Person of Interest

TV Show • 2011 • Crime  

Report
Person of Interest follows former CIA paramilitary operative, John Reese, who is presumed dead and teams up with reclusive billionaire Finch to prevent violent crimes in New York City by initiating their own type of justice. With the special training that Reese has had in Covert Operations and Finch's genius software inventing mind, the two are a perfect match for the job that they have to complete. With the help of surveillance equipment, they work "outside the law" and get the right criminal behind bars. 
This tv show contains 30 potentially triggering events.
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Your Triggers
Does the dog die?
340 supporters
Yes
0
No
32
9
mindy.crenshaw.clone
Bear is a-okay. He is a good dog.
4 comments | Add comment
Unanswered Triggers
Were animals harmed in the making?
111 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is there pedophilia?
100 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is there bestiality?
78 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is an animal abandoned?
75 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is rape mentioned?
75 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is a woman brutalized for spectacle?
73 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Is an animal sad?
62 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Yes
0
No
0
Are rabbits harmed?
51 supporters
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Yes
0
No
0
Abuse
Is someone stalked?
1 supporters
Yes
22
No
0
0
LonelySeawolf
S1
 E21
A federal marshal abuses his position to stalk his wife once she tries to leave him. It's the main treatment of S1E21.
2 comments | Add comment
1
jamieblazej
S1
 E21
SPOILERS Reese’s former partner is murdered by her abusive husband. The husband covers it up by crashing their car to make it look like an accident. Although Reese is coming to get her, he is heavily delayed and does not get to her in time. The whole situation is extremely tragic and is shown in flashbacks. It is referenced in some way in other episodes as well. This episode’s primary storyline is about a woman who has been on the run from her abusive ex-husband, who is a U.S. Marshal and has framed her for crimes so that other marshals, cops, etc will be on the lookout and turn her over to him, unknowingly delivering a victim to her abuser.
3 comments | Add comment
Is someone gaslighted?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
10
No
2
Is a child abused?
89 supporters
Yes
3
No
12
0
Meowri
Vague references to childhood neglect but not outright abuse.
2 comments | Add comment
Addiction
1
Meowri
John self-medicates with alcohol.
Harold is drugged against his will with ecstasy.
A marijuana dispensary is shown and discussed but no one is directly seen taking drugs. There is an allusion to Harold perhaps smoking weed in the past.
5 comments | Add comment
Is there addiction?
15 supporters
Yes
10
No
1
2
Meowri
John is definitely addicted to alcohol at the beginning of the series although we very quickly see him recover with no withdrawal shown. He briefly relapses at one point but we never know how deep the relapse went and he again recovers very quickly.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
12
No
1
1
Meowri
John. He is never violent just is shown to be actively drunk and depressed.
5 comments | Add comment
Animal
Does a horse die?
76 supporters
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Yes
0
No
25
Does an animal die?
(besides a dog, cat or horse)
144 supporters
Yes
0
No
24
1
jamieblazej
S2
 E9
A man who appears to be drunk/high is shown in the back of the POI’s cab rambling about how the city used to be farmland and how he used to shoot rabbits somewhere. The whole scene lasts about 10 seconds or so and it’s entirely possible the man is just full of it.
1 comment | Add comment
Are animals abused?
168 supporters
Yes
2
No
16
5
Meowri
To some extent it's implied that at the very least whatever the Neo-Nazis were doing with Bear was causing him anxiety but he is never in danger again in the show and the main cast is always kind and caring towards him.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
18
Is there a dead animal?
92 supporters
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Yes
0
No
20
Does a cat die?
141 supporters
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Yes
0
No
24
Does a pet die?
132 supporters
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Yes
0
No
14
Does a dragon die?
26 supporters
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Yes
0
No
25
Are there spiders?
42 supporters
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Yes
0
No
21
Are there snakes?
16 supporters
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Yes
0
No
18
Are there bugs?
29 supporters
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Yes
0
No
20
Assault
Is someone drugged?
28 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
0
nekkie
General stuff that you'd expect in a series where a crime is a major plot driving tool, though there's also one scene where a main character is drugged with ecstasy and it's sort of made to be funny
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
6
No
1
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
John disarms one of the villain characters by zip tying his hands behind his back. Later, the POI is restrained by two men who are about to throw him off a bridge.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
14
1
livdog
There is discussion of past assault and brief scenes of men threatening women physically before being stopped.
2 comments | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Yes
16
No
5
1
Anonymous
In the very first episode, a main character starts with a large beard, and is briefly shown shaving it off.
