The Geek Interpreters

[Carol the Dabbler]

I know Mofftiss says that everything that happened on that call was fake. But maybe that's not how Cumberbatch was playing it. Mofftiss also said that they thought in canon Sherlock Holmes and Watson broke into Charles Augustus Milverton's house with the idea of killing the man and the tale of the woman was just a cover up....I'm not buying it. And by the way BC shows Sherlock's struggle when CAM shows him and John his "mind vault"  and Sherlock's struggle with the his dilemma on the terrace....I'm not buying it there either.

 

I've always been of the opinion that Gene Roddenberry didn't really understand Star Trek.  So yeah, I certainly don't buy into Moftiss's interpretation of each and every scene.  Just because they intended a scene a certain way doesn't mean it turned out that way.  When we look at the finished product, we see details that weren't in the script.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

1. Near the beginning: What or who are The Bow Street Runners? What's the deal with the dusty book? I have a feeling I'm missing a joke here.

You're absolutely right, you were missing a joke. The dusty book in that scene is apparently a police log from, as Fox said, the first London police force (1749-1839). Sherlock has just solved one of their cases, which is why John sarcastically refers to it as "pressing."

 

4. What is meant about "we don't want a repeat of 1972?"

If you ever find out, please let me know! There was apparently some sort of political scandal having to do with secret collaboration between members of a club (not the Diogenes Club, obviously!).

 

6. Don't quite get the point of the hidden camera in 221B, can't see how it plays into the story. Anyone?

Sherlock goes looking for hidden cameras because he knows that he's being watched by a number of apparent assassins -- so I've always assumed they were Moriarty's doing. They were presumably planted by Mrs. Hudson's friendly tattooed workman, so I guess it depends on whose side he's on. I don't think we ever learn what specific use has been made of them.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oooohhhh...I missed that "dusty book" thing completely. I really need some time off and rewatch some "Sherlock".

[Caya]

 

4. What is meant about "we don't want a repeat of 1972?"

If you ever find out, please let me know! There was apparently some sort of political scandal having to do with secret collaboration between members of a club (not the Diogenes Club, obviously!).

 

The only scandal I could find that roughly fits the description and timeframe is the Poulson affair.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Definitely a huge scandal of the era, but I wouldn't think that sort of thing (an architect furthering his career by bribing public officials) would bother Mycroft particularly.  Maybe his "1972" was hushed up before it ever hit the press.

 

Added:  Arcadia, I keep meaning to say what a great title you picked for this thread!

 

[CumberCookieCrumble]

To me Holmes doesn't look like someone who would willingly celebrate his birthday.

 

John made him do it lol.  

[Arcadia]

Hi all, haven't been able to visit much, my mother broke her hip on Thursday and we've been in the hospital ever since. Will still be dipping in at odd moments but you won't be seeing me as much for awhile. (Maybe that's a good thing! :-)

At any rate, here's a summary of the solutions to my "mini mysteries" from Season 2. Enjoy.

(Original questions on pages 3 and 4, above.)

Scandal:
1. Belgravia (where Irene abides).

Belgravia is a posh London district.

I presume "posh" is meant more in the British sense of the word ("upper-class, opulent") than in the American sense ("stylish, elegant").

To see how "posh" it is, here's Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgravia

Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world. ... The district lies mostly to the south-west of Buckingham Palace, and is approximately bounded by Knightsbridge (Street), Grosvenor Place and Buckingham Palace Road....

Even I have heard of those places!

2. Yes, the "excellent sportsman" killed himself with his own boomerang... (WTF!?!)

3. M.O.D. is the British Ministry of Defence, equivalent to the US Dept of Defense, except we Americans had to show our independence by changing the spelling.


Hounds:
1. "Oh, chance would be a fine thing," translates to, at least in this case, something along the lines of "Sherlock, I wish you'd clean up your mess but I know you won't." Apparently Sherlock interpreted it to mean that Mrs Hudson wanted to clean up the mess ("I thought you weren't my housekeeper.")

2. Yep. Landrover. Last time I saw one was 1968, still recognizable after all these years!

3. WKD?

WKD is a popular alcho-pop in the UK and possibly thought to be a bit 'gay' for a man!

