Warning: Fullfor the episode follow...

While it may have a felt bit jarring to have Person of Interest's two-part Season 4 endgame directly follow a reflective, poignant chapter like the last episode, "Asylum" still took us superbly back into the crosshairs of Samaritan in a big way. And in the spaces where there might have normally been a bunch of flashbacks, Control returned to help ramp up the intensity via a revealing interrogation scene.I'm predicting a big oncoming collision here, as it's one of the things this series excels at come finale time. Because as of the ending of this episode, Samaritan's located The Machine, some sort of calamity known as "The Correction" is imminent, and Reese, Fusco, and Elias look like their dead in the water. It's possible that Brotherhood story, in ways I can't specifically anticipate, will wrap around into the larger picture. Much like Vigilance did last year. Even if it doesn't though, I like that these final Season 4 episodes are dealing with both of the current major arcs at the same time. And the separation of Team Machine into two separate duos makes for a nice delegating of duties and themes.Plus, the Brotherhood/Elias stuff is helping to situate Reese a little better after his near-death experience in "Terra Incognita" as he's now in a scenario where he can remain wounded while looking death long in the face once again - this time with a newfound craving and appreciation for life. So pairing him with Elias, who's basically resigned to die while making a big splash/statement, was a nice move. And yes, Harper's still in play so not all is lost. If I had one regret here, about "Asylum," it's that I thought Dominic was too quick to believe that Link had betrayed him. Or, at least, too quick to shoot him dead. I felt like the show had gone to great lengths to show us how smart Dom was, so to see him get so dramatically duped like that felt a touch unearned.Meanwhile, Root blackmailed The Machine (using her own life as a gambling chip) into getting back in her ear and helping her walk into an obvious trap. A trap Root felt was worth springing because Shaw, in some shape or form, might have been on the other end of it. And so Root, taking Greer's bait, walked right into the "belly of the beast" itself -- Samaritan HQ -- without hesitating. From there, it was Greer and Samaritan's turn to "play chicken" as The Machine was forced to choose between itself and the lives of Root and Finch. Two pawns who, as it turns out, are not interchangeable. Yes, The Machine, which was cold enough to drop the trail of Shaw a few months back, finally broke down and sacrificed itself for the safety of its warriors.But not before Root got in one final shot on Martine - a quick and satisfying snap of the neck to put a final stamp on the rivalry. A loss to Team Samaritan that's sure to go unfelt by Samaritan. A notion that shines a spotlight on the differences between the two AIs and their respective followers. Greer wasn't shaken by Finch's words about "irrelevance" because Greer would be among the first to tell you that he was insignificant. Yes, Samaritan followers are deeply committed (as we saw with Shelly - the teacher being brutally questioned by Control) and more than willing to die anonymously.I'm a little nervous about how they've shuffled Shaw off to periphery, with us just catching glimpses of her here and there. With Root having just missed her and Martine bragging about how Shaw broke after months of torture and, basically, helped lure Root into certain death. I hope the final reveal (whenever it comes) about her time at the asylum is more satisfying than the story we're being given. I hope the payoff's better. Not that I'm immediately trusting the word of a Samaritan psycho, but I also can't imagine a lot of alternate scenarios. Plus, they specifically showed Shaw's face at the end when Shelly was giving her speech about the select few who will be born again and given new purpose in the "new world."