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earlgreytea68First, let me get this out of the way: OMGOMGOMGOMGSQUEEEEEEEEEEEOMGOMGOMG
Okay.
::clears throat distinguishedly::
It was just, seriously, I had waited so long for this episode of television, and I was so worried it would be terrible, and I was secretly fretting about it, and then I couldn't watch it until last night so I had to declare an entire INTERNET MORATORIUM so as to not be spoiled after spending FOREVER dodging spoilers about it and then it turned out that OMG I LOVED LIKE EVERY SINGLE SECOND. I kept worrying, watching it for the first time, that it was almost over, and I wasn't ready for it to be over, I wanted it go on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever. As soon as it was over, we watched it again. Then we watched it again. Then arctacuda went to bed like a responsible person and I watched it again. And every time, we caught new little moments we'd missed previously. It was so much better than I'd dared hope it was going to be. I totally excuse the completely underwhelming Doctor Who Christmas episode Steven Moffat gave me, because he gave me this and I am, frankly, a generous and forgiving soul.
So, here are general thoughts I have managed to corral in my squee-addled head (all opinions, obviously, my own, and therefore possibly make little sense):
- I loved how they did the "Previously" bit. Yes. I EVEN LOVED THAT. I just thought it was so well done and immediately put me back into the tension I was in when I finished Episode 3 all those months ago. And I admit I loved how they resolved it. Because I'd done a ton of speculation over the past 17 months as to how it was going to be resolved, and Moriarty's "Stayin' Alive" ringtone shockingly never occurred to me. Loved Moriarty's mouthed sorry to Sherlock as he spoke and Sherlock's answering gesture. I laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.
- Another thing I loved: The entire opening bit before the plot really gets underway. "I think my husband might be having an affair." "Yes." Classic. I would say it was one of my favorite moments of the whole episode but they were ALL my favorite moments. Like, for instance, the bit where Sherlock tells the little girls that people are incinerated after they die. Hahahaha! You know what makes it? John's little "Sherlock" sigh right at the end of that. Martin Freeman's understated reaction shots are the secret weapon of this episode. They sneak up on you until you love John Watson so much you can't even stand it. And I'm not a big fan of puns but even I loved "The Speckled Blonde." I also loved how they worked the deerstalker into the story. Hats off there, Steven Moffat. Oh, wait, that was a pun, wasn't it?
- And, with regard to the growing Internet fame of Sherlock and John, it occurs to me that this has kind of become a show about fandom more than anything else. Sherlock and John have fans, they're there on the blogs for you to see. And this episode was virtually a love letter to fans, both the traditional Sherlock Holmes fandom and the newer Sherlock fandom. From all the winks toward the classic stories to the "1895" on the counter (a reference to a fanwork in and of itself), the show acknowledged its background and history without feeling limited by it. And there were so many pieces of it that felt like knowing acknowledgments of the fanon that had grown up: Lestrade's central importance in their lives; Sherlock's overprotectiveness of Mrs. Hudson; Mycroft and John's alliance to protect Sherlock; Sherlock inexplicably (for literally no reason other than to tease fangirls) clad only in a sheet. And then, for an added bonus, being put to bed by John. It's kind of like, if I wrote a list of everything I wanted to see in this episode, I would have had to cross everything off, because it was all there, wrapped up in a package that was just perfect.
- "I'll be Mother." The simplest little line, and yet there was so much wrapped up in Sherlock's reaction to it. This was an episode about Sherlock's relationships more than anything else. And not really his relationship or lack thereof or whatever that was with Irene Adler. I'm not entirely sure what was going on in Sherlock's head with regard to Irene Adler, or in her head with regard to Sherlock, and I like it that way. Was it love? Attraction? Mutual admiration? Respect? Just lack of boredom between two people who are so everlastingly bored? Really, Moriarty had the same alluring tug to Sherlock. But, anyway, I started this bullet point by saying that this wasn't just about Irene Adler. It was about Sherlock's relationships with everyone: Lestrade, Molly, Mrs. Hudson, John, and, last but not least, Mycroft. This is such a meaty, wonderful episode for Mycroft. He spends so much of it furious with his little brother, but he also spends so much of it trying to protect him, and I love those twin sides of him. That little comment about Mycroft's mothering tendencies, coupled with their conversation outside the morgue, makes me wonder just how much influence Mycroft has had on Sherlock, if his lack of close relationships comes from Mycroft's influence, pulling him into line: "Caring is not an advantage." I love Mycroft's lines about Sherlock in that conversation with John at the end, about how initially Sherlock wanted to be a pirate. It makes my heart melt for little-boy Sherlock, caught up in the swashbuckling romanticism of piracy. (Of course, both Holmes boys have that: the flair for the dramatic. So, incidentally, do Moriarty and Irene Adler.)
