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1'''BEWARE OF SPOILERS!''' To prevent the page from being whited out entirely, '''only spoilers from the final season (5) are whited out!'''
2
3[[foldercontrol]]
4
5[[folder:Ingram]]
6!!Nathan C. Ingram
7[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ingram_nathan_c_8639.png]]
8[[caption-width-right:350:''"Everyone is relevant to someone."'']]
9->'''Played by:''' Creator/BrettCullen\
10'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E02 Ghosts]]"
11
12-->''"We started IFT to save the world. Our suits got nicer, our Scotch more expensive. We changed, but the world stayed the same... until today. If we don't change the world, someone else will, so... what are we gonna do to stop the guys who did this?"''
13
14The co-creator of the Machine along with Harold Finch, and the founder of IFT.
15----
16* TheAlcoholic: As his marriage falls apart and he becomes more disillusioned by his work, Ingram falls into alcoholism.
17* BreakTheCutie: When we first meet him, he's a carefree, happy-go-lucky sort of guy with a heroic streak. That was in 2002. By 2010, he's had an affair, divorced from his wife, haunted by the Irrelevant Numbers, his and Finch's friendship is being driven apart by their disagreement over the Irrelevant List, and he's become an alcoholic.
18* BigGood: Filled this role before The Machine did. He decided to start trying to save the numbers way before John Reese took up his position at Team Machine, even when Harold disagreed and actively opposed him and set up the basic original infrastructure for Team Machine to utilize, i.e. the Library.
19* BrokenAce: A charming man and an award winning software engineer but also plagued with a drinking problem and a conscience.
20* TheCharmer: Was shown to have this talent.
21* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Haunted by the Irrelevant List, he sought out to stop what was going to happen to them. Some he saved. Others he didn't.
22* DeathByOriginStory: His (preventable) death was the catalyst that started Finch on his obsession with saving the Irrelevant Numbers.
23* DeadpanSnarker: Especially around Harold.
24* {{Expy}}: Of Steve Jobs, according to the casting call.
25* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Finch.
26* HonorBeforeReason: He wanted to go public about The Machine because he felt it was the right thing to do, and wouldn't listen to Finch when Finch said he thought that the government was killing off people connected with The Machine.
27* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Nathan's death makes it look like he's just collateral damage of a terrorist attack.
28* TheMcCoy: To Finch's Spock (before his death and Finch's subsequent becoming something of a [=McCoy=]/Spock hybrid.)
29* OnlyFriend: To all appearances, Ingram was Finch's only friend.
30* PosthumousCharacter: Is dead when the series starts, and is only seen in flashbacks.
31* SharpDressedMan: He is almost always in a nice suit, in and out of the office.
32* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: He's this to John Reese without the military experience. Both were Finch's OnlyFriend, have ruined personal lives and were the ones putting their lives on the line to try save the Irrelevant numbers.
33* TalkerAndDoer: The talker and face of his and Finch's company.
34* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth
35* WhatTheHellHero: Gives one to Finch in a flashback, which forms part of the reason Finch ends up recruiting Reese to track the 'irrelevant' numbers.
36* WhatYouAreInTheDark: A guy who wants to help, with no plan, no backup, and no weapon worth a damn.
37* WideEyedIdealist: In contrast to Harold's cynical personality and initial willingness to let the numbers on the irrelevant list die, Nathan believed he could make a difference by saving them from their fate and coded the Contingency so the irrelevant list would come to him even after the Machine was black boxed.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Zoe]]
41!!Zoe Morgan
42[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/morgan_zoe_8966.jpg]]
43[[caption-width-right:350:''[[DoWrongRight "If you're going to do something wrong, do it right."]]'']]
44->'''Played by:''' Creator/PaigeTurco\
45'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E06 The Fix]]"
46
47A "fixer" and the occasional lover of John Reese. They meet when Reese and Finch helped saved her when The Machine gave them her number. She returns the favor by helping them out from time-to-time with persons of interest cases that require her particular skills.
48----
49* ActionGirl: She has no qualms about getting into physical fights or infiltrating buildings, but would rather leave the violence to people with better skills than her such as John.
50* CoolCar: She has a sweet Audi [=RS7.=]
51* DatingCatwoman: Her relationship with Reese has shades of this.
52* DeadpanSnarker: And how! Her temporary marriage to John was a glorious example of this.
53* FemmeFatale: Especially around John; she flirts shamelessly with him and is certainly morally dubious...but she's a good person at heart.
54* TheFixer: Her job.
55* FriendsWithBenefits: Her relationship with Reese turns out to be this.
56* GuestStarPartyMember: The most frequent ally of Team Machine that isn't a full-time member. Finch often calls on her aid when dealing with POIs that have political connections/motivations.
