First, this cranky old reviewer will share a secret.
When you are dealing with a show as sophisticated as POI -- perhaps one of the most sophisticated in the history of the medium, with such extraordinary talent in the production pen -- you need to change your reviewing rules.
This episode is the first of a brand new season, and is especially noteworthy because, moreso than other series, POI has shown a willingness, a zeal, a "penchant" for completely changing the ground rules as they move forward, EVEN THOUGH THE OLD FORMULA WAS WORKING JUST FINE.
So, reviewing this 'sode as a "season opener," and not a mere week to week entry, it is wonderful.
I loved it. I loved the snarky dialog about how big their team was compared to the opposition, "even if you count the dog." I love the casting, especially the "dream team" of Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi. I loved the return cameo by Colantoni as Elias. I loved the segue from the last season where they spent an entire episode moving servers just to able to confound Samaritan and "blend in" (brilliant).
But what strikes me as most interesting about this show is that, although the theme is AI, the "real" AI is clearly behind the camera where, almost unique in the world of episodic TV, you have a production team with the willingness and the resources and the drive to constantly reinvent themselves season to season.
That's impressive.