Episode 1.2, "The Blind Banker"

[J.P.]

Sorry for being chaotic. Somehow my brain won't work properly.

 

Van Buren, you nailed it. All that little pieces that sum up into the feeling that something is mighty wrong!

 
All over I think the episode is poorly scripted. There are just too much loose ends and wrongs and illogical bits. All the baddies here are very cartoonish (a question here: how cartoonish was the canon actually?) There is nothing brilliant in there. Nothing that would make my brain go "gimme more". There is even a chance, that if they didn't aired the whole S1 on one evening, I wouldn't bother to watch the next episode, because TBB was the first episode I've seen in whole (at the first viewing I have missed a big part of the beginning at least).

 

A banker cannot loose 5 millions by false trade decision and make it up with smuggling antiques. Did he made a bank transfer from his account or paid cash?

 

The book searching, Sarah on the chair, Sherlock being strangled twice with a piece of cloth. Not good.

 

The whole case should have been solved in 10 minutes. Look how TGG is packed with cases, this one lasts for 1,5 hour.

 

I hated the Chinese Spider - the guy looked like someone from a dark SM cellar and not a circus artist.

 

Yes, the explaining of the catapult. As if the visitors and the audience were too dumb to make this out by themselves. And - Sherlock is explaining things all the time and to everybody, that's actually out of character. Normally he assumes people follow his deductive short cuts.

 

Yes, the tatoo at the heel. I imagine you still can make it when you remove the calloused skin, but it wouldn't look like a stamp. Tattooing an arch would be much easier, at least for the tattoo maker. (BTW, the re-enty stamp at Sherlocked was the lotus. Maybe even the original stamp used to mark the feet ;) )

 

But I still don't understand how Sherlock deduces what what the hell Dragon Den tramway means, and what it has to do with the tunnel.

 

Soo Lin's flat just next to Lucky Cat: is there a connection or it's just another cheap trick?

 

Soo Lin's backstory was damn long, cheesy and superfluous. She didn't lock the door as John said. I mean, she might just gave up to her fate (maybe knowing how good of an assassin her brother was) but still - not even trying to save her life (and making some deciphering instead) is a bit not good.

 

Other thoughts:

 

The relationship between Sherlock and John is still kind of... reserved. They still try to find a way around in the new situation. Or maybe not. Sherlock acts as if John wasn't there, lets him behind closed doors etc. But I think twice in the same episode is a bit lazy scripting.

 

John is showing his temper. :D Sometimes with a good reason.

The one thing near to brilliant in this episode is how Sherlock and John talk about their priorities (case <-> date), talking at cross purposes.

 

I also liked how Sherlock talks to himself before he bumps into John ("If we retrace their steps, somewhere they will coincide.")

It was John who turned the cup up side down at Lucky Cat and discovered the sticker

Dimmock - I think bringing him in was a way to show how the collaboration between Sherlock and Lestrade could have started.

 

Oh, yes, Ben twiddles the paint can. He is circling John at the train tracks, because he cannot twiddle him. :P

 

I like how the signs from the bank circle around Sherlock's head.

 

They break into the museum

 

Would you said that the sound of the city, directly after John leaves the bank with the check, is buzzing bees?

 

 

Van Buren:
- Why they hated Sherlock in college? I would be fascinated if I knew someone like that, someone with intelligence to back up their mouths. 
Brainy is not a new sexy, it's always sexy.

 

No more sexy, when this intelligence were shining at your expense.

[T.o.b.y]

a question here: how cartoonish was the canon actually?

 

In my opinion: very cartoonish. The old stories are full of melodrama, improbable situations and bad stereotypes of all kinds. I apologize to all Doyle enthusiasts... But The Blind Banker does really feel the most true to the spirit of the original to me.

 

I haven't rewatched it yet (was originally going to today but real life got in the way), but I don't think my opinion will change much: I find this episode kind of lovable.

[J.P.]

 

In my opinion: very cartoonish. The old stories are full of melodrama, improbable situations and bad stereotypes of all kinds. I apologize to all Doyle enthusiasts... But The Blind Banker does really feel the most true to the spirit of the original to me.

