Episode 3.3, "His Last Vow"

[Arcadia]

Just realized I missed reading most of the posts on the previous page. I've just about given up on making sense of HLV, I just enjoy the ride when I watch it now. (And oh, the glorious acting.) But those posts reminded me of something, and I've a moment to spare, so what the hey, let me just point out that nothing about Mary's presence in the penthouse seems to make sense....

 

1. Sherlock contacts Janine and convinces her to let him in. At this moment, Mary obviously is not within hearing distance, or she would have known Sherlock was on his way up.

 

2. Moments later, Sherlock and John arrive, and Janine and the guard have already been knocked out. So, unless it's a MUCH longer elevator ride than I've ever encountered, Mary just happened to slip in and do her deed in the seconds between Janine hanging up and Sherlock arriving.

 

3. Magnussen's chair was still warm, so presumably in those same few precious seconds, Mary confronted him and escorted him to the penthouse. Why not just shoot him there? (Okay, I actually have an answer for this one; maybe shooting him was never her intent. Maybe she just meant to threaten him into giving up the documents she thought he had. Maybe she thought those documents were in the penthouse.)

 

4. John obviously doesn't hear the gunshot. But the reason Sherlock went up to the penthouse in the first place was because he heard a noise. Conversation? A door closing? Whatever it was ... it was louder than a gun shot?????? That's some powerful silencer.

 

5. CAM was supposed to be at dinner, that's why Sherlock picked that time to arrive. You'd think Mary would know CAM's schedule too, if she was planning to kill him, so she could pick a time when she knew he was there. But she picked dinnertime, when he wasn't supposed to be there. But he was there. Huh?

 

6. Ummmm.... If Mary climbed up the walls to the penthouse, then why risk revealing herself by sneaking down to clonk Janine and the guard? Why not just stay in the penthouse until CAM arrived, do her thing, then slip out again?

 

7. Lucky seven, I've run out of criticisms!!!! Except .... how did Sherlock plan to find the Lord Smallwood files once he was in the penthouse? Surely Janine wouldn't have just let him have access to anything he wanted (unless it was herself.... aha! Maybe that was his plan! Snog Janine senseless while John rifled through the file cabinet! Hmmmm, I think I might have actually liked to have watched that scene .... )

[jesskayding]

Well, in order not to be detected you buy the appropriate materials & make the ninja suit yourself. That was part of the introduction, before teaching you to scale the wall. Thank goodness I have a few sewing lessons under my belt. Grant that it was on how to sew pillows. Hmmmm yeah I may have to print out some patterns.

 

You wouldn't believe it, but this is like a university sized class of two hundred and twenty one wanna be assassins!  

[Carol the Dabbler]

You're right -- I wouldn't believe it!  Or let me rephrase that -- I prefer not to.

 

Arcadia, now you've got me going again --

 

Why does Sherlock assume Magnussen is still there just because his chair is warm -- he was supposedly out to dinner, so couldn't the guard have been sitting there? or Janine?

 

Did Sherlock hear a noise?  I never got that impression (and neither did Ariana DeVere, judging by her transcript of this scene).  He feels CAM's chair and decides if he's not in the office, then he must be in his penthouse.  But hey, couldn't he have simply stepped into the loo for a moment?

 

Why didn't John phone 999 for Janine?  She's unconscious, so that's not just a superficial injury on her head.  Or maybe he did phone (but forgot that he had) and that's why the ambulance came so quickly.  No, wait, Sherlock stopped him from phoning the police "during our own burglary," so presumably he didn't phone for an ambulance either -- in which case, what the hell kinda doctor is he?  (I like my prior idea better.)

 

They seem to be following the principle that if your plot has holes in it, just have Sherlock talk so fast that no one will notice.

 

[jesskayding]

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

[T.o.b.y]

3. Magnussen's chair was still warm, so presumably in those same few precious seconds, Mary confronted him and escorted him to the penthouse. Why not just shoot him there? (Okay, I actually have an answer for this one; maybe shooting him was never her intent. Maybe she just meant to threaten him into giving up the documents she thought he had. Maybe she thought those documents were in the penthouse.)

 

I think if Mary's primary goal had been to kill Magnussen, he'd have been dead by the time Sherlock came along. My interpretation is that she wanted to negotiate with him about something, probably the return of some documents. And I also still believe that the AGRA stick was from Magnussen's possessions. It's the only half-way logical reason I can see for why she had a collection of files on her past life.

 

 

[sfmpco]

 

3. Magnussen's chair was still warm, so presumably in those same few precious seconds, Mary confronted him and escorted him to the penthouse. Why not just shoot him there? (Okay, I actually have an answer for this one; maybe shooting him was never her intent. Maybe she just meant to threaten him into giving up the documents she thought he had. Maybe she thought those documents were in the penthouse.)