I will now go and busily google "alcho-pop".

4.  "oh Mr. Seldon, you've done it again!"

,,, a canon reference. In The Hound of the Baskervilles, there's an escaped prisoner out on the moor, by the name of Seldon, flashing coded signals with a lantern.

Bonus points to besleybean for appending this gem:

Yes, as Steven commented: the best upgrade of Canon so far. Turning a lantern signal into dogging!
Do any non-Brits want a translation of 'dogging'?!(Tee Hee. )

I leave you all to, ahem, investigate "dogging" for yourselves.

5. Guns are readily available in the world of Sherlock because it's more exciting that way. This seems a poor choice to me as phasers would be more exciting still, and presumably just as realistic.


The Fall:
1. So here's the joke I missed: John rather sarcastically advises Sherlock to find a case that won't land him in the news. Next we see Sherlock obediently investigating a case that went unsolved ... by the Bow Street Runners, a Victorian age police force. Thus the dusty (Victorian era) book. Oh Sherlock, you're so cute sometimes.

3. The reason the song "Sinnerman" rang my bell is because it was also used in "The Thomas Crown Affair" (the wonderful Pierce Brosnan version). Whether the use of this song is an allusion to that movie or not is a case we will have to put Sherlock on right away.

4. Adventures in the Diogenes Club:

- Explanation of occurences when John arrives:

The first rule of the Diogenes Club is silence. The second rule of thumb is, silence. The third last but not least rule is, silence. Long standing members of this club could be kicked out, disowned, barred for life just for greeting another member. Those were enforcers of the rules...not goons....

 
- 1972 does not appear to refer to a specific event. It may, however, have been intended to send the fandom on wild goose chases.
- The most puzzling puzzle remains a puzzle.

5. Get in line to punch Donovan.

6. The hidden camera was put there by Moriarty, unless it was put there by Mycroft. The purpose of it eludes everyone.

7. Yay Molly!

8. Keep guessing.

9. Insert theory of choice.

10. Consensus; real. Perhaps caused by the wind; NOT.
 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's hip, Arcadia.  I've just spent a few weeks Mom-sitting (she cut a big gash in her hand and needed help with two-handed tasks), and I'm extremely grateful that it wasn't anything worse.  My best wishes to both you and your mother.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Thoughts and prayers going out to you and your Mom, Arcadia, and to your whole family.

[Caya]

Oh dear, a broken hip sounds really bad - let me add my best wishes for a good and speedy recovery for your mom .

 

And the stuff's called alco-pop (hyphen optional), btw - and beware, urbandictionary is an, er, pretty open dictionary, so while that link isn't NSFW, the site might rapidly become such depending on your search terms .

[T.o.b.y]

Urban dictionary is invaluable...

 

Arcadia, I wish your mother a speedy recovery and both of you lots of strength to deal with her being in hospital. Those places are battlefields, I know... I loved it when John Watson mentioned "Bart's bloody hospital" as one of the places he was a veteran of. Fingers crossed!

 

Thanks for creating this thread by the way! Most of these questions I have pondered myself but was always too lazy to find answers to myself (I kept getting sidetracked by Sherlock's eyes and other details).

[Arcadia]

Thanks all! The good news is, they were able to do a partial hip replacement right away, she's in one of the better rehab hospitals, and is getting stronger every day. Spending a lot of time driving to and fro, tho.

... and beware, urbandictionary is an, er, pretty open dictionary, so while that link isn't NSFW, the site might rapidly become such depending on your search terms .

Er, yeah, I stumbled into that site awhile back. Hokey smoke, Bullwinkle, I didn't even know some of that stuff was possible...

.......(I kept getting sidetracked by Sherlock's eyes and other details).

Oh no, don't get me started on The Eyes.....!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hooray for your mom -- and continued best wishes! 
 
 

Hokey smoke, Bullwinkle ....

Now there's something you don't hear every day, Edgar.

 

[Arcadia]

Finally got some time to myself, and spent it watching TEH. Laughed my head off, I just LUV this episode in spite of all the seeming problems with it.
 
In keeping with the tone of this episode, many of the questions are pretty tongue in cheek. I leave you to decide which ones.
 
Questions about The Empty Hearse:
 
1. Is it just me, or is Molly the recipient of the most romantic kiss in TV history?
 
2. Sherlock's home, he's safe, he's cleaned up, he's getting a shave. Why does the room he's in look like an interrogaton cell?
 
3. In said cell, When Sherlock sits up, it's the first time we get a really good look at him in two years. Holy crap!!! Is that Sherlock, or Khan? Even his voice is different. Intentional?
 
4. Is anyone else driven to distraction by the close-ups of the back of BC's head? Oh, that curl....
 
5. At the restaurant: Did Sherlock acquire ESP while he was away? How the heck did he deduce the maitre d's wife was going into labor?
 
6. Was anyone else hoping Mrs H. would brain Sherlock with the frying pan? Just, y'know, cuz he's sooo thick sometimes.
 
7. Sherlock's monologue: "London, it's like a great cesspool into which all kinds of criminals, agents and drifters are irresistibly drained." Is this is a spoof of BC's London Olympics intro? (which in turn seemed to reference Sherlock at the end ....) Or is his "beating heart" remark the only spoofy bit?
 
8. Speculate. Why does Mycroft get uneasy ("Change the subject, now!") when Sherlock says "I thought perhaps you might have found yourself a ... goldfish." This is not the only reference in S3 to Mycroft possibly having a companion...
 
9. Mary says she's "late for Cath." What or who is Cath?
 
10. Who's Larry Grayson? Other than someone who wears his glasses on a chain.
 
11. True or false: Is there always an off switch on a terrorist's bomb?
 
12. After meeting Tom, when Sherlock puts on his scarf, he looks down at what he's doing and makes a sort of "oh for god's sake" gesture. What in heaven's name is he reacting to?

[Carol the Dabbler]

My responses to selected questions:

 

2. Sherlock's home, he's safe, he's cleaned up, he's getting a shave. Why does the room he's in look like an interrogaton cell?

 

I've heard speculation (or perhaps it was insider info) that this is Mycroft's "war room" -- his bunker, if you will, where he could presumably ride out any terrorist attack.

 
3. In said cell, When Sherlock sits up, it's the first time we get a really good look at him in two years. Holy crap!!! Is that Sherlock, or Khan? Even his voice is different. Intentional?

 

Dunno.  But yeah.  Scary!
 
5. At the restaurant: Did Sherlock acquire ESP while he was away? How the heck did he deduce the maitre d's wife was going into labor?

 

He didn't.  He deduced that the man was an expectant father, and noticed that he'd received text alert.  I'm pretty sure he said "maybe" she was going into labor.  OK, so how did he deduce the expectant father bit?  Same way he deduced "half Welsh," I assume. 
 
7. Sherlock's monologue: "London, it's like a great cesspool into which all kinds of criminals, agents and drifters are irresistibly drained." Is this is a spoof of BC's London Olympics intro? (which in turn seemed to reference Sherlock at the end ....) Or is his "beating heart" remark the only spoofy bit?

 

That bit struck me as a parody as well -- but as a parody of the 30's film noir voice-over style.
 
8. Speculate. Why does Mycroft get uneasy ("Change the subject, now!") when Sherlock says "I thought perhaps you might have found yourself a ... goldfish." This is not the only reference in S3 to Mycroft possibly having a companion...

 

What are the other references?  I assume that the mere thought of having an ordinary person as a companion makes him queasy.
 
9. Mary says she's "late for Cath." What or who is Cath?

 

I know that's what the subtitles and Ariane DeVere's transcript both say, but it sounds to me more like she's saying "All right, be careful," which also makes more sense to me.  (Would love to see the script!)
 
10. Who's Larry Grayson? Other than someone who wears his glasses on a chain.

 

I was assuming he was supposed to be a friend of the Holmes family (and possibly an in-joke), but I just Googled, and Larry Grayson was an English comedian who did indeed sometimes wear his glasses on a chain around his neck.
 
12. After meeting Tom, when Sherlock puts on his scarf, he looks down at what he's doing and makes a sort of "oh for god's sake" gesture. What in heaven's name is he reacting to?

