Times Square

Lore & Background

In the Person of Interest series, Times Square is a central hub of activity, constantly monitored by the Machine's cameras. It is where Harold Finch and John Reese often coordinate their efforts to prevent violent crimes, using the crowds and chaos as cover. The location is tied to numerous cases, including the tracking of persons of interest who pass through its streets, and serves as a symbolic contrast between the city's bright, public face and the hidden dangers the team works to stop.

In Their Own Story

Radio DJ Johnny LaGuardia, who broadcasts from a penthouse studio overlooking Times Square, realizes that David's missing daughter is the same 'Zombie Girl' who sent him letters about feeling sad and insecure. LaGuardia, who resents David's 'Reclaim Rebuild Restore' campaign to gentrify Times Square, uses his radio station WJAD to reach out to Nicky and Pamela. The girls start writing songs together and form an underground punk rock band named The Sleez Sisters with LaGuardia's help. When an open letter to Pamela from her social worker Rosie Washington is printed in the newspaper calling Nicky troubled and dangerous, the girls perform a defiant Sleez Sisters song live on WJAD. As an act of further rebellion, Nicky and Pamela throw TVs off a series of rooftops in the city.

Reader's Guide

Pamela and Nicky eventually have a falling out when they realize their lives are on divergent paths. Pamela wants to return home while Nicky wants to continue with The Sleez Sisters. Nicky accuses LaGuardia of exploiting them and throws him and Pamela out of the warehouse hideout. Nicky then has a breakdown, wrecking her home and destroying the journal she shared with Pamela. After a failed attempt to drown herself, Nicky drunkenly breaks into WJAD and demands LaGuardia put her on the air (though unknown to Nicky, he never does). Midway through her song, Nicky breaks down and asks Pamela for help, shouting out her name. Pamela takes Nicky to David's office in Times Square. Pamela calls all local radio stations, announcing an impromptu midnight show in Times Square on the rooftop of a grindhouse on 42nd Street. Nicky says 'If they treat you like garbage, put on a garbage bag. If they treat you like a bandit, black out your eyes!' Girls across the city board buses and subways to converge in Times Square. In a garbage-bag costume and bandit-mask-style makeup, Nicky sings on the marquee roof above a crowd of cheering fans. With police approaching, Nicky jumps off the marquee edge into a blanket held by fans and evades capture, vanishing into the night.

Did You Know?

• Times Square appears in multiple episodes of Person of Interest, often as a location where the Machine's surveillance feeds are shown on screen.
• The show's production team used real footage of Times Square to create the immersive New York setting, blending it with CGI for the Machine's perspective.
• In the series, the area is frequently used as a meeting point for characters due to its high foot traffic and constant surveillance coverage.
• The iconic digital billboards in Times Square are sometimes repurposed in the show to display cryptic messages from the Machine.

The Reluctant Enforcer

John Reese serves as the physical backbone of the team, operating under the alias of a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and CIA officer. Following a failed operation in China that led to his presumed death, he adopted this new identity while his true name remains unknown to the public. Law enforcement agencies recognize him only by witness descriptions, dubbing him "The Man in the Suit" due to his signature attire. His primary role is acting as the armed enforcer for Harold Finch, utilizing his military background to intervene and stop crimes before they occur based on predictive data. Reese's journey spans from the pilot episode through the series finale, where he remains a constant presence alongside his partners. Despite his lethal capabilities and mysterious past, his dedication to preventing future tragedies defines his character arc throughout the show.

The Architect of Prediction

Harold Finch is a reclusive billionaire software engineer who created an artificial intelligence capable of predicting violent crimes by outputting Social Security numbers for victims or perpetrators. To protect himself from surveillance, Finch maintains extreme digital security and has successfully erased his own footprint from the internet, operating under various bird-themed aliases like Harold Wren and Harold Crow. His life is defined by secrecy and a deep commitment to privacy, contrasting sharply with the high-tech world he built. Finch's creation drives the entire narrative, forcing him into dangerous situations where he must rely on Reese to execute the interventions required by the Machine's data.

The Emotionless Operative

Sameen Shaw enters the team as a former U.S. Marine and physician who initially worked as an assassin for "The Program," a government section handling relevant numbers from The Machine. Her background includes training in emergency medicine and surgery, though she was removed from medical programs due to her inability to display typical emotional sensitivity or empathy toward patients. Diagnosed with alexithymia and an Axis II personality disorder, Shaw claims she cannot feel fear or sadness, yet she demonstrates a unique capacity for deducing emotionally correct actions when necessary. Her journey involves surviving assassination attempts by her former employers, enduring thousands of simulations designed to turn her against the team, and eventually becoming a primary asset for The Machine. Despite her emotional detachment, she forms deep bonds with Bear and Root, ultimately seeking revenge for Root's death before continuing her work as an analog interface.

The Master Hacker

Root, born Samantha Groves, is a highly intelligent computer hacker and contract killer who becomes obsessed with Harold Finch and his creation of The Machine. Raised in Bishop, Texas until her mother's death, she possesses extraordinary technical skills alongside uncanny abilities in firearms usage and social engineering. Root has successfully infiltrated various institutions by posing as a high-end psychiatrist, an assistant to the Special Counsel, and even a legitimate FBI agent with valid warrants. Her resilience is highlighted by her ability to withstand severe torture without breaking, demonstrating a very high pain threshold. Throughout the series, she evolves from an antagonist into a crucial ally, eventually sacrificing herself to save the team while leaving a lasting impact on Shaw, who later inherits Root's rotating identities and continues their shared mission.