The Geek Interpreters

[Arcadia]

Okay, I'm going to be brave here and try to start a new topic.

 

So.... I'm working my way through another viewing of all the episodes of Sherlock, and occasionally noticing little bits I don't understand -- either because I'm not British, or haven't read enough ACD, or not attentive enough, or whatever.

 

I know I could probably find the answers to most of these questions on Google but I thought it would be more fun to see if anyone on this forum would like to provide some answers.

 

Most of these are questions of fact, but when they're not, feel free to theorize! And to add your own questions!

[Arcadia]

So far I've gotten thru Study in Pink and the Blind Banker.

 

Questions from Study in Pink:

 

In the first scene: what is the logo on John's cup? It looked like a caduceus (?), which I suppose could be (mistakenly) intended as a sign for the medical profession, but is it anything else?

 

During the press briefing, why does Donovan whisper "Daily Mail" to Lestrade? I assume it's a newspaper, but why does she alert him?

 

The big wheel thing, I gather it's called the London Eye? Why? And I assume it's a Ferris Wheel? Is it as huge as it looks? Any cool facts we should know about it?

 

Why is Sherlock so demonstratively affectionate with Mrs. Hudson, and only Mrs. Hudson?

 

About how old are John and Sherlock supposed to be in this episode? (I noted in his "blog" John sez Sherlock "looks about 12", which is adorable but not very precise .... :-)

 

I've been watching with the captions on. Sometimes the punctuation -- specifically, the  ! and ? marks -- are in parentheses. (Like this(!) What does that mean? How is "like this!" different from "like this(!)" ?

[besleybean]

It's the emblem of the British army medical corps.

'Daily Mail' is in reference to the lady who asks about serial murders.  I think she's supposed to be a notorious reporter from that very notorious paper.

Sherlock is supposed to be about 30, John, 35 maybe?

Punctuation one has me puzzled...not sure if it's said in anger?  I don't know: anybody else?

[Arcadia]

And in the Blind Banker...

 

When they go to the bank, John seems amazed by which bank they've ended up at. What is the signifance of this particular bank?

 

What is the bullet shaped building with diamond pattern (seen out the window of the bank, and many other times in subsequent episodes). It's quite beautiful and very odd.

 

When John's applying for a job -- what is "locum work"?

 

I don't actually remember what scene this is, but my notes say "After John's been hired -- What's an ASBO?" Help?

 

In the scene with Sherlock and Molly at the cafeteria -- who or what is an Egon Ronay?

 

Who wants to be first in line to smack Sherlock for the way he manipulates Molly in that scene?

 

At episode's end, a person is spray painting a symbol on something across the street from 221B -- does that ever have any significance?

[Arcadia]

It's the emblem of the British army medical corps.

'Daily Mail' is in reference to the lady who asks about serial murders.  I think she's supposed to be a notorious reporter from that very notorious paper.

Sherlock is supposed to be about 30, John, 35 maybe?

Punctuation one has me puzzled...not sure if it's said in anger?  I don't know: anybody else?

Cool, answers already! Thanks!!

 

So, the Daily Mail is one of those sensationalized tabloid-type papers? OK, I think I get it.

[besleybean]

Yep and I think I know who the journalist is meant to be, but I don't want to be sued!

[Caya]

Great thread idea and title , Many of these can probably be answered best by our resident Brits.

 

I thought the cups were from the Criterion Bar, for canon reasons - they couldn't film there again as they'd done in the unaired pilot, so they used these cups instead.

 

Una Stubbs is an old friend of Benedict Cumberbatch's mum and practically his aunt, so he was naturally affectionate with her and they worked it in, afaik.

 

From the tombstone, one can see that Sherlock was born on January 6, but the year hasn't been confirmed yet, I think.

 

The photogenic building is locally known as The Gherkin.

 

Locum work is filling in for the regular doctor when he's not in (off day, on holiday or whatever).

 

An ASBO is a specifically British civil order, somewhat of a cross between a probation and a restraining order if I understood that correctly.

 

[Arcadia]

Great thread idea and title , Many of these can probably be answered best by our resident Brits.

