Television Review: Prisoner's Dilemma (Person of Interest, S2x12, 2013)
Prisoner’s Dilemma (S2x12)
Airdate: 10 January 2013
Written by: David Slack
Directed by: Chris Fischer
Running Time: 44 minutes
Person of Interest began its second season with a significant amount of momentum, establishing a high bar for the technological noir thriller genre that it rapidly came to define. However, as the season progressed toward its midpoint, the show began to suffer from a noticeable dip in quality, delivering episodes that felt underwhelming compared to the high-octane intensity of its earlier instalments. A prime example of this stagnation can be found in the twelfth episode of the season, Prisoner's Dilemma. On paper, this instalment possessed all the ingredients necessary to become a classic entry in the series—a tense cat-and-mouse game, a high-stakes prison drama, and the return of a formidable antagonist. Yet, the episode ultimately failed to reach its potential, largely because of a specific, nagging detail that did not just undermine a single scene, but made the entire production appear cheaper and less polished than the series truly was.
The title of the episode is borrowed from a foundational concept in game theory, a solution concept that models a scenario where two individuals act in their own self-interest, but the outcome is detrimental to both. This theoretical framework is brilliantly applied to the immediate situation facing Reese, who finds himself in federal custody alongside three mercenaries captured during a botched bank robbery. Agent Donnelly is consumed by his obsession with identifying the "Man in Suit," the elusive figure the Machine is protecting. To determine which of the four captives holds the identity of the Machine's guardian, Donnelly requires a skilled interrogator. It falls to Carter, a veteran of interrogating Iraqi insurgents, to lead the process. Donnelly, ever the micromanager, personally supervises her work, oblivious to the fact that Finch is simultaneously supervising Carter from the shadows, meticulously crafting false identities, cover stories, and conversational cues to ensure the outcome benefits Reese.
Carter, however, finds herself in an incredibly difficult position. She must maintain her credibility as a tough, competent interrogator in front of Donnelly, all while concealing the fact that she is protecting a fugitive she has deep feelings for. To navigate this minefield, she devises a strategy to frame one of the three mercenaries as the true "Man in the Suit." The situation becomes even more precarious when Reese is transferred to Rikers Island. He must survive the brutal prison yard, where he is inevitably confronted by an old enemy: Byron (Terry Serpico), the leader of the Aryan Brotherhood neo-Nazi gang whom Reese had previously helped imprison. Fortunately for Reese, Elias, who remains eternally grateful for being saved from execution, steps in to protect him.
The situation is further complicated by the arrival of Hersh, black ops specialist who is dispatched by Special Counsel to Rikers Island to flush out the "Man in Suit." Hersh’s method is ruthless and unconventional; he deliberately shoots into the air to get himself arrested, allowing him to infiltrate the prison system. Once inside, he eliminates Brian Kelly (James Knight), one of the suspects, by staging a fake suicide. In the meantime, another mercenary, Charles MacAvoy (Brendan Griffith), attempts to cut a deal with the authorities by ratting out one of his colleagues. He intends to point the finger at Reese, but Finch intervenes to manipulate MacAvoy, convincing him to point instead at a man named Packer (Creighton James). This manipulation, combined with Reese’s failure to demonstrate top-tier martial abilities during the prison yard beatings, appears to be sufficient evidence for Donnelly to release him.
The episode does not shy away from exploring the psychological scars of its protagonist, offering flashbacks to Reese's time in the CIA. These scenes provide a brief recap of his partnership with Kara Stanton, where the two served as an execution team. While Reese struggled with the moral weight of taking lives, Stanton displayed clear sociopathic tendencies, seemingly enjoying the act of killing.
The episode’s finale resolves the major development of Reese being in federal custody by creating a new, even more dangerous cliffhanger. Reese and Carter are walking away from Rikers Island when they are ambushed and arrested by Donnelly. He has pieced together the puzzle and realised that Carter has been in cahoots with Reese. He deduces that Reese is the "Man in Suit" because Carter showed genuine concern for him during the prison yard beatings, a signal of their partnership. Donnelly takes the two of them in an SUV and proceeds to a safe house. As this happens, Finch receives a number from the Machine, which happens to belong to Donnelly. He attempts to warn him, but it is too late; Donnelly's vehicle is rammed by an oncoming car, and he is later killed by Stanton, who has returned to abduct Reese.
Prisoner's Dilemma resolves the "wham" development of Reese being in custody by creating another major cliffhanger that places him in an even worse situation. Despite the twist being truly unexpected, the script by David Slack is exceptionally good. There is a tremendous amount of continuity, plenty of past characters making appearances, and multiple factions operating with their own agendas, yet it all works seamlessly within the context of a single episode. More importantly, Reese’s misadventures behind bars serve as an excellent series of mind games, with characters acting very intelligently. This is particularly evident in Donnelly, who manages to outsmart Carter through his keen observations. However, that very character is brutally taken off the equation just before his true moral alignment can be established or altered, leaving the audience with a sense of frustration.
The episode also excels in the interrogation scenes, where Reese, operating under the cover name "John Warren," and Carter discuss their respective military pasts. "Warren's" cover story and life are conveniently based on Reese's own life, allowing for a deep and poignant exchange about trauma, service, and survival. These moments ground the show in its emotional core, contrasting sharply with the cold, technological elements of the Finch storyline.
What destroys this episode, at least in terms of being a classic, is a terrible side storyline that feels completely out of place. The episode sets a precedent of having the Machine churn the number that belongs to an actual real-life person, in this case, the Czech fashion model Karolina Kurkova, who appears as herself in a cameo. The plot is only hinted at and deals with the trouble she had with a very violent Armenian gang. Yet, Fusco is sent to protect her. He does such a good job that she kisses him on a forehead and later tells him to call her. This storyline, which is supposed to be humorous, is a single, unfunny joke that relies on a shallow celebrity cameo. It would have worked better if slightly expanded or even if the plot of the entire episode revolved around the Elias-protected Reese dynamic rather than this trivial subplot. Here, the Kurkova storyline completely shatters suspension of disbelief, dragging the viewer out of the gritty, serious tone of the main narrative.
At the end, Prisoner's Dilemma is a good episode, but it remains a very disappointing one. It had all the right elements—a complex script, intelligent character dynamics, and a thrilling climax—but it was marred by a side plot that felt like a cheap attempt at levity. The Karolina Kurkova storyline did not just fail to land; it actively damaged the episode's integrity. Had this subplot been excised or reimagined, the episode could have easily stood alongside the best of Season 2. As it stands, it is a missed opportunity that serves as a reminder of the show's struggle to maintain its peak quality during the mid-season lull.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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