 

This is what crossed my mind. That it might be too close to the canon :P

[Carol the Dabbler]

John sees the graffiti artist spray-painting outside the window but doesn't draw Sherlock's attention to it. The graffiti is of an eye, presumably Moriarty saying, "I'm watching you"?. Is it ever mentioned again? It seems like foreshadowing but I don't recall it being significant in any way in subsequent episodes.

 

That puzzles me a bit as well.  It seems like it's supposed to be Meaningful.  But then -- nothing.

 

All over I think the episode is poorly scripted. There are just too much loose ends and wrongs and illogical bits. All the baddies here are very cartoonish (a question here: how cartoonish was the canon actually?) There is nothing brilliant in there.

 

... all of which may explain why they tucked this episode in the middle, where it's not most people's introduction to the show, and not the memory they're left with at the end of the series, either. I'm still toying with my idea that Moftiss had insufficiently conveyed their desired overall tone to Thompson, so that his first episode (later redeemed by "Reichenbach") turned out as a very light "take" on Sherlock Holmes, almost a parody of Conan Doyle.

 

A banker cannot loose 5 millions by false trade decision and make it up with smuggling antiques. Did he made a bank transfer from his account or paid cash?

 

I don't believe that's what Van Coon was supposed to have done. Sebastian just said that he "Lost five mill in a single morning; made it all back a week later," which I take to mean that he made some really good trades over that next week, so that he averaged out on the plus side at the bank.

 

The smuggling was just his personal sideline, his moonlighting job.

 

Sherlock is explaining things all the time and to everybody, that's actually out of character. Normally he assumes people follow his deductive short cuts.

 

Good point!

 

Tattooing an arch would be much easier, at least for the tattoo maker.

 

I agree -- and it would be just as good a place to hide the tattoo. And probably a lot less painful process for the tattoo-ee.

 

But I still don't understand how Sherlock deduces what what the hell Dragon Den tramway means, and what it has to do with the tunnel.

 

I think the Black Tramway is [supposed to be?] a real place, and "Dragon Den" is simply their name for it. So Sherlock just looks up "Black Tramway" on a map.

 

Sherlock acts as if John wasn't there, lets him behind closed doors etc. But I think twice in the same episode is a bit lazy scripting.

 

I think that was on purpose, partly to show how inconsiderate Sherlock is, and partly (in the case of Soo Lin's apartment) as part of the whole "Shan mistakes John for Sherlock" thing. Now I'm trying to recall what was supposed to be the first time Sherlock kept John locked out -- Van Coon's apartment?

 

It was John who turned the cup up side down at Lucky Cat and discovered the sticker

 

Also it was John who found the Lucky Cat store. In that sense, this episode reminds me a bit of the pilot -- John makes some valuable contributions, which I like. They seem to have taken that away from him later on.

 

I do think Elementary went too far, making Joan Sherlock's equal partner in deduction, but nevertheless, Watson is (in all adaptations) a doctor, and therefore intelligent. I like it when "our" John is allowed to make some useful contributions, especially medical ones. He's not supposed to be like Sherlock, but he's not stupid, you know!

 

a question here: how cartoonish was the canon actually?

 

In my opinion: very cartoonish. The old stories are full of melodrama, improbable situations and bad stereotypes of all kinds. I apologize to all Doyle enthusiasts... But The Blind Banker does really feel the most true to the spirit of the original to me.

 

Maybe the original stories seem cliched and cartoonish to us simply because their ideas have been used to death in the interim?

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Yes the 1st was Van Coons apartment.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Can I say I was distracted during the re-watch?  I wasn't even paying attention to the jeans thing we discussed earlier.  And I didn't realize they were looking for the graffiti characters until Sherlock was spinning John.  But I did notice Sherlock stop struggling after a bit in the Soo Lin flat scene that I hadn't noticed before.  I do like John's rant outside Soo Lin's flat.

[Inge l-w]

One thing I forgot to mention in my re-watch review, when Sherlock goes with Dr Watson and Raz to the underground, his quote about hiding a tree in a forest is lifted directly from G.K. Chesterton' Father Brown stories.

[J.P.]

The eye graffitti - maybe the ambiguity was on purpose. Like: after an adventure like that - you will see signs everywhere and question every piece. I think the scene should be a question without answer.

 

Forshadowing - the red point on Shan's forehead. We will see plenty of that in the next episode.

