Episode 3.1, "The Empty Hearse"

[SherlockedCAMPer]

That is epically brilliant. Great theory idea.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hilarious -- but I refuse to take it seriously, at least in the case of Sherlock -- Doctor Who can be as whimsical as they like.

[sfmpco]

Well, Anderson's theories are part correct and part incorrect, so you sort of have to disqualify him, much as you have to disqualify him in MHR.  Yes, he might have been onto something...tiny bits of evidence of Sherlock being out there, but the real work that Sherlock was doing in dismantling Moriarty's network, and let's not forget the whole Serbia incident... were not things that Anderson could have ever tracked.

[sfmpco]

Okay, we don't get a Sebastian Moran yet - at least not as a whole.  We did get a Lord Moran in TEH who is described as a "pillar of the realm."

 

The Sebastian we get is in TBB, and we get the use of the word "pillar" again when describing who the message was left for at the bank.  

 

Is there something to be made of that?  I have no idea.

[joanneta1]

With Mr Moffatt being so sadistic to his main characters, as someone else pointed out in the thread on HLV, you will get glimpses of everything almost everywhere. He scatters hints and clues like Tinkerbell scatters stardust, one has to be very open-eyed all the time in order not to miss anything, but are you saying that they will use Moriarty's executive officer to explain away the whole Moriarty debacle at the end of HLV? That would be very, very interesting, indeed!

[sfmpco]

I'm actually not suggesting anything... just found it odd that the only two places the word "pillar" is used is with Sebastian - S1E2 and Moran - S3E1.

 

Probably meaningless.  But I wouldn't put anything past them.

[T.o.b.y]

Taking this here because my reply refers to this episode:

 

 

Perhaps after university Mycroft tried to get him into Security Services training, which explains his high security clearance, after all, not everybody gets a job interview at Buckingham Palace, his ability to access files which are restricted, like the Appledore blueprints, his martial arts technique was proven against two assassins in TBB and he fended off a strangulation attempt in that episode. Which is why I find it hilarious that he lets John even lay hands on him in TEH.

 

Yes... true... But then, John must have his share of combat training as well, mustn't he. I can imagine him a match for Sherlock. But be that as it may, I don't find it at all ridiculous that Sherlock lets his friend clobber him, I find it kind of touching. Sherlock realizes he's F***ed up royally, and he's willing to take the fallout, it seems. Besides, he probably thinks John just has to get the anger out of his system fast, and then they can go back to work together... Poor Sherlock. This episode makes me feel so sorry for him, even though I know what he did was practically unforgivable.

[sfmpco]

[sfmpco]

Okay, I'm going back to an argument I tried to make earlier about whether or not the snipers actually had to see Sherlock hit the pavement.  Because if they had been looking FOR that, they never would have seen it.  After all, he hit an airbag.  Only the sniper with the gun on John would have seen anything at all anyhow because one was at Scotland Yard and the other sniper was at 221B Baker Street according to Sherlock's camera testimony to Anderson.  But was the sniper who was trained on John able to see Sherlock hit the ground?  Don't you think he would have checked?  Therefore I think he might have seen him fall but not been able to see the ground where he hit.  Otherwise the jig would have been up and Lestrade, John and Mrs. Hudson would have been killed.   

 

Does this make sense?

[joanneta1]

Perhaps the body he asked Molly to locate served the double purpose of being there both for John and the sniper training his sights on John. Sherlock said it was a very elaborate plan, after all.

[Arcadia]

Okay, I'm going back to an argument I tried to make earlier about whether or not the snipers actually had to see Sherlock hit the pavement.  Because if they had been looking FOR that, they never would have seen it.  After all, he hit an airbag.  Only the sniper with the gun on John would have seen anything at all anyhow because one was at Scotland Yard and the other sniper was at 221B Baker Street according to Sherlock's camera testimony to Anderson.  But was the sniper who was trained on John able to see Sherlock hit the ground?  Don't you think he would have checked?  Therefore I think he might have seen him fall but not been able to see the ground where he hit.  Otherwise the jig would have been up and Lestrade, John and Mrs. Hudson would have been killed.   

 

Does this make sense?

Well, I think that's why they had Sherlock insert the bit about Mycroft's people "intervening" before John's sniper could take the shot. In case anyone wondered why he (the sniper) didn't see the airbag.

 

Of course, that raises the question: why not just "intervene" with the 221B/Lestrade snipers too?

 

On the other hand, it's possible John's sniper was positioned so that he couldn't see the airbag, just the fall. I can't tell from the video. In which case, why would "intervention" have been necessary?

 

I still think there's something fishy about that "intervention", anyway. We don't see the sniper being arrested, just packing up his gun. And then Mycroft's comments are so cryptic: "Is it done? Good." That could mean anything!

 

I probably shouldn't, but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.....

[joanneta1]

On the other hand, that is Sherlock's version for Anderson, it is AN explanation, not necessarily THE explanation, which would also explain why Anderson felt it was disappointing.

[J.P.]

I will stick with what I have seen in TRF. The rest is speculation. 

And in TRF there was a body hitting the pavement. 

 

I think we should adopt the idea we have had at my other forum: to build a Special Unit for Tickling and Interrogation. Then get Mofftiss into some dark place (maybe the basement of 221) and tickle them so long until they tell us the truth. The whole truth and only the truth... 