 

I think if Mary's primary goal had been to kill Magnussen, he'd have been dead by the time Sherlock came along. My interpretation is that she wanted to negotiate with him about something, probably the return of some documents. And I also still believe that the AGRA stick was from Magnussen's possessions. It's the only half-way logical reason I can see for why she had a collection of files on her past life.

 

 

Hmmm... I like that theory.

[Arcadia]

Arcadia, now you've got me going again --

Glad to be of service!

 

Why does Sherlock assume Magnussen is still there just because his chair is warm -- he was supposedly out to dinner, so couldn't the guard have been sitting there? or Janine?

Seriously, if your boss was the sicko possessive slime that CAM was, would you have dared to sit in his chair? Not me, nuh uh, no way.

 

Did Sherlock hear a noise?  I never got that impression (and neither did Ariana DeVere, judging by her transcript of this scene).  He feels CAM's chair and decides if he's not in the office, then he must be in his penthouse.  But hey, couldn't he have simply stepped into the loo for a moment?

Well, frack, now I'm going to have to watch the accursed thing again. It's my impression that Sherlock suddenly jerked his head up, as if he heard something, and I thought John reacted too? Then Sherlock bolts out of the room like he thinks it's urgent, and seems to be listening as he's going up the stairs? No?

 

Why didn't John phone 999 for Janine?  She's unconscious, so that's not just a superficial injury on her head.  Or maybe he did phone (but forgot that he had) and that's why the ambulance came so quickly.  No, wait, Sherlock stopped him from phoning the police "during our own burglary," so presumably he didn't phone for an ambulance either -- in which case, what the hell kinda doctor is he?  (I like my prior idea better.)

Well, gawsh, Carol. He's a military doctor, doesn't that explain everything? Because as we all know, military doctors are trained to be soldiers first, their primary duty is to wield a gun and the doctoring part is just gravy. Duh.

 

I think if Mary's primary goal had been to kill Magnussen, he'd have been dead by the time Sherlock came along. My interpretation is that she wanted to negotiate with him about something, probably the return of some documents. And I also still believe that the AGRA stick was from Magnussen's possessions. It's the only half-way logical reason I can see for why she had a collection of files on her past life.

I like this idea and am inclined to agree, but I have one quibble ... CAM did't keep files, it was all in his mind. So unless Mary downloaded the data directly from his brain stem, I can't figure out where the thumb drive would have come from!

 

They seem to be following the principle that if your plot has holes in it, just have Sherlock talk so fast that no one will notice.

Talk faster, Sherlock!!!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

 

True.  But I'm trying desperately NOT to think of Sherlock as a super-hero story.  I will go so far as to admit that it often has that sorta feel to it, but so far they seem to have kept everything fairly plausible -- no physical super-powers.

 

... if your boss was the sicko possessive slime that CAM was, would you have dared to sit in his chair? Not me, nuh uh, no way.

Not even while the cat's away?

 

Well, frack, now I'm going to have to watch the accursed thing again. It's my impression that Sherlock suddenly jerked his head up, as if he heard something, and I thought John reacted too? Then Sherlock bolts out of the room like he thinks it's urgent, and seems to be listening as he's going up the stairs? No?

Well, that sounds like a reasonable interpretation, but it just never struck me that way -- more like he'd been struck by a sudden thought, and then John reacted to Sherlock's reaction, maybe. Guess we'll all have to watch it again!

 

... as we all know, military doctors are trained to be soldiers first, their primary duty is to wield a gun and the doctoring part is just gravy. Duh.

 

... I have one quibble ... CAM did't keep files, it was all in his mind. So unless Mary downloaded the data directly from his brain stem, I can't figure out where the thumb drive would have come from!

He did say that he occasionally sent out for something, and he apparently had Lord Smallwood's letters -- so maybe the flash drive was another of his little souvenirs? Mary was presumably demanding all his files on her, so if that was the only physical item he had, he'd presumably have given that to her in desperation, hoping it would satisfy her. And who knows, maybe it did. Maybe that would've been that if Sherlock hadn't barged in. (Though I suspect if she really was satisfied that he'd given her everything, then she would have killed him -- just for good measure.)

 

[jesskayding]

 

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

True. But I'm trying desperately NOT to think of Sherlock as a super-hero story. I will go so far as to admit that it often has that sorta feel to it, but so far they seem to have kept everything fairly plausible -- no physical super-powers.

