Critical (Person of Interest)


"Critical" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television drama series Person of Interest. It is the 30th overall episode of the series and is written by Sean Hennen and directed by Frederick E. O. Toye. It aired on CBS in the United States and on CTV in Canada on November 15, 2012.

Plot

The episode opens with Reese and Finch bewildered that they have a repeated number. As Reese is wondering who would be 'dumb enough to get in a life-threatening situation again', he encounters Leon Tao from "The Contingency" this time on the run from the Russian Mafia due to a scam involving Gold farming. They bring him to the library and place him under protective detention.
They then learn that the newest number is top-flight surgeon Maddy Enright, who is due to save the life of an energy company CEO, Mr Veldt, undergoing secret surgery. Maddy is approached by former MI6 agent Alistair Wesley, and reveals to have snipers on Maddys wife Amy, and tells her that she is to follow a specific sequence of instructions that will cause Veldt to accidentally bleed to death on the operating table. While Finch is at the hospital delaying the surgery, Reese takes out the sniper, only to learn that Wesley has an entire team of ex-SAS operatives working for him. Finch asks Leon to use the library systems to try and find out who hired Wesley and why he wants Veldt dead, then approaches Maddy revealing his actions in delaying the surgery and explaining that he is here to help. She introduces him as an extra pair of hands to the surgical team.
Leon finds out that following Veldts dismissal over offshore wind-farming projects, someone is shorting stock, which will crash when Veldt dies on the table making them a fortune, and he traces it back to someone with inside knowledge of the surgery who informed Wesley. Fusco arrives to help Reese, and starts shouting at a disrespectful patrol officer to create a distraction, allowing Reese to guide Amy out of the park. Maddy decides that she won't do it. She then learns that one of the nurses has been paid off by Wesley to act as a backup, who then nicks the artery and stops Maddy from stopping the bleeding. Finch knocks her out allowing Maddy to save Veldt. Reese takes Amy to reunite with Maddy while the boys discreetly exit.
Meanwhile, Carter handles the case of a murdered man with her business card in his pocket, finding out that Agent Snow is the murderer. On confronting Snow, he reveals to her that he has been strapped to a bomb suit and says that 'she', referring to Reese's handler, Kara Stanton, presumed to have been killed by the air strike in China, is planning something big. Detective Carter informs Reese of her meeting with Agent Snow, upon which Reese offers her a choice of staying out of the case as she has people who will miss her, unlike Finch and Reese.
Reese and Finch release Leon from their protection, revealing that thanks to his help Veldt survived the surgery and as a result of the conspirators will take a huge loss. They ask him to try not to get into more trouble, though they are quietly confident his number will come up again. Wesley then calls to congratulate them for their victory, revealing that he and Reese have crossed paths, and alludes that they will probably cross again.

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Critical" was seen by an estimated 14.57 million household viewers and gained a 3.1/8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. This was a slight decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 14.87 million viewers with a 2.9/8 in the 18-49 demographics. With these ratings, Person of Interest was the third most watched show on CBS for the night, beating Elementary but behind Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory, second on its timeslot and fourth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind Grey's Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory.
With Live +7 DVR factored in, the episode was watched by 17.97 million viewers with a 4.1 in the 18-49 demographics.

Critical reviews

"Critical" received generally positive reviews from critics. Phil Dyess-Nugent of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "C+" grade and wrote, "Person Of Interest will be taking its Thanksgiving break next week, and this episode makes me wonder if it needs the week off even more than I do. 'Critical' is by no means a dreadful episode; the show is now at the point where it can put itself on autopilot for an hour, and what's pleasurable about its formula still comes through, even it's only faintly audible over the sound of the snoring. But this episode feels as it exists mainly to get a few things done that will matter more further down the line — mainly, introduce a new, smooth - talking supervillain, and nudge along the subplot about Agent Snow's enslavement by Reese's former CIA partner. These things get done, and they don't take much time away from the story. But the story itself still feels like filler."
Tim Surette of TV.com wrote "'Critical' was an average episode of Person of Interest that didn't take too many steps with the overall plot. Carter's storyline was the equivalent of a Post-It note reminding us that Stanton is still in the mix, and the case of the week was resolved fairly easily, without any mysteries unraveled."
Sean McKenna of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote "I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but Person of Interest just keeps on dishing out well written, directed and acted episodes. Taking a creative spin and turning a lifesaving doctor into a potential killer, 'Critical' even upped the ante by introducing another nemesis to Reese and Finch's rogues gallery, sending Carter deeper into Reese's secret world and getting Finch out of that dusty library he calls home. It's tremendous how a show that could so easily be trapped within standard procedural parameters continues to explore outside them."