- Irene Adler. I have no deep feminist thoughts on Irene Adler. I'm not good at those. I almost always have problems spotting that stuff (I should have taken a women's studies course in college, probably). Anyway, I liked Irene Adler. I liked that she was known professionally as The Woman, I thought that was a cute touch. I liked her ambiguity as a character, that I never really knew what her motivations were or how she was thinking. I liked the way she flummoxed Sherlock, and everyone else around her. I don't get why John trusted her so immediately and left her alone in the flat with Sherlock (who, incidentally, she had just drugged, like, the last time she'd seen him), but I liked how insightful she seemed to be about everyone's weaknesses. I loved how she knew immediately that John and Sherlock are a couple, sexuality-labels be damned, and that that was his weakness to exploit. I also loved how she had Mycroft's number in the end, taunting him about his leak being his little brother. Regardless of how much they decidedly do not discuss it, Mycroft loves Sherlock and vice versa. And caring is not an advantage.
- Oh, Benedict Cumberbatch and your pretend violin-playing. Work on that, love. Other than that, you were very hot brooding and composing music, so it's all good there.
- I want Jack Harkness to show up on this show and be like, "Gay? Straight? Who cares? Let's all make out!"
- I loved the Christmas scene. First of all, I loved Lestrade being there, because I love Lestrade. I was so happy there was so much Lestrade in this episode, I was so worried there wouldn't be. I loved John's "Christmas is canceled" line, mostly because of the delivery (love you, Martin Freeman!). The thing with Molly made me squirm terribly, and I felt so awful, and I was like, "Please shut up, Sherlock," but of course he didn't, and then...he apologized. He apologized, sincerely, and he kissed her cheek. Awwwwwwww! (Again, loved John's reaction shot there.) I feel like it literally never occurred to Sherlock that Molly might feel passionately about him. It's like Sherlock is an expert in how to read how people interact, but fails at including himself in the category of "people." (It's like he says later, love isn't unfamiliar to him, he knows all about the chemistry of it.) He drew all the right conclusions, except the obvious one that everyone in the room (and every viewer) had drawn immediately. Molly has a new boyfriend. It never occurred to Sherlock that he could be cast in such a role. I almost think that's why he apologized. I mean, he's probably growing as a person, too, with John's influence, but I also think he realized that he was wrong in his conclusion, and therefore it entered into his mind that he was possibly wrong, all around. Maybe Molly can marry Lestrade and they can have a happy ending, because I feel sad for them. Back to the Christmas scene: And then I also loved that John had counted how many inappropriate texts Sherlock had received. And I loved his girlfriend's tart assessment that he's a great boyfriend...to Sherlock Holmes. Yes. Give it up, John.
- Mrs. Hudson. Oh, Mrs. Hudson. I love that my reaction when Mycroft snapped at Mrs. Hudson mirrored John and Sherlock's reaction of shocked indignation. We the audience gasped in unison with the characters. GO, SHERLOCK. (And then, of course, how perfect it was that Sherlock followed it up by telling Mrs. Hudson to shut up.) And then, Sherlock finding Mrs. Hudson in peril. OMG. How brilliant was that scene? How awesome was Benedict Cumberbatch in that scene? It was fabulous. And then his "England would fall" line. Oh, Sherlock. Look at your heart showing.
- The direction was beautiful in this episode but I especially loved it in the scene between Mycroft and Sherlock in the morgue. (I wish I didn't think Sherlock was so hot when he was smoking cigarettes.)
