Starting Person of Interest

[frayadjacent]

I've slowly started watching PoI -- on S1E08 -- and . . . I don't like it as much as I expected.  Actually it often leaves me longing for Elementary, or Orphan Black. I'm sort of puzzled by the casting choice for Reese, as I don't care for the actor (as in, I don't like his acting, I've got nothing against the guy) and there's not exactly a shortage of good looking white dudes out there to play the role. But it's keeping me entertained enough, and the last episodes' villain reveal pleased me immensely, even if it didn't surprise me.  There was also a 1-off character -- the fixer -- who I liked a lot and I really hope returns.

Uh, that's all I have to say about that.

(I'm being vague because I'm writing on my phone and I'm too lazy to make a cut. Assume comments, if there are any, will have spoilers for the first bit of S1.)

Comments

[giandujakiss]

I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't like it - it's not for everyone and it's nothing like Orphan Black - it's got some overarching storylines but it's mostly a standard case-of-the-week format.

That said, most fans - like myself - find that it grows on you. I.e., I didn't like it much at first either, and a lot of other fans had the same experience. But Finch's and Reese's characterizations slowly build over time, quite a bit - so much so that when I go back and watch the early eps now, I'm really shocked at how far they've come since then, in a really good, natural way. I wouldn't recommend skipping episodes, because I think it's worth seeing how things unfold, but the show really hits its stride toward the end of the first season.

[frayadjacent]

Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, something's gotta be inspiring those great vids I saw at VVC, right? I'm gonna keep watching, so I'm looking forward to seeing how things go.

I only mention Orphan Black because it's another show I've watched recently, and at one point after episode 3 or so we did actually consider rewatching OB instead. (We still don't have internet, so television is just what's already on the computer.) I do sometimes wish the cases were just a bit tougher to solve, hence the comparison to Elementary, but as my devotion to that show demonstrates, I'm not in it for the plots. :)

ETA: Also, I kinda posted this mostly for reassurance that it'd get better. And I got it! :D

[lilly_the_kid]

I also watched season 1 recently and didn't like it as much as I hoped I would. My main problem is that there's (in my opinion) waayyyyyy too much exposition. It actually made me angry at times when I thought "Yeah, wow, thanks for stating that once again as I have already forgotten what was explicitely stated 2 seconds ago" *eye roll*...

I still found it entertaining enough (the Reese Finch relationship has its moments) and if the second season wasn't so expensive right now, I'd probably watch on.

I like Reese ok, but I agree about the acting, I find it odd at times.

[frayadjacent]

Sooooo much exposition. Yes I totally agree. Seriously, I am not good with complex plots and plenty of what many people call predictable I totally didn't see coming...so I feel like when even I'm complaining about too much exposition, it's probably bad. Maybe they're assuming most people are watching with one eye on a smartphone.

I find the Reese actor's acting laughably bad, actually. Then sometimes it seems so bad that maybe it's intentional in some way I don't understand?

[fan_eunice]

Hang in there! I was pretty much exactly where you are in terms of how I felt about it (entertaining enough, but not really grabbing me). And basically starting at the back half of season 1 (and particularly the stretch of episodes you've just entered), wham. It is sort of funny to me now how utterly meh I was on John Reese compared to how desperately I love him now. And that may not happen for you at all, the reasons why that happened might be specific to me, hee. But in terms of the story and the plot and the characters in general and the shit that is about to go down, you can think of the first half of season 1 like the slow climb up the rollercoaster hill right before they drop you off the edge. I just recently rewatched season 1 and the difference in how I felt about it was huge once I saw the results of all the pieces they were putting into place for later.

[frayadjacent]

Well, it's good to get some reassurance, because I'm gonna keep watching, and I want to like it! Looking forward to being dropped off that cliff. :D