With Person of Interest Season 3 Episode 22, we had the tense feeling that everything was coming to a head.

The noose was getting tighter and the grand finale was clearly right around the corner.

This was definitely an hour to set up the Person of Interest Season 3 finale, but it was one that kept the suspense high and the mystery of what was truly in store just out of reach, just enough to keep viewers invested and excited to see what comes next.

It also allowed all of the major players - Decima, Vigilance, the government and the POI team - to cross paths and ultimately converge by the end. It was a cat and mouse game, a chase around the city with surprises at every turn and possibilities waiting to be explored.

Watch Person of Interest Season 3 Episode 22 Online

Sometimes Person of Interest has its predictable moments or its purely fun scenes, but it also knows just how to keep you guessing and expanding on a story that seemingly began about two men simply trying to stop crime before it happened. Clearly, it’s become so much more.

And I loved that this episode took the time to provide some back story to Collier, the Vigilance leader (or at least the one we’ve seen leading this particular crew). His character always seemed to pop in and out, ranting about privacy and the government, but it never felt like we got to the root of who he was as a person.

This hour changed that by revealing a character, delving into his humanity and discovering something of an origin story. Seeing him as a good guy, just trying to help his brother but blocked at the government at every turn, only to find out they manipulated information.

It was easy to see exactly why he might respond to those anonymous text messages (by the way, who were those from?) and head down the path of Vigilance. Who wouldn’t be angry that their innocent sibling was thought to be a terrorist, who lost hope and then killed themselves?

It’s intriguing to see how certain circumstances can change who you align yourself with.

That was definitely the case with Shaw trying to protect Control rather than killing her, or Reese and Shaw teaming up with Hersh. Greer’s comments about alliances held very true.

And I’m kind of glad that Vigilance gained the upper hand by the end. I’ve always felt like Decima was the super power problem, but to have them captured along with the Government and Finch was a cool twist.

But it’s interesting to think that truthfully, all these groups are simply trying to uphold their own sense of justice and rules. Each, in their mind, are trying to do what they think is right, and it’s great to see some moral gray area come into play.

Although, at the end of the day, the POI team are pretty much the good guys.

So, for Vigilance to put Decima, the government and Finch all on trial? To pull back that curtain for the world to see the people involved with a Machine that burrows its way into every facet of our lives? There is so much positive the Machine can do, and yet, obviously, we know how dangerous it can be.

There’s always two sides to every coin, every story.

It makes me eager and curious how this trial will go, and what the end result truly will be. Who will come out on top?

After all, Root’s on her mission to get at Samaritan. But can she stop that? Or is she even going to stop it? I’ve got a feeling something unexpected will play out on her end.

As for Reese, Shaw and Hersh, all the bullets and witty banter aren’t going to help them now, and it puts them in such a unique position of being forced to watch rather than help. Can they find Vigilance and save Finch? Save Control? Or will they be too late in stopping that grand finale.

There’s so many possibilities that the anticipation for next week has me formulating various scenarios how it could all go down. But if anything, we all know that with Person of Interest, it’s going to go out with a solidly, well-crafted bang of story, action and character.

Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.