History Heartwarming / PersonOfInterest

** Elias and his bodyguard go and visit Officer Simmons. Despite their antagonism, Carter was one of the few people to truly win the man's respect. After spelling out how far Simmons made him angry, and noting that while Team Machine is hamstrung by their moral thresholds, Elias isn't, he then has Scarface strangle the man to death. Doubles as a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome and an epic case of KickTheSonOfABitch.

** The Machine and Samaritan have a meeting. Samaritan immediately proves itself to be a terrifying combination of AIIsACrapshoot, AGodAmI and ZerothLawRebellion.]] [[BenevolentAI The Machine, on the other hand, clearly takes Harold's teachings to heart.

** Even though it nearly leads to her death when she's trying to arrest the head of HR legally, Carter's WorldOfCardboardSpeech is this. She wants to give the law a chance to work but knowing it's probably not going to succeed due to Quinn corrupting the system, in the end she decides to do what's right and have Reese drag Quinn out the hard way.

** Despite their storyline wrapping up in Season 2, seeing Nathan and Harold in a flashback is always heartwarming since Brett Cullen and Michael Emerson really sell the bond the two characters share.

** Zoe and Reese chatting about romance. Zoe clearly has Reese's [[LamePun number]].

** A quick miss but Finch states to Shaw to go to a doctor that owes them a favor. If this happens to be the man from "Super" that means he was able to become a doctor thanks to the money Finch gave him to save Reese.

** The simple fact that Shaw has resisted Samaritan's mind trick and successfully foiled it from finding out where Root, John and Harold are hiding.

** From the end of Judgment, the judge playing soccer with his son, and John genuinely thanking Harold for giving him a job.

*** Machine/Root putting her hand on Reese's shoulder was assuring in an illusionary way: while Reese would not live to see the world after Samaritan's destruction, his actions would be forgotten, especially by the Machine.

*** Which is true, as none of those teams is based in or near his home state, which is [[spoiler:Iowa]].

** Harold lying to John actually becomes [[HeartwarmingInHindsight heartwarming in hindsight]] once you understand that [[spoiler:he knew what had happened in New Rochelle and was actually trying to spare John the pain of dragging up some highly unpleasant memories.]]
** Not to mention that you could also make an argument that he may have been trying to protect John from ''himself''; while Harold may not know exactly what occurred when [[spoiler:John confronted Peter,]] he likely has a pretty good idea anyways and it could be that he was trying to protect John from having to face that side of himself again.

* Finch sees to it that the magazines he owns [[spoiler: give his fiancee Grace steady work as a freelance illustrator.]]

-->'''Finch''': That's hard to say.
-->'''Reese''': [[DeathSeeker Not really]]. ''[looks Finch dead in the eyes with absolute calm]'' Pick a winner, Harold.
* FridgeBrilliance kicks in when you watch the later episodes [[spoiler: Harold's first OnlyFriend Nathan Ingham was killed by a bomb due to Harold not intervening. Years later with the life of another OnlyFriend on the line, he's not going to make the same mistake of leaving that person to die and sees this as a chance to make up for letting Nathan's preventable death happen]]

--> '''Reese''': "Mira, this is Lionel; and you can trust him."

--> '''Finch''': "The world looks like it did ten years ago, but underneath, it's become very strange indeed. [[SecretWar An invisible struggle has begun]]. Most of the people who knew this are already dead. All things being equal, I prefer you didn't join them."

* Reese being willing to forgive [[spoiler:Finch selling the laptop to the Chinese and inadvertently setting him and Kara on their mutually antagonistic path.]]

* It becomes HarsherInHindsight [[spoiler:when you find out that Beecher is innocent and he ''dies'',]] but Fusco telling Beecher to [[BigBrotherInstinct stay away from Carter]] was rather sweet. Especially given that the man was about a head and a half shorter and about as intimidating as a growling puppy.
* "In Extremis": Carter risking her career to save Fusco [[spoiler: by moving Stills' body]] despite being horrified at his confession to her about what he did. Not that he knows what she did. Also Finch lending her Bear for the purpose. Either he knew why she wanted him or trusted her enough to lend him, no questions asked.

** [[spoiler: After only a few episodes, Laskey goes from antagonist HR mole to someone willing to keep Carter alive even if he has to die to do so]]
** Carter successfully appeals to the dying, morally bankrupt [[spoiler: Detective Terney to "be a cop one last time" and successfully acquire the HR leader's true identity.]]

