The High Road (S2x06)
Airdate: 8 November 2012
Written by: Nic Van Zeebroeck & Michael Sopczynski Directed by: Félix Alcalá
Running Time: 44 minutes
When analysing Season 2 of Person of Interest, it becomes evident that the series was still firmly tethered to the procedural paradigm that defined much of early television drama. The show was, by its very nature, a formulaic beast: a mysterious entity (The Machine) gives a number, Reese and Finch investigate, a threat is neutralised, and the world moves on. However, the producers were frequently attempting to evade the creeping monotony that comes with any long-running series by occasionally altering the ingredients of their formula. In the case of The High Road (S2x06), this deviation manifests as a slight change of setting, replacing the relentless excitement of the "City That Never Sleeps" with its the quiet, suburban surroundings. It is a shift that attempts to provide a palette cleanser for both the characters and the audience, even if the episode itself remains rooted in the show's established conventions.
The location where Reese and Finch would conduct their next mission is Floral Park, a suburban settlement situated on Long Island. The Machine has churned out the number of Graham Wyler (David Denman), an owner of a hardware store who lives there together with his loving wife Connie (Alicia Witt), and their teenage daughter Izzy (Olivia Nikkanen), an honour student and a soccer star. By all accounts, Graham does not appear to have any financial problems, nor does he seem to have any obvious enemies. His life seems to be boring but happy.
Finch soon discovers that Graham arrived in Long Island from Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1997. Furthermore, his investigation reveals that a person named Graham Wyler actually died in Fort Wayne in 1997. Finch concludes that the individual currently living in Floral Park is not Graham Wyler at all, but someone who has stolen his identity. With the subject identified as a potential threat, Reese decides to take an unconventional strategy to gather intelligence. Finch purchases a house for Reese next to the Wylers, and his cover as a new neighbour is further bolstered when Zoe Morgan poses as his wife. Reese quickly befriends Graham, and initially, he sees nothing suspicious. However, this façade is shattered when Graham is intimidated on the street by two men who call him "Lloyd," suggesting his cover has been blown.
By obtaining Graham’s fingertips while they are at a barbecue, Reese learns that his real name is Lloyd Pruitt. It turns out that he used to be a jewel thief and a safe cracker with a rare talent for learning combinations simply by listening. He decided to turn the new page and leave the life of crime behind him by assuming the identity of the deceased Graham Wyler. This proved to be very unfortunate for his former partners, Chris Vaughn (Dominic Fumusa) and Daniel Burnside (Victor Verhaeghe). Lacking Lloyd’s expertise, they had to resort to violence during a jewelry store robbery, resulting in them getting caught and serving 12 years in prison. After accidentally learning about his new life via a social media post, they decide to collect the debt they believe he owes them.
Lloyd is subsequently given an ultimatum: either he will join them on their next heist or his daughter will be harmed. Lloyd agrees to join their new crew, which is planning to rob a high-rise residential apartment owned by a gem dealer named Enver Clerik. The apartment is hardly empty, however, as Clerik’s nephew Atay (Sacha Di Bona) is having a party. Vaughn and Burnside do not care about the presence of innocent byteranders; having hostages and the prospect of further bloodshed would only make Lloyd more compliant. Lloyd, already resigned that he might not come back, has left a farewell note to his wife in which he explains everything.
Yet, Reese has managed to track the robbers and, using Zoe Morgan’s familiarity with one of the tenants in the building, stages a daring rescue mission. Reese secretly sneaks into the apartment and manages to subdue the robbers. He leaves with Lloyd just before the police arrive, but Lloyd, much to his surprise, decides to turn himself in to the police and confess everything. At the end of the episode, Reese meets Lloyd, who has agreed to testify against his former partners and has earned lenient treatment, having been consigned to house arrest. Reese and Zoe leave the neighbourhood, telling everyone that they will "divorce," a lie that serves to maintain their cover and allows them to disappear.
The episode also features a series of flashbacks that focus heavily on Finch. They begin in 2004 when he meets his friend Ingram, who is going through a divorce. During this conversation, Finch explains how he goes to a park to help the Machine study people. In 2005, the Machine has identified one of the regular park visitors who appears to be perfect, without any flaw. This individual is Christine Hendricks, who would eventually become Finch’s future fiancée. The final flashback, set in 2006, shows Finch finally approaching her.
Written by Nic Van Zeebroeck and Michael Sopczynski, this episode is very safe, very generic, and very predictable. It follows a standard television narrative arc that the viewer can foresee almost from the opening credits. However, what makes it watchable is the solid direction by Félix Alcalá, the good acting by Alicia Witt, and some tantalising hints that the relationship between Reese and Zoe might not be completely professional. The script very consistently takes "the high road" from the title, with Graham/Lloyd all the time trying to do the "right thing," even if it makes him face criminal responsibility for his past.
More memorable, however, are the flashbacks, which provide some sort of fan service for viewers who consider Finch their favourite character. They not only provide valuable character background but also show that Finch literally found the love of his life through the Machine. The brief scene where Harold Emerson appears together with his real-life wife, Carrie Preston, must have been a delight for their fans, adding a layer of authenticity and warmth to the narrative that anchors the episode’s emotional core.
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
