The fact that its taking the Machine longer than expected to be fully operational has everyone on edge.
With the servers or whatever installed, its time to wake up the Machine.
First, they have her identify Reese, who is standing in the middle of Times Square.
Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS
She passes that test.
The Machine gives them 30 numbers.
So, Finch decides to run a diagnostic to see how the Machine handles the team.
Oh boy, was that a bad idea?
First, she locks Root and Finch inside the train car.
She chases Reese through the streets of Chinatown and into a nearby mall with a gun.
Thats exactly what he does.
He admits that things arent as simple as they used to be.
These days, black and white just dissolve into grayscale, he says.
Its an acknowledgement at just how complicated this entire war is.
At this point, Team Machine is just doing the best they can to survive.
(Also, Michael Emerson knows how to deliver a speech like this.
Its heartfelt and drips with regret and guilt).
SNAFU provides the show with an opportunity to look back on how far the characters have come.
Root isnt the hacker assassin we once knew anymore.
As she said in the premiere, she met someone the Machine and fell in love.
Even Finch isnt the same person he was when we first started.
(But maybe hes opening himself up to her a little too late?)
Finch promises to never hurt the Machine again.
Thats some serious trauma.
The pain on his face is heartbreaking.
But Finch has a solution to help the Machine: focusing on the numbers.
The Machine re-contextualizes all of her data and frees Finch from the subway car.
At the same time, Reese finally manages to get the upper hand against the assassin thats after him.
So, alls well that ends with a pic right?
(Yes, Team Machine has a picnic).
Unfortunately, hes having trouble finding steady employment.
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