 

Re: the money

 

I don't believe that's what Van Coon was supposed to have done. Sebastian just said that he "Lost five mill in a single morning; made it all back a week later," which I take to mean that he made some really good trades over that next week, so that he averaged out on the plus side at the bank.

 

Maybe I musunderstood, but Sherlock seems to say something like that while they are observing the Lucky Cat. (have we counted this scene into our list of food/eating in the series?)

 

BTW, wasn't TBB the very first episode they filmed?

[Boton]

A couple of things you all have brought up, and I'm a bit too lazy to find the quotes to respond to.....

 

First, regarding Sherlock consulting Raz about the spray paint, I did know they were outside the museum and it was supposed to be a joke that Sherlock sounded like he needed a fine art expert.  But it did actually turn out he needed an art expert, just more of a "contemporary" one.  I still think that's kind of a nice version of the way canon Holmes looks up things in his indices periodically.

 

Second, I took the comment about "lost five mil in a single morning; made it all back a week later" to indicate that somehow Van Coon falsified a trade and funneled in some of his smuggling money to cover a bad trade he'd made on the market.  I don't know quite why, because I can't think of any dialog that supports my opinion, but I always assumed that's what drove him to some panicked smuggling is knowing that he was carrying significant losses in his portfolio he managed, and that could have serious implications for whether he kept his job.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

BTW, wasn't TBB the very first episode they filmed?

They filmed TGG first then TBB then ASIP.

[sfmpco]

 

BTW, wasn't TBB the very first episode they filmed?

They filmed TGG first then TBB then ASIP.

 

 

Although you'd never know it because he already seems so comfortable in the character's skin in TGG. Favorite line:  "I am on fire!!"

[Arcadia]

Finally finished my rewatch. Responding w/o reading what anyone else has said first....

 

Okay, so it's not really such a terrible episode; but it will never be my favorite! The only parts I really don't care for are any scenes which don't involve John and/or Sherlock, and there aren't as many of those as I remembered, so hey. I'm sure there's holes in the plot but I'm having so much fun watching the boys that I never really pay attention to the plot anyway.

 

I like Sarah, but she seems a little too much like a Dr. Who companion. Even before she turned out to be a psycho-assassin, I thought the way Mary interacted with both John and Sherlock was more original than Sarah's portrayal.

 

Things I love about this episode:

- the views of London.

- the way the boys work together. It's fun just to observe the way they physically and intellectually weave around each other.

- John gets one up on Sherlock a couple of times; and Sherlock's piqued reaction when it happens.

- the way Sherlock moves. It's a joy to simply watch him walk down the street, coat swirling. I love the bits like: where he bursts through Van Coon's bedroom door; leaping up to the fire escape; sneaking up on the screen where he thinks the assassin is hidden. The way he steps back, straightens and folds his arms behind him when Raz comes running up. So cool.

- Sherlock pretending to be fine after being nearly strangled to death. Silly boy with his silly male pride ....

- manipulating Molly. I still want to strangle the s.o.b. for treating her that way, but it's a great little character bit between them.

- the hair ruffle.

- the way Sherlock interacts with Sebastion is really interesting -- he's at his most human, there. Not just the little wistful look when Seb makes fun of him, but Sherlock treats Seb as an equal, as if he has a certain amount of respect for him. How often do we see that? (I always imagine that Seb must have been an upperclassman when they were in uni together.)

 

I'm sure there's more but that's what sticks in my mind at the moment.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Hair ruffle? Where's that in the episode?

[Boton]

Hair ruffle? Where's that in the episode?

 

Can we get an edit of every hair ruffle ever done in Sherlock?

[Carol the Dabbler]

The eye graffitti - maybe the ambiguity was on purpose. Like: after an adventure like that - you will see signs everywhere and question every piece. I think the scene should be a question without answer.

OK! I kinda like that. (And so far it does seems to be the case.)

 

I don't believe that's what Van Coon was supposed to have done. Sebastian just said that he "Lost five mill in a single morning; made it all back a week later," which I take to mean that he made some really good trades over that next week, so that he averaged out on the plus side at the bank.

 

Maybe I musunderstood, but Sherlock seems to say something like that while they are observing the Lucky Cat. (have we counted this scene into our list of food/eating in the series?)

