Speculation: How Did Sherlock Do It?

[T.o.b.y]

What makes it even more confusing is that Doyle himself had two separate versions of the event. The first was his original idea that Holmes really died because he did go over the cliff with Moriarty. The second was what Holmes later tells Watson after Doyle had decided he needed the character resurrected.

 

Fox, I think your interpretation of the title is interesting, but I am inclined to disagree. The Fall is Sherlock's - not only off the roof but also from public grace and from the high pedestal he had seen himself on ("pride comes before a fall"). Moriarty only dies, he doesn't fall (from what height, anyway).

[Loekie]

At some point in this episode Sherlock says that Moriarty wants to destroy Sherlock and in the end - and then he stops talking, but I think he wanted to say: in the end he wants me to commit suicide, and it has to do with falling. And then he thinks of something. I think that he thinks: That's it! I have to let him commit suicide! I let him fall!  

At the roof he has calculated the death of Moriarty. If not Moriarty kills himself, he would kill Moriarty. Because he needs his dead body, to let everyone think it's him who is falling. (Sorry for my English.)

[T.o.b.y]

At some point in this episode Sherlock says that Moriarty wants to destroy Sherlock and in the end - and then he stops talking, but I think he wanted to say: in the end he wants me to commit suicide. And then he thinks of something. I think that he thinks: That's it! I have to let him commit suicide! I let him fall!  

At the roof he has calculated the death of Moriarty. If not Moriarty kills himself, he would kill Moriarty. Because he needs his dead body, to let everyone think it's him who is falling. (Sorry for my English.)

 

Your English is fine, in my humble opinion. All that matters is making yourself understood.

 

I agree with you about the "aha" moment and when it occurs, but my interpretation of it and what follows is completely different. It sort of goes like this:

 

Sherlock realized Moriarty's final plan was for Sherlock to kill himself. That would be the perfect ending to Moriarty's story. He came to the conclusion that Moriarty would never leave off until he got what he wanted. From what Moriarty said about how he "got to the jury" and his previous actions, Sherlock could be pretty sure that his antagonist was going to use his friends as a pressure point to force him into suicide (well, murder, actually, since Sherlock was no where near suicidal by that time. Moriarty should have tried earlier, but that is a different theory of mine).

 

Sherlock also knew that Molly was convinced she "didn't count" as a friend. Lucky, because Moriarty had been sounding her out and must have come to that conclusion, too (another instance that Sherlock or rather Mr Holmes is right when he argues that for "ordinary people" to convince a villain of anything important, they actually have to believe it). That left Molly as somebody he could turn to and he did.

 

Sherlock of course has no interest in confirming Moriarty's slander. But he does have an interest in obtaining a confession from him and proving that Moriarty is real. He needs a meeting for that and if he can make Moriarty believe that there is an opportunity to carry out his final plan, that meeting can take place when and where Sherlock wants. So he asks him to come to the roof.

 

The first goal is to get the confession. The second is to get rid of Moriarty without anybody else getting hurt. If Sherlock can't threaten Moriarty enough for the opponent to back off, after all (and be caught by Mycroft's people later), he has to have a fall-back plan. And that plan B is faking a suicide, making Moriarty believe he won and so gaining Sherlock time and cover.

 

I do not think Sherlock was supposed to have predicted Moriarty's death, because if that was the case, his reaction when that death happened makes no sense to me.

 

So I believe Sherlock jumped himself. He just didn't land on the pavement but on something softer and so didn't die.

 

Ooof, that was a long post. With nothing new in it. Sorry!

[Loekie]

Thanks!

When John is knock out, I think there is a lot going on, not on the ground, but on the roof. We don't see that, we have the point of view from the ground all the time and the point of view of John.

The reaction of Sherlock when Moriarty shot himself, I have not interpreted as 'surprised'. I think he is just startled by the shot. He did not know of course, at what point Moriarty would kill himself, although he has calculated it in.

 

It is also a perfect way to let Moriarty disappear. Because when the assassins would find out that Moriarty was shot on the roof, the friends of Sherlock would still not be safe.

[T.o.b.y]

Isn't it fun to go discuss this over and over again? I'm almost a little sad that the mystery will soon be cleared up... Well, new puzzles will come along with the solution, I expect.

 

It's going to be so interesting to see how far away we were from "the truth". I am sure I will slap my brow a lot during The Empty Hearse.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Me too -- or at least, I'm sure hoping for a few face-palm moments!    I'd hate having NO surprises!

 

At the roof he has calculated the death of Moriarty. If not Moriarty kills himself, he would kill Moriarty. Because he needs his dead body, to let everyone think it's him who is falling. (Sorry for my English.)

 

I've often wondered about that option myself -- what would Sherlock have done if Moriarty had not killed himself?  Would Sherlock have killed him?  Or would he have found a way to work around him?  Unfortunately, we may never hear the answer to that question, if Series 3 concentrates on explaining what actually DID happen.

 

Sherlock also knew that Molly was convinced she "didn't count" as a friend. Lucky, because Moriarty had been sounding her out and must have come to that conclusion, too (another instance that Sherlock or rather Mr Holmes is right when he argues that for "ordinary people" to convince a villain of anything important, they actually have to believe it). That left Molly as somebody he could turn to and he did.