 

Uh... What about that mind palace thing, & bolt holes & his homeless network, really? Not to mention in nearly every episode he's on a rooftop or ledge with his coat collar turned up & hair blowing in the wind. Carol you're just so so sweet.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Yeah, Batman is considered a superhero and he didn't have any super powers either, just his utility belt, a cool Bat Cave, a side kick named Robin and really cool butler and a nifty car, a cape and a mask.

 

Sherlock has his great coat, a side kick, 221b, a really cool landlady, a cab when ever he steps to the curb and raises his hand, and he can hide in plain sight and pretend to be a sociopath.

[Arcadia]

 

... if your boss was the sicko possessive slime that CAM was, would you have dared to sit in his chair? Not me, nuh uh, no way.

Not even while the cat's away?

 

Are you kiddin'? People like that have ESP, man, they know the instant you're violating their space. Nope, no way I'm going within 5 feet of that desk unless he tells me to.

He did say that he occasionally sent out for something, and he apparently had Lord Smallwood's letters -- so maybe the flash drive was another of his little souvenirs? Mary was presumably demanding all his files on her, so if that was the only physical item he had, he'd presumably have given that to her in desperation, hoping it would satisfy her. And who knows, maybe it did. Maybe that would've been that if Sherlock hadn't barged in. (Though I suspect if she really was satisfied that he'd given her everything, then she would have killed him -- just for good measure.)

I'm not convinced those were actually Smallwood's letters; I think they were blank sheets of paper that CAM used to lure Sherlock in. And Sherlock, the dumb bunny, fell for it. Nope, I'm afraid CAM was ahead of our Mr. Holmes every step of the way, right until the bitter end. Which is why I want more than ever to see Sherlock go up against Mycroft and slam him right into the ground. Figuratively speaking!

 

I don't know what to make of the flash drive. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't make (empirical) sense Mary would keep it, or bring it with her to the meeting with Sherlock. They needed something to serve as a symbol for her past; methinks there's not much more to be made of it than that. Impressionistic writing strikes again!!! Bwahahaha!

[Arcadia]

 

 

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

True. But I'm trying desperately NOT to think of Sherlock as a super-hero story. I will go so far as to admit that it often has that sorta feel to it, but so far they seem to have kept everything fairly plausible -- no physical super-powers.

 

 

Uh... What about that mind palace thing, & bolt holes & his homeless network, really? Not to mention in nearly every episode he's on a rooftop or ledge with his coat collar turned up & hair blowing in the wind. Carol you're just so so sweet.

 

 

 

Yeah, Batman is considered a superhero and he didn't have any super powers either, just his utility belt, a cool Bat Cave, a side kick named Robin and really cool butler and a nifty car, a cape and a mask.

 

Sherlock has his great coat, a side kick, 221b, a really cool landlady, a cab when ever he steps to the curb and raises his hand, and he can hide in plain sight and pretend to be a sociopath.

Good grief, what are you two, twelve? :D

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

I'm not convinced those were actually Smallwood's letters; I think they were blank sheets of paper that CAM used to lure Sherlock in. And Sherlock, the dumb bunny, fell for it. Nope, I'm afraid CAM was ahead of our Mr. Holmes every step of the way, right until the bitter end. Which is why I want more than ever to see Sherlock go up against Mycroft and slam him right into the ground. Figuratively speaking!

 

  Nono....no! I want him to do it physically like he slammed Mycroft into the door jamb! I want Sherlock to take that older brother of his and kick him to the curb.

[Arcadia]

Okay, okay, if you insist! I suppose I'll endure it somehow.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Don't appal me when I'm high.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I don't know what to make of the flash drive. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't make (empirical) sense Mary would keep it, or bring it with her to the meeting with Sherlock. They needed something to serve as a symbol for her past; methinks there's not much more to be made of it than that. Impressionistic writing strikes again!!! Bwahahaha!

I suspect that you're right, it was just a stand-in for the Treasure of Agra from the original story. But if it doesn't actually tie in anywhere, I am prepared to be disappointed.

[jesskayding]

 

 

 

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

True. But I'm trying desperately NOT to think of Sherlock as a super-hero story. I will go so far as to admit that it often has that sorta feel to it, but so far they seem to have kept everything fairly plausible -- no physical super-powers.

Uh... What about that mind palace thing, & bolt holes & his homeless network, really? Not to mention in nearly every episode he's on a rooftop or ledge with his coat collar turned up & hair blowing in the wind. Carol you're just so so sweet.

 

Yeah, Batman is considered a superhero and he didn't have any super powers either, just his utility belt, a cool Bat Cave, a side kick named Robin and really cool butler and a nifty car, a cape and a mask.

