Person of Interest: Amy Acker Ponders ‘Her’ New Master Plan, Root’s Sexuality
As CBS‘ Person of Interest (Tuesdays at 10/9c) opened Season 4, it was Root, of all people, who needed to light a fire under Team Machine leader Harold Finch, who in the wake of Samaritan going online (and given the lives lost to date) had abandoned his faith.
But as Root noted, she, Harold et al still “have a god in this fight,” and with those words she nudged him toward caring about the numbers again.
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As Team Machine slowly but surely reassembles, TVLine invited Amy Acker – who joined the complex, compelling drama in Season 1, and was made a series regular last season – to weigh in on Root’s evolution, her “interest” in Shaw, her dream S.H.I.E.L.D. encore and more.
TVLINE | Tell me about how the role of Root was very first pitched to you, versus what she has evolved into years later. Because it’s been an interesting path.
It has been! [Laughs] You know, [the producers] are not totally forthcoming with a lot of information when you get a part, so I really didn’t know what to expect. They told me that had introduced this hacker, but they’d only shown the back of her head and her black fingernail polish, yet she had caught on, so they were excited to expand this part. The first episode I got was where I was being somebody else – John’s psychiatrist – and that was all I knew. Then when I showed up the next year I was kidnapping Finch and doing more crazy Root stuff. It started to unfold from there. They told me I would probably be in five episodes, so….
TVLINE | Because even at that point she was more a nuisance, not any sort of puppet master.
I don’t know, they may still consider me a nuisance. [Laughs] But now I’m around more to bug them more.
TVLINE | Was it almost odd to see Root in the premiere be the champion for the numbers, that it was she who had to get Finch back into the game?
That was such a turnaround, especially versus where I started last season. It showed that I had actually been listening when Harold was talking to me, that I had been able to learn the lessons that the Machine had been trying to teach me all along.
TVLINE | Now that the Machine has led Finch to this untappable communications network and a new “Batcave,” does She have a broader plan in mind that we’re launching into?
I don’t know what all I am allowed to say, but… my character is still trusting that She must have one, because that’s kind of the only way to go on, if there is a master plan. So I feel like at the start of this year it is my job to make sure that everyone continues to believe in Her, that She is there to protect us. There’s got to be a plan.
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TVLINE | The synopsis for the Oct. 7 episode, titled “Wingman,” says that Root and Finch embark on a “mysterious errand.” Care to elaborate?
A “mysterious errand” sounds about right. The main story has Fusco going undercover [as a ladies’ man], so he’s getting this sort of makeover. At the same time, [Root and Finch] are acquiring things that will help in the new “Batcave.” We’re sort of getting the team ready for what’s to come.
TVLINE | Remind me, has the show ever indicated in which gender Root’s romantic interests lie?
Well…. There’s definitely a lot of flirtation with Shaw. They’re not shying away from that, so that seems to suggest that she definitely likes her. But one time, I think it was Episode 17, I broke this guy out of jail and he helped me by posing as a delivery man and getting information for me, and as he was leaving to run from the police, I kissed him as I walked away. It seemed a little flirtatious. It seems like she’s not tied to one gender or the other, but I think her No.1 crush is definitely Shaw.
TVLINE | Do you and Sarah Shahi have fun leaning into that notion?
We do. We’re always looking at the script like, “I’m sure they meant it this way….” It’s fun because you can play it like I’m flirting with her just to mess with her, or because I know that it annoys her…. It does seem like the underlying truth is that they actually do care for each other. They’ve really gone out of their way to make sure that the other one is OK, in situations where their lives are in danger.
TVLINE | Will you get to have any scenes with Martine, the mystery woman being played by Cara Buono (Mad Men)?
I think I will…. I think she’s going to be around a lot, so I’m excited about that.
TVLINE | Lastly: What kind of TV does Amy Acker like to watch?
Oh, geez…. The problem with making TV is you don’t get as much time to watch it as you would like to. But I love Orphan Black — Tatiana Maslany is great –and I like True Detective, and I’m very excited to see [POI exec producer] Jonah [Nolan]’s new show [HBO’s Westworld], when it inevitably gets picked up.
TVLINE | Have you been keeping any tabs on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., if only to see how Clark Gregg’s Coulson is holding up? [Acker last season guest-starred as Agent Coulson’s great love, The Cellist.]
I try to watch as much as I can, and I always tried to watch when J. August Richards was on, keeping the Angel days alive. [Laughs] They’re all such fun over there, and it seems like the show is doing great. Hopefully there’ll be a chance for me to go back and actually have scenes where I talk to Clark!
Want more scoop on Person of Interest, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
@but I think her No.1 crush is definitely Shaw.
And I genuinely hope nothing happens between them both. The last important character to find love(Carter) was killed off not long afterwards. I would hate to see that happen again. If they ever run out of ideas for Root, I wouldn’t be against the idea of her riding off into the sunset with someone less important to the show.
At least she acknowledges something between Root and Shaw my minds is painting a picture now.
Than s for posting Matt. Huge Root fan here.
Love me some ROOT. So glad Amy has become a regular on POI
I really really really want them to go there with Root/Shaw. It’s wickedly compelling and their chemistry is super sexy. Love it. Please please please let it happen POI powers-that-be.
Great interview, Matt. I really like (and was thinking after I finished last week’s episode) how Root has…not necessarily evolved, but been revealed to us more and more. At first, tbh, I found her irksome, but now I like her as I do the others on the team. As for her sexuality-with a series like this-it never crossed my mind. It’s not a show that does romance, really. I always took the way she acted around Shaw as baiting her, and found it humorous. Some shows have pairs with great chemistry and I will ship them if it’s too hard to ignore. But this show, within the context we’re presented with and Root-IDK-I’ve never been curious to know or examine her love or sex life. For this show, it feels….out of place. It has such great, meaty storylines and so many great threads that are far more interesting, IMO.
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Anyway, thanks for the great interview, Matt. Excited to see tonight’s episode. It’s been great, thus far, seeing how they’re dealing with the fallout of last season’s finale. :)
One thing I’ve never heard mentioned with this show is that what it is really about is the Technological Singularity. Most people think it’s a crime show, or a variation of the old show The Equalizer.
wait! if she could kiss a man that she just meet as a flirtatious act, then why not Shaw? Come on, it will be interesting! I want to see how will Shaw react!!!
Yeah. Let’s work in the gay angle, just what we need. May work at ABC but not CBS.
Says who, you? Guess you don’t watch The Good Wife.
Too gay for me.
Apples, oranges, and no I don’t watch the Good Wife. Shahi,and Acker should not agree with any changes in their characters. It works, don’t fix it…
You say changes like you know who and what Shaw and Root want when you don’t. Hate to break it to you but Shahi nor Acker have any problem with the Shoot ship and have said so many times.
Acker is the reason i watch P.O.I so gifted
I hope they fire her(Amy Acker). I don’t know what those idiots of producers were thinking or smoking when they got rid of Taraji P. Henson, and instead kept this psycho
According to Henson herself, the character’s death was planned from the beginning of the series. So apparently they do have a master plan and are playing a very long game. It’s too bad you don’t like Root, because I think she’s the best character on a show of incredibly interesting characters.
Do not like the character or actor; stopped watching this show when she became a regular. Too bad, I liked the show.