 

Ooh -- good point!  Molly had already passed the Moriarty test, so Sherlock could ask for her help long before he could confide in John.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I'm not sure Sherlock had himself on a pedestal. He didn't do it for his own glory, the work was always the thing. He let others take the credit, although in the BBC version he is before the cameras, alot. But even in canon, Watson remarks on how his writings brought clients to Sherlock's door, and Mycroft's comment about how he was hearing of Sherlock Holmes every where.  But even in the series, Sherlock is not comfortable in the limelight.

[Loekie]

Thanks!

When John is knock out, I think there is a lot going on, not on the ground, but on the roof. We don't see that, we have the point of view from the ground all the time and the point of view of John.

The reaction of Sherlock when Moriarty shot himself, I have not interpreted as 'surprised'. I think he is just startled by the shot. He did not know of course, at what point Moriarty would kill himself, although he has calculated it in.

 

It is also a perfect way to let Moriarty disappear. Because when the assassins would find out that Moriarty was shot on the roof, the friends of Sherlock would still not be safe.

 

Excuses, this is not right. I saw the end of the film again yesterday and John is made knock out when Sherlock has jumped already.

 

And also the camera is behind Sherlock so it is definitely Sherlock who jumps.

[Loekie]

I've often wondered about that option myself -- what would Sherlock have done if Moriarty had not killed himself?  Would Sherlock have killed him?  Or would he have found a way to work around him?  Unfortunately, we may never hear the answer to that question, if Series 3 concentrates on explaining what actually DID happen.

 

 

I found the answers here: http://eva-christine.tumblr.com/post/27733467733/iou-expl

I hope this works because copy and past does not work.

She says that Sherlock found out that one of the fairytale riddles showed that Moriarty is prepared to commit suicide if that is necessary for the downfall of Sherlock. We just see Sherlock playing 'ordinary Sherlock' so we don't know that.

Another thing that she says is that at one point on the roof Sherlock is touching his nose and his hair, - the camera circles around him - he is putting blood tubes or something like that in his nose and ears so when he falls, the tubes will burst.

 

[T.o.b.y]

I'm not sure Sherlock had himself on a pedestal. He didn't do it for his own glory, the work was always the thing. He let others take the credit, although in the BBC version he is before the cameras, alot. But even in canon, Watson remarks on how his writings brought clients to Sherlock's door, and Mycroft's comment about how he was hearing of Sherlock Holmes every where.  But even in the series, Sherlock is not comfortable in the limelight.

 

No, he is right about a public image being the last thing a private detective needs. But I think he is very proud of himself and touchy when it comes to his reputation. The original Holmes was a real admiration addict. Lucky for him that Moriarty's people didn't threaten his good name until after he had disappeared and Watson jumped right in to defend it, giving the public the story of "The Final Problem".

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I found the answers here: http://eva-christine.tumblr.com/post/27733467733/iou-expl

I hope this works because copy and past does not work.

She says that Sherlock found out that one of the fairytale riddles showed that Moriarty is prepared to commit suicide if that is necessary for the downfall of Sherlock. We just see Sherlock playing 'ordinary Sherlock' so we don't know that.

Another thing that she says is that at one point on the roof Sherlock is touching his nose and his hair, - the camera circles around him - he is putting blood tubes or something like that in his nose and ears so when he falls, the tubes will burst.

 

I've had occasional trouble with copy-and-paste myself recently, no idea why.

 

So you think Sherlock kind of "encouraged" Moriarty to commit suicide, knowing that Moriarty would be easily encouraged?  Interesting thought.  I'll have a look.

 

I'm less interested in the tubes-of-blood-up-the-nose idea, though, simply because it seems unnecessary.  Sherlock had everything planned so that it would take some time for John to get to him after the "fall," and it would take hardly any time at all for one of his helpers to just pour a bag of blood over his head.  Besides, plastic tubes would be unlikely to break, and glass ones -- well, I'd sure hate to have broken glass up my nose!

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

  And I doubt Sherlock would do it on the roof to much chance of Moriarty seeing them, them things are not small.

[Loekie]

  And I doubt Sherlock would do it on the roof to much chance of Moriarty seeing them, them things are not small.

 

Moriarty was already dead.

 

 

[Loekie]

 

 

So you think Sherlock kind of "encouraged" Moriarty to commit suicide, knowing that Moriarty would be easily encouraged?  Interesting thought.  I'll have a look.

 

I'm less interested in the tubes-of-blood-up-the-nose idea, though, simply because it seems unnecessary.  Sherlock had everything planned so that it would take some time for John to get to him after the "fall," and it would take hardly any time at all for one of his helpers to just pour a bag of blood over his head.  Besides, plastic tubes would be unlikely to break, and glass ones -- well, I'd sure hate to have broken glass up my nose!

 

\

You forget the assasins who could see everything.

Tubes is not the right word, sorry. In the article she mentions it  'blood packets'.

 

From Snow-white: "Snow-white shall die", she cries, "even if it costs me my life!"

