If you asked people who'd never watched CBS' Person of Interest what they thought the show was about, you'd get a lot of different answers, and likely none quite close to the truth. A lot of this disparity had to do with the incorrect way the show was marketed, while some of it also was the result of a show that continuously evolved over the years - transforming from a somewhat straight forward surveillance state procedural into a much more serialized sci-fi saga about two warring artificial intelligences and the human pawns they sacrifice -- or who sacrifice themselves to stop them -- along the way.

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HM "Witness" (Season 1)

10 "RAM" (Season 3)

8 "Relevance" (Season 2)

7 "The Crossing" (Season 3)

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6 "The Day the World Went Away" (Season 5)

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With the series recently, and perfectly, wrapped up in its truncated final season , here's a list of the ten best Person of Interest episodes (plus one honorable mention) for you to debate to your heart's content. Victims and perpetrators are all welcome!And if you'd like, check out our post-POI interview with Nolan and Plageman about the show's final season and more! [poilib element="objectRanking"parameters="headline=%22Firewall%22%20(Season%201)&rank=9&imageURL=http%3A%2F%2Foyster.ignimgs.com%2Fwordpress%2Fstg.ign.com%2F2016%2F06%2FFIREWALL1x23_-_POI_Caroline.png&reviewURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ign.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F05%2F18%2Fperson-of-interest-firewall-review"]The Season 1 finale put Reese in the critical crosshairs of the FBI while also revealing Root as a major AI-worshipping villain. In a twist similar to the Elias reveal, Root turned out to be the "number" of the week, but with the added swerve that she purposefully set herself up as a victim in order to draw out the AI she guessed was out there protecting people. She was right, and one of the show's best characters got her sinister start.

Continue on for Person of Interest's five best episodes...