Episode 3.1, "The Empty Hearse"

[sherlockandjohn]

 

In honor of this very special day in the Sherlock world:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPeaSLMlH

 

Confession: Every time I see this scene I think "Thank God that the coat didn't catch fire", when I should be thinking "Thank God John didn't catch fire"

 

 

Well, if the coat had caught fire, Sherlock would have too, so I think your worries are justified. And I hadn't even considered this before your comment, but now I realise that my reaction is similar to yours. I'm not thinking about John, either, I'm thinking about Sherlock when he throws himself into the flames. Weird, huh.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

 

In honor of this very special day in the Sherlock world:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPeaSLMlH

Confession: Every time I see this scene I think "Thank God that the coat didn't catch fire", when I should be thinking "Thank God John didn't catch fire"

 

Well, if the coat had caught fire, Sherlock would have too, so I think your worries are justified. And I hadn't even considered this before your comment, but now I realise that my reaction is similar to yours. I'm not thinking about John, either, I'm thinking about Sherlock when he throws himself into the flames. Weird, huh.

It's all a matter of priorities. Then there's me who says mentally "it's all under control. They have this planned out, safety precautions, etc, etc." without a flinch or concern. Can we say I've watched a few behind the scenes on film making with stunts & special effects?

[Boton]

I have the same reaction to this scene, and I don't think it's because of seeing too many behind the scenes type things.  I think I just know that John is going to be fine:  he's being rescued by Mary, the woman who can recognize a skip code on sight in a text message, and Sherlock, who just single-handedly dismantled Moriarty's terrorist network.  John is safe.

 

Sherlock, on the other hand, with the coat.... Well, let's just say I've worn too many flowing garments near flame and other dangers to feel altogether comfortable about that coat.

 

[T.o.b.y]

Funny, I've never considered the practical side of things when watching that scene. All I see is Sherlock going "oh my god" and rushing thrugh the crowd right into the flames. I can't help myself, but that is seriously romantic, irrespective of any kind of relationship wishes or non-wishes. It's just such a classic hero act, and he does it so well. *Swoon*.

[Carol the Dabbler]

We showed this episode to our friend Roxa tonight, and she said the actor playing Lord Moran looked familiar.  I wasn't able to find his name online (everyone else seems to be wondering too), but I did find one interesting fact:

 

At the time that "The Empty Hearse" first aired, there really was a Lord Moran (though he passed on in March, at age 89, leaving the title to a son).  This puzzles me greatly, because any character names used in American television shows are carefully checked first, in order to avoid lawsuits.  Of course, British television may be different -- or it's possible that the real Lord Moran gave his permission for his title to be used.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think I finally figured out why Sherlock told Anderson how he did it -- because Anderson would listen!

 

Seriously -- poor Sherlock figures out this elaborate plot, risks his neck jumping off a roof, scurries around undercover for two years, gets beaten to a pulp in Serbia -- and when he finally gets back and is finally free to brag about the whole thing -- who can he tell?  He tries to tell John, who refuses to listen (wanting to know "why" instead).  Mycroft already knows, of course (and wouldn't be impressed anyhow).  Molly already knows (and I assume he's already heard enough from her about how wonderful it all was).  Mrs. Hudson would probably say, "That's nice, dear, now finish your tea."

 

But Anderson actually started a Sherlock Holmes fan club -- surely he's interested!  However, Sherlock learns that Anderson has (like a few other Sherlock Holmes fans!) spent the past two years figuring out theories of his own, which he much prefers to Sherlock's version.

 

The only flaw I can offhand find in this explanation is -- why didn't he tell Greg?

 

[Arcadia]

How's this? Maybe Sherlock did tell Greg, and maybe even John at some point ... but Anderson's the one who recorded it, that's why it's the version we see. -- ???

[SherlockedCAMPer]

We showed this episode to our friend Roxa tonight, and she said the actor playing Lord Moran looked familiar.  I wasn't able to find his name online (everyone else seems to be wondering too), but I did find one interesting fact:

 

At the time that "The Empty Hearse" first aired, there really was a Lord Moran (though he passed on in March, at age 89, leaving the title to a son).  This puzzles me greatly, because any character names used in American television shows are carefully checked first, in order to avoid lawsuits.  Of course, British television may be different -- or it's possible that the real Lord Moran gave his permission for his title to be used.

