Identity Crisis (S1x18)
Airdate: 29 March 2012
Written by: Patrick Harbinson
Directed by: Larry Teng
Running Time: 44 minutes
Person of Interest was once celebrated for establishing itself as a procedural drama with its plots, characters, and themes firmly anchored in the reality of contemporary life. Over time, however, the show's reputation evolved to include praise for its prescience; the writers demonstrated an uncanny ability to recognise societal trends and systemic issues that would not become apparent in the public consciousness for years to come. This capacity to anticipate the future is perhaps most evident in Season 1 episode Identity Crisis, a standalone narrative that utilises the conceit of surveillance and identity to comment on the fragility of self in the digital age.
The episode begins with The Machine delivering a number that presents Reese and Finch with a significant identification challenge. The subject is Jordan Hester, but the data quickly suggests a complex situation. The individual possesses two sets of bank accounts and two separate apartments, implying a double life. Furthermore, there is a near-total lack of a digital footprint for Jordan Hester, which adds a layer of mystery to the case. Initially, Reese and Finch assume that the anomaly indicates one person living a dual existence, a classic trope of espionage or secret lives. However, through a combination of old-school investigation and digital deduction, they realise they have been mistaken.
The truth is far more intricate: the name Jordan Hester is not belonging to a single individual living double, but is shared by two completely different people living separate lives. One is a male barback played by Rhys Coiro, the other is a female antique broker played by Sarah Wynter. This revelation suggests a complex web of identity theft, where one person has usurped the life of another. Reese and Finch conclude that one of these Jordan Hesters is the genuine article, while the other is an impostor living off the stolen credentials.
With Detective Carter refusing to cooperate due to her ongoing investigation into Reese and his former CIA colleagues, Reese and Finch are forced to divide their field work. Reese focuses his attention on the male barback, discovering that he has a compelling motive for assuming a new identity. He appears to be deeply involved in a major MDMA production operation. Meanwhile, Finch adopts the guise of a private investigator to get close to the female Hester, who presents herself as the victim of the male "Hester's" theft. Separately, Fusco learns about another identity theft case being investigated by NYPD Detective Franklin (Seth Gilliam) and decides to intervene, visiting Kyle Morrison (Christopher Denham), a man played by Christopher Denham who claims his identity was stolen by a woman named "Mary."
The tension peaks when Reese uses force to dismantle the barback's drug operation. It is at this moment that the truth is uncovered: the male barback is, in fact, the real Jordan Hester. He was falsely accused of drug dealing by the impostor and has taken drastic measures to join the drug dealers under a false identity to turn the tables and expose her. Simultaneously, the impostor—whose real name is Tara Verlander—attempts to cover her tracks. Before Finch can piece the situation together, she spikes his drink with ecstasy and sets a microwave on fire in a desperate bid to erase her trace. Fortunately, Finch is saved only by the timely intervention of Fusco. Detective Franklin subsequently arrests Tara Verlander, while Kyle Morrison is exonerated and released from prison. The episode concludes with a quiet moment between Reese and Finch, the latter having been subjected to the psychoactive effects of the drug, as Reese advises him to take a long sleep to flush the drugs out of his system.
In a parallel storyline, Carter is summoned by FBI Agent Donnelly, who requests her assistance in investigating both Reese and his former CIA colleagues led by Agent Snow. This subplot serves to deepen the show's overarching narrative regarding the surveillance state and government overreach.
While the script by Amy Berg tackles the subject of identity, it ultimately oversimplifies the concept into a convenient crime mystery. The big twist, in which the real criminal appears not to be the most obvious suspect but rather a falsely accuser who has become the predator, is something that a more experienced viewer could have seen coming. The narrative structure feels a bit rigid, relying on a ticking clock that doesn't quite justify the high stakes. Furthermore, the idea of a falsely accused victim turning into a real criminal solely in order to flush out his accusers is slightly preposterous.
Despite these script-related shortcomings, the episode works very well, largely thanks to a strong supporting cast. Seth Gilliam, best known for his role as Carver on The Wire, delivers a solid performance as the good-natured Detective Franklin, anchoring the procedural elements of the story. Australian actress Sarah Wynter is equally impressive in her guest starring role as the duplicitous Tara Verlander, displaying a range of psychological depth that brings the antagonist to life. However, the highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the interplay between the leads. Michael Emerson appears to have a ball in his rather rare opportunity to play his character, Finch, under the influence of psychoactive drugs. His glazed eyes, delayed reactions, and philosophical musings provide a unique and entertaining dynamic that elevates the material beyond simple procedural tropes.
The episode is also notable for a small but telling detail regarding the discussion between Reese and Finch about tracking people over the Internet. Finch makes a specific observation about how emerging social networks have made this task much easier, as people willingly give away their privacy in exchange for connection. He goes a step further to claim that he personally devised some of the social networks for this very purpose. This is a fascinating piece of speculation that became a dominant narrative in recent years, particularly regarding the close connections between Big Tech and governments in the West. The writers were clearly tapping into the zeitgeist, predicting how our desire for social validation would lead to our digital surveillance, making Identity Crisis a prescient piece of television that remains relevant long after its initial airing.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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