 

... I took the comment about "lost five mil in a single morning; made it all back a week later" to indicate that somehow Van Coon falsified a trade and funneled in some of his smuggling money to cover a bad trade he'd made on the market.  I don't know quite why, because I can't think of any dialog that supports my opinion, but I always assumed that's what drove him to some panicked smuggling is knowing that he was carrying significant losses in his portfolio he managed, and that could have serious implications for whether he kept his job.

Well, now that you both put it that way -- hmmm, must say it's quite plausible. And it wouldn't be the only time they've glossed over a crucial plot point -- in "Hounds" Sherlock never pointed out that when they first saw Bob Frankland, he was coming out of the leaky-pipes room wearing a gas mask.

 

J.P., if you can find the dialog you're referring to in Ariane DeVere's transcript, could you quote it here?

 

[Arcadia]

Hair ruffle? Where's that in the episode?

Sherlock's been looking through the pile of books while John's been at work, and he gives up and ruffles his hair in exasperation. This is just before John comes in and announces he has a date that night. Which is another good, funny bit ("That's what I was suggesting!")

[Arcadia]

Anyway, I think I officially like this episode now! I went through a period of skipping it whenever I rewatched, but now I think it really shows the Sherlock and John relationship developing and how much neither of them really know about the other.............

 

......I think there's too much exposition in the dialog.....

 

....I do like Sherlock wearing jeans and wish he'd do it more often.....

I agree; they don't know each other, and we don't know them yet either, and it's a nice, unforced exploration of this budding relationship between both them and the audience. Agree about the exposition; it's all part and parcel of portraying the Chinese as sinister and mysterious, I think; cartoonish, as JP mentioned. You almost expect Fu Manchu to appear and start explaining his diabolical plot in pidgin English.

 

I honestly still can't tell whether they're jeans or not; they're shiny and don't hang like I expect jeans to, but occasionally the texture looks like denim and rivets do in fact seem to be there. However, I figure if I can't tell, it doesn't really matter! :P I like the idea of a jeans clad Sherlock though, although for the life of me I can't quite figure out why I care.

 

 

........ general Shan still makes me cringe everytime.

One reason I'm late® responding is because I simply could not stay awake during Shan's monologues. I would rewind and start watching again, and simply nod off again. I have the same problem with Soo Lin, although I managed to get through her scenes this time. But I had to give up on Shan.

 

- Why Sherlock took Sebastian case? They didn't like each other, and there was nothing intriguing about Sebastian's case. Yes, he liked locked room mystery, but he didn't know yet, there was no indication in the email that Sebastian sent.

My thinking is, it's because they went to some old, prestigious university together, and they're sort of honoring old school ties. They don't like each other, but they sort of respect each other, because they were among the creme de la creme that were accepted into the same school. And/or because they are of the same social class. Something like that?

 

Oh, yes, Ben twiddles the paint can. He is circling John at the train tracks, because he cannot twiddle him. :P

 

That's one of my favorite bits. Then John just demolishes Sherlock by revealing he thought to take a photograph.

 

Would you said that the sound of the city, directly after John leaves the bank with the check, is buzzing bees?

Yeah, what the heck was that all about? Weird!

 

 

John sees the graffiti artist spray-painting outside the window but doesn't draw Sherlock's attention to it. The graffiti is of an eye, presumably Moriarty saying, "I'm watching you"?. Is it ever mentioned again? It seems like foreshadowing but I don't recall it being significant in any way in subsequent episodes.

That puzzles me a bit as well. It seems like it's supposed to be Meaningful. But then -- nothing.

 

Glad I'm not the only one!

 

.....Second, I took the comment about "lost five mil in a single morning; made it all back a week later" to indicate that somehow Van Coon falsified a trade and funneled in some of his smuggling money to cover a bad trade he'd made on the market. I don't know quite why, because I can't think of any dialog that supports my opinion, but I always assumed that's what drove him to some panicked smuggling is knowing that he was carrying significant losses in his portfolio he managed, and that could have serious implications for whether he kept his job.

Same here.

 

 

The eye graffitti - maybe the ambiguity was on purpose. Like: after an adventure like that - you will see signs everywhere and question every piece. I think the scene should be a question without answer.