 

Sherlock has his great coat, a side kick, 221b, a really cool landlady, a cab when ever he steps to the curb and raises his hand, and he can hide in plain sight and pretend to be a sociopath.

Good grief, what are you two, twelve? :D

 

 

Uh no. I think you might be though

 

Fox & I made very good points thank you.

[jesskayding]

Don't appal me when I'm high.

 

What! This forum is drug free!!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Can you list off any super hero story without plot holes. I think it's impossible to do, since they kind of exist in an alter-reality. Super man was shot in real New York, but the story isn't real New York.

True. But I'm trying desperately NOT to think of Sherlock as a super-hero story. I will go so far as to admit that it often has that sorta feel to it, but so far they seem to have kept everything fairly plausible -- no physical super-powers.

Uh... What about that mind palace thing, & bolt holes & his homeless network, really? Not to mention in nearly every episode he's on a rooftop or ledge with his coat collar turned up & hair blowing in the wind. Carol you're just so so sweet.

Yeah, Batman is considered a superhero and he didn't have any super powers either, just his utility belt, a cool Bat Cave, a side kick named Robin and really cool butler and a nifty car, a cape and a mask.

 

Sherlock has his great coat, a side kick, 221b, a really cool landlady, a cab when ever he steps to the curb and raises his hand, and he can hide in plain sight and pretend to be a sociopath.

Good grief, what are you two, twelve? :D

Uh no. I think you might be though

 

Fox & I made very good points thank you.

 

What are you saying Jess -- you're rubber and we're glue? 

[jesskayding]

I mean it is obvious that there should be a Sherlock comic book series. He is the less wealthy, carless, Batman of London.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh.  Now that makes sense -- a comic book could push the envelope even further than they have on television, to the point where, yes, he could be considered a superhero.  That could be fun, sort of an alternative-universe Sherlock.

 

I just don't care to see that on BBC Sherlock.

 

[Boton]

Can we just talk for a second about the utter gorgeousness of the acting, set design, and direction (I never quite know who to credit for which element of a scene) of the restaurant scene with Sherlock and CAM?  I think the way it was executed, especially BC's portrayal, lent a lot of information to a very short scene and went beyond the initial done-to-death visual joke of "patient escapes hospital wearing a gown with IV in tow" that we initially think it is.

 

First of all, Sherlock is eating while he's on a case.  To the best of my viewing abilities, this has never been done; in fact, it has been a relatively subtle thing that he'll stop so John can have a meal, but he isn't eating.  Never eats while working.  Now, I don't expect him to refrain from eating while he's recovering from liver surgery, which takes weeks, but he is actually meeting with CAM, and this time CAM is in the power position of not eating (except to exert his dominance by picking through Sherlock's leftovers).  For Sherlock to eat not only while he is on a case but in front of an adversary is an immediate admission of weakness.

 

Not only is Sherlock eating, but the set design and acting of it are really well done.  If you watch, he looks very much like he's having that meal you have when you are sick and just starting to feel better -- the "this tastes like crap but I've got to keep my strength up" meal.  He seems to be working fairly hard at eating, and his meal is basically pasta and water, which should be a reasonably easy thing to eat.  And I think the water is a good set design choice -- it isn't anything that adds any taste to a meal or to the experience.  It isn't even a hot cup of tea on a blustery day.  It's something to wash the food down with, period.

 

Last, the way he handles the morphine drip, elevating it from joke prop to storytelling device.  When CAM applies the least bit of verbal pressure, Sherlock carefully ups the morphine by three clicks, one at a time.  Contrast this with the scene in hospital with Janine, when he pretty aggressively (for a guy that was shot 3 days ago) cranks the morphine from 0 to 9 in one move, and then when he needs to think moves it from 9 to 2 in one move.  With CAM, he's calibrating, doing the math on how much pain/anxiety relief he can use and still keep his wits about him.

 

Taken together, this has created an entire back story for me.  This event must be several days or even a week or more after the 221B "Watson domestic."  Once again, Sherlock has been unable to resist the temptation to work on a case, but this time he's taking control of it.  He's not going to float along high, even if he has darn good reason to.  But he's just not up to it yet, and CAM just sits and toys with him.

 

Gorgeous, gorgeous scene.  

 

 

[Arcadia]

Can we just talk for a second about the utter gorgeousness of the acting, set design, and direction (I never quite know who to credit for which element of a scene) of the restaurant scene with Sherlock and CAM?  I think the way it was executed, especially BC's portrayal, lent a lot of information to a very short scene and went beyond the initial done-to-death visual joke of "patient escapes hospital wearing a gown with IV in tow" that we initially think it is.

