advise me, internets

[kindkit]

Lately a bunch of people have been talking about Person of Interest and I've suddenly found myself thinking about watching it. Anyone want to encourage this, or warn me off?

I don't actually know much about the show. It's about . . . the NSA or something, US domestic spying anyway, and it's maybe kind of politically dodgy but not as screechingly offensive as, say, 24? All I really know is that there's a slashy fanvid and that one of the male leads is hot. No, not the conventionally hot Hollywood one, the other one. The formally-dressed, slightly dorky-looking one--Finch, I guess?

Advice welcomed, because apparently my fear of commitment now extends to watching a couple of episodes of a TV show to check it out.

Comments

[laurajv]

Hm. I kind of tapped out on it very early because of a fridging. I have heard it's...better. But the fridging (in like...episode 2? maybe?) turned me off. So if you do check it out, you might want to be aware that's in there, because it's a bummer.

[klia]

It's nothing like 24. The basic premise is actually in the title sequence, so you can judge whether or not it might be something you'd like.

FWIW, I think it's a terrific show and rec it highly.

[likeadeuce]

I've watched about half the first season of POI and enjoyed it pretty well (once you just accept the ridiculousness of the McGuffin, which might as well be 'magic' as 'computers'). The first season is mostly one-off procedural type episodes, with a few background threads that run throughout, including the growing friendship of the two leads, so I don't think you're committing to a big mytharc right off if you watch a few eps to see if you're into it. And if you are into it, you'll have plenty to watch (though I have heard negative things about the current season, you can probably at least watch the first couple and enjoy them.)

[batdina]

I have watched the first two seasons; yes, as laurajv mentions, there's a fridging very early on (though the character comes back in flashbacks later in the season, for what that's worth). It's actually a fairly carefully created show, integrating back story into main story in ways that don't feel clunky to me, for the most part.

Yes, you have to accept a large mcguffin in order to watch at all, but it's a largely watchable show, from where I sit.

I'm sorry to be sounding so low energy about this. I haven't had mental or emotional space this year to watch any of season 3, which I hear mixed reviews about. But I don't have any problem suggesting watching the first few episodes to see if it's something you'd like. Just definitely start with the beginning (Season one, ep one) or you'll have problems keeping track of threads.

[st_aurafina]

Apparently the slashtasticness gets going around the tenth episode? I couldn't make it that far, myself, but that's what I had been told.

(I just don't really like Jim Caviezel very much, but I understand that for some people, he's awesomecakes.)

[kindkit]

Thanks! It helps to be prepared for these things.

[kindkit]

Thanks for the link--that's helpful to know. I think I may have been confusing its premise with some other show that started around the same time that was actually about official anti-terrorism surveillance teams.

[kindkit]

I'm usually pretty easy about McGuffins, so long as things make sense once the McGuffin has been accepted. It's inconsistency and incoherence (as in Harry Potter) that bugs me most. I think I can handwave "computer program that foretells the future."

Thanks!

[kindkit]

I can accept large or even fairly ridiculous mcguffins provided everything after that makes sense, so I'm encouraged by you saying it's carefully put together.

I'm sorry to be sounding so low energy about this. I haven't had mental or emotional space this year

Totally understandable. It's been ages since I've felt a stirring of interest about anything new, fandom-wise, and I really am surprised by my sudden desire to watch the show.

definitely start with the beginning

Oh yeah. I almost never want to jump into the middle of a series, even when I've been advised to (in the case of Babylon 5, where the first couple of episodes did indeed bore me so much that I've never bothered watching any more).

Thanks!

[kindkit]

I've seen very little of Jim Caviezel's work as an actor, but what I know of him as a person (right-winger who goes around complaining that he's persecuted by evil Hollywood liberals) makes me dislike him intensely. I'd be watching because of the other guy.

[klia]

I'm not surprised you mistook PoI for another show, seeing how poorly networks market them.

FWIW, I didn't start watching PoI until almost halfway into S1 because I didn't like either lead actor and detested JJ Abrams (it was marketed as his show), but a friend with similar tastes really got into it and explained that it was actually created and written by Jonathan Nolan (who I like), so I gave it a try. And the first ep I watched hooked me, big time. And, yes, something happened this season that I *really* didn't like, but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.

Also, FWIW, I don't feel *at all* that there's a MacGuffin in PoI. But my idea of MacGuffins is that they're chain-yanky elements and not really important in the long run; I don't classify all motivating plot elements or devices as MacGuffins.

I'm also really taken aback by all the negative comments here. I've seen quite a bit of negativity about S3's events, but not really from people who bailed after the first couple of eps or haven't watched any of S3. I know I shouldn't be surprised by anything in fandom, but I am.