OK! I kinda like that. (And so far it does seems to be the case.)

 

 

Yeah, I like that too. That works!

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

Hair ruffle? Where's that in the episode?

Sherlock's been looking through the pile of books while John's been at work, and he gives up and ruffles his hair in exasperation. This is just before John comes in and announces he has a date that night. Which is another good, funny bit ("That's what I was suggesting!")

 

 

Ah, can we say I was distracted last night while watching the episode? Must re-watch when I can.

 

(Now goes into corner and vents about computer slowly dying of old age so has no time to watch that part of the episode...see rant thread)

[Arcadia]

Ah, sympathies, I'm anything but calm when a computer dies. This one better not die, it's all I've got left now that the DVD player has gone belly up!

[Inge l-w]

Sorry, but doesn't BC twiddle everything he gets his hands on, spray paint cans, ashtrays, guns, the ZIL in SiB, his violin bow and definitely The Woman's camera phone at the end? It's a habit he has, like his invariable tendency to sit with suit jacket unbuttoned and button it up the moment he stands up.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Anyway, my thoughts on the above two questions:

1. Just like with the pill and the cabbie, Sherlock can't resist seeing what's so baffling that Seb would call him. He knows perfectly well that Seb hates him, but apparently Sherlock is the only one Seb can think of who can solve a problem. I can think of one or two jerks from high school that I'd go see for free, just to see what sort of mess they'd gotten themselves into.

2. Because Seb is one of the popular guys. I always picture him as what we in the U.S. might think of as a stereotypical "frat boy" - drinks a lot, chases the girls, and doesn't give a lot of thought to his studies. And here's Sherlock, probably being the exact opposite, and he was an easy target for teasing.

My thinking is, it's because they went to some old, prestigious university together, and they're sort of honoring old school ties. They don't like each other, but they sort of respect each other, because they were among the creme de la creme that were accepted into the same school. And/or because they are of the same social class. Something like that?

I can buy all those, good answers!

Although I kind of hoping that John would spray Sebastian's face with yellow paint for Sherlock when he asked him to make an appointment with her secretary.

 

 

I suspect you're right about what it is, but why do you say the color is incorrect? Please correct me, but I thought you could get tattoos in just about any color you want. (And of course the Black Lotus would want to use black ink).

From what I observe ( :lol: this is the part when you have to stop believing whatever I say) black tattoo almost always appear greyish or bluish overtime. It can be caused by the ink (not true black or triple black or anything like that) or age of the tattoo. Discoloration always happens, it's possible to touch-up but skin is not an everlasting canvas, it gets damaged and not going to hold anymore ink eventually. Too many recolor combined with aging host could eventually turn the tattoo into giant blob. Some people I know who have tattoos say the same thing. Sun is also an enemy to tattoo although having it on the heel might solve sun problem.

What we saw is very distinctive black color tattoo with sharp edges. It looks pretty much like those holiday tattoo or paint-on that lasts for about two weeks. Nitpicking, yes.

 

 

It's ironic that Sherlock makes the point about the impossibility of a left-handed man shooting himself in the right temple -- when his own friend colleague is left-handed but shoots right-handed. Of course, Sherlock had probably not seen John fire his gun yet at that point. But still, it's apparently typical to train everyone to hold a pistol in their right hand, a useful fact that Sherlock should be aware of if he's going to make deductions like that.

Actually I think Sherlock has a very good point. John is trained, while Van Coon might not have strong military background even though he possesses gun.

From what I know (again, run! ), it's more of a case of cross-dominant shooter.

As John is left-handed, but the dominant eye is on the right side. (which is probably the rarest case).

Myself is right-handed but has dominant left eye, left eye shooter. I found out from photography where I need to use left eye for the viewfinder. The rest of the world are normal mode. :P

There is a simple test if you want to find out which one you are.

 

 

Actually, it seemed unrealistically fast to me. Soo Lin said it took many brewings to create the patina. And she'd apparently been working on all those pots for a while already. So how could that one pot, just overnight, suddenly be so much shinier than the others?

Oh I see, I guess you are right.

So she was either slacking off or working too hard.