IOU refers to atomic numbers: 53-8-92  Sherlock sees this through his microscope.

Moriarty leaves book behind: Grimm's Fairytales.

Nr. 53= Snow-white

Nr. 8= The Strange Musician

Nr. 92= The King of the Golden Mountain

 

This is the right solution because someone gives me a blank page everytime I try to edit!!!

 I needed 10 minutes to write this down!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

The assassins couldn't see everything. They couldn't see the area where Sherlock landed on the sidewalk or they would have known that he didn't die and John, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson would have been targeted nor, does it seem they were watching the roof, because they would have killed Sherlock the moment they saw Moriarty shoot himself, unless they knew before hand that Moriarty was going to commit suicide before he ever went into that last meeting with Sherlock.

[T.o.b.y]

The assassins couldn't see everything. They couldn't see the area where Sherlock landed on the sidewalk or they would have known that he didn't die and John, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson would have been targeted nor, does it seem they were watching the roof, because they would have killed Sherlock the moment they saw Moriarty shoot himself, unless they knew before hand that Moriarty was going to commit suicide before he ever went into that last meeting with Sherlock.

 

... and I don't believe Moriarty was any more inclined to let people in on his plans than Sherlock. Also, I don't think he went up there with the firm intention of shooting himself in the head, I think it's more likely that was plan B or C or a totally spontaneous act.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I have seen those blood packets we use them in our pirate invasions. They are not small and he would have have to use quite a few of them to produce that amount of blood around his head. If there were snipers watching Sherlock on that roof, with those high powered scopes, there would be no way they could have missed seeing them.

 

 Once Sherlock knew that Moriarty had snipers in the area, would he have chanced the possibility that they might be watching the roof and place those things in plan sight? I have my doubts.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, thanks for the inside scoop, Fox -- I keep forgetting you're a professional pirate!

 

The assassins couldn't see everything. They couldn't see the area where Sherlock landed on the sidewalk or they would have known that he didn't die

 

On the other hand, that gunman in the stairwell could see the sidewalk where John was standing, which was right next to the area where Sherlock fell.  (However, it has been suggested that some of the "guns" may have been working for Mycroft, protecting Sherlock and John.  So who knows?)

 

This is the right solution because someone gives me a blank page everytime I try to edit!!!

 I needed 10 minutes to write this down!

 

Sounds like Moriarty's work for sure!

 

[Caya]

When you look through a scope, your field of view is very limited to say the least. There's a reason snipers bring spotters with them.

 

 

Since the assassins were shown not to have those, I doubt they had much of an overview of the situation.

[T.o.b.y]

I like that picture, Caya...

 

This might belong in the "what would you like to see next series thread", but I have to (yeah, well, want to) say that the less elaborate a theory is, the more I like it. I want to find out that Sherlock faked his death with a minimum of preparation, equipment and staff. And I want the trick itself to be as simple as possible.

 

There is plenty of blood available at a hospital, but it does not come in the kind of special packages mentioned here. It is more likely that he just used a regular blood bag and smeared the contents on his head once he was on the ground. Actually, because he is Sherlock, he might have cut or otherwise hurt himself and just used his own blood.

[Ember]

Has anyone watched the interactive trailer, and got anything from it? It's on Facebook, but it moved to fast for me to see anything very clearly

Heres a link: http://wirewax.com/sherlock

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hi, Ember -- it's nice to see you posting again!

 

We've been discussing the interactive trailer on the Series 3 News thread, starting with this post.  Welcome to the madhouse!

 

[charledog]

Sherlock never jumps (at least not far anyway) . He jumps albeit on to a small ledge out of sight of John. What John sees is someone or some thing different.  John is speaking to the real Sherlock but is watching another person or object on the corner of Bart's.

 

Sherlock himself is further along the roof out of the line sight of Watson. That is why Sherlock asks to stay where he is and not take his eyes off the person on the corner of Bart's. 

 

There is also a change in an item of Sherlock's clothing between the lab and the roof.  So forget the truck, the markings on the pavement. All red herrings.  The fact that a stretcher appears in seconds with doctor in tow  , John being knocked senseless by biker,  as you all know they want to get the body (already dead) out of the way quickly.  

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

There is ... a change in an item of Sherlock's clothing between the lab and the roof.

 

Now that's something I've never noticed.  Would you care to elaborate?

 

Hello, charledog -- welcome to Sherlock Forum!      Thanks for your detailed post!

 

[T.o.b.y]

Less than 24 hours left for speculation - almost sad, isn't it.

 

Slight changes in costume or lighting or things like that might of course be due to scenes having been filmed on different days / at different times. Which change do you mean?

 

In all the other episodes, I've found that on watching them again with the solution to the cases in mind, the clues are all fairly conspicuous and there are usually camera shots and / or bits of dialogue that draw attention to them. So I suppose it must really be possible to come up with the right idea for The Fall without extraordinary powers of observation or technical know-how. But I just can't. I hereby give up and only hope that there will be a definite solution and that I will like it - if Sherlock does the explaining himself, I am bound to, because he makes nearly everything sound brilliant no matter how whacky it really is.