Episode 3.2, "The Sign of Three"

[sherlockandjohn]

Can I just say that I think it's really awesome when some of you bring up references to the original stories? I haven't read them yet, so it's a relief for me to know - when I watch an episode like TSoT (which I feel is very different from the previous episodes) - that the writers are still paying attention and homage to the original stories. I feel like I'm regaining some footing, somehow

[Loekie]

I think that Sherlock would rather have nice sex with Molly than lose control as a drunken idiot.

[MrsHudsonsbins]

With regards to Mary, I keep think of the words that flashed up in TEH ..

 

'only child, linguist, nurse, guardian, liar'

 

The episode gets a slating in the Daily Mail, but then that doesn't surprise me.

 

 

[Loekie]

I got it! He was drunk because of a broken heart!

[Slithytove]

I'm guessing I'm alone in this opinion, but I found Sherlock's gentle warmth in this episode more out of character than his capricious cruelty in TEH. In ASiB, he is baffled by a family's grief and does not understand why "they care so much.". He suspects that there is something wrong with himself and Mycroft, and yet now he is declaring his love for John and his commitment to the Watson family. Why is he so different now? Three explanations occurred to me:

 

A) He has changed as a person, matured and become a genuinely nice man.....but how did this happen? And why now?

 

B] Intellectually he is a genius, but emotionally he is a child with a small child's tendency to mood swings......rude, loving, callous, selfish and giving, with no real understanding of which of these emotions are considered acceptable and which are "a bit not good."

 

C) He really is a sociopath, with a sociopath's ability to mimic emotions he does not feel. In this case, people would matter to him insofar as they made his life easier - which would explain why John, Lestrade and Mrs Hudson would be top of his list - and he could become fiercely defensive when those "belonging" to him were threatened. He would turn on the charm when required but could drop it like a mask when it had served its purpose.

 

Personally, I would prefer explanation C - I like my Sherlock dark and twisted! - but I suspect the writers like the character too much to let him really be such a psychopath.

 

Despite these objections, I did enjoy TSoT. Funny Sherlock is always good and there was a lot to love.

 

But, speaking of sociopaths, I do miss Moriarty....

[Omega]

I liked this episode, quite much, but maybe I had to high expectation or something, because some things kind of disapointed me...

First, none of the question set in the first episode were answered, and it seemed like they were forgotten... I'm sure they will be answered, at least in some part, in the next episode, but I hopped a bit more... and Sherlock was a bit slow with his deducions this time, I mean, I new who was the victim before him, and that's weird...

 

But I realy loved the online interogation, with Mycroft : very surprising, in a good way !

[sherlockandjohn]

I'm guessing I'm alone in this opinion, but I found Sherlock's gentle warmth in this episode more out of character than his capricious cruelty in TEH. In ASiB, he is baffled by a family's grief and does not understand why "they care so much.". He suspects that there is something wrong with himself and Mycroft, and yet now he is declaring his love for John and his commitment to the Watson family. Why is he so different now? Three explanations occurred to me:

 

A) He has changed as a person, matured and become a genuinely nice man.....but how did this happen? And why now?

 

Not entirely alone, I tend to agree with you, but I choose to write it down to your "solution" A, since I have bigger trouble dealing with an insensitive Sherlock than an overly sensitive one However, your question as to how he changed is well-funded! I would have loved to see a development, there, because I feel there is far from his behavior in the end of TEH to the speech he gave in TSoT.

 

But, alas, that is too late, and we'll have to settle with what the writers and producers have done. I do love both TEH and TSoT, so I've decided to be happy with it, and deal with the fact that it is impossible to satisfy all of the millions of fans completely. I am just glad that series 3 so far is very warm and funny, and in a few minutes I'll sit back and enjoy both episodes again!

[ToniLianne]

Okay… After a second viewing I can share my thoughts with you beyond “aaah! Brilliant!” So… (sorry for the very long post!)

 

Lestrade leaving just as he’s about to make a monumental and career-changing arrest because he thinks Sherlock is in trouble. Altogether now – Awww! You could see he was torn for a second because he knew what he was giving up, but helping his friend was more important. I fell even more in love with Lestrade in that moment. I guessed Sherlock needed help with his best man’s speech – the scene when Greg arrived and Sherlock was confused about what was going on was brilliant!

 

Sherlock dancing – thank you, thank you, thank you. I love him even more now too! And the whole scene with him and Mrs Hudson made me laugh, especially when he said he thought his morning tea “just sort of happened”.

 

Sherlock looking at John’s empty chair… heartbreaking. I just wanted to reach into my TV and give him a hug.

 

Sherlock interrogating Mary’s ex – brilliant. Funny, the silly smile made me laugh out loud, and I love how he’s looking out for John.