5 comments | Add comment
Yes
10
No
3
1
Meowri
There is one particular scene in season five where two characters are in a room and the oxygen begins to be sucked out, causing them both to have difficulty breathing. The scene lasts for maybe a minute and a half.
4 comments | Add comment
Is there cannibalism?
30 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
Is someone crushed to death?
27 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
11
Yes
9
No
11
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E15
John’s face is held over a lot burner in a hotel kitchen but it is unclear if he is actually burned or not. He’s not shown with any signs of injury after this scene.
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone buried alive?
23 supporters
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Yes
0
No
15
Is there amputation?
26 supporters
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Yes
0
No
15
Yes
0
No
16
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
John incapacitates the POI’s bodyguard by smashing his head/face into a plate glass door. This is shown very quickly and isn’t graphic at all. The bodyguard is shown unconscious on the ground several times but the attack itself is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it type of situation.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there Achilles Tendon injury?
17 supporters
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Yes
0
No
11
Is there a hanging?
33 supporters
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Yes
0
No
19
Yes
3
No
3
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E15
SPOILERS The POI is garroted for a few seconds but is saved a moment later. She is okay but is struggling and can’t breathe during this.
3 comments | Add comment
Is there genital trauma/mutilation?
75 supporters
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Yes
0
No
11
Yes
8
No
3
0
Meowri
The bone itself is never shown but sometimes the snapping sound is heard.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
12
1
Meowri
There are moments of shaking that take place during various medical situations, especially surrounding Sameen during the fourth season.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
8
No
9
0
Meowri
The actual scene of teeth pulling is never shown however the damaged teeth are briefly shown in a bag later and it is spoken of a few times.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
15
No
3
1
Meowri
Sameen attaches a man to a table by stabbing a knife through his hand.
Root drills a hole into the back of a woman's hand with a surgical saw.
Elias has his fingers broken with a hammer.
5 comments | Add comment
Is someone tortured?
74 supporters
Yes
14
No
7
1
Meowri
Multiple times to characters of all genders. Sometimes psychological, sometimes emotional, often physical. True gore is never shown but bruises, broken bones, and blood are all fair game.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone fall down stairs?
8 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
7
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
The POI is about to be thrown off a bridge but John steps in to save him at the last second.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
3
No
14
1
Meowri
Not exactly. There is a moment where it seems like eye mutilation is about to happen but a different decision is made and it does not take place.
4 comments | Add comment
Is there excessive gore?
76 supporters
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Yes
0
No
13
Children
Is an infant abducted?
15 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
10
Does a kid die?
37 supporters
Yes
1
No
19
1
livdog
Children and even babies are often put in peril but never for long.
2 comments | Add comment
Is a minor sexualized?
95 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Death
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E13
SPOILERS Mark Snow allows himself to be blown up by his suicide bomb vest that the villain forced him into in order to kill/prevent her from hurting anyone else. He was originally going to try to find a way out of the vest before it the timer in it detonated but instead sneaks into the villain’s car and they both die.
1 comment | Add comment
Disability
Is the r-slur used?
31 supporters
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Yes
0
No
12
Drugs/Alcohol
Yes
0
No
8
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E16
Shaw collapses after being injected with poison and SPOILERS she is pronounced legally dead. Her cause of death is assumed to be an overdose or heart attack. She is given the antidote to the poison and is resuscitated successfully.
1 comment | Add comment
Family
Does a parent die?
19 supporters
Yes
14
No
8
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E15
Not shown, but a major plot point is that the POI witnessed her family being murdered but managed to escape and is now on the run.
1 comment | Add comment
Is a child's toy destroyed?
22 supporters
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Yes
0
No
7
Yes
14
No
2
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E16
Multiple people are kidnapped.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone cheat?
1 supporters
Yes
7
No
7
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
The POI is involved in an affair with a business rival’s wife. Later him and his rival become business partners.
1 comment | Add comment
Fear
Are there ghosts?
9 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
22
Yes
4
No
12
0
Meowri
Only sort of. Nothing jumps out at the viewer but some of the explosions do come out of nowhere.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
13
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E16
A woman is revealed to be restrained in the bathtub of an apartment or hotel, but the shower or bath aren’t used.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there clowns?
11 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
22
Is someone possessed?
14 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
21
Gross
Does someone vomit?
91 supporters
Yes
1
No
11
0
JamieLee
S2
 E20
Just before 12 minutes in the episode, it's not seen, just heard, lasts a few seconds and described as blood.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Does someone spit?
9 supporters
Add comment
Yes
7
No
3
Is there audio gore?
42 supporters
Yes
4
No
2
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E15
During the kitchen fight scene John stabs his opponent and there are are sound effects that go along with it.
