Season 4, Episode 17
Karma
Finch: Vengeance will not bring closure, you should know that by now. It didn't for Carter, it didn't for Shaw, and it won't bring Edwards any peace if he's targeted the wrong man.
Reese: Finch, the law doesn't always work. Edwards is correcting an injustice. If we deny him this, it will destroy him.
Finch: Don't make the mistake of assuming that you're the only person that's been down this path, Mr. Reese.
Reese: So tell me, Finch, where did that path take you?
This week's number is a psychologist whose wife was murdered eight years ago. He becomes an advocate and therapist for victims of violent crimes...and uses the information gleaned from his therapy sessions to exact revenge against the perpetrators who injured his patients.
In flashbacks to 2010, Finch sets out to avenge Nathan Ingram's murder by Northern Lights.
- And I Must Scream: The Machine. Literally. Finch ensured that it wouldn't have a voice (hence why it strings together discordant phrases), so all it can do is watch as Finch tries to kill Corwin.
- Continuity Nod:
- Finch's terrorizing Alicia is probably part of why she was Properly Paranoid.
- Iris gets John to open up to her by making him talk about losing Jessica.
- In the 2010 flashbacks, the Machine identifies Harold with the alias Grace knew him by, Harold Martin.
- Alicia Corwin calls the Office of Special Counsel to warn him that someone knows about Northern Lights, showing how Finch knew they were associated with the Machine cover up.
- Denton Weeks is also on the list Finch is compiling.
- Delicious Distraction: Reese has Finch bring a carnita (pork burrito) with him while breaking into Edwards' apartment. Finch uses it to silence Edwards' dog Hector.
- Foregone Conclusion: We know how Alicia died, so clearly Harold wouldn't go through with his plans.
- Framing the Guilty Party: Edwards' specialty.
- Genius Cripple: Finch in 2010, bordering on Evil Cripple.
- I Know You're Watching Me: Finch to the Machine when it keeps ringing to try and stop him.
- Minion with an F in Evil: Alicia is the only member of Northern Lights to express genuine regret for their actions, as opposed to regarding it as a Necessary Evil. Justified as Nathan Ingram was her friend as well.
- Miscarriage of Justice: Both Edwards' motive and means for vigilantism: manipulating the people who "got away" by framing them and sending them to prison.
- Morality Chain: The Machine tried to be this for Finch.
- Morally Ambiguous Doctorate: Specifically, a psychiatrist.
- My God, What Have I Done?:
- Finch when he realized that Corwin had no part in Ingram's murder.
- Alicia likewise.
"Everything we did was to make the world a safer place, but we strayed from the path. I admit it. I have so many regrets, but it’s grown so big, and we’re so, so small. I don’t know who you are or how you know all this, but maybe you’re right. Maybe Nathan’s death, it is my fault. I saw the signs. I ignored them. Maybe I deserve this." - O.O.C. Is Serious Business: In 2010, after the ferry bombing, Finch (still injured) sets out to kill Alicia Corwin and the others involved in Northern Lights.
- Saying Too Much: Edwards used the same speech verbatim three separate times when describing his wife's murder.
- Snark-to-Snark CombatFusco: Hey Glasses, tell him about all your nutball friends. Maybe he can give you guys a group therapy discount.Reese: I think by now you count as one of Harold's nutball friends, Lionel.
- Talking Down the Suicidal: Finch has to talk Edwards into not killing himself and framing Morris for the death.
- The Unreveal:
- Whether Morris killed Edwards' wife. The Machine accesses the file... Smash to Black.
- While Iris gets John to briefly allude to his grief over Jessica's death, he still does not reveal what he did to Peter Arndt.
- Vigilante Man:
- Edwards.
- In 2010, Finch nearly became this.
- Wham Shot: In the flashbacks, Finch being designated as a non-relevant would-be perpetrator and holding a homemade pipe bomb.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Implied with Alicia, who gets a brush off when she tries to inform the Office of Special Counsel about Finch's death threat.
