Interest episodes 1-24
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