1 comment | Add comment
Large-scale Violence
Yes
3
No
3
1
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
Harold learns about 9/11 when his best friend comes into his office and turns on the news. The TV is just out of frame and nothing is really heard from the news but Harold and his friend describe it without much detail at all. Basically, “it was a plane?” “No, two planes.” And that's it.
2 comments | Add comment
Law Enforcement
Is there copaganda?
27 supporters
Yes
12
No
1
3
dramatur_
A conspiracy of corrupt cops plays an antagonistic role for much of the series. On the other hand, all other cops, especially main character Joss Carter, are portrayed as noble, self-sacrificing public servants ('I'm a cop. My life's always in danger.'), which creates a "few bad apples" narrative.
3 comments | Add comment
Medical
Yes
2
No
18
1
Meowri
Not therapy per-say but there are moments of taser use and of electrodes being shown on someone's head.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
11
No
4
1
livdog
Needles appear commonly, often in conjunction with torture. The worst instances are probably in 1x08 and 3x12.
2 comments | Add comment
0
Meowri
There is indeed one episode that takes place inside of a stereotypical asylum and another episode where a person is shown breaking out of a building that is later revealed to be an asylum.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
18
No
3
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E7
At least half of this episode takes place in a hospital because the POI is a surgeon.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone have cancer?
17 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
11
Mental Health
Does someone self harm?
S.A.F.E. ALTERNATIVES® (1-800-DONTCUT)
68 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
10
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E17
SPOILERS the POI is a serial killer who steals his victims identities. He doesn’t have a diagnosis but his behavior is that of someone who is severely mentally ill. He alters virtually everything about himself, such as cutting his hair, wearing colored contacts to match his victim’s appearances, and even mimics their speech pattern. He decides that his next identity will be Harold and he removes Harold’s glasses and starts practicing Harold’s manner of speaking. Harold insults his ego by saying that the POI enjoys killing despite the POI’s denial and rationalizations, and says that he’s unwell, maladjusted, and needs help. This makes the POI decide he will kill Harold instead of keeping him alive in order to escape. The POI is a relatively standard portrayal of creepy, perhaps “psychotic” serial killers in movies and TV shows.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
16
1
Meowri
Not specifically. There is depictions of a few characters who could perhaps be seen as autistic but it is never explicitly revealed that way. And occasionally they may be lightly put down for their social skills or routines but nothing genuinely abusive.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
10
Are there anxiety attacks?
23 supporters
Add comment
Yes
6
No
3
Yes
0
No
3
Is there body dysmorphia?
28 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
19
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E17
A dead body is found in the trunk of a car, but is not shown for very long. Even though the man is dead, it might still affect some people with claustrophobia. Plus, John discovers the body when he opens the trunk in order to detain an unconscious drug dealer. This obviously doesn’t end up happening.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone have an eating disorder?
37 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
20
1
livdog
A plethora of bit characters commit suicide during the series, usually villains. It becomes a bit of a joke in season 3 that agents of Decima kill themselves bafflingly often because their loved ones will be provided for if they do and won't be if they're captured. In a simulated alternate timeline briefly explored in 5x12, a main character has already committed suicide, and his grave is shown.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
2
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
Not referenced by name or anything but the POI’s family went bankrupt when he was growing up and the trauma of the situation has contributed to him behaving in ways that are considered odd/socially unacceptable. He is also pretty paranoid and clearly still affected by his family’s financial past.
1 comment | Add comment
Noxious
Is there shakey cam?
35 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
6
Does a baby cry?
14 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
8
Is there obscene language/gestures?
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E16
Flash bang grenades are used around the middle of the episode. This is accompanied by the muffled/ringing sound effect used to convey hearing loss.
5 comments | Add comment
Paranoia
Is the fourth wall broken?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Pregnancy
Is a baby stillborn?
22 supporters
Yes
1
No
8
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E8
It’s unclear if it’s a miscarriage or stillbirth or something else, but the POI’s marriage started to deteriorate following the loss of the woman’s pregnancy. This is only mentioned and not shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
12
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E8
It’s unclear if it’s a miscarriage or stillbirth or something else, but the POI’s marriage started to deteriorate following the loss of the woman’s pregnancy. This is only mentioned and not shown.
2 comments | Add comment
Are there babies or unborn children?
14 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
8
Is there childbirth?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
15
Are there abortions?
12 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
Does a pregnant person die?
16 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Prejudice
Are there homophobic slurs?
42 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
13
0
Meowri
The show is in fact surprisingly good at avoiding this. Both mental and physical disabilities are treated with courtesy and treatment of various kinds is shown.
2 comments | Add comment
Are there usages of the n-word?
