Witness (Person of Interest)
"Witness" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American television drama series Person of Interest. It is the 7th overall episode of the series and is written by Amanda Segel and directed by Frederick E. O. Toye. It aired on CBS in the United States and on CTV in Canada on November 3, 2011.
| "Witness" | |
|---|---|
| Person of Interest episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Frederick E. O. Toye |
| Written by | Amanda Segel |
| Produced by |
|
| Featured music | Ramin Djawadi |
| Cinematography by | Teodoro Maniaci |
| Editing by | Mark Conte |
| Production code | 2J6207 |
| Original air date | November 3, 2011 |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
Plot
Carter (Taraji P. Henson), Fusco (Kevin Chapman) and Detective Bill Szymanski (Michael McGlone) investigate a murder in a Brighton Beach bodega. The victim was a Cosa Nostra lieutenant working for Carl Elias, shot in video by a man before fleeing. Viewing security cameras, they find that a person witnessed the events and set to find the witness after finding that the victim whispered something to the witness.
Meanwhile, Reese (Jim Caviezel) begins watching over the new number: Charlie Burton (Enrico Colantoni), a high school teacher. After getting a call from Fusco, Reese finds that Burton is the witness from the crime scene and saves him when Russian hitmen arrive at his apartment. However, in the process, his cell phone gets shattered, so he loses contact with Finch (Michael Emerson), and Burton gets shot in the shoulder. They flee to a tenement building ruled by Bulgarian mobsters, which the Russians can't enter.
Interviewing the victim's widow, the detectives find that Elias plans to unite the Five Families and take down the Russians. Arriving at the scene and finding a picture of one of the assailants, they find a person responsible for the attempts is Ivan Yogorov (Olek Krupa). Finch checks the footage of the moment of the assault, and he finds a police officer (David Valcin) boarding a van. He later consults with Fusco so he can get him more information regarding the van and who owns it.
Reese attacks a group of dealers in the building and steals their drugs to treat Burton. This causes the Bulgarians to side with the Russians and attempt to kill both Reese and Burton. As the mobsters get in, they hide in the apartment of one of Burton's students. The Russians find them, but Reese manages to take them down and takes one of Yogorov's sons, Laszlo (Enver Gjokaj), hostage to the East River ferry and leaves the Russians in the tenement for Carter to arrest. Fusco, who is waiting for them, is knocked down by the officer, Scarface.
However, Carter is told by one of the Russians that they wouldn't risk themselves just for a witness, stating that Elias was supposed to show up at the bodega. In the ferry, Laszlo and Reese discover that Burton is in fact Elias. Elias shoots Laszlo in the leg, telling him to get his father out of New York City. He decides to let Reese live, thanking him for saving him but threatens him not to interfere again, or there will be unpleasant consequences. Elias escapes with the officer while Reese leaves Laszlo for Fusco to arrest. Reese later confides in Finch that he now feels guilty at having left Elias alive. Later, Ivan Yogorov is killed in his office by Scarface.
Reception
Viewers
In its original American broadcast, "Witness" was seen by an estimated 11.76 million household viewers and gained a 2.7/7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.[1] This was a slight increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 11.62 million viewers with a 2.7/6 in the 18-49 demographics.[2] With these ratings, Person of Interest was the fourth most watched show on CBS for the night behind The Mentalist, Rules of Engagement and The Big Bang Theory, fourth on its timeslot and eight for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind The Mentalist, The Office, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, The X Factor, Rules of Engagement, and The Big Bang Theory.
Critical reviews
"Witness" received generally positive reviews from critics. Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B" rating and wrote "At least I got to go out with a bang. 'Witness' pulls off the best (and maybe only really successful) twist the show has managed in its first season, a Keyser Soze move that probably should've been obvious, but caught me off guard. Charlie Burton (Enrico Colantoni, better known as Veronica Mars's dad) was too saintly to be real, a sensitive, compassionate high school teacher who'd devoted the last three years of his life to giving the kids of Brighton Beach a shot at a life outside the Russian mob."[3]
Keysha Couzens of TV Overmind wrote "Again, I can't stress enough how perfect Colantoni was in the role as he had to transform from this seemingly meek nice guy to a ruthless manipulating crime boss in the making. This episode set a new standard for the freshman series, and I'm pleased that at times it's becoming less of the procedural and more of a very solid crime drama that doesn't always have a simple happy ending. It makes for compelling television and this is the first time that I'm simply downright anxious for next week's episode. Which, with all my luck, will be the most by-the-numbers one in the show’s run. But here's hoping that the next chapter of the Elias story is told sooner rather than later. It woke the show right up."[4] Morgan Jeffery of Digital Spy wrote "Elias revealed! 'Witness' provides us with our first proper look at Reese's chief nemesis, and we must admit, we didn't see the Burton twist coming!"[5]
Luke Gelineau of TV Equals wrote "Even though this episode wasn't quite as strong as past installments, it's still really encouraging to see the Elias story going strong. I'm excited to see what happens in future installments, and with CBS officially picking up the option for a full season, it looks like we'll get to see what happens with this Elias guy pretty soon! As he said, it's only just begun!"[6] Sean McKenna of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.3 star rating out of 5 and wrote "Hello, grander season-long mythology. Excited to meet you. I have to admit, the start of Person of Interest this week didn't feel too promising. My eyes started to roll as soon as Fusco called Reese about looking into a 'Witness' and Reese was already watching him. How convenient. I know the police cases and Reese and Finch number cases are bound to intersect, but when it lines up so easily it can feel a bit contrived. I don't want things to be too obvious. In the long run, though, none of it really turned out to be."[7]
References
- Gorman, Bill (November 4, 2011). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'The X Factor,' 'Parks & Recreation,' 'The Office,' 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Grey's Anatomy' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- Gorman, Bill (October 28, 2011). "Thursday Final Ratings: World Series Game 6 Finals + 'Big Bang,' 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Office,' 'Person,' Adjusted Up; 'Rules,' 'Secret Circle,' 'Whitney,' 'Prime Suspect' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- Handlen, Zack (November 3, 2011). "Person of Interest: Witness". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- Couzens, Keysha (November 4, 2011). "Person of Interest 1.07 "Witness" Review". TV Overmind. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- Jeffery, Morgan (November 4, 2011). "'Person of Interest': 'Witness' recap". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- Gelineau, Luke (November 3, 2011). "Person of Interest "Witness" Review". TV Equals. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- McKenna, Sean (November 4, 2011). "Person of Interest Review: Who Is Elias?". TV Fanatic. Retrieved November 14, 2017.