- I AM SHERLOCKED. Okay, this is the sort of thing, I admit, that I love. Because when Sherlock typed it in, I was like, "OMG THAT MAKES SUCH PERFECT SENSE," and yet I never, ever guessed it. I AM SHERLOCKED. I love it, love it, love it. And I loved Sherlock getting the best of Irene Adler in the end. I know, I know, he wasn't supposed to, but I don't care, I was happy, because poor Sherlock and Mycroft were so sad, you guys. I cannot take my Holmes boys being sad!
- I loved way too many of the lines to quote. If you would like to leave your favorites in the comments, I welcome you to!
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no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 01:59 am (UTC)Sherlock thought Molly's new boyfriend was Lestrade.
I think that Molly and Lestrade -- who, unless I misheard, said that he and his wife were going to try getting back together -- got together at least once during his separation, probably after a long conversation about Sherlock. I think that they feel sorry for each other -- her with the unrequited love, him with the disintegrated marriage. And I think they are both warm people in a cold business.
Molly asked Lestrade whether he wasn't supposed to be in Bedfordshire by now, and he said that, no, he was going in the morning, he and his wife were going to try to get back together. Why did she know his Christmas plans? I realize that they probably cross paths fairly often, but why did she know, not just that he had the next day off, but where he was going and when he was supposed to have gone? It may just have been filler-in small talk, but I prefer to think that Moffat/Gatiss don't squander words.
So Sherlock figured out (probably very quickly) that Molly and Lestrade had had an encounter, back whenever it happened. And he hears that Lestrade is getting back with his wife, but sees that Molly is all dressed up and has a present for her new boyfriend. So he concludes that Molly had hopes that won't be realized. He plans to expose this furtive little business for the folly it is and embarrass everyone.
And then --
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Date: 2012-01-05 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 01:49 am (UTC)As Sherlock said, Molly dressed up and brought a present for her "new boyfriend". But: Molly expressed surprise at seeing Lestrade at the party! She thought he'd be in Bedford by now! So she couldn't have brought the presents with the idea that she'd be seeing him tonight, and therefore Lestrade couldn't be whom she was expecting to see.
I overlooked that when I formed my theory, but Sherlock wouldn't have. :)
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Date: 2012-01-11 04:45 am (UTC)Everything Is Sherlock and Nothing Hurts
Date: 2012-01-05 03:12 am (UTC)I watched it twice in a row and then again the next day, and then I said "THIS IS MADNESS I AM SHERLOCKED" so I stopped.
I love Martin Freeman. I may have written this story here before, but I met him shortly (at the stage door at Clybourne Park) after I had seen the first series of Sherlock and I did a lot of sputtering that basically amounted to "Um I've been watching Sherlock and it's brilliant and I love it." He acted sort of surprised, and now looking back I realized that this was before Sherlock (and fandom) had really exploded on the Internet, and I don't think any of the people involved realized what a success it would be. I imagine they thought it would go over a lot like "Jekyll." But the deliveries of "Christmas is cancelled" and "What do you normally say? You've texted him a lot!" reminded me how fantastic an actor he is. Benedict Cumberbatch and he are both such nuanced performers (not to mention Mark Gatiss - who I loved in this episode) that one can actually watch the episode over and over and catch different things different times.
I'm in agreement with you about so many things. Especially about Mycroft and all of his scenes. I was just overwhelmed with love for this episode and not a little bit of relief that it wasn't disappointing after waiting a year and a half. I have had some conversations with friends about the Unfortunate Feminist Implications, and they do exist. But I'm conflicted about part of the implications because I didn't want to see Sherlock LOSE, and Sherlock losing in this instance would have had much graver consequences than in the original Doyle.
Re: Everything Is Sherlock and Nothing Hurts
Date: 2012-01-05 04:31 am (UTC)Awww, Martin Freeman had no idea he was about to be such a big hit! (I was not a fan of "Jekyll," it pretty much bored me.) You're very right, Cumberbatch and Freeman are both very nuanced performers, but YES, also, to Gatiss, who rocks in this episode. I really loved how central Mycroft was to everything, as I can't get enough of Mycroft and Sherlock and John, I really can't.
I didn't want to see Sherlock lose, either. He's my hero! I'm rooting for him! And I admit that I don't care that this time he won at the expense of a woman. I'm always rooting for Sherlock to win, against a woman or a man. Irene Adler doesn't represent all women to me, she's just the one, and it doesn't mean I automatically have to be on her side. At least, that's my view on it, fwiw.
