@ununpredictableme This is why I couldn't get behind Root 100%. She's so demeaning to anyone who's below her intelligence, but most prominently, towards Reese. It could be my bias, but then again, she's never been gracious towards any other male except Harold, who's her intellectual and emotional superior.
I'm intrigued by your comment about sloppy writing because I didn't pick up on it.
I won't go into plot because there were issues in the first two seasons and I don't want to be hypocritical. After all, it is fiction and not a documentary. (Well, the Carter being demoted furing the investation by internal affairs, which, did it happen? was kinda weird)
However when it comes to characterisation? Carterās final episodes? Her lone ranger arc, her not telling anything to anyone? Yes, I consider it sloppy writing, because the creators managed to do it by having Harold and John (JOHN) just nodding willfully to whatever she said. Which brings us to the gotcha moments that instead of being written as natural progress of the storyline, they were used as "ha! you didn't see that coming? Did you?" 1. Carter knowing about Lansky's role (and did she kill a corrupted cop? why, yes she did) 2. Carter actually calling Harold and John to inform them where she goes instead of what they showed to the audience. Because? Deus ex machina. John ex machina. and the worst of those moments? 3. John and Lionel saving Harold, Shaw and Arthur in Aletheia. But instead of showing that part of the story (if they could) they wrote an unbelievable ridiculous fight scene between Reese and Fusco as if John couldn't beat Lionel hands tied behind his back, plastered to the seven seas. Ā Should we discuss John's turn it on/turn it off relationship with alcohol. Nope.
----
Now, imagine Shaw's first apperance in the standard episode POV. Now I am aware that people in the internet loved it, but it made no sense as to why it was told that way. Even less sense made the fact they offered her a job. The first episodes of the same show, presented in detail how much Harold followed John's career and life (I know exactly everything) before offering him a job, we saw them trying with trust and friendship. It's what made the show. And then Shaw appeared and they fell over their feet to get her. Because all of the sudden, and for no apparent change, they needed her.
It's as if you take in a stray, that keeps insulting you, feeling superior to you and bites your hand when you feed it. And you have to thank it & being grateful. And they showed no explanation of why and how... They (writers/creators) just wanted her there.
@esteefee People are expected to forget that Root straight up tortured and murdered Denton Weeks. I didn't forget that or that she kidnapped, drugged, and tortured Finch, who had to watch that. She isn't a good person despite being forced into better behavior by TM. So as useful as she was as an ally, I didn't appreciate her insults toward John, no.
@ununpredictableme precisely this! I don't want to say more or I'd spoil it for you, but definitely yes to that. Finch was so against Root's methods of coercion and outright murder. So it was totally understandable that Finch doesn't trust her at all.
And finally, Root. Yes! Hersh has a better character development than Root, it's organic, it's slow...Ā
But Root? Root is a sadist, who kills, maims, tortures people for her own gain; and amusement. Her backstory didn't justify anything. She abused Harold, physically and emotionally for days and we have no way of knowing what she would do to him, if John hadn't found them. She begins as a character with zero redeeming qualities -I can imagine her pulling wings out of butterlies as a child- and remain like that so far.
And Harold? he put her in a hospital and didn't run a check for the physicians? I realise the writers got excited with the actress but did next to nothing to take her from point A. to point B other than she's now in point B & the most important person in the story because the Machine also took a shine to her. For no clear reason that was actually written and shown to their viewers.
So having that character insulting John and no one to talk back at her is... a slap to the face.
