CBS has ordered the fifth season of Jonathan Nolan's crime action drama "Person of Interest" but the series is still not safe from future cancellation. The network decided to shorten the length of the show's season despite the praises that it received from critics. Instead of the usual 23 episodes, the series will return with only 13 weekly installments. It will also come late since CBS placed the season 5 premiere in early 2016. 

Speculations claim that the decreased number of episodes for season 5 is due to the continuous ratings decline of the series. 

Earlier, CBS president Nina Tassler revealed that she and the series showrunners talked about the future of the show before announcing its return. She said that both Nolan and Greg Plageman offered interesting ideas for a new season, which is why they seriously considered bringing it back on air. 

Meanwhile, the showrunners dropped hints about what fans can look forward to when the series returns. Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter.that John Reese (Jim Caviezel), Root (Amy Acker), and Finch (Michael Emerson) will be picking up where the fourth season ended. Finch will reportedly contemplate how he will be able to rebuild the Machine and what kind of new powers it will feature after it is rehabilitated. 

Season 5 will also show "a rebuilding [one] for our characters. They've been protected to this point by this all-seeing eye of the Machine, and they're now responsible for trying to rebuild that machine, so they're much more vulnerable than we've seen them before. It's going to be a harrowing season," Plageman said.

But with just 13 episodes, will "Person of Interest" season 5 will be its last? The series returns midseason on CBS.