Re: Everything Is Sherlock and Nothing Hurts
Date: 2012-01-06 12:23 am (UTC)Meh, Jekyll. It was interesting when I was watching, but I wasn't compelled to read/write fanfiction or think about it outside of watching it like I do with Sherlock. Which is maybe not that healthy, but I like engaging with fiction outside of its medium. Whether it's in conversation or fanfiction or whatever. And I wasn't overly sad when I found out it only had six episodes.
I so agree about the Mycroft/John/Sherlock dynamic. SO GOOD. The morgue conversation between Sherlock and Mycroft, the phone conversation between Mycroft and John, and then Sherlock coming home to John. Everything is awesome. Then I have these reservations when I look at all of the female characters in Sherlock, and how Irene Adler was beaten because of her emotions, and what motivated her to go to Moriarty anyway, and I am just very conflicted. If there's more to this plot that we discover in The Hounds of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall, I will be the first to say that I missed the clues and was wrong. I'm so torn between wanting Sherlock to win and loving that he won, and then remembering how awesome I felt when I read "A Scandal in Bohemia" when Sherlock Holmes loses to her because he underestimated her BECAUSE she was a woman. Anyway that was a really long and ridiculous sentence, and there are a lot of articles that argue this better than I have. Probably because I'm so conflicted.
Re: Everything Is Sherlock and Nothing Hurts
Date: 2012-01-11 03:56 am (UTC)I liked the end of "Jekyll," but I wasn't taken with any of the characters, and that's important to me.
I think that it would have been worse if Sherlock lost because he underestimated her BECAUSE she was a woman. I don't think Sherlock thinks in gender the same way the Victorian Holmes would have, and I would have been disappointed if he did. And I think there's an ongoing theme through the series about the drawback of emotions. Originally, it was Sherlock who was the one who was beaten because of his emotions, Irene was manipulating them easily.
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Date: 2012-01-05 06:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-10 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 08:02 am (UTC)It was nicely done but the plot completely lost me at times and I think I'd have preferred a little less fanservice. But Sherlock and Watson do make a marvellous couple.
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Date: 2012-01-10 04:22 am (UTC)The episode was very tongue-in-cheek with its fanservice, as the show seems to have tended to be this series. It gives the episode a very specific sort of tone that I enjoyed, but I could see how it's over the top.
Sherlock and John are such an OTP, it's ridiculous. I credit the actors. :-)
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Date: 2012-01-05 10:43 am (UTC)It took me out of my head for 90 minutes, which is extraordinary in and of itself.
I loved everything about it. I know some people are kvetching about the end, or whatever, but I have nothing but love for the whole thing. It is precious to me.
The acting was wonderful. I loved the detail of Sherlock noting every scratch and bruise Mrs. Hudson had sustained. And then her reaction to the guy being chucked out the window! And man, but Martin Freeman knocked it out of the park.
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Date: 2012-01-10 04:28 am (UTC)Eh, I liked the ending. I am always rooting for Sherlock, I always want him to come out on top, so I was okay with tweaking that for me.
Every single person in this little ensemble is brilliant. In some ways, it's like a perfectly cast sitcom in the guise of a drama, or something. Especially Martin Freeman, he's epic.
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Date: 2012-01-05 10:59 am (UTC)I saw his fascination with Irene as no different than he fascination with Moriarty. He just got closer. I also thought that when other viewers saw him as pining for her, to me I interpreted it as his deducing face. Like in the chair while she was negotiating with Mycroft. People talked about how sad he looked, I saw him trying to figure it all out and when he did, BAM.
I was a bit miffed that he let her go after he knew she was working with Moriarty, but to me that's in character. He was willing to blow up Moriarty in the pool because what else was there to do, but I don't know that he assigns good and bad to people like John (or the audience) does. He sees interesting and uninteresting. I think if Irene were standing there threatening to kill them, he'd have a different choice. He is still morally ambiguous, but like you said, this episode showed his boundaries for relationships. If Irene had hurt Ms. Hudson, I believe he would have thrown Irene out the window.
My last bit of ramble.. Mark Gatiss, I bow to your Mycroft. I adore this character. Lastly, Martin Freeman how does the world not know of your genius?