 

I wonder if Moran is just common enough for a last name that titling an MP Lord Moran would not be unheard of.  Also isn't there a character in one of the Holmes stories named Moran and since the show is based on the stories it would be easier to get away with it.

[Carol the Dabbler]

How's this? Maybe Sherlock did tell Greg, and maybe even John at some point ... but Anderson's the one who recorded it, that's why it's the version we see. -- ???

 

Yes, that's possible.  However, what we see is only partly Anderson's recording -- it's also partly what was happening in the room while (and after) the recording was made -- plus a lot of either a] flashbacks, or b] Sherlock's recollections, or c] Anderson's interpretations.  You're right, this scene doesn't actually rule out his telling someone else later.

 

I wonder if Moran is just common enough for a last name that titling an MP Lord Moran would not be unheard of.  Also isn't there a character in one of the Holmes stories named Moran and since the show is based on the stories it would be easier to get away with it.

I think Moran is a fairly common surname, yes, but it wasn't the real Lord Moran's surname (which was Wilson), it was his title, specifically I think he was the Earl of Moran (which is presumably a place). But I doubt that the commonness of the name would be a legal defense in any case, since the Earl was a fairly well known public figure. It'd be like naming a fictional character "President Johnson" just because that's a common surname.

 

They clearly did want to use the name Moran on account of Sebastian Moran in Conan Doyle's "The Empty House," and they wanted him to be an MP for the Guy Fawkes plotline -- but it seems like the character could just as well have been an elected MP with the surname Moran. Which leads me to wonder whether the real Lord Moran might have actually liked the idea.

[Redbeard]

... Even to the point where she asks "did you get him off a murder charge?", when Sherlock talks about the owner of the fish place he wants to go to for dinner. Of course Molly can't know how much that is an echo of A Study in Pink, but it's like she intuitively gets it right, anyway. And Sherlock petulantly goes "no, I helped him put up some shelves." I bet that's a lie, just like he lied to Sebastian in The Blind Banker about having asked his secretary...

 

 

But...but...seriously?  I have never even thought of that, I took Sherlock literally and even imagined the charming scene of how it all would have played out.  Sherlock putting up shelves for someone, just doing something so practical and human.  Never even dawned on me that it could  just be one of his lies.  Dang!  But you know I like this interpretation even more!  It's much more Sherlocky.  But I just feel so hoodwinked. lol.  He must be a really frustrating person to know.  ^_^

[Arcadia]

The way he smirked when he said it, I can't decide if it was a lie or not either. The twit.

[Boton]

The way he smirked when he said it, I can't decide if it was a lie or not either. The twit.

 

I was firmly in the "Sherlock hanging shelves" camp until I rewatched TEH this weekend and saw the smirk.  He's lying.  He totally has a network of people all over London giving him things free because of his crime-solving activities.  

[Arcadia]

Didn't I read somewhere that that's "canon?" That Sherlock was known help out the underclass; i.e., those who couldn't afford to pay for his services? I got that notion from somewhere, and wouldn't mind seeing more illustrations of it. So far we know he gives money to the homeless in return for information; I choose to believe that's not "just business" but also a subtle act of charity.

 

My apologies to all those who prefer the "high-functioning sociopath", but I just have this desire to see Sherlock be a decent, caring human being! He can act as cold as he likes; as long as he actually isn't!

[Carol the Dabbler]

We listened to the commentary, and a couple of things stuck out (quotes from Ariane DeVere's transcript):

 

Steven: “Inconsistency coming up, with the dates of the wedding.”
Mark: “They changed their mind. Bride’s prerogative.”
Sue: “In fact, they saw the sample of the printing of the invite and then they actually changed it after.”

 

They changed the date?  At the end of "Empty Hearse," Mary said they were planning a May wedding.  The invitations said May 18th.  And "Sign of Three" was filmed in May.  Surely they're not talking about John's online blog -- his blog-hosting software is absolutely notorious for getting the date stamps wrong!  Or did I miss something in the actual show?
 

Mark: “This is lovely Ed [birch]. He came in to audition when – at some point – the waiter in the restaurant was meant to look a bit like Sherlock and then Sherlock took his place. So he actually was cast because he looked a bit like Benedict and then he got this much bigger, better part, and we liked him so much we carried him into Episode two as well.”

 

OK, now we know where they got the guy.

