I really enjoy this episode a lot, so thank you very much for another great reaction for it. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I appreciated that this episode started off with a kidnapping, and I loved how it was the son of the judge who was the one in immediate danger, yet that the Machine gave Finch and Reese the judge's number instead.
As for the ending... I think that you're right that it seemed silly for the kidnapper to let go of the kid once he gave the order for his men to kill everyone, but I feel like he simply did so to back out of the line of gunfire to avoid getting himself shot, expecting that one of his men would easily be able to shoot the kid first. Because he underestimated Reese's fighting and shooting skills. Plus... I don't think that the kidnapper even cared any longer if he lost all the money Reese took from them, if Reese were to die without revealing what happened to the money. He most likely figured he and his men could start over and find someone else to help them launder their money once the woman was dead too, since she became too much of a liability to them for causing all the trouble in the first place by hitting someone with her car upon foolishly getting too drunk one night. I was so happy that Reese was able to save both the judge and his son.
I also really loved both scenes between Reese and Finch while at the diner, in the beginning and in the end. Finch suspects Reese is only trying to learn more about him, then they finally come to an understanding by the end when Reese thanks Finch for giving him a job, as a different way of saying thank you for saving his life.
Thank you again!