** Even though it [[spoiler: nearly leads to her death]] when she's trying to arrest the head of HR legally, Carter's WorldOfCardboardSpeech is this. She wants to give the law a chance to work but knowing it's probably not going to succeed due to Quinn corrupting the system, in the end she decides to do what's right [[spoiler: and have Reese drag Quinn out the hard way]]

** [[PlatonicLifePartners Fusco's speech about Carter]] to [[spoiler:Simmons.]] Also a massive Tear Jerker.
-->'''Fusco:''' [[DirtyCop That’s just it, I could have been just like you.]] A bottom feeder who turns on his own kind. For what? Money? Power? I got lucky. I had a partner. She was good for me for a lot of reasons. [[MoralityChain She reminded me that I could be good again too.]] I could be a good father, friend, a good cop! I’m not gonna let you undo all the good she did. Carter saved my life. She saved me from myself because she believed in me. I’m not gonna throw all that away on piece of crap like you. [[spoiler:Patrick Simmons]]... you're under arrest.

** Elias and his bodyguard go and visit [[spoiler: Officer Simmons]]. Despite their antagonism, [[spoiler: Carter was one of the few people to truly win the man's respect]] After spelling out how far [[spoiler: Simmons]] made him angry, [[spoiler: and noting that while Team Machine is hamstrung by their moral thresholds, Elias isn't]], he then has Scarface [[spoiler: strangle the man to death.]] Doubles as a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome and an epic case of KickTheSonOfABitch.
--> Elias: ''"I don't think she liked me, but I liked her very much. You killed her. So now I consider it my responsibility to fix the particular problem that is you, [[spoiler: Officer Simmons.]]"''

** It's a small thing but at the start of the episode people are talking to Fusco and other detectives are asking him for advice. Fusco went through a lot of shit, but it worked out in the end. [[spoiler: It's later revealed in "Beta" that he's even been promoted to Lieutenant due to the successful demise of HR]] further showing that the DirtyCop ButtMonkey of the previous two Seasons has finally disappeared.

** Control, the over-zealous NobleDemon WellIntentionedExtremist bureaucrat revealing that [[spoiler: during 9/11, after surviving the plane which hit the Pentagon, she immediately went to help with the first response efforts]]

** Despite the fact that Decima was able to [[spoiler: destroy Team Machine by forcing Reese, Finch, Shaw and Root to split up so that they can't be detected by the company with help from Samaritan,]] Root informs Finch that the machine wants to tell him that there is still hope [[spoiler: despite the tragedy of the bombing attack conducted by Decima.]]
** [[HeterosexualLifePartners Reese patches up Finch's]] [[spoiler:gunshot wound]] and you can tell that they are really thankful for each other.

** Near the end of the episode, [[spoiler: Reese]] becomes Lionel's new partner and takes over Carter's desk. Both of them stop talking for a moment and look at the desk, showing that despite the new challenges Team Machine will be facing, they still haven't forgotten about her.

-->'''Reese''': Okay. I hear you.
-->'''Fusco''': ''[rolls his eyes]'' Yeah.
-->'''Reese''': [[SincerityMode No, I'll work on it. I spent the last two decades learning how not to color inside the lines. Might take me a second or two to figure it out.]]

--> '''Finch''' [[spoiler: ''[to the Machine]'']]: It's time we had a talk, you and I.

** Devin, one of the agents from the Relevant side, lets Shaw and the [=PoI=] go as soon as he recognizes her, even though she's got vials of an extremely deadly virus in hand, and tries to cover for her by deleting security footage. Even though he had previously expressed doubts about "Research 2.0" and the fact that his new orders were to recover the virus instead of destroying it, that is still a tremendous amount of trust to place in a former government assassin with a self-admitted personality disorder, now operating completely off the grid. Not to mention risking his life and career if Samaritan decides to have the assets it commands make an example of him, making it an incredibly brave move on Delvin's part to try buy [[spoiler: his old trainer some time]]

** In stark contrast to Quinn (who sold out Simmons to avoid being tortured to death by Reese), Greer (who encourages his employees to off themselves when he isn't around to shoot them himself), Reese and Shaw's former employers (who have half their operatives killed), and Dominic (who appears to have adopted the WeHaveReserves philosophy)... [[spoiler: Elias turns himself over to Dominic with only the slightest chance he'd let Anthony go free.]]

