---
title: "Person of Interest: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest"
critics_score: 69
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Person of Interest (2011): what the critics said

Critics' score 69 from 7 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics are cautiously positive. The praise clusters on the premise, a surveillance machine and post-9/11 paranoia running through a network procedural, and on Michael Emerson, whom several reviews single out as the more compelling half of the central pair. The involvement of Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams is cited as a reason to hope. Critics who assess the series as a whole rather than the pilot are warmer, and the later seasons, once the case-of-the-week format gives way to a serialised conspiracy, are where the admiration sits.

The reservations cluster on the pilot: a mediocre first case, familiar CBS procedural habits, and a Jim Caviezel who reads as emotionally distant. The spread is narrow, running from mixed to warm with no outright dismissals. Paste is the coolest, finding the idea interesting but the execution generic; Den of Geek, writing years later, is the warmest, arguing the show grows into one of the smartest on television.

## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2011. 

The critic is hopeful that the series, with its strong creative team, can deliver interesting procedurals with serialized elements exploring privacy and paranoia. Highlights the compelling leads and visual style.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/person-interest-tv-review-238707/)

## The AV Club — Zack Handlen

Rating B-. 23 September 2011. 

The pilot offers a high-concept premise about a surveillance machine that is intriguing but undermined by flat execution and uncharismatic lead performance from Jim Caviezel. Michael Emerson stands out as the more compelling half of the central duo, hinting at potential if the series leans into its weirder elements.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/pilot-1798169679)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2011. 

The critic sees it as a shrewd but not terribly exciting CBS procedural recasting The Equalizer in a post-9/11 surveillance package. Praises Michael Emerson's performance but notes Jim Caviezel's character is emotionally distant.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/tv/reviews/person-of-interest-1117946125/)

## Den of Geek — Stefan Mohamed

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2015. 

The critic argues that despite a shaky start with case-of-the-week episodes, the series improves dramatically and becomes one of the smartest shows on TV, particularly in exploring AI and surveillance themes. They single out the character development, inventive action, and subversion of network TV formulas for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/why-person-of-interest-is-well-worth-your-time/)

## /Film — Devindra Hardawar

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. Festival review. 

The pilot succeeds as a slick post-9/11 techno-thriller blending Batman-style vigilantism with surveillance themes, delivering strong action and promising premise.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/516693/comiccon-person-of-interest-review/)

## Collider — Arianne Binette

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2022. 

The critic ranks the seasons from worst to best, highlighting season 3 as the peak for fully embracing its serialized conspiracy and sci-fi elements after strong foundational seasons, while noting season 5 felt rushed due to early cancellation. They praise the show's evolution and risks taken in later seasons.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/every-person-of-interest-seasons-ranked/)

## Paste — Ross Bonaime

Rating 6.5. 23 September 2011. 

The critic finds the premise interesting but flawed, with a mediocre first case and generic elements typical of CBS procedurals. They single out the mystery surrounding the two main characters and the involvement of creators J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan as sources of potential.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/person-of-interest-review-pilot-episode-101)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md