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Date: 2012-01-05 02:22 pm (UTC)They surely will this coming December when "The Hobbit" is released!
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Date: 2012-01-10 04:31 am (UTC)I agree, I thought it was a very Moriarty-ish relationship, honestly, the cat-and-mouse of it, the oneupsmanship of it. Sherlock likes that stuff, no matter the gender of the person playing the game with him. And I didn't think he was pining at all. I think, if he was sad, it was at the thought of having lost the game, not at having lost *her,* if that makes any sense.
I also think you're right, he's not so into the great moral lines. I think he would say that they just cloud the important things. It's like how John is all worried at the people in danger, and Sherlock is like, "Whatever, I don't have time for that." I think, to him, she was a worthy adversary, and he respected that about her.
HOW AWESOME IS MYCROFT OMG. I love Mycroft so very much. Gatiss is brilliant in the role. And oh, Martin Freeman, just *oh.*
no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 03:14 pm (UTC)This episode had such wit, such heart, so much deadly beauty. It was cerebral. It was almost hard to believe that Moffat had a thing to do with it, I loved it so damned much.
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Date: 2012-01-10 04:38 am (UTC)And I agree, I thought the point of that scene was that Sherlock is beyond labels, that he exerts a draw that keeps people fascinated, and they can't explain it.
It was a very cerebral episode, and a very beautiful episode, and a flat-out, jam-packed episode.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 04:22 pm (UTC)I haven't stumbled across any feminist-complaints, but I avoid that like that plague (honestly I find it offensive that some women imply that I, as a woman, HAVE TO side with/root for a specific character just because they're also a woman).
I was pleasantly surprised by Irene. I was expecting to dislike her (I guess I'm a misogynist? In that I have A LOT of trouble liking the majority of female characters I encounter - although Sherlock is the exception. I like Molly and Anthea and Mrs. Hudson and even Sarah). Especially once she was presented as being such a sexuality-based character, I was a bit "ugh, please no". But then I LOVED her! She wasn't just a token female, or just a dominatrix. She was clever and manipulative but not the stereotypical "cold, manipulative bitch" than strong female characters tend to be. I don't mind that she fell for Sherlock and lost to him in the end (honestly, who WOULDN'T fall for Sherlock if you could keep up with him the way she did??).
I don't think it undermines her at all, because really, Sherlock didn't WIN. He got the last word, sure, but she was let go and the airplane plan was still cancelled because she successfully manipulated Sherlock.
My absolute favorite scene, though, was John and Sherlock giggling together in the palace. OH MAN do I love them giggling together like a couple of kids! I know people are up in arms about the "Queen" comment and how it's wrong and blah blah blah but it struck me as a very real, snarky comment a little brother would make about his annoying older brother. People in real life are almost never 100% PC, I don't understand why fans demand it of characters on TV. And THE GIGGLES, come on!
And John interrupting Sherlock and Irene's brain-off to offer a baby name! XD Or John just kind of dumping drugged-Sherlock back into bed. Such a great summary of their relationship - He cares enough to help but is exasperated enough to not be all that gentle. XD
And the hat! I laughed SO HARD at the hat! I was watching it alone but I'm pretty sure I said, out loud, "Great job working that in, guys! Great job!"
The pool scene. OMG. I'd been reading so many fanfictions or fan theories about how that would play out that I was really worried it'd either be tired or bland or disappointing. But I never, ever predicted that phone call, haha. The confused expressions from John and Sherlock! Like "are you kidding me? Is this really happening?". Jim's mouthed "Sorry" cracked me up. As though he's a normal person answering his phone in a cafe. I do love how uncomfortable he makes me. That silly sorry, that silly ring tone, followed by his psychotic yelling "SAY THAT AGAIN!". Oh man, it's so off-putting to me and it works SO WELL for him. There are villains you love to hate and villains you just hate but Moriarty is one of those villains that just kind of makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I just want him to go away, which is so uncommon and so perfect.