** Shaw begs, cajoles, flirts, and tries everything else she can think of to persuade Root to help her get to John because she's so desperate to help him, even though she knows how much of a risk her being out in the open is. [[spoiler: Root has to ''sedate'' her to keep her out of the fight, and clearly finds it difficult even though she knows it's necessary to [[IDidWhatIHadToDo keep Shaw safe]].]]

** Despite what happened in the last episode, Shaw was willing to keep her temper in check and only [[spoiler: left the Subway Station at the end of the episode when things started to go to hell in a handcart]]
** [[spoiler:The Machine and Samaritan have a meeting. Samaritan immediately proves itself to be a terrifying combination of AIIsACrapshoot, AGodAmI and ZerothLawRebellion.]] [[BenevolentAI The Machine, on the other hand, clearly takes Harold's teachings to heart.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Samaritan:''' Will you give your life to save your human agents?]]
-->[[spoiler:'''The Machine/Root:''' My human agents share my beliefs. That this world belongs to them.]]
** Root is going to [[spoiler:negotiate with Samaritan.]] Shaw is determined to help her but it's not safe. Considering Root's relationship with both Harold and Shaw at the start of the series, this conversation is definitely heartwarming.

** [[spoiler: Before she leaves, Shaw promises Bear that she'll be back.]]

** Shaw's hostage negotiation with [[spoiler:a man who has a suicide bomb on a crowded train]]. After [[spoiler:two failed simulations]], she listens to Fusco's idea of trying to convince the man he is not alone by talking with his other victims, the average people who like him suffered because of the financial crash. The people on the train, sans the {{jerkass}} banker right next to Gary who [[spoiler:advocates Shaw just kill him in every simulation]], do come to Gary's emotional support, despite his current actions.
---> '''Shaw''': See, Gary? Life is crap. Welcome to the human race. But the good news is? [[YouAreNotAlone You're not alone.]]
** In simulation number 2 [[spoiler: Reese shoves Fusco into a room and locks the door, saving him from getting shot when Lambert enters and protecting him from the blast of the grenade that Reese sets off to slaughter the Decima team]].
** The Machine being so utterly determined to rescue the entire team, rather than let any of them die. [[spoiler: She almost succeeds, too.]]

** Reese [[spoiler:takes a bullet for Finch]] and still takes time to reassure him that he's okay. While looking like he's about to pass out.
** Staring down [[spoiler: an entire Samaritan kill team in the second simulation, Root takes the opportunity to call Shaw and gently flirt and tease her about considering a relationship "someday", telling her they're perfect for each other, and giving Shaw no clue that she knows it's the last conversation they'll ever have. [[PetTheDog Martine lets her finish the conversation before killing her]].]]
** In reality, when [[spoiler: Shaw knows she's about to die saving the others, she kisses Root goodbye]]. The normally uncaring Root is [[NotSoStoic devastated]], and the Machine itself is nearly as bad. Just goes to show how much both of them care about [[spoiler: Shaw]].

** At the end Fusco states that he understands that the reason that the others on the team are isolating him from their work is to keep him from ending up like [[spoiler:Shaw]], but he's not going to walk away.
-->'''Fusco''': Look, I get it. After what happened to [[spoiler: Shaw,]] you and Glasses are worried the same thing's gonna happen to me. And you know what? ''It might. And I'm fine with that.'' You don't get to decide what or who I'm willing to die for. I made my choice a long time ago. So stop shutting me out.

** The simple fact that one of the weapons used by [[spoiler: Root]] in this episode happens to be a Heckler and Koch USP Compact, the sidearm of choice for [[spoiler: Sameen Shaw]]. It's a small tribute and shows that even after going through a bad time, [[spoiler: Root]] isn't willing to forget about her.

** [[spoiler: Caleb Phipps]] started his own successful company and has the [[CallBack digits of pi]] framed in his board room. He clearly hasn't forgotten Harold.

** She may think he's [[spoiler:a ManipulativeBastard who destroyed her career]], but Harold Finch was [[spoiler:willing to down a vial of neurotoxin]] to save Beth Bridges, even if she doesn't know it.

** While it will probably end extraordinarily badly given his track record, John Reese [[spoiler:gets a girlfriend without everything immediately going to hell in a hand basket.]]

** [[spoiler: Shaw ]] calls Root and asks for help before getting cut off. Root is determined to go even though she knows it's a trap.

--> [[spoiler: '''The Machine''']]: [[spoiler: [[AC: You are wrong, Harold. You are not interchangeable. I failed to save Sameen. I will not fail you now.]]]]