[Van Buren Supernova]

The other note I had was that I thought the ending was interesting: John sees the graffiti artist spray-painting outside the window but doesn't draw Sherlock's attention to it. The graffiti is of an eye, presumably Moriarty saying, "I'm watching you"?. Is it ever mentioned again? It seems like foreshadowing but I don't recall it being significant in any way in subsequent episodes.

It looks like some Egyptian symbol to me,...or.... it's a drawing by Moffat's kid or some random children's drawing.

 

Dimmock - I think bringing him in was a way to show how the collaboration between Sherlock and Lestrade could have started.

I like that. Somehow I didn't pay attention to Dimmock's last scene before the re-watch of his changed attitude. They indeed should treat Sherlock's words like gospel.

 

No more sexy, when this intelligence were shining at your expense.

I think I maintain my stand. Even if he do it at my expense, there is only so much that he can dig from me. And it's much more interesting than the rest out there who only have big mouths without intelligence to back it up, regardless how good looking, how rich, it gets boring in minutes. But that's me, love the nerds!

 

They filmed TGG first then TBB then ASIP.

Whoa..! First time I hear this. The chemistry in TGG was excellent.

Well, maybe Martin's reaction to head in the fridge was genuine, if that was also the first scene they filmed. 'What did I get into?'

 

- the way the boys work together. It's fun just to observe the way they physically and intellectually weave around each other.

- the way Sherlock moves. It's a joy to simply watch him walk down the street, coat swirling. I love the bits like: where he bursts through Van Coon's bedroom door; leaping up to the fire escape; sneaking up on the screen where he thinks the assassin is hidden. The way he steps back, straightens and folds his arms behind him when Raz comes running up. So cool.

- Sherlock pretending to be fine after being nearly strangled to death. Silly boy with his silly male pride ....

- manipulating Molly. I still want to strangle the s.o.b. for treating her that way, but it's a great little character bit between them.

- the hair ruffle.

Agree on all above!

I really like his move on the fighting scene in the beginning, when he straighten himself and move forward to get to the attacker again.

I think scene with Molly here is 'the most manipulative' one from Sherlock to her, of all episodes.

 

 

Would you said that the sound of the city, directly after John leaves the bank with the check, is buzzing bees?

Yeah, what the heck was that all about? Weird!

 

Sussex?

 

Oh, yes, Ben twiddles the paint can. He is circling John at the train tracks, because he cannot twiddle him. :P

He should at least try! I want to see.

[Boton]

Sorry, but doesn't BC twiddle everything he gets his hands on, spray paint cans, ashtrays, guns, the ZIL in SiB, his violin bow and definitely The Woman's camera phone at the end? It's a habit he has, like his invariable tendency to sit with suit jacket unbuttoned and button it up the moment he stands up.

 

Twiddling aside, I was taught that all proper gentlemen unbutton their suit coat to sit and rebutton it upon standing.  YMMV.   :D

[J.P.]

 

Actually, it seemed unrealistically fast to me. Soo Lin said it took many brewings to create the patina. And she'd apparently been working on all those pots for a while already. So how could that one pot, just overnight, suddenly be so much shinier than the others?

 

As I understand it: the patina builds up through years, but if the pots are not used the surface gets cracked. So to keep the pots shiny and smooth, they need a tea bath once in a while. But nothing should prevent Soo Li from "bathing" them all at once.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

From what I know (again, run! ), it's more of a case of cross-dominant shooter.

As John is left-handed, but the dominant eye is on the right side. (which is probably the rarest case).

Myself is right-handed but has dominant left eye, left eye shooter. I found out from photography where I need to use left eye for the viewfinder. The rest of the world are normal mode. :P

There is a simple test if you want to find out which one you are.

 

 

I totally get cross-dominance. The moment it was explained to me, I knew I was; left eye, right hand. My son is the same way. Unfortunately it doesn't help me with golf or baseball as it could.

 

 

 

They filmed TGG first then TBB then ASIP.

Whoa..! First time I hear this. The chemistry in TGG was excellent.

Well, maybe Martin's reaction to head in the fridge was genuine, if that was also the first scene they filmed. 'What did I get into?'

 

/quote]

 

It's the 1st episode after the filming of the pilot so they had filmed together once before. Moftiss saw the chemistry of the 2 during Martin's audition so I'm not surprised at how well TGG went.