This is now my favorite episode. Previously A Study in Pink held that title, but this one has so much MORE. More laughter, more warm-fuzzies (the Christmas party! ♥ Before Sherlock opened his mouth), more character development for EVERYONE. Mycroft is not a robot! Molly isn't a total push-over! Mrs. Hudson is kind of a badass! Lestrade goggling at Molly! XD
Now I have to watch it again tonight!
no subject
Date: 2012-01-10 04:45 am (UTC)I really liked Irene, too. I think the actress did a great job with her, she really brought her to life. And I was okay with Sherlock "winning," because I always want him to win. I just enjoyed the fact that they were playing their game to begin with, honestly!
I loved John and Sherlock throughout this episode. They were so adorable together. I love how they both can be kind of cheeky with Mycroft, but John less so because he's not the little brother. And you're right! Exasperated but not gentle! It's a perfect description of John's feelings toward Sherlock!
That hat was an amazing touch. I never expected them to do it, and I *loved* it.
Moriarty is a terrifying villain. He's absolutely insane, and you never know what he's going to do. He has no motivations, or impossible-to-predict ones, and I think that's why Sherlock is so fascinated by him, too, honestly. That resolution to the pool scene just seemed perfect: You never know what you're going to get with Moriarty, ever.
I'm with you, this is my favorite episode, too. *So* much great character interaction in this episode! For everyone!
no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 04:49 pm (UTC)BRAIN. FAIL.
Wow.
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Date: 2012-01-10 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 07:33 pm (UTC)^^THIS. Forever THIS.
I still feel like I need to watch this about 10 more times before I comment on it. I did finally finish my watch-pause-rewind-etc. rewatch...and promptly wanted to start it all over again. I feel like I pick up different things and interpret things differently with each viewing. Which just goes to show how complex and multi-layered the writing and acting is. *thumbs up*
I only have a couple of serious pet peeves about this episode. The first is Benny's overacting in a couple of spots. For whatever reason, the scene over the intercom at Irene's house rang terribly false with me (especially when compared with almost the exact same scene in "The Blind Banker"). It was simply too over the top. I loves me some camp, but it just wasn't working for me here. Same with his "WHO. IS. MY. CLIENT???" line. The previous line was okay being a bit much ("GET OFF MY SHEET!!!" - can totally see two brothers going back and forth like this), but the overexaggeratedness (how's that for a word? LOL) of his delivery of that next line bugged me and continues to bug me upon repeated viewings. I fear that I'll have the same reaction to the "I DON'T *HAVE* FRIENDS!" line in Hound, as it seems to be delivered in a similar manner. What bugs me is that he's so pitch-perfect at all other times, so I wonder if that was a directing misstep or what. Hm.
There also seemed to be a fair number of plot holes, which is odd for Sherlock (though we've seen that before in SM's writing). Why the hell couldn't Moriarty break the code in the email on Irene's phone? I mean, c'mon, he's as smart as Sherlock, he should have been able to do it just as easily. (only thing I can think of is that she wanted to keep the only copy of the information & was afraid to share it w/M) And how the heck would the plane scheme have actually worked? I mean, you'd think that anyone getting close enough to plant a bomb would notice that there's no pilot and the passengers are already dead. Stuff like this irks me...it feels like it would only take some minor tweaking to fix these things but it just didn't happen.
And we already talked about Sherlock's bedroom. It was far, FAR too neat and uncluttered. I expected boxes and books piled everywhere (including the bed), bits and pieces of experiments, things he's collected, etc. Like we see in the living room and the kitchen. I don't know quite what the art director was thinking on that one.
Otherwise, I absolutely ADORED this episode. I think I liked Martin even better than Ben here - his acting was off the charts fantastic. Like you said, those little reactions are *so* brilliant.
I was reading Sherlockology's non-spoilery review of Hound and they had the same opinion about this season being about Sherlock's humanity and this little network of people - this *family* that surrounds him and pulls him back from the brink of pure intellect.
OMG, the bickering between Sherlock and John had me ROLLING. When John teases him about the tobacco ash post on his website and Sherlock huffs out of the morgue...OMFG. And the punching scene! HILARIOUS. I love that they have been living and working together long enough that John is no longer in utter awe of Sherlock and has no problem bringing him down a peg or two. At the same time, you can see how incredibly well they work together. John knew exactly what to do when Sherlock sent him out into the hall at Irene's, and all Sherlock had to do was make a quick reference to a previous case (VATICAN CAMEOS!!!) and John knew exactly what was going down. That's impressive and shows just what an incredible team they make.