 

I thought the cups were from the Criterion Bar, for canon reasons - they couldn't film there again as they'd done in the unaired pilot, so they used these cups instead.

 

Una Stubbs is an old friend of Benedict Cumberbatch's mum and practically his aunt, so he was naturally affectionate with her and they worked it in, afaik.

 

From the tombstone, one can see that Sherlock was born on January 6, but the year hasn't been confirmed yet, I think.

 

The photogenic building is locally known as The Gherkin.

 

Locum work is filling in for the regular doctor when he's not in (off day, on holiday or whatever).

 

An ASBO is a specifically British civil order, somewhat of a cross between a probation and a restraining order if I understood that correctly.

Oh, those cups ... yeah, but I meant the one at the very beginning, when John is still in that depressing little hotel room or whatever it is.

 

So there's no "in story" reason for S to treat Mrs. H so affectionately? At least, that we know of? It's sweet, but it's odd. But then, so is Sherlock.....

 

The perils of watching chronologically! I never thought to check the headstone.

 

The next 3 -- yay, Thanks! I remember now, the reference to ASBO is after John gets apprehended with the spray paint... (poor, put upon John... :-)

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

The London Eye, while being a giant Ferris Wheel is also an observation deck. Each car can carry up to 25 passengers with lots of room to move and walk around. Seating is also provided.

 

One explanation was to why it is called the London Eye is because it gives a bird's eye view of a good part of the City of London.

[Arcadia]

Thanks! It must be pretty huge. I'm afraid I'd be terrified by it (acrophobiaaaa....)

 

In case anyone else finds this stuff interesting, here's a few factoids condensed from the Wikipedia entries that Caya directed us to....

 

"The Gherkin" is a 41 floor skyscraper in London's main financial district. It's on the former site of the Baltic Exchange, which was extensively damaged in 1992 by a bomb placed by the IRA. The tower's dome, known as the "lens", recalls the glass dome that covered part of the Baltic Exchange. The building uses energy-saving methods ... it uses half the power that a similar tower would typically consume. Despite its shape, there is only one piece of curved glass on the building—the lens-shaped cap at the very top.

 

ASBO is for Anti-Social Behaviour Order. "The orders, introduced by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998, were designed to correct minor incidents that would not ordinarily warrant criminal prosecution." Such as, one assumes, getting caught with a can of spray paint whilst standing next to some fresh graffiti.

[sherlockandjohn]

 

 

In the scene with Sherlock and Molly at the cafeteria -- who or what is an Egon Ronay?

 

Who wants to be first in line to smack Sherlock for the way he manipulates Molly in that scene?

 

 

Me!! That's what I think every single time I watch that scene. Somehow, it's only with this scene, though. Don't know why. He's often horrible to her.

 

And thanks for starting this thread. I have wondered about several of these things myself.

[Janie]

 

From the tombstone, one can see that Sherlock was born on January 6, but the year hasn't been confirmed yet, I think.

 

 

I've never noticed any dates on Sherlock's tombstone, just his name. But I've read somewhere that in Study in Pink Sherlock was supposed to be 27 years old and I think John was a few years older (between 30 and 35). Not sure about it though.

[besleybean]

Sorry, I completely missed the BB ones!

The bank is because it's obviously a massive, international bank head office, not just  a little ,local branch office.

Egon Ronay was a top chef.

Dunno if he's still alive, but the awards named after him are give to top restaurants.

I think the spray painting at the end is supposed to indicate the story isn't over...maybe it ties in with the IOU in Reichenbach.

[Arcadia]

Now that I think of it, isn't there a scene somewhere in which John notices someone appears to be taking photos of him and/or Sherlock? Did that ever go anywhere either? I always assumed, w/o really thinking about it, it was related to the spray paint incident.

 

 

So, Sherlock knows who an "Egon Ronay" is but doesn't know basic facts about the solar system ... I luv it.

[Arcadia]

Okay, polished off the Great Game last night.

 

Questions:

 

What's a Lilo?

 

Sherlock says "she" sent the envelope containing the pink phone: "she" who?

 

What's an Oyster card?