[sfmpco]

yes, there was a body that hit the pavement, but if the snipers had been watching or anyone else in Moriarty's network, they would have NOT seen Sherlock hit the pavement but the airbag.  Who would have ever verified the jump to the splat on the pavement?  Because if someone had been watching, they would have seen the ruse!

[J.P.]

I can't say if this was photoshopped or if someone on set just played with his hair for a moment... but his fringe has the letters SH.

 

 

It looks weird just because BC is lying on the floor of the restaurant (the pattern!), probably waiting for MF to strangle him for the n-th time. 

[J.P.]

yes, there was a body that hit the pavement, but if the snipers had been watching or anyone else in Moriarty's network, they would have NOT seen Sherlock hit the pavement but the airbag.  Who would have ever verified the jump to the splat on the pavement?  Because if someone had been watching, they would have seen the ruse!

That's why I doubt there could be a airbag. AND the sniper still see John after Sherlock was transported away, so he must see the pavement. The only thing that could cover the view for few seconds was the laundry truck that drives away. Still - no space for the Big Blue.

[J.P.]

Another thing. I just noticed that yesterday and had it had me in hysterics. Sorry for the crappy GIF, I don't have anything handy for making clips from DVDs.

 

It's just after Sherlock meets Tom. First time I was so fascinated by Sherlock's expression that I haven't noticed Tom being a bad cosplay of him. I actually thought S reads Tom and decides not to say a word - which is a very polite behavior for a change. But S is actually shocked by the cosplay and makes this little gesture while knotting his scarf... His face... 

[sfmpco]

I've never known quite what to make of that moment.

[Arcadia]

I've never known quite what to make of that moment.

I didn't either, but someone (Carol?) pointed out that Sherlock was just realizing that Tom even wears his scarf the same way he does.

[Carol the Dabbler]

 

Thanks for posting that!  It's always seemed odd to me that John does NOT say "normal."  This could explain why, and also why he seems to be groping for just the right word.  Assuming that John's first inclination is to say "normal," I'm trying to decide whether he changes his mind because a] it truly isn't quite what he means, or b] he doesn't want to hurt Sherlock's feelings.  Probably c] both.

 

... the sniper still see John after Sherlock was transported away, so he must see the pavement. The only thing that could cover the view for few seconds was the laundry truck that drives away.

Yes, I agree. We see John through the sniper's scope, and he's standing roughly where Big Blue must have been. I don't think the laundry truck was tall enough to block his view completely, not with him being stationed high enough to see over the ambulance station.

 

I've never known quite what to make of that moment.

I didn't either, but someone (Carol?) pointed out that Sherlock was just realizing that Tom even wears his scarf the same way he does.

Nope, don't think that was me.  But yeah, I do think Sherlock is noticing that Tom is basically his clone.  And I love John's reaction when he notices.

 

[Arcadia]

 

yes, there was a body that hit the pavement, but if the snipers had been watching or anyone else in Moriarty's network, they would have NOT seen Sherlock hit the pavement but the airbag.  Who would have ever verified the jump to the splat on the pavement?  Because if someone had been watching, they would have seen the ruse!

That's why I doubt there could be a airbag. AND the sniper still see John after Sherlock was transported away, so he must see the pavement. The only thing that could cover the view for few seconds was the laundry truck that drives away. Still - no space for the Big Blue.

 

But if Sherlock's version is true ...   ...  it doesn't matter whether the sniper saw the airbag or not. Mycroft's men got to him before he shot John.

 

I actually think the "official" version is possible, just improbable ... in the real world. In Sherlock-World things are only improbable if Sherlock says they are. :P

[sfmpco]

Must ask Moffat about this some day.

 

Also, Moriarty initially led Sherlock to one area of the roof, but that's not the area Sherlock jumped from.  So perhaps his initial place to jump from was actually the view Moriarty's people needed.  Sherlock chose a different place, obviously.  Maybe that's the best way to explain that conundrum.  

[J.P.]

Sherlock's gesture is quite hard to put in words. Like: "he (Tom) has even stolen THIS from me"...

 

Don't know - that's a good example for non verbal communication :P

 

I also find it funny, that it was John, who nearly said something this time.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Not meaning to scare anyone   ;)   just want to be sure I have your attention:
 

Moderator Warning:  
While I'm delighted with the recent increased activity on the forum, I'm finding that I can no longer keep up with every single thread, every single day.  So if you have a general problem, comment, suggestion, or question, please post it in the "Afghanistan or Iraq?" section of the forum, where I and the other staff members will be sure to see it.  If you have a question or comment for me personally, please either post it in "Speedy's Cafe," which I will make a special point of keeping up with, or else send me a Private Message.  Thank you!

 
(I will post this notice in several threads.  Sorry for the repetition -- just don't want anyone waiting patiently for a reply on a thread that I don't happen to get to.)

[Inge l-w]

That is one powerful message! Thanks for the warning!

What I have been meaning to ask, has anyone noticed the interplay of looks between Sherlock and Molly, as Shilcott explains the conundrum of the last car of the last train? There is a whole lot of non-verbal language communication going on behind the man's back before he reveals the disappearance of the last passenger. Much more subtle and eloquent than when Sherlock has to explain every detail to Dr. Watson. Is her perspicacity the main reason for gaining his complete trust, I wonder?