C.O.D. (S2x09)
Airdate: 6 December 2012
Written by: Ray Utarnachitt Directed by: Clark Johnson
Running Time: 44 minutes
Following the uneven experiment of the previous episode, Til Death, which clumsily attempted to weave together a romance and a farce within the Person of Interest universe, the show wisely pivoted back towards its established strengths in Season 2, Episode 9, titled "C.O.D." The acronym, standing for "cash on delivery," serves as a fitting, albeit uninspired, title for an episode that feels very much like a procedural template. It represents a return to the "normalcy" that the series often excels at, yet it also highlights the creative drought that apparently began to grip the writers' room at this juncture. The episode proceeds to deliver a storyline that is technically well-crafted and professionally executed, yet fundamentally underwhelming.
The central storyline introduces Fermin Ordoñez (Michael Irby). Ordoñez is a cab driver, a former aspiring baseball player who defected from Communist Cuba years ago seeking the American Dream. However, years have passed, and his athletic dreams have evaporated, leaving him trapped in the mundane reality of driving a taxi to make ends meet. Reese and Finch identify him as a Person of Interest, not necessarily because of his current activities, but due to his interactions with a variety of characters in his line of work. As the investigation deepens, it becomes clear that he has been amassing significant savings. The motivation behind this accumulation is revealed when he meets with Mendoza (Tony Plana), a smuggler with whom he had previously arranged to bring his wife and son from Cuba. The stakes are raised as Mendoza, now seemingly in a position of power, demands a much higher price than they had agreed upon, threatening to destroy Fermin's dream of reuniting his family.
This personal drama intersects with a broader narrative involving the murder of Vadim Pushkov, a Russian national who was one of Fermin's fares. Detective Carter takes on the investigation, only to find the case being usurped by the Secret Service. The agent in charge, Regina Vickers (Reiko Aylesworth), is initially reluctant but hints that the motive is tied to something significant left by the deceased. It is soon revealed that Pushkov was an internationally wanted hacker who had obtained the Homeland Security Automated Identification Database (H-SAID). This database is a catastrophic piece of intelligence; if accessed by terrorists or criminal syndicates, it could grant them carte blanche to navigate the United States. The crucial piece of evidence—the laptop containing H-SAID—was left in Fermin's cab. When Reese contacts him, Fermin admits he kept the laptop to finance the smuggling operation. He had pawned it to Aziz Manoor (Amir Darvish), a friend who was subsequently found dead in his shop, having been killed by members of the Estonian mob.
The plot thickens as Finch uncovers the digital trail. Aziz Manoor had actually deciphered the contents of the laptop and sold H-SAID on the dark web to a hacker named "D3mn8," played by Christopher Yee. Finch learns that this "D3mn8" is about to sell the data to the Estonians. To prevent the worst from happening, Finch intervenes, doubling the price and securing the database from the hacker just before Irina Kapp (Larisa Polonsky) and her goons arrive to retrieve it themselves. The action sequence that follows sees Finch cornered, forcing Reese and Carter to mount a rescue operation. The Estonian operatives are defeated, and Irina Kapp disappears into the shadows without a trace. In the aftermath, Fermin, now in possession of the laptop, negotiates its handover to the government in exchange for assistance in bringing his family to the United States. The episode concludes with a touching resolution as Fermin is finally reunited with his wife and son.
The episode also attempts to advance the side storyline concerning Alonzo Quinn's efforts to reconstitute the Human Resources faction following its financial ruin due to the mass arrests by FBI. Quinn proposes an uneasy alliance with the Mob, represented by Elias. Simmons recruits a reluctant Detective Fusco to take part in these negotiations. Elias’ representative, Scarface, sets a condition: the alliance will only be formed if HR surrenders Luciano Grifoni, the last of the old Mafia dons, who is currently in witness protection. However, the situation takes a dark turn when Fusco is shown a video recording suggesting that he was responsible for the murder of Internal Affairs detective Davidson. Faced with this blackmail, Fusco has no choice but to carry out the abduction. However, the tables are turned when they reach Grifoni’s safehouse; rather than being captured or killed, Grifoni eliminates Bowman, the detective accompanying Fusco. Fusco is spared, not out of mercy, but to send a message from Elias to HR: there will be no deals. The episode ends with Fusco severing all ties with HR, while Simmons retaliates by calling Carter and leaking anonymous tips about Fusco's involvement in the murder.
C.O.D. is, by all technical standards, a well-made episode. The direction by television veteran Clark Johnson is competent, and the production values remain high. However, the episode is ultimately underwhelming, serving as a stark reminder of the depletion of creativity that the producers were experiencing by this stage of Season 2. This creative stagnation is reflected in the uninspired title, which merely spells out an acronym for "cash on delivery," a term that feels more like a plot device than a thematic anchor. The main storyline is incredibly safe, vanilla, and predictable. It adheres strictly to procedural conventions, lacking the innovative twists that defined the series' earlier seasons. Despite this, Michael Irby is a revelation in the lead role. He imbues Fermin with a profound sense of sympathy and humanity, painting a portrait of the "everyman" who simply wants to give his family a piece of the life he escaped. There are even subtle hints of social commentary woven throughout, particularly regarding the exploitation of Cuban immigrants who are promised a better life but often find themselves cheated and taken advantage of. Finch even offers a moment of dry wit, sarcastically observing that a Communist country had long ago established sophisticated surveillance methods, a sentiment that feels pointedly relevant given the post-9/11 landscape of the show.
The impression of the episode is slightly improved by the side storyline, which attempts to provide a resolution to Fusco's long-standing problem with dual loyalties. However, despite an interesting twist involving Grifoni's agency, it ultimately serves as another routine cliffhanger, doing little to resolve the character's arc in a meaningful way. Furthermore, the antagonists this week are particularly weak. The Estonian mob are rendered as generic and bland as villains come, lacking any memorable traits or distinct personalities. Even the character of Irina Kapp, who is described as their leader and is introduced with potential menace as “angel of death”, disappears from the narrative after this episode, never to return again. At the end, C.O.D. is a competent, if forgettable, entry in the Person of Interest catalogue. It is a return to form in terms of pacing and structure, but it lacks the spark that usually defines the show. It is a safe bet, a procedural template, and not much else.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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