 

"Not much cop this caring lark." I love the way this line sounds! -  but, er, literal translation please?

 

At the pool, Moriarity has John repeat what sounds like "gottle o' gear" several times. Does this phrase have a meaning, or is JM just being even crazier than usual?

[Janie]

I'm neither British nor native English speaker but Google gave me answers to some of your questions:

 

A lilo - according to Urban Dictionary/ it's some kind of an inflatable mattress

 

She - well, I always thought that it could be the lady from the museum since she is supposed to have Czech origin and the envelope has Bohemian stationery

 

An Oyster card - I believe it's a card used for public transport in London

[Janie]

"Not much cop this caring lark." - I'd like to know the explanation of this one, too. It always puzzles me. 

 

"gottle o' gear" - I think I read or heard somewhere that once some people were trying to say "bottle of bear" without moving their lips and that's what it sounded like. But I'm sure someone here with more knowledge will provide a more accurate explanation

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

According to "Using English.com. Translating idioms, "not much cop" means that one does not think very much of something. "Lark" could mean business. So in essence Sherlock could be saying:  He doesn't much care for this business of caring.

[besleybean]

Correct on all counts.

'Gottle of gear'  is a standard ventriloquist saying!

The lady taking the photos is with the Black Lotus, in fact, isn't it Shan herself?

Anyway Shan refers to this when she has kidnapped John and Sarah.

 

Well sorry, hang on no:

what Sherlock is actually saying to John is:  this caring thing isn't up to much....seeing as' caring John' is refusing to help Sherlock, cos he's sulking!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

That could also be the translation, yup.

[Arcadia]

 

In the scene with Sherlock and Molly at the cafeteria -- who or what is an Egon Ronay?

 

Who wants to be first in line to smack Sherlock for the way he manipulates Molly in that scene?

 

Me!! That's what I think every single time I watch that scene. Somehow, it's only with this scene, though. Don't know why. He's often horrible to her.

 

Maybe because all the other times he doesn't appear to be horrible on purpose? Until the Christmas party, when he finally seems to realize how he treats her. If I remember correctly he's been comparatively careful around her ever since.

[Arcadia]

She - well, I always thought that it could be the lady from the museum since she is supposed to have Czech origin and the envelope has Bohemian stationery

I thought that too, at first, but was that point ever made in the show? (Maybe it was, I miss a lot of clues.) And when I started wondering about it, I couldn't think of any reason why she WOULD ....

[Arcadia]

Correct on all counts.

'Gottle of gear'  is a standard ventriloquist saying!

Oh, so JM is playing like John is a ventriloquist's dummy. Grrrr, now I like that creep even less...

 

The lady taking the photos is with the Black Lotus, in fact, isn't it Shan herself?

Anyway Shan refers to this when she has kidnapped John and Sarah.

Thanks, I missed that. (Yes, I would make a lousy detective.)

 

Well sorry, hang on no:

what Sherlock is actually saying to John is:  this caring thing isn't up to much....seeing as' caring John' is refusing to help Sherlock, cos he's sulking!

Got it, thanks!

 

Thanks all!

[sherlockandjohn]

 

 

In the scene with Sherlock and Molly at the cafeteria -- who or what is an Egon Ronay?

 

Who wants to be first in line to smack Sherlock for the way he manipulates Molly in that scene?

 

Me!! That's what I think every single time I watch that scene. Somehow, it's only with this scene, though. Don't know why. He's often horrible to her.

 

Maybe because all the other times he doesn't appear to be horrible on purpose? Until the Christmas party, when he finally seems to realize how he treats her. If I remember correctly he's been comparatively careful around her ever since.

 

 

Yes, he's manipulative in the cafeteria. That's what it is. At other times he's dismissive or disdainful, but when he plays with her feelings to get his way... that's worse.

[besleybean]

Sorry to pull English rank(tee hee), but that IS the meaning of that particular expression!

Something being' not much cop', means it's not very good.

So Sherlock is saying this so-called 'caring model' is not proving to be very useful, in that John obviously doesn't care- if he won't help!

 

Ah, but it all comes good with Molly in the end...well, as much as it can do with Sherlock!