Baby Blue (Person of Interest)

"Baby Blue" is the seventeenth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Person of Interest. It is the 17th overall episode of the series and is written by co-executive producer Patrick Harbinson and directed by Larry Teng. It aired on CBS in the United States and on CTV in Canada on March 8, 2012.

"Baby Blue"
Person of Interest episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 17
Directed byLarry Teng
Written byPatrick Harbinson
Produced by
Featured musicRamin Djawadi
Cinematography byTeodoro Maniaci
Editing byRay Daniels
Production code2J6217
Original air dateMarch 8, 2012
Running time44 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

Plot

Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Carter (Taraji P. Henson) watch as Don Gianni Moretti (Mark Margolis) is released from prison. Moretti agreed to enter the Witness Protection Program so he could testify against Carl Elias. Reese is also notified by Finch (Michael Emerson) about their newest number: Leila Smith.

While Reese and Carter follow Moretti, Finch enters a hospital in order to get information regarding Leila, finding her to be a patient. Posing as a doctor, he gets into the room to question her but discovers to his shock that Leila is a six-month-old safe haven baby. Seeing there are men coming to get her, Finch is forced to take Leila with him. Meanwhile, Moretti's car is intercepted by assassins who try to kidnap him until they are killed off by Reese and Carter. Moretti is then put into protection by Carter and Detective Szymanski (Michael McGlone).

Reese and Finch begin taking turns in taking care of Leila, also discovering the hospital has been receiving donations since Leila was found and brought to the hospital. They identify the donor as Adnan Petrosian (Scott Bryce), a magnate. After doing research in his company, they discover the mother is Claudia Cruz, an employee that died a few days ago. Fusco (Kevin Chapman) is told by Simmons (Robert John Burke) that HR needs him to find Moretti's location.

When Reese and Finch go to leave Leila with her grandparents, they encounter thugs who kidnap her. Suspecting Adnan, Reese breaks into his mansion and confronts him over having an affair with Claudia, which he confirms (thus also confirming that he's Leila's father), but he claims he didn't send people to retrieve her. However, Finch manages to identify Adnan's wife, Nicola (Kate Hodge) as the perpetrator. She explains that she did it so it wouldn't damage their reputation and due to her contact, she can't call off the hit.

Seeing no other option, Reese goes to Elias (Enrico Colantoni) for help, citing having saved his life as a favor. Elias' men have Reese meet in an exchange between the thugs and Mexicans for the baby. He manages to kill the captors and take back Leila. However, Elias double-crosses him, planning to trade Leila for Moretti. He has Reese handcuffed inside an ice truck and puts Leila there as well, threatening to kill them both if they don't reveal Moretti's location. Despite breaking free from his cuffs, Reese knows Leila cannot withstand the cold any longer and reluctantly gives Moretti's address to Elias. Elias says in parting that he'd never truly harm a baby, but was counting on the fact that Reese wouldn't either.

Reese warns Carter of Elias's plan and she has Szymanski take Moretti to safety but he gets wounded by Elias' men and Moretti is taken. Seeing what happened, Carter decides to stop helping Reese and Finch. Reese and Finch have Leila return with her grandparents. Somewhere, Elias meets with Moretti.

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Baby Blue" was seen by an estimated 15.67 million household viewers and gained a 3.4/9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.[1] This was a 7% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 14.56 million viewers with a 3.1/8 in the 18-49 demographics.[2] With these ratings, Person of Interest was the second most watched show on CBS for the night beating The Mentalist, but behind The Big Bang Theory, first on its timeslot and third for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind American Idol, and The Big Bang Theory.

Critical reviews

"Baby Blue" received positive reviews from critics. Phil Dyess-Nugent of The A.V. Club wrote "The possibility exists that the show may fully blossom in the remaining weeks of its first season as it bravely examines the full, dark implications of vigilante justice. The possibility also exists that, if the baby ploy pays off in the ratings, they'll double down on cuteness and get Michael Emerson a puppy."[3]

Keysha Couzens of TV Overmind wrote "The full episode that aired last night was something that was far beyond what viewers may have been expecting. What happened then that made the episode more than some two men and a baby farce?"[4]

Luke Gelineau of TV Equals wrote "Person of Interest opened up tonight's episode, 'Baby Blue', by continuing the cliffhanger from last week's installment. Even though I still question the concept of M. Elias being recognizable enough of a character on this show for people to remember who he is from week to week, the Person of Interest writers are running with it, so now we're meeting his dad!"[5]

Sean McKenna of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote "Yes, 'Baby Blue' did in fact incorporate some of those adorable moments - from Reese teaching baby Leila to go undercover and using her as a chick magnet to Finch losing her and frantically finding her with Reese's arsenal. True, he should have been baby-proofing that dangerous place aside from creating a play pen made from books."[6]

References
  1. Gorman, Bill (March 9, 2012). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Parks & Recreation' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  2. Gorman, Bill (February 24, 2012). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'American Idol,' 'The Mentalist' Adjusted Up; 'Rob,' 'Private Practice,' 'Up All Night' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  3. Dyess-Nugent, Phil (March 9, 2012). "Person of Interest: "Baby Blue"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  4. Couzens, Keysha (March 9, 2012). "Person of Interest 1.17 "Baby Blue" Review". TV Overmind. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  5. Gelineau, Luke (March 8, 2012). "Person of Interest "Baby Blue" Review". TV Equals. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  6. McKenna, Sean (March 9, 2012). "Person of Interest Review: Two Men and a Baby". TV Fanatic. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
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