PERSON OF INTEREST: The Cast, Writers Pick Which Episodes Will Hook You

PERSON OF INTEREST — arguably one of the best dramas on television right now — is finally coming to Netflix and syndication (on WGN America, at 7 PM) on September 1st. (Only the first three seasons of POI will be on Netflix streaming this week — season 4 will be available on September 22nd; )

To boil the show down to its simplest terms, PERSON OF INTEREST follows an ex-CIA agent (Jim Caviezel’s John Reese) and a brilliant billionaire (Michael Emerson’s Harold Finch) as they attempt to stop violent crimes before they occur — using social security numbers generated by an all-seeing Machine, which can pinpoint a likely occurrence. (Complicating matters? They don’t know whether the number they get is going to be the victim or the perpetrator.) Since they can’t do it alone, through the show’s four seasons, they’ve had help — in varying ways — from Taraji P. Henson’s Carter, Kevin Chapman’s Fusco, Amy Acker’s Root, and Sarah Shahi’s Shaw.

If you haven’t watched the show, you absolutely should make your way through the entire series. The drama’s evolution from focusing more purely on case of the week (while having little tidbits of mythology sprinkled in) to deep-diving into the Machine — including its war with another A.I. — has been fascinating and compelling journey. And since the show’s upcoming fifth season is returning midseason, you absolutely have time to catch up on the 90 hours that have aired so far.

But if you need a starting place, PERSON OF INTEREST executive producers Greg Plageman and Denise Thé, as well as stars Chapman and Acker, shared a few episodes you should check out…

Greg Plageman:

Denise Thé and Amy Acker:

Kevin Chapman: