Episode 4.1 "The Six Thatchers"

[Pseudonym]

Maybe it was put there so John would have something substantial to agonise over  :o

[Shadow Dweller]

At the scene of Mary's death, why her knee still bent and not flopped to the side or become straightened after she passed away? I thinking about the traction her sneakers might provide against the floor but even with that keeping knee bent, why not that limb sort of fell to the side?

[Amber§]

Maybe because Amanda was trying not to hurt herself by staying in uncomfortable position? Might it be?

[Shadow Dweller]

The scene itself from start to end wasn't long, surely she can withstand some discomfort. And while on that subject, I've wondered where Mary was shot (like which organs ruptured). She still can talk that much but death comes quite quick. It did not looks like hypovolemic shock that finished her.

[Arcadia]

I was thinking massive blood loss.

[Shadow Dweller]

Not much blood shown outside but internal hemorrhage is certain. The question is (that Sherlock too would be interested if this is one of his cases), what kind of damages that allow her to talk that much with considerable force and yet killed her in a matter of minutes? More, what the heck the former battlefield surgeon husband of hers had been doing, why not he try to work his magic in this kind of situation?

[Pseudonym]

I'm assuming that as an army doctor he knew just by looking that where she was shot there was nothing that could be done. Not that I think that scene was well done or made that much sense, but that's the only reason I can think of why he wasn't scrabbling to save her. It would have been more effective if they had him at least pressing down on the wound though, and more upsetting had he been desperately trying to save her even though he knew it was futile. There was too much emotion missing from that scene in my opinion, we just get the scream-growl.  

[Shadow Dweller]

Lol, what emotions? What I see there is John Watson's readiness to let Mary died by not trying his hardest to help. After years of saving fellow soldiers and civilians alike that kind of urge should be instinctual already, especially if he is emotionally invested on the patient's well-being. John, are you really a former military surgeon or there's something faked on your resume?

[Shadow Dweller]

On this episode there is an implication that Mycroft can or can cause Lady Smallwood, someone who seems to be on more or less same standing with him, security credentials to be cancelled. Also, look at who seems to be dispatched to escort Lady Smallwood to be interrogated, none other than the other member of 'The Four'. Interesting show of power dynamics here, I would love to know more about this aspect of Mycroft 'Antarctica' Holmes.

[Arcadia]

I just think they opted for the maudlin on Mary's death, mistaking it for emotional. It's not meant to be a commentary on John's medical capabilities or his love for his wife. Poor decision, imo, but I don't make anything more of it than that.

[Inge l-w]

Aye, maudlin, implausible, harking back to some of the worst camp acting on other series, and effectively nullifying Dr Watson's capabilities as an ex-Army surgeon. PlaidAdder has a lot to say on the bad writing of all S4 episodes, but Ostalgie/Miss Me and The Six Thatchers metas on Ao3 are a hoot!

[Shadow Dweller]

If Mofftiss aim is to make the fans want them to fix it on the next series then they succeed admirably.

[Inge l-w]

Fix the bad scriptwriting or the bad vibes?

[Shadow Dweller]

Both, I do want more brain-twisting gems of plotlines instead of focusing on the long stretch of the supposed emotional roller-coaster which clearly they cannot pull convincingly.

[Arcadia]

Oddly enough, my favorite episodes are not the brain-twisting ones -- for one thing, it doesn't take much to twist my brain, so I'm pretty easy to please in that regard. No, the ones I enjoy most are the ones that allow me to make an emotional connection with the characters, because the acting is so good, of course, but also because the writing is so good. Like him or lump him, Mr. Moffat in particular is very good at plucking the emotional strings, and the others have their moments.

 

But that, in my opinion, is where this episode fails miserably ... the string-plucking is so over the top that it gets in the way of the actors, instead of letting them connect with us. We have broad slapstick comedy with the ginger nuts, and soapy melodrama with Mary's death, and a few decent bits of business in between mixed in with a lot of James Bond-y silliness.

 

But even that isn't what makes me really disappointed ... it's the way everything looks, and that I lay on the production team, particularly the director. And unfortunately I have to leave it hanging there, cuz I gotta go to work. :-(

[Pseudonym]

Bah, don't go to work, stay here with us. We have cookies.  ;)

[Arcadia]

Shoulda typed faster. ;)

[J.P.]

Nah, the beginning of TST is so stupid… Why should Sherlock suddenly want to tweet? To annoy Mycroft? To pay back the torments he's been put through? Still it feels completely out of character.

[Pseudonym]

Especially since he is apparently trolling Miss Piggy. 

[Arcadia]

What is this Miss Piggy and/or frog reference I keep seeing? I think I knew at one time, but now I can't dredge up anything... must be getting time for a rewatch.

[Surelock]

Nah, the beginning of TST is so stupid… Why should Sherlock suddenly want to tweet? To annoy Mycroft? To pay back the torments he's been put through? Still it feels completely out of character.

 

I thought Sherlock was still high from taking all those drugs on the plane (in The Abominable Bride) so he's just doing anything to express how happy he is of being back in London.

[Arcadia]

No, they expressly make it clear that he's not:

 

SHERLOCK: Love ginger nuts.
(He grabs a handful of the biscuits from the plate.)
LADY SMALLWOOD: Our doctor said you were clean.
SHERLOCK: I am, utterly. No need for stimulants now, remember? I have work to do.
SIR EDWIN: You’re high as a kite!
SHERLOCK: Natural high, I assure you. Totally natural. I’m just ... (he sings dramatically while holding his hands out) ... ♪ glad to be aliiiiiive! ♪

 

Sherlock might be fibbing, but I doubt Lady Smallwood's physician was.
 

[Pseudonym]

Hm, I was under the impression he was high, he's definitely acting high. Bit of a mystery why the doctor would say he wasn't. I had thought he was taken directly from the plane and so was still under the influence of what he took there, but they must have needed a bit of time to mess with the surveillance footage of Sherlock shooting Magnussen. Does anyone know if he's wearing the same clothes that he was on the plane?

 

The Miss Piggy thing isn't in the episode, it was on Twitter from the official Sherlock account. Miss Piggy and Kermit apparently broke up a while back, Miss Piggy tweeted BBC using the hashtag Sherlock to supposedly try to get cast on the show, and got a response from Sherlock saying he was in the bath with Kermit who says hi. 

 

https://twitter.com/bbcone/status/818923412311732225?lang=en

 

Normally I hate those ridiculous celebrity cat fights and spats, I'm not interested in the least, but I suppose I can appreciate the parody and utter ridiculousness of Sherlock having a feud with Miss Piggy because he's, uh, doing Kermit. Anyway, I think that's all it was, just one tweet really, except it spawned quite a bit of fan art of Sherlock in the bath with Kermit.

[J.P.]

Kermit thing was a side effect of the Sherlock Live thing on Twitter.

 

There had to be at least several hours between the plane and the first scene in TST. Probably even days. Both Sherlock and Myc are wearing different clothes.

[Arcadia]

Thanks, Pseud, I knew the Kermit thing looked familiar but I couldn't place it.

 

I knew a lot of time had passed since the plane because Sherlock had time to get a deep tan. :p