Man vs. Machine vs. Machine.

• Author: Soave, Robby
• Position: Briefly Noted - Brief article

"Computer becomes sentient, attacks humans" is hardly a novel storyline, but recent seasons of CBS' initially routine police procedural Person of Interest breathed life into the formula. The series also presents countless examples of the folly of letting government sacrifice liberty for security.

"The Machine"--a surveillance program initially designed to help intelligence agencies prevent terrorist attacks--isn't as flashy as Skynet or HAL 9000; Instead, it transmits cryptic codes and instructions to the protagonists, for whom it feels increasingly human affection.

Then a rival program, "Samaritan," comes...