POI 2x05, "Bury the Lede"

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The watchalong continues. Anyone's welcome to join in, but please no spoilers past this episode. Most of the discussion will probably be on the LJ mirror of this post.



This week's number is Maxine Angelis, an investigative report who is working on two potentially dangerous stories: corrupt fundraising in the mayoral election and the identity of HR's boss, which is still undiscovered although the FBI are sweeping up as many members as possible. She's also trying to discover the identity of the man in the suit, so Reese can't protect her in the usual way.

Angelis gets an anonymous tip that HR's boss is Christopher Zambrano, the son of a mobster. There seems to be confirmation so she runs the story. Meanwhile, Finch has found a way for Reese to get close to her: he hacks a dating site Angelis uses, creates a fake profile for Reese that appeals to her, and sets up a date. During the date, Angelis learns that Zambrano is innocent but will now be targeted by every criminal with a grudge against HR. She has Reese take her to Zambrano's warehouse to help him, but it's too late: they discover Zambrano's body. It turns out that Zambrano's father was working with HR, and Zambrano has a ledger of the transactions which he was about to turn over
to the FBI. Angelis's career is in trouble and she's also now a target; Reese brings her to his apartment to protect her.

Meanwhile, Fusco is being threatened by Simmons from HR.

Thanks to a tip from Zoe Morgan, Angelis decides that HR's boss may be a mayoral candidate. She also figures out where to find the ledger: hidden inside a carousel horse that Zambrano donated to charity. After discovering it, she and Reese are caught by ex-FBI agents now working for HR, but are rescued by Carter and Fusco (with some discreet help from Reese, who has to make sure Angelis notices nothing). The ledger gives the name not of corrupt candidate Griffin, but his opponent, Walker. Fusco takes the ledger as evidence, but secretly destroys pages incriminating himself and Simmons.

Finch, however, isn't satisfied that Walker is the HR boss--he's too clumsy and predictable. Finch is right--at the end it's revealed that the boss is Griffin's campaign manager, Alonzo Quinn.

Comments

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1) This was a good episode with a tightly constructed and interesting plot, an appealing guest character in Maxine Angelis, and even, unusually for this show, a Bechdel pass. The HR thing feels a bit resurrected, since it seemed to have been wrapped up at the beginning of the season, but it's good that Fusco's dilemma is getting some serious attention without an easy out.

2) The romance-ish thing between Reese and Angelis was tolerable. I'm seldom going to like a het romance, so "tolerable" means I reacted fairly well. Not that I'm sorry that it's not ongoing. And how does Reese, with no identity and a very dubious job, imagine he can date?

3) There are some great funny moments, such as the ongoing sage of Finch's "grievous error," the squeaky toy. I note that at the end of the episode he seems to have removed the squeaker.

I adored this bit of dialogue when Reese is cleaning his gun at Finch's desk:
F: I do wish you wouldn't do that here.
R: When I do it in the park, people look at me funny.

And of course Finch having to rush Bear over to Reese's apartment, since Reese's dating profile made much of his being a dog lover. The look on his face when he sees all the guns in the closet is priceless. And the bit is a good example of what I like about the way the show does comedy: the premise is silly, yes, but the writers know when to stop. It's not overplayed, and ultimately the humor is character-driven.

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4) The glasses. OMG the glasses. The way Finch says "Are you wearing the glasses I got you?" is sort of half wistful and half phone sex. He really really really wants Reese to wear those glasses. Between this and "happy birthday, I bought you an apartment!" I'm beginning to think Finch has a bit of a thing about giving people presents. It's generous, yes, but there's an element of power and control there too. I don't mean that as sinisterly as it sounds--I think it's more that Finch, as he says, finds people confusing, but if you give them something nice, then they will like you and be happy!

Alas, the glasses were not all that flattering and not remotely as geeky as I'd been hoping for.

I also love that Finch is eating pears and cheese during the date scene. Now, this is probably the kind of snack he normally has, but he's also very much putting himself into the date scenario with some nice food, as though he's there at the restaurant with them. And of course he offers bizarre and abstract advice. Because SCIENCE! Yes, Harold, dear.

5) Reese's apartment was empty when we first saw it, wasn't it? And now it's all fashionably, if minimalistically, decorated. Somehow I don't see Reese bothering. I bet Finch picked out all the furniture and had it delivered. ("Happy, um, January! I bought you a couch!")

6) Finch's agoraphobia and panic seem to be better now. I'd like to see that followed through a litle bit more, though. Not as a big honking deal, but just, as often happens in real life trauma, with Finch sometimes having a bad day and not being very able to cope.