57* {{Guile Hero}}ine: Qualifies due to her stalling of the murderous pharmaceutical executive and counting on John to break out of his handcuffs with the paper clip she slipped him and get to her in time.
58* HeroOfAnotherStory: Appears a couple of times when her own job just happens to intersect with Team Machine, but they're not WorkingTheSameCase. In one episode, she steps into a hotel lift to find Reese dressed as a bellhop. Both are too professional to insist on explanations; they [[EatingTheEyeCandy just enjoy the encounter]].
59* HonoraryTrueCompanion: Though she is trusted as much as Carter and Fusco, she always returns to her job after helping Team Machine out.
60* IWasNeverHere: In "Bury the Lede":
61-->"It was a pleasure meeting you, but it's a shame we never met."
62* LadyInRed: As befits her FemmeFatale nature, she's oft seen in a red overcoat.
63* NervesOfSteel: Extremely so. Very few situations can make Zoe flinch.
64* OnlyInItForTheMoney: How she presents herself to the world; it seems she actually has a HiddenHeartOfGold.
65* PutOnABus: As Paige Tuco has signed up to NCIS New Orleans, it is unlikely we will see her for some time.
66* ShipTease: With Reese just about every time they're on screen together. Seemed to have been elevated to LoveInterest as of "Booked Solid"; confirmed in "Lady Killer."
67-->'''Shaw:''' I clocked you and Zoe right off the bat...
68* TheSocialExpert: As a fixer, her job is to understand human interactions to allow her how best to handle some situations.
69
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Grace]]
73!!Grace R. Hendricks
74[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hendricks_grace_r__1863.jpg]]
75[[caption-width-right:350:''"Our journey starts here. And any mystery around the corner, we can discover together."'']]
76->'''Played by:''' Creator/CarriePreston\
77'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E22 No Good Deed]]"
78
79Harold Finch's fiancée, who believes he is dead. She still lives in New York, working as an illustrator. Although Finch is unable to see her, he will still occasionally sit in Washington Square Park, near her home, using an app that alerts him in case he ever gets closer than hundred meters around her.
80----
81* BirdsOfAFeather: She and Finch are both quiet, thoughtful, inwardly intense people, who love books and art and are kind despite the suffering they've gone through.
82* {{Bookworm}}: Holds a deep love for Creator/CharlesDickens.
83* CastingGag: The character's actress, Carrie Preston, is Michael Emerson's (Finch) real-life wife.
84* DarkAndTroubledPast: Her father was an [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusive]] [[AlcoholicParent alcoholic.]]
85* GeekyTurnOn: She had this when she found out Finch has an enthusiasm for the art of Giorgio de Chirico, the artist whose works inspired her to be an artist.
86* GirlNextDoor: Gives off this sort of vibe.
87* IHaveYourWife: Is targeted by Decima as a way of getting to Harold.
88* [[MeaningfulName Meaningful First Name]]: Just look at her name and the character quote.
89* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: Greer offers her tea as his captive. [[FieryRedhead She pointedly refuses.]]
90* PluckyGirl: She's been through the wringer, but she's determined that she won't let the world break her or make her bitter.
91* PutOnABus: After being kidnapped by Decima to get to him, Harold arranges for her to get a well-paying job under a different identity in Italy.
92* SatelliteLoveInterest: Every time she's brought into the show, it's to emphasize her relationship with Harold.
93* ShutUpHannibal: Marvelously gives one to Greer:
94-->"I don't know who you are or how this ends, but we're done here."
95* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: She was this for a time.
96* StarvingArtist: Averted. Her illustration and creation of cover art for magazines is steady enough to keep her living comfortably. Though Finch keeps an eye on her and makes sure someone hires her if no one has hired her for a while.
97* TheMourningAfter: Harold still is her fiancé, his "death" in 2010 notwithstanding, and she has trouble referring to him in past tense. [[spoiler:They are finally reunited in the series finale]].
98* VillainOverForDinner: Root invited her for coffee in order to threaten her safety to get Finch to do as she wants.
99* YouCanAlwaysTellALiar: Because of having to deal with an emotionally abusive and manipulative father, she is good at picking up tells for whether someone is trustworthy.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Jessica]]
103!!Jessica Arndt
104[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arndt_jessica_1056.jpg]]
105[[caption-width-right:350:''"Tell me to wait for you and . . . say those words, and I will."'']]
106->'''Played by:''' Creator/SusanMisner\
107'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E01 Pilot]]"
108
109Reese's deceased lover. After Jessica's relationship with Reese ended, she married another man, but remained in contact with Reese. She is eventually killed by her husband during a domestic dispute.
110----
111* AccidentalMurder: A victim of this.
112* CharacterDeath: She's killed by her abusive husband.
113* DomesticAbuse: The man she chose after Reese left her was not the nicest of men. He caused her death.