 

Sherlock with the kid. More hilarity. “I don’t know, I’ll ask one.” Lol!

 

Sherlock ‘flirting’ (for lack of a better word!!) with the bridesmaid. I actually really liked her. When she said “Can I keep you?” I was, of course, thinking, “No! He’s mine! I want him!” 

 

My love for Sherlock and Mary’s relationship was cemented in this episode. Loved the scene when they were talking at the wedding about John and the Major. I really, really like her. Which doesn’t bode well for the future  :-(

 

Who/What is Redbeard? I have to know!! Childhood pet??

 

I was thinking, “I really wish we’d seen the scene where John asks Sherlock to be his best man” and then they obliged And the actual scene… Firstly, hilarious. The speech itself, and the flashback to John asking him. But as well as being funny, it was also so sweet and touching. “I want to be up there with the two people that I love and care about most in the world.” Aww!   Love them. So much. When Sherlock was talking about his own flaws my heart was just melting, especially when he said he’d never expected to be anyone’s best friend. And how John had saved him. And when he said he and Mary loved him most in the world. Oh, the whole damn thing. Perfect. And when he saw people crying and didn’t understand… “Did I do it wrong?” Bless him. Like John, I wanted to hug Sherlock in that moment!

 

Sherlock learning how to fold serviettes on Youtube. Just… brilliant. 

 

THERE WAS ANOTHER HAIR RUFFLE. I hadn’t even dared dream we’d get another one. And we did. *swoon*

 

John calling Sherlock “nurse.”    

 

The stag night. I was crying with laughter the whole way through – just brilliant. I never thought we’d get to see drunk Sherlock! And when they were playing Who am I… it just got better and better. “Got it! I’m you, aren’t I?”   I bet Benedict and Martin had a riot filming all those scenes. Would love to see some commentary on this ep on the DVD, and hear their thoughts about filming the stag night scenes!

 

When the whole ‘Hamish’ thing came up and Sherlock was shown trying to guess John's name, I was shouting at the telly “We know it’s Hamish, he told us in Scandal!!” so I was very relieved when they showed that bit!! 

 

IRENE! So glad she got to have a mini cameo. Short but sweet  :-)

 

I liked that John recognised that something was wrong, because he knows Sherlock so well. And of course it was great to hear “Vatican Cameos!” again.

 

Mrs Hudson – “I think you’re a popular choice at the moment dear.” Lol!  

 

Molly stabbing Tom with a fork or whatever it was when he said Sherlock was pissed. Being protective of Sherlock 

 

I liked all the flashbacks – I think they worked well in this episode, and I liked the way everything came together. There’ll probably be some people who didn’t like the structure of the episode, but I loved it. I wasn’t expecting everything to come together, but I thought it all worked really well.

 

The solution - I had wondered if it was something to do with the belt. But would you really not feel it if you were stabbed with something, however small or thin it was?  :-/

 

More Sherlock dancing. Oh, heaven. I want to dance with Benedict!

 

‘The Sign of Three’ – I don’t know if I’m just an idiot and was focussing on other things throughout this episode, but I wasn’t even trying to see the relevance of the title. Then when Sherlock said “three of you” and I realised, it was a real *facepalm* moment. It was so obvious, looking back! 

 

Then there was the moment, when Sherlock was smiling and then it faded as he thought about what this news meant for the future… Oh, just heartbreaking. Nice coat action at the end (is that man capable of putting a coat on without making it look sexy?!) but it did make me want to cry seeing him leave the wedding. Beautiful moment. *sniff*

 

So… yes. I loved it. Funny, sweet and sad. It did feel different to other episodes – it was different to other episodes, in a lot of ways, and I’m expecting there will be some criticism for that, and some people who didn’t enjoy it as much. But it was still an excellent episode in my opinion, and it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing doing something a little different. I expect the last episode is going to be more similar to TGG or TRF, more of a thriller type episode with a more continuous plot rather than disjointed stories and moments (even though they all wove together). I only wish I had more time this week for rewatches – I managed seven of TEH before tonight’s episode, which I loved even more. Twice is definitely not enough!

 

Also, did anyone hear Rickman in some words Benedict spoke? Or was that just me? 

 

I'm slightly torn between absolutely loving the episode, for all the reasons mentioned in the above post, but at the same time I'm a bit disappointed by the almost lack of case work, I did really enjoy the case and the way they entwined it into the wedding was brilliant, but I just feel as though the detective work and action has taken a bit of a backseat in the last two episodes. I sort of feel like they were good episodes but they have been leading us up to a bigger, better picture, and if it were a slightly longer series I wouldn't be bothered at all, but of course there is only one episode left now, and I feel like now the reunion and wedding have been dealt with, I am finally going to get the action I've been waiting for next week only for it to end before we get the full story and then have to wait ageeeeees for the next series :/

 

Also for those who mention they didn't enjoy the scenes so much where Sherlock was drunk, and thought it was very OOC for him to do, did nobody notice John pouring a shot of something into Sherlock's beer in the scene before that? Sherlock had it all worked out, so that they wouldn't get drunk, but he didn't account for John spiking his drink so to speak, so therefore it was John's fault really!! Although I'm surprised Sherlock didn't taste the difference in his drink? 