At the same time, Sherlock is still...Sherlock. His vicious deductions about Molly at the Christmas party were flat out *painful* to watch. But, it's a sign that John has been a good influence that he immediately recognizes that what he did was NOT GOOD in the utmost sense, and sincerely apologizes. We can tell by now when he's faking it just to get people off his back, and he wasn't doing it then.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 07:34 pm (UTC)Mrs. Hudson. Mrs. Hudson is my hero. We already knew that she was one of the few people that Sherlock really cared about, but boy did they shine a spotlight on it here. And in so many ways. He makes this big protective gesture of tossing the American out the window (OMG, the bit where he falls past Mrs. Hudson's window! ROFL!), but also this tiny, but telling, gesture of carefully wiping his feet on the rug when he enters Mrs. Hudson's flat. Brilliant.
I can't decide exactly what is going on between Sherlock and Irene. I think that there is a spark between them, but not a sexual one. They are on equal footing intellectually and that is exciting, but I'm pretty damn sure that "love" doesn't figure anywhere in that equation. I feel like Irene used the "Sherlocked" password more out of a sense of "Look how clever I am!" than being infatuated with him. You know? I'm slightly iffy on the idea of Sherlock coming to her rescue at the end there. The whole point of Irene is that she is the one woman who beats Sherlock Holmes. But they muddle that point by letting Sherlock get the upper hand. I mean, they needed to recover the information that she had, obviously, but I feel like she got cheated a wee bit. Still, Sherlock definitely has a healthy respect for her intellect and abilities, as evidenced by his "souvenir" of the now-harmless phone (akin to keeping her picture in the original).
Loved that we got to see a bit of Lestrade. His gaping at Molly when she takes off her coat at the party was hysterical (and Loo even commented on him stealing the scene).
AMAZING use of Mycroft in this episode. You can definitely feel him being torn between his duties to Queen and Country and his protectiveness of his little brother (pantsing notwithstanding...which, btw, feels out of character but was so freakin awesome that I don't care!). The collaboration between he and John over trying to keep Sherlock away from drugs on a "danger night" was wonderful. Great example of how much this little group of people love him.
And speaking of love...heh. A lot of people felt like this episode was anti-Sherlock/John, but I got quite the opposite feeling from it. More like, I think the boys doth protest too much. ;) Irene points it out in the warehouse scene, as does Jeanette at the party: Sherlock and John are in a relationship, whether they realize it (or admit it) or not. They put each other first, would kill and die for each other...if that's not love, I don't know what is. Sexuality has nothing to do with it (though god knows I - and 99% of the fandom - wish it did!) - they are just each other's most important person, full stop.
I'm jumping around all over the place here...I kind of liked how they resolved the pool scene, since it was so much more simple and subdued than any of us thought of. But at the same time, it felt a wee bit cheezy. Like...very anti-climactic after all that build up. I can't decide how I feel about that.
I think I ship Molly/Lestrade. They're both just such *nice* people who deserve to be with someone who cares about them. God knows Molly seriously needs to get over the whole Sherlock thing. Just let it go, honey. Let. It. Go.
I agree that this was an incredibly beautiful episode. The DP should get a medal. The framing, lighting...everything was just gorgeous. I also agree about the smoking. I think that every time I see a picture of Ben smoking. It's like...oh, no, Benny, that's so not good for you....but it's sooooooooo hoooooooot. *drool*
Oh, lord, there's probably a million other little things that I could comment on, but I think I've absconded with enough space here. ;)
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Date: 2012-01-10 05:10 am (UTC)MRS. HUDSON OMG!!!!! Love-love-love. And I never noticed that he wipes his feet! I need to back and look at that! (Time for another re-watch!)
I agree, I didn't really think Irene was in love with Sherlock. I think she really liked playing with him, I think she got a thrill from having beat him, and I think that's what compelled her to put in the "I Am Sherlocked" password, that her hubris got the better of her. I think he did excite her, because I think challenges excite her, much as they excite Sherlock. As for giving Sherlock the final word and the final rescue, it didn't bother me. She's still the woman who beat Sherlock Holmes, pretty badly, actually. He gets the last word because, in this particular series, he's the hero. (Also, I am convinced Irene is going to play a role in the third episode. But that may be wishful thinking on my part.)