114* IWillWaitForYou: She offers to wait until Reese comes back from the war, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy but he refuses]], [[DramaticIrony thinking she should find a better man than him.]]
115* TheLostLenore: With respect to Reese.
116* OneDegreeOfSeparation: Turns out she was also one of the people on the Irrelevant List that Harold and Nathan failed to save.
117* PosthumousCharacter: Dead before episode 1.
118* SatelliteLoveInterest: She is a PosthumousCharacter whose only relation with the cast is through John.
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Leon]]
122!!Leon Tao
123[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tao_leon_3476.jpg]]
124[[caption-width-right:350:''[[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder "I'm an accountant! I'm not a criminal!"]]'']]
125->'''Played by:''' Creator/KenLeung\
126'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS02E01 The Contingency]]"
127
128-->'''Leon:''' Man. I so don't get paid enough for this crap.\
129'''Reese:''' We don't pay you anything, Leon.
130
131A former forensic accountant and [[TooDumbToLive three-time Person of Interest]]. He is targeted to die by the Aryan Nation, the Russian Mafia and Nigerian fraudsters and is always saved by the timely intervention of Reese and Finch. He returns the favor by helping them out with persons of interest that require his skills.
132----
133* AsianAndNerdy: It doesn't get more stereotypical than being Chinese and an accountant.
134* ButtMonkey: Tends to have bad things happen to him, such as getting in the List ''three times.''
135* DidNotGetTheGirl: He's pretty upset over it too, despite the fact that she was being paid to help kill him.
136* ForensicAccounting: Extremely good at it, picking apart the motivations for the conspiracy to kill the energy company owner in "Critical."
137* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Neither Reese or Finch are particularly fond of him, though mainly due to his TooDumbToLive tendencies causing them to repeatedly have to save him. Several times in season 2 see them forced to call on his aid, though, either because the latest Person of Interest requires his particular skill set or because Carter and Fusco are unavailable to provide another body.
138* GuestStarPartyMember: In "Critical", "Relevance", and "All In", he helps Team Machine with the latest number. The first time wasn't voluntary (he just happened to be at Finch's library due to being the ''previous'' number), but the latter two are.
139* HonoraryTrueCompanion: Despite his general stupidity, he is quite loyal to Team Machine. So much so that they even trust him to save Shaw from Northern Lights.
140* PayEvilUntoEvil: Loves stealing money from criminals (e.g. Aryan gangsters, Nigerian scammers, etc.), even though it keeps getting him into trouble.
141* PluckyComicRelief: Almost ''every'' scene he's part of is funny in some way, shape, or form.
142* TaughtByExperience: When he realizes that two toughs are planning to kill him rather than just beat him up, he correctly predicts that Reese is about to break down the door and save the day. This is the third time his life has ended up in danger and he is able to spot the pattern.
143* TooCleverByHalf: The brains part is debatable, though. Sure, he's got the IQ and math skills, but the ''good judgement''...
144* TooDumbToLive: Who would be dumb enough to have his number appear again 6 episodes later, and then ''again'' 11 episodes after that? He would.
145--> '''Reese''': "Well [[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough who would be dumb enough]] to get in a life threatening situation again?"\
146''[Cue Leon being [[DestinationDefenestration thrown out of a window]].]''
147* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: He disappears after season 2, leaving one to wonder where he went. Given his general propensity for getting into trouble, it doesn't speak highly of his chances.
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Taylor]]
151!!Taylor Carter
152[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taylor_carter.jpg]]
153 [[caption-width-right:350:]]
154->'''Played by:''' Creator/KwoadeCross, Creator/TreJamison ([[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E08 2008]])\
155'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E09 Get Carter]]"
156
157The son of Paul and Joss Carter.
158----
159* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Son]]: Elias kidnaps him to get Carter to hand over the Mafia Dons. Reese promises to rescue him and she refuses.
160* ParentalAbandonment: His father suffered from a nasty case of untreated PTSD and, while he very much wanted to be involved in Taylor's life, he was only well enough when Taylor was a teenager. Taylor doesn't seem particularly bitter about it and he ends up living with Paul after Carter dies.
161* SatelliteCharacter: Only important because of his relation to Carter, and drops out of the story shortly after her death.
162* YouAreNotAlone: Constantly reminds his mother of this.
163
164[[/folder]]
165
166[[folder:Paul]]
167!!Paul Carter
168[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/paul_carter.png]]
169 [[caption-width-right:350:]]
170->'''Played by:''' Creator/LazAlonso\
171'''Appeared in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E08 Endgame]]", "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E10 The Devil's Share]]"
172
173Joss Carter's ex husband, a former U.S. Army soldier who saw combat, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Initially, he refused to seek treatment for his PTSD.
174----
175* AmicablyDivorced: Once he gets treated, he and Carter become this. He's ''distraught'' by her death.
