Television Review: Root Cause (Person of Interest, S1X13, 2012)
Root Cause (S1x13)
Airdate: 2 February 2012
Written by: Amanda Segel
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Running Time: 44 minutes
The thirteenth episode of Person of Interest, Root Cause, is a solid, if somewhat unremarkable, entry in the series' first season. While it introduces what would become one of the most formidable villains on the show, the episode itself does not quite reach the narrative heights of its predecessor. It is a competent procedural that deals with economic disparity, corruption, and high-stakes computer espionage, yet it remains tethered to the familiar rhythm of the series rather than breaking new ground.
The individual whose number the Machine churns out is Scott Powell (Myk Watford). He initially presents himself as a model citizen and a dedicated family man, a construction project manager whose life seems to be in order. However, beneath this veneer lies a humiliating secret: he was laid off several months prior due to budget cuts. Rather than burdening his family with the shame of financial ruin, Powell hides his unemployment status and frantically searches for work to fill the developing black hole in his finances. This setup immediately grounds the episode in a tangible reality, focusing on the human cost of economic austerity during a time when job security was an illusion for many.
The politician responsible for these cuts is Congressman Michael Delancey (Victor Slezak). Reese and Finch initially surmise that Powell, driven by utter despair, intends to assassinate Delancey as an act of revenge. When the assassination does occur, however, the narrative takes a darker turn; Powell is revealed as a patsy. He is arrested for the murder, and Reese, recognising that whoever ordered the hit would silence him in custody, breaks him out of police custody. This sets in motion a manhunt involving the FBI, represented by Agent Nicholas Donnelly (Brennan Brown), forcing Reese and Finch to operate off the grid once again to uncover the true orchestrator.
The mastermind behind this scheme is Pete Matheson (Damian Young), the Congressman’s former campaign manager and business partner. Matheson is a corrupt figure whose dealings have attracted the attention of the District Attorney. He has concocted entire plan to put the blame on Delancey who would be killed, and Powell be framed. Matheson has e the services of a mysterious and highly capable female hacker known only as “Root,” played by Rachel Miner. She actively works to sabotage Reese and Finch, hacking into their computers and forcing them to abandon their headquarters in the former library. Desperate and outmatched, Reese turns to an old acquaintance, Zoe Morgan—a "fixer" who successfully engineers a situation where Matheson incriminating himself is recorded on tape. This evidence is handed to the authorities, exonerating Powell. As a final touch, Finch arranges for Powell to secure a job, allowing him to return to his family. Matheson is later found dead in an apparent suicide, though the episode hints that this was arranged by Root to erase her own footprint. The season ends on a chilling note as Root contacts Finch, signalling her desire for a "worthy opponent" and addressing him as "Harold."
Root Cause serves as another telling example of how Person of Interest maintains a grounded sense of reality despite its high-concept premise. The economic woes created by the 2008 financial crisis play a pivotal role in the plot, and the episode does not shy away from pointing fingers at the bankers and corrupt business elite who employ even more corrupt politicians to maintain their ill-gotten gains under the guise of austerity. This socio-political commentary adds a layer of seriousness to the episode that elevates it above standard genre fare.
The episode is also notable for its technical execution; the depiction of hacking and computer security feels significantly more authentic than in most Hollywood films and television series. Rather than relying on rapid typing and generic visual effects, the show presents a believable depiction of digital intrusion and surveillance, treating the technology as a serious instrument of power rather than a plot device.
As seen in many episodes previously, Reese and Finch are again shown not to be omnipotent. In the face of a worthy opponent like Root, they are, at least temporarily, completely outclassed. This moment of vulnerability is crucial for the character dynamics, reminding the audience that even the show’s heroes are not invincible and that the threats they face are evolving.
However, all things considered, the realism of the episode is somewhat compromised by Reese again demonstrating superhuman abilities. For instance, the sequence where he liberates the prisoner held as the prime suspect in the most high-profile murder possible feels overly facile. It clashes with the otherwise gritty, grounded atmosphere established in the earlier sections of the episode.
The episode’s narrative structure arguably references the classic 1970s conspiracy thriller The Parallax View, an allusion that underlines the fact that this is still much more of a lower-budget and less ambitious television production compared to the old film. While the film thrived on ambiguity and cynicism, the format of a weekly television episode mandates that it must end with a happy ending for the protagonist, resulting in Powell’s exoneration and Matheson’s demise.
Finally, the fact that “Root” is not shown in this episode allowed for a convenient recasting for later seasons, when the character became a major recurring figure. While her face remained obscured, her presence was enough to establish her as a terrifyingly competent antagonist, setting the stage for a character that would eventually become the show's moral centre.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
==
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo
Substack https://draxster.substack.com
LeoDex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax
InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9