I LOVE LESTRADE. I ALSO LOVE MYCROFT. This was such a fabulous Mycroft episode. I never dreamed we would be lucky enough to get so much Mycroft stuff in an episode. I was delighted every time he showed up.
I thought this was an extremely shippy episode! I especially loved Irene insisting they're a couple, because, as you say, they *are.* Who cares about the label of sexuality? John and Sherlock are definitely a couple. John's girlfriend says the same thing: He's a great boyfriend to Sherlock Holmes. Yes. He is.
I liked the pool scene resolution. I feel like there was nothing they could have done that we hadn't anticipated...unless they went in that direction. I thought that was a smart choice.
Awww, I hope Molly and Lestrade find each other! I want them to go off and be nice and happy together!
Thanks for the comments! :-)
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Date: 2012-01-10 05:00 am (UTC)I've seen it six times now, and each time I feel like I notice different things. I haven't gotten even a little bit bored, ever.
I see what you mean about the scene at Irene's door not feeling as perfect as the scene at the door in "The Blind Banker." Maybe Sherlock was off his game because John had just attacked him? And yeah, I admit that "Who. Is. My. Client." line did irritate me, it seemed a bit over the top. But the "I don't have friends" line was okay to me in THOB, I thought it fit with the breakdown he's having there.
I'm thinking that we were supposed to think the code was really tricky and only Sherlock could break it? Although maybe you're right that Irene didn't want to share it with Moriarty. As for the plane bombing, I had the impression it was more of an old-fashioned bombing where the bomb was in the luggage compartment? But I may have made that up.
Maybe the implication was meant to be that Sherlock doesn't spend much time in his bedroom? I don't know.
I agree, I think Martin may have actually been stronger than Benedict here.
I completely agree, too, that so far it seems like this season *is* about his family. I'm so delighted how much of his "family" has been in these episodes.
LOVE the interplay between Sherlock and John. I just love it. They are SO PERFECT together, they are my faaaaaavorite.
I'm almost happy we don't get much of this show, because I think Sherlock is a difficult character to live with. You can take him in small doses, he may be too much otherwise. John is a saint.
Some thoughts about Irene
Date: 2012-02-29 06:35 pm (UTC)I mention this because I immediately assumed the code scene in ASiB was Irene manipulating Sherlock into a (near) fatal error. From a post-tRF perspective, Irene's "code" ploy was planned in collaboration with M. After all, he pulls a bogus code stunt of his own in tRF.
I wonder if Irene's careful handling of Sherlock (despite the fact that she carries on manipulating him to her end) has an echo of "there but for the grace of God." Sherlock can conjure crocodile tears and bonhomie when needed, but Irene can accurately exploit complex emotions. She uses them -- even her own -- to advance to the next level in the game.
Irene plays rough -- pun intended -- although my real point is that she isn't being played by M, she partners with him, and that's potentially rough, indeed. And yes, I think it is something of a partnership. He wasn't "Dear Jim, could you fix ..." for her. Compromising photos are a situation too hot for a dominatrix? -- unlikely! Her phone call interrupting the pool confrontation contained an offer that intrigued him, which is why he could shrug off his current plans and start something new.
As you can see, I've discovered your journal and your fic -- Scotch is a fantastic series! I look forward to more.
Re: Some thoughts about Irene
Date: 2012-03-01 03:22 am (UTC)And I think you're right, that Irene is in far more of a partnership with Moriarty than anybody else we've seen on the show.
I'm glad you're enjoying my fic!
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Date: 2012-02-05 04:43 pm (UTC)I really don't have much else to add since you covered it all so thoroughly other than to say that I really liked your comment about the way this episode also reflects fandom. It's so true. And it's another way that I think they've successfully updated this show to reflect the modern world. I continue to adore the way they use technology.
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Date: 2012-02-06 04:22 am (UTC)And yeah, this show loves its fandom, and I love this show for it.
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Date: 2012-02-06 11:54 pm (UTC)This show is so fandom friendly it's ridiculous. And look how much fic material it gives us!!! ♥
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Date: 2012-02-07 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 07:13 pm (UTC)