History Recap / PersonOfInterestS03E17

* TitleConfusion: IMDB called it "Root Path," which is accurate in that "[=/=]" represents the root location in a [[UsefulNotes/{{UNIX}} Unix or Linux]] operating system, or more literally, just the root.

* [[OneLetterTitle One Punctuation Mark Title]]: "/", though it's [[NoPronunciationGuide supposed to be read as]] "Root Path"; see TitleConfusion below.

Read more at: https://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=195&t=12111

* SimpleStaff

* NotSoDifferent:

* RealityEnsues: When Root's connection to Machine is cut, she is quickly overwhelmed by Decima's agents. After all, she doesn't have any special training like they do.

* HealItWithBooze: Finch winces more than Shaw does when he sees her pour alcohol over her shoulder injury.
* HelloNurse: The cons WolfWhistle appropriately when Root steps on the bus.

--> (''beat.'')

-->'''Shaw:''' ''(examining her injury)'' Keep 'em dry. Change the dressings every 72 hours.

* HelloNurse: The cons wolf-whistle appropriately when Root steps on the bus.

* GetIntoJailFree: Root hands some eggs to Cyrus, then throws one at a passing patrol car, so he will get arrested and (temporarily) away from Decima and Vigilance.

** Rejected when Collier offers Shaw a chance for revenge against the government that betrayed her.

* WeCanRuleTogether: See NotSoDifferent. Averted with Samaritan, who intends to wipe out Team Machine the moment it comes on line.

* DoesNotLikeGuns: Cyrus

* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Frying Pan]]: Root, among other things, is directed to heat up a frying pan in Cyrus's apartment. When Vigilance later is about to assault Root and Cyrus in the apartment, Root is about to take them out with her gun. Cyrus strongly objects to this, saying guns make him very nervous and The Machine points Root to that frying pan in response. Root cheers up and, [[BaitAndSwitch unlike what one might expect]], [[BoringButPractical makes tear gas with it]]. It then crosses into ChekhovsBoomerang territory when Reese shows up in the apartment and uses the same frying pan [[ImprobableWeaponUser in a more blunt fashion]] to finish up the Vigilance {{Mooks}}.

* TemptingFate: Fusco says he's not handing over Cyrus to anyone without a warrant. Root produces both a genuine warrant and an FBI badge.

* FakeOutMakeOut

* PublicSecretMessage: Finch is emailed spam for a '[[TheLoinsSleepTonight performance enhancing]]' drug. The others quip that the Machine is trying to tell him something, but Finch discovers a message encoded in the picture.

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Greer.

--> '''Root''': In the first thirty minutes after Samaritan comes online, a lot of people are gonna be killed. But they're gonna start with four: you, me, your helper monkey and Shaw. And there won't be a damn thing anyone, including your Machine can do to stop it. You think I don't care about people, Harold? I'm doing all of this to save you.

* NoSell: Root gets herself upgraded with a customized cochlear implant that can communicate with the Machine through cellular signals, WiFi, Bluetooth, and ''infrasound''.

* UnflinchingWalk: An upgraded Root in god mode strides through the lobby of the building, shooting Decima agents without breaking stride and (in one case) [[ImprobableAimingSkills without even looking at them]].

* FriendOrIdolDecision: Root is given one of these at the ending. She would have gladly chosen to stop Decima and recover the chip but The Machine wouldn't let her.

* YouWillKnowWhatToDo: A variation in the BatmanColdOpen where Root doesn't give anything to the criminal she helped spring, but simply sends him into the lobby of a building with no further instructions. He is then promptly asked to sign for a package that The Machine needs him to intercept. Once that's done and the package is in his hands, Root quickly ushers him out before the original intended recipient comes along.

'''Root''': Well, he's got some interesting ideas about metaphysical determinism and I think he's a Doris Day fan?

Root returns to New York, under instructions to meet up with Cyrus Wells, an investment banker turned janitor. Shortly after making contact with him, Root is approached by Finch, who tells her that Cyrus' number came up less than a minute after she first talked with him. Whatever she's there to do with him, it's going to put his life in great danger.

** "The Machine offered me a job, She never said it would be easy."

* BaitAndSwitch: Reese is standing on a street looking up at a surveillance camera. A red light next to the lens blinks, then a nearby payphone rings--but it's Root calling, not The Machine.

* BittersweetEnding / YouCantThwartStageOne: Team Machine and the [=PoI=] all survive the encounter, but Decima gets away with the microchip they need to make Samaritan functional, and Finch, Reese, Root, and Shaw are all at the top of their hit list.

* CatchPhrase: "It's all part of the plan." Doubles as a sort of [[ArcWords arc phrase]] for the episode.

* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Frying Pan]]: Root, among other things, is directed to heat up a frying pan in Cyrus's apartment. When Vigilance later is about to assault Root and Cyrus in the apartment, Root is about to take them out with her gun. Cyrus strongly objects to this, saying guns make him very nervous and The Machine points Root to that frying pan in response. Root cheers up and, [[BaitAndSwitch unlike what one might expect]], [[BoringButPractical makes tear gas with it]].
** And then later on Reese shows up in the apartment and uses the same frying pan [[ImprobableWeaponUser in a more blunt fashion]] to finish up the Vigilance {{Mooks}}.

* DivineConflict: What Root says is coming if Samaritan goes on line; it's first priority will be to take out the Machine.

* GetIntoJailFree: Root hands some eggs to Cyrus, then throws one at a passing patrol car, so he will get arrested and away from Decima and Vigilance.

* NotSoDifferent: Collier gives one to Shaw in an attempt to recruit her.
** ReasonYouSuckSpeech: Shaw counters by stating that ''how'' one goes about doing things is just as important as ''what'' you do and ''why'', Collier's methods make him just another terrorist, and [[PreAsskickingOneLiner she kills terrorists for a living]].
*** Doubles as a ShutUpHannibal.

* [[OneLetterTitle One Punctuation Mark Title]]

* RedemptionRejection / [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Anti-Heroism Cannot Comprehend Good]]:

-->'''Root:''' I love it when you're PlayingDoctor.

* VillainForgotToLevelGrind: The first time Decima take on Root, they successfully jam her contact with the Machine leaving her powerless. Later she has the Machine's access put directly into her head, making Decima unable to do it again.