 

[sherlockandjohn]

 

Also for those who mention they didn't enjoy the scenes so much where Sherlock was drunk, and thought it was very OOC for him to do, did nobody notice John pouring a shot of something into Sherlock's beer in the scene before that? Sherlock had it all worked out, so that they wouldn't get drunk, but he didn't account for John spiking his drink so to speak, so therefore it was John's fault really!! Although I'm surprised Sherlock didn't taste the difference in his drink?

 

Hehe, this is very silly, but I think you kinda made my day by bringing that up.

Still don't think it's a great scene, though.

 

[ToniLianne]

I don't suppose anybody knows if these episodes are repeated at all anywhere do you? Or if you can somehow retrieve shows you delete on a sky box? I accidently deleted the episode from the TV after I had finished watching it, and I'm in a bit of trouble with my mum because she hadn't watched it yet and she refuses to watch stuff on a computer screen for some reason

[Caya]

You are British, aren't you? Then the BBC's iPlayer should do the trick.

 

Episode 1

 

Episode 2

 

As for getting them to the TV screen, either hook up the computer to the TV via HDMI port, or download them (there's a link below the episodes) and use the DVD player or similar.

[Loekie]

11 january on Canvas.

http://www.canvas.be/programmas/sherlock/72c5b0b0-4846-42aa-ac35-d7c30664cee9#panel-epi

[ToniLianne]

/>

You are British, aren't you? Then the BBC's iPlayer should do the trick.

 

Episode 1

 

Episode 2

 

As for getting them to the TV screen, either hook up the computer to the TV via HDMI port, or download them (there's a link below the episodes) and use the DVD player or similar.

yes I am British and have access to iplayer. Thank you I'll give it a go

[T.o.b.y]

Can I just say that I think it's really awesome when some of you bring up references to the original stories? I haven't read them yet, so it's a relief for me to know - when I watch an episode like TSoT (which I feel is very different from the previous episodes) - that the writers are still paying attention and homage to the original stories. I feel like I'm regaining some footing, somehow

 

Awww, and I like nothing better than pointing these references out and then feel like a total wise-ass jerk for telling people what I assume they already know! Okay, if you actually like it, I'll try to remember all the original facts, scenes and phrases that popped up in my mind during The Sign of Three and you can try to match them with the episode (and if we really get on people's nerves discussing that here, we can take it to a PM thread).

 

Okay, here goes. Please be lenient with me, I've only watched the 90 min once and have to wait for my DVDs for a "proper" viewing.

 

- There is a bank robbing trio ("The Worthingdon bank gang") in the story "The Resident Patient" (and, just a funny detail, one of the robbers' names is Moffat)

- Mary Morstan is originally a client of Holmes in search of her lost father. She has no other known family. The father had a close friend called Major Sholto. He died.

- "All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position" (opening of "A Scandal in Bohemia")

- "I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own

complete happiness, and the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attention" (also from "A Scandal in Bohemia")

- "the best and the wisest man whom I have ever known" (closing words of Watson on Holmes in "The Final Problem", after Holmes supposed death)

- "I found myself in my old arm-chair in my own old room, and only wishing that I could have seen my old friend Watson in the other chair which he has so often adorned.” (Holmes after his return in "The Empty House")

- "And here it is that I miss my Watson. By cunning questions and ejaculations of wonder he could

elevate my simple art, which is but systematized common sense, into a prodigy. When I tell my own

story I have no such aid" (Holmes in "The Blanched Soldier").

- "We have shared the same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell" (Holmes to Watson in "Charles Augustus Milverton")

- "Miss Morstan has done me the honor to accept me as a husband in prospective.”

He gave a most dismal groan. “I feared as much,” said he. “I really cannot congratulate you.” I was a little hurt. “Have you any reason to be dissatisfied with my choice?” I asked. “Not at all. I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met, and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing. She had a decided genius that way: witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her father. But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest I bias my judgment.”

 

The "burden myself with a companion" bit and the violin I have already commented on, right? I'm sure I'll notice a lot more when I see the episode again.

[ToniLianne]

I was just trying to envision what Sherlock would be like with a baby (if we get that far) and had a really bizarre thought of Sherlock as a Godfather.

 

I really don't want anything bad to happen to Mary

[T.o.b.y]

I was just trying to envision what Sherlock would be like with a baby (if we get that far) and had a really bizarre thought of Sherlock as a Godfather.

