Episode 3.1, "The Empty Hearse"

[Arcadia]

I've read somewhere that often awards (rightly or wrongly) are influenced by a body of work, not just the particular bit that was nominated. Sort of like the big win for "Return of the King" was a nod to all three LOTR movies, not just ROTK. I don't know if that's true but it makes sense to me. I sort of felt like that was the case for the Sherlock Emmys, anyway; the whole series was being lauded.

[sherlockandjohn]

I've read somewhere that often awards (rightly or wrongly) are influenced by a body of work, not just the particular bit that was nominated. Sort of like the big win for "Return of the King" was a nod to all three LOTR movies, not just ROTK. I don't know if that's true but it makes sense to me. I sort of felt like that was the case for the Sherlock Emmys, anyway; the whole series was being lauded.

 

Yes, I think on one hand the whole series gets the win, since we all know the popular opinion of the show. It's amazing!

 

On the other hand, I doubt 'The Empty Hearse' or 'The Sign of Three' would have brought in as many awards, if they had been nominated instead. 'His Last Vow' has an emotionally deeper and more coherent story, and it's just bigger and more daring. This by no means tells anything of where my own heart lies, which is more with 'Hearse' and 'Sign' than with 'Vow'. I just think the epicness of the storyline - or the amount of drama - has required and brought out the strongest performances from everybody.

 

Although, I'd give Freeman and Cumberbatch Emmys for 'Hearse' as well. Especially the reunion scene. And Cumberbatch in the train scene. Oh wow.

[Arcadia]

 

On the other hand, I doubt 'The Empty Hearse' or 'The Sign of Three' would have brought in as many awards, if they had been nominated instead. 'His Last Vow' has an emotionally deeper and more coherent story, and it's just bigger and more daring.

I have to agree with you there, but I also think the impact of HLV was magnified by the relative sweetness of the first two episodes. I really can't picture HLV working as well w/o the other two precediing it. In fact, I sort of think of each season as one 4.5 hour trilogy!

[Arcadia]

Actually, I take that back ... if the competition were less dark, I could see TSo3 winning awards. It's pretty brilliantly constructed, and the best man's speech/deduction/mind palace thing is an amazing bit of work from BC. But there's not as much room for MF in that episode, except for the guardsman sequence. Oh, and that "you're my best friend" smile; I melted.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

And don't forget the tears, laughter then hug during the speech.

[Pamela]

And don't forget the tears, laughter then hug during the speech.

And I love the dialog just before the hug --

 

John:  Stop me if I try to hug him.

Mary:  (As she pats his arm) Absolutely not.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I'm glad he did and glad she didn't

[sherlockandjohn]

Yes, Cumberbatch at least could get an Emmy for 'Sign', except, as Arcadia said, the competition seemed like more dark (or powerful) material. In comparison, 'Sign' and 'Hearse' would be too light. Not without merit, at all, since they serve their purposes, but they don't stand as well on their own as 'Vow' does, I'd say.

[sherlockandjohn]

Actually, Hearse is really continuing to grow on me. I've really come to appreciate the entirety of John and Sherlock's reunion, from Sherlock's lack of understanding of the situation he's put them in, to his realisation of it, to him finally being forgiven under the supposed threat of imminent death.

 

I even like the final explanation of the fall.

 

My only real complaint is that the reunions with Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson were a tad short. I would have loved to see Mrs. Hudson's reactions after she quit screaming. I have a feeling she would hug Sherlock well and good, and then yell at him, and then hug him some more. With Lestrade, I would have liked to have some sort of talk about the events of Reichenbach. After all, he played a big, though unwilling, part in Sherlock's arrest. Maybe he'd be worried about what Sherlock felt.