 

They're apparently talking about this casting call (as reported in here in February 2013):

 

WAITER (Male, 29 - 35)

late 20’s - mid 30’s
Waiter in a nice restaurant serving John (Martin Freeman) and his lady-friend, who bares an uncanny resemblance to his old cohort Sherlock. So we need an actor who MUST BE TALL & THIN , preferably with fair hair. urbane and dry. Good comic timing and a knack for deadpan delivery.
3 Scenes: 8 Lines

 

 

[Arcadia]

 

..... preferably with fair hair....

 

"fair hair" - ??????????????

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Maybe it was a play on the meaning of Sherlock which is fair haired...With Moftiss anything is possible.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I doubt that they'd go for an obscure pun in a casting call.  Apparently they wanted the waiter to look like a blond Sherlock -- but then they decided to have Sherlock pretend to be a waiter instead.  When they cast the same actor as Tom, they made his hair dark so he'd bear as much of a general resemblance to Sherlock as possible.

 

[Arcadia]

As routinely as actors change their hair color, I'm not sure what diff it makes????

[sittything]

I'm glad they had Sherlock do that scene.  What we would have missed out on!  I'm trying to imagine how they would have used or incorporated a Sherlock look-a-like in that scene?

[Redbeard]

I just watched this episode tonight.  I love it so much.  I think the restaurant scene is so amazingly done.  It is beautiful work by everyone involved.  And I can't help but love Sherlock in the subway car.  Wow he is so infuriating yet endearing at the same time. 

I also hadn't noticed before how John changes from the beginning when he says, "I don't care how you faked it Sherlock, I want to know why."   Then at the end he asks, "Sherlock are you going to tell me how you did it?  How you jumped off that building and survived?"  I think his thoughts coming full circle shows that he has finally accepted that Sherlock did what he had to do.  He has emotionally gotten past that and can now move on to practical curiosity.   I think it shows John has healed.  How resilient he must be to have Sherlock Holmes for a best friend.  Good on ya, John.

 

 

[sfmpco]

I love that whole episode.  From the moment Mary says her first line, I love her.  Just her voice and I love her.  Then when she twice says about Sherlock, "I like him."  I love her again.  I love the whole fight sequence.  I love the intro of his parents, the way his mother touches he cheek and he practically slams the door on them but not before promising very quietly to call her because "she worries."  Still the good boy.  Love the sequence of John on his office with the hours ticking by.  Love the "OH!!!" when SH realizes which direction the tube car is stored in.  Oh gosh, if I start to talk about it I will never stop.

[Redbeard]

Yes!  I love Sherlock with his parents too.  This episode just kind of makes me giddy with joy lol.  Love it!

[T.o.b.y]

My favorite scene in The Empty Hearse is probably the fire. I love Sherlock the hero in general, and fire has always been a particular horror of mine. I used to have terrible fire nightmares as a child. Seeing my favorite detective rush into the flames like that is somehow deeply satisfying. Now all he needs to do is kill a giant spider, and he's taken care of all of my childish fears. Oh, no, wait, Sam already did that part in Lord of the Rings. Great. I'm all set!

 

The Empty Hearse is good fun, but it's still my least favorite episode. It seems more like a string of individual scenes to me, some really great, some not so remarkable, than a coherent story. Also, while I am really glad they dealt with the aftermath of The Fall realistically and love how Freeman plays John in the various stages of shock, rage and resentment, I really miss the boys being like two peas in a pod. They were such a wonderful team. And while they do reunite eventually, and declare themselves best friends in The Sign of Three, I still feel as if series 3 didn't quite bring them back together again. Of course it would be ridiculous if it did. If my best friend threw herself off a roof in front of me and let me mourn her for two years, only to reappear and treat the whole thing as a hilarious joke, things would never be the way they were between us ever again, either. But still. It's kind of sad.

 

Mycroft was right about "the end of an era", and I am not entirely sure I like the new chapter as well as the old. But we shall see. There's another series to come. And the "Sherlock alone hovering over John and Mary like a slightly sinister version of a guardian angel" concept has a lot of charm, too.

[Boton]

I do love the restaurant scene.  I love the way the music is used in that scene.  I love John's murderous rage.  I love the way Sherlock has completely missed the mark on how John will respond, and I love to watch his face as he realizes it.  I love that they fight their way through successively crappier restaurants until they are in a kebab shop.  And I do love the way Mary says "I like him."  Very nicely done.

[Arcadia]

I love the shot of the back of Sherlock's head as he sails into the restaurant. That curl on the nape of his neck.....