176* SatelliteCharacter: Only important because of his relation to Carter, and drops out of the story shortly after her death.
177* ShellShockedVeteran: His refusal to get help ultimately ends his marriage.
178
179[[/folder]]
180
181[[folder:Lee]]
182!!Lee Fusco
183[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lee_fusco.jpg]]
184 [[caption-width-right:350:]]
185->'''Played by:''' Creator/SeanMcCarthy\
186'''Appeared in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E04 Cura te Ipsum]]", "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E20 Matsya Nyaya]]", "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E09 The Crossing]]"
187
188Lionel Fusco's son.
189----
190* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Son]]: Held captive by HR to keep Fusco in line.
191* MoralityPet: Even when Fusco was still a DirtyCop, it was clear that he adored Lee.
192[[/folder]]
193
194[[folder:Harper]]
195!!"Harper Rose"
196[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harper_rose.png]]
197 [[caption-width-right:350:]]
198->'''Played by:''' Creator/AnnieIlonzeh\
199'''Introduced in:''' "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS04E16 Blunt]]"
200
201->''Why swim upstream when you can ride the current all the way down to the waterfall?''
202
203A skilled ConArtist who crosses paths with Team Machine, after which she finds herself working for a certain "Ernest Thornhill" - that is to say, the Machine's human alias.
204----
205* BecomingTheMask[=/=]NoNameGiven: "Harper Rose" is an alias, one of many. We've never been told her real name. She allows Team Machine to keep using the name after she ditches the identity because she "likes the sound of it".
206* BoxedCrook: Becomes this after her introduction. She's still a con artist, but now the Machine/"Thornhill" is pointing her in the direction of dangerous criminals it wants out of the way.
207* TheBusCameBack: After [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse disappearing in the season 4 finale]], she turns up [[spoiler:in DC, working for an alternative Team Machine]].
208* DarkAndTroubledPast: Hinted at.
209* DeadpanSnarker: Even for a WorldOfSnark like this series, pretty much every other line out of her mouth is some flavor of biting sarcasm. She can match Reese or Fusco in SnarkToSnarkCombat any day of the week.
210* FemmeFatale: In her introduction, she seduced a worker at the marijuana store she was planning to rob and pretended to be his girlfriend for a few months. It seems that her feelings for him weren't ''totally'' insincere, though, since she helps Reese and Fusco save the guy's life after Dominic kidnaps him.
211* TheFixer: One of her lines of business is making and selling forged [=IDs=]. It's how she ends up back on Team Machine's radar in "Skip", helping the criminal the Number of the week is chasing flee the country - though it's implied the Machine planned this.
212* IHaveManyNames: Also known in some places as "Athena" or "Fiona". Her actual name is never provided to the characters or the audience.
213* KarmaHoudini
214* LoveableRogue: The most openly criminal of Team Machine's allies, always looking out for her own benefit first and willing to scam most anyone for a quick buck. Reese still develops a grudging respect for her, because the majority of her targets are criminals much worse than herself, and when the chips are down her heart is (usually) in the right place.
215* NervesOfSteel: Next to her manipulation skills, this is Harper's most defining asset.
216** In "Blunt", she strolls right into the cartel's bar to elicit their help, knowing full well everyone there wants her dead. She doesn't even flinch when one of them pulls a gun on her at point-blank range. ''Then'' she leads the gangsters into the Brotherhood's hideout and stands unarmed in the middle of the MexicanStandoff that results long enough for the cops to arrive and Reese to save her boyfriend.
217** In "Skip", caught in a gunfight between Team Machine and a team of hired mercenaries, she walks right into the line of fire and negotiates a cease-fire that ensures both parties get what they want without anyone getting killed.
218* OnlyInItForTheMoney
219* PayEvilUntoEvil: Her usual mode of operation. "I steal from criminals 'cause they don't call the cops." It's implied this is the reason the Machine hires her on as an asset after her introduction.
220* SherlockScan: Very good at reading people. In her introduction alone, she pegs Reese as an ex-soldier after only meeting him twice, and masterfully manipulates both Dominic and the Mexican cartels by playing on their egos and vices.
221* SpiritualSuccessor: To Root in a sense. She has the same criminal tendencies, ability to cycle between identities, and eventually also becomes an agent of The Machine.
222* TheTrickster: And how. She defines life by the ability to be free and enjoy yourself, and constantly plays everyone around her like fiddles (including Team Machine, though they've grown wise to some of her tricks by her later appearances).
223* WanderingTheEarth: Per her own words, "I don't plant roots so I can bail at a moment's notice".
224* WildCard: Ultimately, she's on no side but her own, though she is willing to work with Team Machine if it benefits her (at least partially thanks to the Machine manipulating things behind the scenes).
225[[/folder]]
226

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