In the thrilling finale of FX‘s time-tripping series Class of ’09, momentous events unfold in each of the three intertwined time periods. In a not-too-distant future, Tayo (played by Brian Tyree Henry) rises to power as the head of the FBI. He implements his groundbreaking AI system, but fast forward to 2034 and the once-promising technology has spiraled out of control. Tayo and his fellow Quantico graduates from 2009 band together to take down the rogue system. In the finale, we see the graduating class of 2009, reminiscing about a time when life was much less complicated. (tvacute.com) We have a recap of Class of ’09 Season 1 Episode 8 in case you missed the exciting conclusion.
Class of ’09 Season 1 Episode 8 Recap
In Class of ’09 Episode 8, Tayo meets Poet in a café following a life-threatening attack. Tayo explains that after his father, a cop, was killed by someone with an unchecked pistol, he joined the bureau to improve the biased and prejudiced system. Tayo thinks that this issue can be resolved using Amos Garcia’s machine-learning system. He is given the chance to lead the FBI, but he is required to keep some people out of the system. Tayo concurs despite his wife Vivienne’s worries for their security. In the future, Vivienne decides to leave and explains why they were living apart since she doesn’t feel supported.
In the meantime, Tayo shows up in the space where the system’s data is kept and insists on excluding some individuals. Amos complains since it goes against the egalitarian machine learning ideals. Tayo has Amos removed because she no longer requires his assistance. This makes Amos more likely to go rogue in the future and makes him a suspect in the eyes of the law.
Hour (Sepideh Moafi) disagrees with Poet using the system to make arrests based on artificial intelligence, which has caused them to argue. Poet disagrees but is awed by the system’s capabilities. They become estranged as a result of this.
The episode, which is evocative of George Orwell’s 1984, demonstrates how the system changes from looking into white-collar crimes to making arrests based on sentiments or tendencies through news reports. Due to a book she was working on and her connections to system critics, Vivienne is detained in 2034. While Vivienne is being arrested, Tayo is tasered, and she shows her lack of confidence in the legal system.
To take down the system, Tayo, Hour, Poet (Kate Mara), Lennix (Brian J. Smith), and Lennix work together. They fry the system by using an Amos device to transmit EMP charges to the mainframe. They manually reboot it and then take away all exceptions, putting everyone on an equal footing. Although they are detained right away, they have succeeded in purging the corrupt system. All predictions-based arrests are overturned, and all prisoners—including Vivienne—are let out.
‘Class Of ’09’ Finale Ending Explained!
Poet hires on as a teacher at Quantico, advising freshmen to value human judgment over technology. The key takeaway is that human decision-making is essential and that depending too much on technology might cause issues. The FBI reaffirms its commitment to reason, thoughtfulness, and treating people like people. Using individuals as binary constructs resulted in a national disaster, emphasizing the value of humanity in decision-making. In the end, human judgment is valued again by the FBI and society, and humans triumph over AI. By giving all tasks to machines, we run the risk of a world where people are no longer needed. A functional society depends on the human touch with its potential for feelings, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making.