 

I really don't want anything bad to happen to Mary

 

Oh dear, yes... He was sweet with the kid at the wedding. True to canon as well - on the few occasions where Holmes meets children, he is quite nice with them and they don't seem afraid of him at all. (The original can be very nice - Watson says he has a "hypnotizing" manner! It's just never quite clear how much of that is fake and simply used to manipulate people. But "the great heart" certainly was meant to be real! So Sherlock might seem out of character now compared to the earlier episodes, but not necessarily compared to his literary forefather. The only trait I think is new is his insecurity, but that doesn't bother me at all - makes him more believable. And who knows what "the great Mr Holmes" really felt like; we mostly see him through Dr Watson's eyes).

 

I don't expect Mary will come to any real harm. Yes, I know the original Mrs Watson died eventually, but that was years after the marriage and besides, there seems to be no "artistic" reason to get rid of the character on "Sherlock". She's such an addition, they'd be stupid to let her go so soon before exploring all the possibilities she brings with her. Maybe the next cliffhanger will lead us to believe she is in grave peril, but cliffhangers are always resolved eventually. I firmly believe that in the end, all will be well with her and John...

 

 

[Cheerio1021]

I can't stop watching the scene where Sherlock, John, and Mary are on the dance floor talking about Mary's pregnancy.  A few observations:

 

1.) Though it's completely normal for a woman to show some ambivalence upon finding out she's pregnant (even if it's welcome news) I think we are definitely meant to make something of Mary's consternation over the news.  These scenes are very carefully blocked and edited, and I can't believe the "oh crap" look we see on her face is accidental.

 

2.) Similarly, there's a point where Sherlock looks at Mary for several beats, almost like he's worried about her, or sorry for her.  Not sure what this means, but it's one of many things that make me worry about Mary's fate.

 

3.) I can't help but match up the lyrics to the song (on repeat as I type this!) to the interactions on screen.  "I didn't even know her name, but I was never going to be the same" with a shot of John (In my head this means the baby is a girl, and John doesn't even know her name yet but his life is changed -- probably ridiculous conjecture on my part) AND the line "hypnotizing, mesmerizing me" with one of those classic long glances between Sherlock and John. 

 

[Caya]

Hello Cherio1021 and to the forum!

 

And you've jumped right in with such an astute observation. It'd never have occurred me to listen to the song, but you are right, that does sound like more than mere chance, just like Yolanda in Hearse probably wasn't.

[Caya]

Sherlockology's Metro Blog has a short (spoiler-including) review of this week's episode.

[PetiteLapine]

Just! WOW 

 

This was not only good telly, this was perfect!! emotions, fun, mysteries, story arcs to think about (mary, CAM...  )

 

I liked how they put the different little mysteries togeether at the end::

 

although:I  would really like to know more about the "elephants in the room"-case 

[Caya]

Yeah, that one sounds interesting, but unfortunately, according to John's blog entry on the subject, it's classified.

[PetiteLapine]

Yeah... They always say that about stuff that sounds like fun 

[DrSputnik]

Hi all,

 

First post from me... Only found this place yesterday

It's a little of an obscure question - out of curiosity as much as anything else since it doesn't add to the speculation. Anyhow, anyone know what type of Gun the Major had in his luggage?

I'm watching the episode through a second time right now, and will catch up with the thread later. I have ideas...!

[Cheerio1021]

I can't stop watching the scene where Sherlock, John, and Mary are on the dance floor talking about Mary's pregnancy.  A few observations:

 

1.) Though it's completely normal for a woman to show some ambivalence upon finding out she's pregnant (even if it's welcome news) I think we are definitely meant to make something of Mary's consternation over the news.  These scenes are very carefully blocked and edited, and I can't believe the "oh crap" look we see on her face is accidental.

 

2.) Similarly, there's a point where Sherlock looks at Mary for several beats, almost like he's worried about her, or sorry for her.  Not sure what this means, but it's one of many things that make me worry about Mary's fate.

 

3.) I can't help but match up the lyrics to the song (on repeat as I type this!) to the interactions on screen.  "I didn't even know her name, but I was never going to be the same" with a shot of John (In my head this means the baby is a girl, and John doesn't even know her name yet but his life is changed -- probably ridiculous conjecture on my part) AND the line "hypnotizing, mesmerizing me" with one of those classic long glances between Sherlock and John. 

 

Oh, and I forgot to add re the song lyrics:  When Sherlock's giving Mary that weird/sad look, we hear "As I recall, it ended much too soon."  Her pregnancy?  Her life?  The marriage?  ACK!

[Caya]

Hello DrSputnik and to the forum!

 

Unfortunately I can't help you with the gun - you might try asking recce43, who's apparently well versed in military matters.