32 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
0
jamieblazej
Not directly, but a Neo-Nazi group is heavily featured in at least 1 episode. I don’t recall any super overt discrimination/bigotry, aside from maybe a few comments. The group is taken down in a very satisfying way.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there "Man in a dress" jokes?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
17
No
8
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E7
The POI receives a call revealing that her wife will be murdered if she doesn’t purposely botch a surgery to kill the patient. She is ultimately able to save the patient and John saves her wife. Happy ending.
2 comments | Add comment
Are there fat jokes?
50 supporters
Yes
4
No
3
-1
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
No fat jokes, but John does make a comment about the POI getting a heart attack from eating fried food. Not bodyshaming but it could be upsetting for those who have been shamed for what/how they eat.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
17
2
livdog
The show typically does not play into this, but if you only consider the six main cast members in the show's run, the first one to die is the only black one. (The actor wanted to pursue other projects.)
2 comments | Add comment
Is there hate speech?
26 supporters
Yes
4
No
6
0
Meowri
Sort of? There are protests seen throughout the show and maybe a couple of specific insults that vaguely target a group but nothing explicitly crude or cruel.
2 comments | Add comment
Relationships
Is there a large age gap?
36 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
9
Sex
Yes
0
No
11
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
The POI is an eccentric billionaire who enjoys being unpredictable and causing drama so he walks down the street in just his underwear and a coat to pick up his dry cleaning. No nudity is shown but this is portrayed as very scandalous and is called “streaking” by one character.
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone sexually objectified?
43 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
83 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
20
Yes
6
No
8
3
Meowri
Yes but incredibly vague with one exception. The show opens with a man and woman in bed together, pretty clearly post coital although all we ever see is pieces of his shirtless chest and the edge of her arms as she is wearing a camisole.
There is also one scene where a couple appear to be in bed but it is maybe a second of an entire episode, doesn't feature important characters, and the covers are drawn very far up.
The one exception: There is one scene that features two characters clearly going through foreplay. Clothing is removed until they are both in their underwear then the scene fades out. They are later shown in bed together and it is implied they are both topless but nothing but their backs are shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Sexism
Yes
0
No
4
Sickness
Does someone have a stroke?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
9
Does someone have a chronic illness?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
9
Yes
2
No
11
0
A characters father has Alzheimer’s.
1 comment | Add comment
Social
Yes
3
No
0
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E17
An ex-marine is trapped on the island by the severe storm and he is revealed to be on the run and without a home. He is called a “vagrant” at least once.
2 comments | Add comment
Spoiler
Yes
8
No
11
1
livdog
In one episode Fusco literally says "There was no Santa; it was your parents."
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
11
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E16
I wouldn’t say sad necessarily but this episode is definitely one of the darker, less rewarding episodes in the show. There’s not really much of a satisfying conclusion and SPOILERS Shaw’s only friend was murdered. She is clearly upset about her friend and repeatedly mentions that he’s the one person she liked.
5 comments | Add comment
Vehicular
Does a car honk or tires screech?
12 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
1
Does a car crash?
18 supporters
Yes
19
No
3
3
Anonymous
Oh my god there are so many car crashes. Cars getting rammed from the side becomes practically a running joke, happening many times per season. One time two main characters drive off the side of an overpass and flip upside down, but somehow aren't injured.
4 comments | Add comment
Does a plane crash?
10 supporters
Yes
1
No
13
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E14
9/11 is referenced briefly in a flashback but not shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
10
No
9
2
Meowri
A surprisingly large amount of times. Also a ridiculous amount of scenes where cars are t-boned by other cars.
1 comment | Add comment
Violence
Does someone drown?
17 supporters
Yes
8
No
10
0
jamieblazej
S2
 E17
A character gets the jump on John and knocks him out, then is shown dragging him across a dock by a rope tied to his ankles. The character makes a comment about how he’s not the type to kill someone, but he has to in this situation, and rationalizes this by saying that the water is cold so John will die quickly. John regains consciousness and knocks the character out with a paddle, thus saving himself from being drowned.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there blood/gore?
53 supporters
Yes
16
No
1
2
Meowri
Yes, however, the show is particularly good about not showing most of it. There is one brief view on a video screen of what is implied to be the inside of someone's body during surgery and another brief shot of red squishiness inside of an incision but aside from these all other moments are either implied or pretty small. Characters tend to get blood on them a lot but with a few exceptions these are usually non-lethal wounds and are often wrapped up quickly after.
4 comments | Add comment
Yes
6
No
12
1
Meowri
An imaginary one is envisioned but does not actually take place.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
20
No
0
1
Meowri
A great deal of this both gang related and otherwise
7 comments | Add comment