That's kind of the way I feel about the whole episode ... most of the series, actually ... the elements that make it up are so fantastic that I really do forget the things that bug me while I'm watching. I'm very visually oriented anyway, and this show is a feast.

 

I like your observations but I drew a slightly different conclusion ... could it be that Sherlock was acting deliberately "submissive" in order to throw off CAM? I don't know ... in one way that scene drives me crazy, because it can so easily be read either way; either Sherlock's going down in flames, or he's in complete control the whole time and is just acting defeated to fool CAM into letting him into Appledore. Which seems more Holmesian, actually, but then you sort of have to think he was planning to murder CAM all along, at which point I go .... ewwwwwwww. No, please; just ... no.

 

Anyway, I agree, it's a gorgeous piece of filmwork on many levels, no matter what's actually taking place.

[Boton]

 

 

could it be that Sherlock was acting deliberately "submissive" in order to throw off CAM? I don't know ... in one way that scene drives me crazy, because it can so easily be read either way; either Sherlock's going down in flames, or he's in complete control the whole time and is just acting defeated to fool CAM into letting him into Appledore. Which seems more Holmesian, actually, but then you sort of have to think he was planning to murder CAM all along, at which point I go .... ewwwwwwww. No, please; just ... no.

 

What did cross my mind as an option is that he brought the morphine drip as a "prop" to continue to give CAM pressure points for his vault record that he, Sherlock, could control.  Perhaps knowing that he could literally turn his morphine use on and off as needed made that an attractive "weakness" to have. That would also explain a bit of the "theatricality" of clicking the morphine up by three clicks.  I'd be happy with that interpretation too.

 

But I will use my last breath to defend the position that he didn't know he was going to kill CAM until right before he did it. I think he went to Appledore intent on getting the vault records on Mary -- and maybe he missed a bit of logical analysis along the way, what with being shot and all, and didn't think of the ways that his plan could go wrong.  But for me, the line where he confirms with CAM that the vault is inside CAM's head tells me that he was going to wipe the vault no matter what, and when he found out it was located in CAM's head, then that was a sorry day for the integrity of CAM's head.

[jesskayding]

Can we just talk for a second about the utter gorgeousness of the acting, set design, and direction (I never quite know who to credit for which element of a scene) of the restaurant scene with Sherlock and CAM? I think the way it was executed, especially BC's portrayal, lent a lot of information to a very short scene and went beyond the initial done-to-death visual joke of "patient escapes hospital wearing a gown with IV in tow" that we initially think it is.

 

First of all, Sherlock is eating while he's on a case. To the best of my viewing abilities, this has never been done; in fact, it has been a relatively subtle thing that he'll stop so John can have a meal, but he isn't eating. Never eats while working. Now, I don't expect him to refrain from eating while he's recovering from liver surgery, which takes weeks, but he is actually meeting with CAM, and this time CAM is in the power position of not eating (except to exert his dominance by picking through Sherlock's leftovers). For Sherlock to eat not only while he is on a case but in front of an adversary is an immediate admission of weakness.

 

Not only is Sherlock eating, but the set design and acting of it are really well done. If you watch, he looks very much like he's having that meal you have when you are sick and just starting to feel better -- the "this tastes like crap but I've got to keep my strength up" meal. He seems to be working fairly hard at eating, and his meal is basically pasta and water, which should be a reasonably easy thing to eat. And I think the water is a good set design choice -- it isn't anything that adds any taste to a meal or to the experience. It isn't even a hot cup of tea on a blustery day. It's something to wash the food down with, period.

 

Last, the way he handles the morphine drip, elevating it from joke prop to storytelling device. When CAM applies the least bit of verbal pressure, Sherlock carefully ups the morphine by three clicks, one at a time. Contrast this with the scene in hospital with Janine, when he pretty aggressively (for a guy that was shot 3 days ago) cranks the morphine from 0 to 9 in one move, and then when he needs to think moves it from 9 to 2 in one move. With CAM, he's calibrating, doing the math on how much pain/anxiety relief he can use and still keep his wits about him.

 

Taken together, this has created an entire back story for me. This event must be several days or even a week or more after the 221B "Watson domestic." Once again, Sherlock has been unable to resist the temptation to work on a case, but this time he's taking control of it. He's not going to float along high, even if he has darn good reason to. But he's just not up to it yet, and CAM just sits and toys with him.

 

Gorgeous, gorgeous scene.

 

Boton I really like your perspective of the relationship between CAM & Sherlock. Especially the insight into Sherlock not being the dominant character in the restaurant, because he's eating. It usually is the other way around, when he's out with John. I agree gorgeous scene. So much of HLV is absolutely stunning. Both visually and performance wise.