History Recap / PersonOfInterestS04E20

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: if it isn't Sencha green tea, Finch doesn't want it.

The Machine gives Finch the number of Chase Patterson, the only survivor of a wealthy family that was murdered in an apparent home invasion in 2008. Chase, the "black sheep" of the family with a substance abuse problem, quickly became the prime suspect, and certainly looked guilty when he fled the country to hide out in France. Chase has now come back to the United States, and when Reese pulls the case file, he discovers that Carter was the original investigator. While the rest of Team Machine deals with an escalation in the violence between Elias and the Bortherhood, Reese follows in Carter's footsteps and finds himself on a perilous personal journey.

** When Finch is in the car with Reese and Carter, Reese asks him if he's brought his "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E13 stakeout bottle]]."

** During the stakeout scenes, the usual Machine timeline and date-stamps are missing, a clue that this is no ordinary flashback.

* MythologyGag: In the original draft of the pilot script, the first scene was Reese standing on the bridge, deciding whether or not to jump. In the episode as filmed, it's referenced when Finch says:
-->I know you've spent the last couple of months trying to drink yourself to death. I know you're contemplating more efficient ways to do it.

* Reese turning up the heater in the car. Later revealed to be the [[FeverDreamEpisode in-hallucination]] reflection of [[HarsherInHindsight the "warm" sensation a hypothermia victim gets]] [[CerebusRetcon as their body loses the ability to regulate temperature.]]
* On the lighter side, Root's cover once again puts her in a bizarre disguise.

* InterruptedSuicide: Retroactively. John's hallucination of Carter implies that she stopped Reese from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge

[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E01 back in the pilot]].

* InterruptedSuicide: Retroactively. John's hallucination of Carter implies that she stopped Reese from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge [[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E01 back in the pilot]].
** MythologyGag: In the original draft of the pilot script, the first scene was Reese standing on the bridge, deciding whether or not to jump. In the episode as filmed, it's referenced when Finch says:
-->I know you've spent the last couple of months trying to drink yourself to death. I know you're contemplating more efficient ways to do it.

* RunningGag: Reese turning up the heater in the car. Later revealed to be the [[FeverDreamEpisode in-hallucination]] reflection of [[HarsherInHindsight the "warm" sensation a hypothermia victim gets]] [[CerebusRetcon as their body loses the ability to regulate temperature.]]

* InterfaceScrew: The Machine's interface is almost completely absent in the episode, only seen tracking the POI and Reese for a few seconds and declaring the two out of its range. There are no transitions between scenes or flashbacks, [[SpecialEditionTitle nor is there an intro]].

Reese finds himself on a perilous personal journey when he takes on a cold case.

** The conversation between Reese and Carter on the topic of whether or not people can change recalls the last scene of "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E04 Cura Te Ipsim]]"

* DramaticIrony: Root says she's sure Reese is fine ... while he's slowly dying of a gunshot wound.

* InterfaceScrew: Reese's [[{{Flashback}} flashbacks]] of Carter don't have the usual "Machine accessing historical feeds" transition sequence. Justified since Reese first imagines her investigation and then hallucinates her after he's shot. The Machine's interface in general is almost completely absent in the episode.

** MythologyGag: in the original draft of the pilot script, the first scene was Reese standing on the bridge, deciding whether or not to jump. In the episode as filmed, it's referenced when Finch says:
-->I know you've spent the last couple of months trying to drink yourself to death. I know you're contemplating '''more efficient ways to do it.'''

* ShownTheirWork: the portrayal of the effects of severe hypothermia is very accurate.
* SpecialEditionTitle: no opening narration, just a title card at the end of the teaser.

* RunningGag: Reese turning up the heater in the car. Later revealed to be the [[FeverDreamEpisode in-hallucination]] reflection of [[HarsherInHindsight the "warm" sensation a hypothermia victim gets as their body loses the ability to regulate temperature.]]

** When Finch is in the car with Reese and Carter, Reese asks him if he's brought his "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E13 stakeout bottle."

* CallBack: The conversation between Reese and Carter on the topic of whether or not people can change recalls the last scene of "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E04 Cura Te Ipsim]]"

** During the stakeout scenes, the usual Machine timeline and date-stamps are missing, a clue that this is no ordinary flashback.

** During the stake out scenes, the usual Machine timeline and date-stamps are missing, a clue that this is no ordinary flashback.
** Resse constantly turning up the heat in the car is one of the early hints that something weird is happening during the stake out.

** MythologyGag: in the original draft of the pilot script, the first scene was Reese standing on the bridge, deciding whether or not to jump. In the episode as filmed, Finch says:
-->I know you've spent the last couple of months trying to drink yourself to death. I know you're contemplating more efficient ways to do it.

** Many of Reese's actions during the stakeout scenes (eg constantly turning up the heat) are slightly out of character for him and make the audience feel that something serious is going on that we are not seeing.
* RunningGag: Reese turning up he heater in the car. Later revealed to be the [[FeverDreamEpisode in-hallucination]] reflection of [[HarsherInHindsight the "warm" sensation a hypothermia victim gets as their body loses the ability to regulate temperature.]]

* InsaneTrollLogic: In Afghanistan, Reese stumbled upon a group of dead Rangers and Taliban, all of whom had pictures of loved ones. He decided he'd be good at his job if he didn't have a loved one to hold onto.
** Apparently Reese is a troper...FatalFamilyPhoto ring a bell?

** {{Foreshadowing}}: the usual Machine timeline and date-stamps are missing, a clue that this is no ordinary flashback

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: In-universe, Finch knows that Reese's silence is unusual for him.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Chase disappears after Reese is shot, when he could have easily saved him.

* InterfaceScrew: Reese's [[{{Flashback}} flashbacks]] of Carter don't have the usual "Machine accessing historical feeds" transition sequence. Justified since Reese first imagines her investigation and then hallucinates her after he's shot.

* SpecialEditionTitle: no opening narration, just a title card at the end of he teaser.

* SpecialEditionTitles: no opening narration, just a title card at the end of he teaser.

* {{Cliffhanger}}: Reese is near death. An unknown car is approaching.

* TheBusCameBack:
** Detective Carter in flashbacks and hallucinations.
** [[DirtyCop Terney]], as Carter's partner during the Patterson muder investigation.

* {{Cliffhanger}}: Reese is near death.

* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Detective Carter]] in a flashback.