 

Still, a great episode which is well thought through. They have actually managed to address a lot of stuff in 90 minutes. Fan theories, a scene with Sherlock abroad, keeping busy and getting into trouble, how he was brought back, parts of what John had been up to, and how he'd dealt with Sherlock's death, Then how Sherlock reappeared to everyone, their immediate reactions, his interactions with his brother, his changed relationship with Molly, how he and John were getting on without each other, and a scene that not only allowed Sherlock to demonstrate how much John means to him, but also allowed him and Mary to bond over their mutual affection for John. On towards bringing John and Sherlock together again through a case, and through forgiveness. Finally, they gather the major threads from 'Reichenbach' by explaining Sherlock's fall and addressing John's graveside speech.

 

I am increasingly impressed with how they put all this together.

[Arcadia]

And I'd like to know what Molly did when she saw him smiling in the mirror. But I guess they had to leave something for the fanficcers (sp?) to do!

 

I'm getting to be a broken record here, but: more Lestrade! More Lestrade!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Maybe it's fanfickers -- analogous to picnickers -- ???

 

And yes, definitely more Lestrade!

 

[jesskayding]

Yeah. I like Lestrade. I hope he & Molly begin dating in season 4. Oh, something shocking would be as they go in for a kiss, something happens with some type of explosion. They die happy.

[sherlockandjohn]

I'm getting to be a broken record here, but: more Lestrade! More Lestrade!

 

My impression from this forum is that it's more like a choir. In which we'd all gladly be the lead singer.

[sherlockandjohn]

Yeah. I like Lestrade. I hope he & Molly begin dating in season 4. Oh, something shocking would be as they go in for a kiss, something happens with some type of explosion. They die happy.

 

Does that go into the 'funny deaths' category as discussed under Series 4 rumours? Or the 'tragic deaths'?

 

Nah, of course they can't kill off Molly or Lestrade. And I'd be in favor of them dating. Each other, I mean

[Arcadia]

 

Yeah. I like Lestrade. I hope he & Molly begin dating in season 4. Oh, something shocking would be as they go in for a kiss, something happens with some type of explosion. They die happy.

 

Does that go into the 'funny deaths' category as discussed under Series 4 rumours? Or the 'tragic deaths'?

 

It goes into the 'happy deaths' category, obviously!

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

*raises hand* I would like for there to be more equal rep for women and people of different ethnicities and psychopaths that don't murder people¹ And I would also like more Lestrade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

¹me.

[jesskayding]

Yeah. Hay I put a vote in for Idris. It would be cool if they had a shot of Obama talking with the Prime Minister or the Queen or Sherlock, John & Mycroft!

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Freckles. We need more freckled people. Freckles are amazing. 

[Arcadia]

What, our Benny doesn't have enough for you?

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

I mean, Benedict's freckles I can't see much of. But imagine a freckled Mycroft.

[Janie]

  He has freckles? I never even noticed...

[jesskayding]

Yeah. He doesn't have freckles as Sherlock. But without make-up he has subtle freckles, as himself.

[T.o.b.y]

The scene where Sherlock laughs his head off because he's managed to fool John into thinking they were really going to blow up in two minutes is the closest to "cute" I know in this series. God, he's so young-looking there. His amusement is infectious. My brain goes "Sherlock, really" very briefly, and then I can't help it, I have to laugh along, and I go "awww", because he's just so adorable there. Note that even John thinks it's funny. He's trying not to, but he does, he grins in the end.

 

I like that they had John be suspicious from the start. "This is a trick". Damn right, John. I'm not sure John ever entirely believed Sherlock that he couldn't turn the bomb off. I mean, Sherlock's act was pretty silly. John has seen him in real distress, and that looks different, doesn't it. I guess John wasn't sure whether they were in real trouble or no, and, doctor-like, decided to behave as if the worst case was true. That would also explain why his indignation afterwards is comparatively mild.

[jesskayding]

Is that your favorite TEH scene, Toby. It is a nice one.

[sfmpco]

Yeah. I like Lestrade. I hope he & Molly begin dating in season 4. Oh, something shocking would be as they go in for a kiss, something happens with some type of explosion. They die happy.

 

Eh hem.  No.  Sherlock and Molly.  I am a Sherlolly shipper for sure.  LOL.  Plus, I think the show is building it into their canon.  There's even a theme music for the two of them.  Something's going down between them in S4.