When the Machine directs Reese and Finch to a former soldier with shady connections to a crime ring, Reese must infiltrate the gang, taking part in their heist. Meanwhile, Detective Carter is closer than ever to finding out who Reese is.
Origin of the Title[]
Mission Creep is an expression used to describe the expansion of a project or a program beyond its original goals, generally following success, which can eventually result in a disastrous end. Its origins are with the military during the Somali War, but it is now widely used. Notably, in this episode Reese successfully saves the number of the week, but towards the end, Elias is mentioned for the first time.
Main Plot Points[]
Person of Interest: Joey Durban, a former 107th Infantry Regiment (United States) soldier who drifts into a life of crime because he felt guilty for the death of a friend and fellow soldier and to provide for said friend's family.
Reese shadows Joey and joins his gang to take part in a botched robbery.
Pia Moresco is introduced along with her daughter.
Carter's investigation of the Man in the Suit continues.
After delivering the knife to his contact Latimer is killed by Elias personally.
Joey and Pia go into hiding until Synecdoche when The Machine gives Joey his next assignment.
Team Machine and Carter start their investigation into Elias and HR.
Flashbacks[]
Reese meets Jessica in an airport some time after their vacation in Mexico.
Jessica is now engaged to another man, but she promises to wait for Reese if he asks her to. He doesn't.
Episode Notes[]
Fort Drum is located near Watertown in upstate New York. It is a major embarkation point for units heading for battle in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This episode uses Joey and Pia's relationship as a parallel to Reese and Jessica's. In the episode, Reese does what he can to be sure Joey's has a better outcome than his own with Jessica, including advising Joey to give Pia the chance to be with him, no matter where he goes, something Reese never did for Jessica.
The Person of Interest, Joey Durban, reappears during “Synecdoche”” as part of a second team working for the Machine and operating in Washington, DC.
Production Notes[]
Music[]
"Live With Me" by Massive Attack (End of the episode)
Bloopers[]
When the money falls to the floor during the casino heist, you can see small stickers on the bills indicating they are non-negotiable.
The Army file photo Finch uncovers for Frank Stephens indicates he was discharged when he was actually KIA.
All of the military identification cards for the various soldiers shown throughout the episode display their rank as PO2 - a Navy rank.
The first time Reese leaves Jessica in the airport and the second time that he leaves her in the airport are different. In the first scene, he tells her to be happy with Peter and walks past her. She only follows him with her eyes. In the second scene, she turns and speaks to Reese.
During the robbery of the NYPD lockup as Reese shoves Finch down after secretly speaking to him, the view seen by the Machine displays Reese with a white box designated for irrelevants instead of the yellow one the Machine designates to those who know she exists
"You just left because you thought you would get killed over there and that that would hurt me. But I think the truth is that it was easier for you to be alone." (Jessica)
"That's one of the things you learn over there. In the end we're all alone, and no one's coming to save you." (Reese)
"You can't cure someone of guilt." (Reese)
Clips[]
Person of Interest - Person of Interest - Preview Mission Creep