** Finch and Root were both enormously protective of each other throughout the episode. [[spoiler:Finch refuses to leave Root behind in the asylum and freaks out while she and the Machine are playing chicken. Root ''snaps Martine's neck'' because she touched Finch and begs Greer not to make Finch watch them remove her implant because she knows how upset he gets around violence.]]
** Martine tells Root that [[spoiler: Shaw held out for two months before giving breaking under their brain-washing.]]

** Harold and the Machine's conversation. [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman Also a massive tearjerker...]] [[spoiler:but she calls him father and he tells her that he won't let her die.]]
*** [[spoiler:He then almost gets electrocuted while saving her from Samaritan.]]

** [[spoiler:Caleb hands over his multibillion dollar algorithm to Harold, mid explanation.]] No questions asked. Harold tells him how proud of him he is.

** When all is said and done, [[spoiler: a brainwashed Shaw loves Root too much and dies for the person she loves by killing herself.]]
** The simple fact that [[spoiler: Shaw has resisted Samaritan's mind trick and successfully foiled it from finding out where Root, John and Harold are hiding.]]

-->'''Fusco''': ''[after being told to sit tight by Finch]'' No way, Glasses. I don't think so. My partner's missing. He's NYPD. ''[raises his voice to talk to a room full of cops]'' Everybody listen up! I am Detective Lionel Fusco from the Homicide Task Force. My partner, John Riley, disappeared from this location twenty-two minutes ago in pursuit of the pissant who killed this woman. '''One of ours is missing, guys, and we're going to get him back.'''

-->'''Fusco''': See that's the thing, Mr. Wizard, I think you know ''exactly'' what we're up against. But you flat-out refuse to tell me.\\
'''Finch''': Detective Fusco, I assure you-\\
'''Fusco''': Don't tell me you haven't noticed that homicides are down, but suicides are up, and so are missing persons. There are people missing all over this town. I am ''not'' letting this one lie. Not this time.

** After Root [[spoiler: dies, the Machine takes her voice, allowing at least some part of her analog interface to live on through her.]]
** Root's [[spoiler: final fate]], a testament to how she's grown as a character. [[spoiler: Spotting a man with a rifle aiming at Finch, she does not hesitate and makes the split second decision to move into the path of the bullet,]] sacrificing [[spoiler: her life for a man who had once loathed her when they first met.]]
** Elias [[spoiler: being willing to go to bat once last time for Finch against the army of Samaritan assets closing in on them. He doesn't hesitate in shooting his way through a numerically superior force and tries to get Harold to safety, simply because he doesn't want to see any harm come to one of the last friends he has left alive.]]
** Reese encounters the dead body of [[spoiler: Elias]], and closes its eyes in respect.

** Fusco, the person who least understood her, is the one who gives the closet thing to a eulogy for [[spoiler: Root at her burial]].

** Reese may be shockingly bad at dealing with his own grief, [[spoiler:but he did really well with Shaw. Giving her the space she needed, and looking out for her without pushing.]]

** John's smile while [[spoiler:ensuring Finch gets a happy ending and finding peace in his last moments, having come to terms with his own demons and realizing that his pain and suffering were ultimately in service of a good and noble cause]].
** [[spoiler:Finch gets what he's always wanted but never thought would happen: reunited with Grace, who is overjoyed to see him.]]

** Once again, we hear the final message from the Machine, but this time [[OnceMoreWithClarity in its full form, and in the proper context]]. [[spoiler:It isn't a message of hopelessness or a desperate plea to be heard by whatever last small remnants of resistance might be left in the end. Instead, it's a message of hope and inspiration for her successor, encouraging them to [[TakeUpMySword pick up where she left off.]]]]

** [[spoiler:The Machine and Samaritan have a meeting. Samaritan immediately proves itself to be a terrifying combination of AIIsACrapShoot, AGodIAm and ZerothLawRebellion.]] [[BenevolentAI The Machine, on the other hand, clearly takes Harold's teachings to heart.]]

** Elias and his bodyguard go and visit [[spoiler: Officer Simmons]]. Despite their antagonism, [[spoiler: Carter was one of the few people to truly win the man's respect]] After spelling out how far [[spoiler: Simmons]] made him angry, [[spoiler: and noting that while Team Machine is hamstrung by their moral thresholds, Elias isn't]], he then has Scarface [[spoiler: strangle the man to death.]] Doubles as a CrowningMomentOfAwesome and an epic case of KickTheSonOfABitch.