 

I hadn't noticed that gesture.  But considering the context, I would guess that he's just noticed that he and Tom even put on their scarves the same way.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

3. In said cell, When Sherlock sits up, it's the first time we get a really good look at him in two years. Holy crap!!! Is that Sherlock, or Khan? Even his voice is different. Intentional?

 

  I doubt it was intentional but his hair was a matted mess so it would have had to been cut really short sans curls and dark like it was in ST:ID  so we will have that image in our minds plus his voice would be hoarse as he apparently hasn't fully healed from the interrogation as yet. He is not comfortable, and he is angry with Mycroft for not stepping in sooner to stop the beating and he does seem to believe that Mycroft might have actually enjoyed watching. (Good lord, I hope not. Mycroft can be creepy enough without that). So his vocal register would be lower and angry....more akin to the angry Augment....or what ever they were called....then to the more familiar Sherlock voice that we know and love.

 

 

7. Sherlock's monologue: "London, it's like a great cesspool into which all kinds of criminals, agents and drifters are irresistibly drained." Is this is a spoof of BC's London Olympics intro?

 

  Is taken from Dr. John H. Watson's musings in "A Study In Scarlet" Chapter 1, Mr Sherlock Holmes. Fourth Paragraph.

 

  

I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air -- or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances, I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained.

 

[Arcadia]

 

7. Sherlock's monologue: "London, it's like a great cesspool.........

 

  Is taken from Dr. John H. Watson's musings in "A Study In Scarlet" Chapter 1, Mr Sherlock Holmes. Fourth Paragraph.

 

Rats! I thought I'd found a funny.

[Arcadia]

My responses to selected questions:

 

My response to selected answers: 

 

5. He deduced that the man was an expectant father, and noticed that he'd received text alert.  I'm pretty sure he said "maybe" she was going into labor.  OK, so how did he deduce the expectant father bit?  Same way he deduced "half Welsh," I assume. 

 

Like I said ... ESP!

 

8. What are the other references?  I assume that the mere thought of having an ordinary person as a companion makes him queasy.

 

That's a good answer, I'll buy that. The other references are: during the hat deduction (altho the reference here is to his perhaps needing a companion) and during TSo3, when Sherlock speculates he's either exercising or, uh, with someone. I know, weak, but this show sort of sets you up to suspect every detail of having subtext....

Oh, and Mycroft wears a ring, or so I've heard, never noticed myself.

 

9. Mary says she's "late for Cath." What or who is Cath?

A. I know that's what the subtitles and Ariane DeVere's transcript both say, but it sounds to me more like she's saying "All right, be careful," which also makes more sense to me.  (Would love to see the script!)

  

Okay, venturing an answer to my own question ... assuming it is "Cath", I'm thinking it means she's going to Catholic confirmation classes. Either that or she's going to get a catheter, which I hope not.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Ariane DeVere's answer is that she's supposed to meet up with a friend named Catherine -- nicknamed "Cath."

 

[Arcadia]

Or it's a deliberately vague cover story, and she's heading out to off someone....

[Carol the Dabbler]

... which is her favorite method of catharsis?

 

Nope.  I didn't say that.  You didn't hear it.

 

[Arcadia]

I’m not saying a word....

[Arcadia]

Finally found time to watch TSo3. I really luv this episode, sad ending and all.

 

Questions:

 

1. When talking about seating at the reception, Sherlock says John's cousin hates Mary. Mary then says "let's her stick her by the bogs." What be "the bogs"? (Or is it "The Boggs"?)

 

2. I've always been puzzled by the scene where our two boys are sitting on a bench waiting to see Pvt. Bainbridge. There's something odd about the way that scene is staged. Sherlock's stiff, he looks twice the size of John and just generally looks awkward. What (if anything) are these poses meant to convey?

 

3. Near the end, John walks in and says "glad to see you've pulled, Sherlock, what with murderers running riot at my wedding." Huh?? Pulled means what, in this context?

[besleybean]

'Bogs' is  slang for toilets.

'Pulled' means 'pick up a girl'.

[Arcadia]

Thanks! But I'm afraid that leaves me just as confused ... what does picking up a girl have to do with murderers at a wedding?