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Sep 22, 2011 Web Exclusive By Jeremy Nisen

This is probably the best pilot I’ve ever seen, and definitely the best action-oriented one. J.J. Abram’s latest television venture, Person of Interest, is a slam dunk—if the subsequent episodes match the quality of this one.

Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) plays an ex-Special Forces operative with a largely mysterious past; Michael Emerson (Lost) plays his equally mysterious wealthy benefactor. Emerson’s character, Mr. Finch, has access to a predictive technology that allows him to zero in on crimes before they happen. Caviezel’s Mr. Reese (is that meant to be a pun?) is recruited as Finch’s on-the-ground operative who attempts to take Finch’s clues to figure out what the crime is destined to be, then thwart it via kicking ass.

Taraji P. Henson’s (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) turn as a police officer who may serve as Reese’s foil on the right side of the law tests her acting chops, as she seems a little fresh-faced to be convincing as a tough-as-nails type. Even so, she’s a compelling actress. Kevin Chapman’s (Rescue Me) role as a fairly dirty cop definitely has some potential as well; his quiet consternation bodes well for yet another complex character.

There’s a genuine core providing a solid backbone to the high-octane aspects. A tasteful invocation of 9/11 as the catalyst for Finch’s motivations could have been cheesy, but it’s deftly handled. (www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest/)

Author rating: 9/10