Episode 4.2 "The Lying Detective"

[Inge l-w]

Looks like we finally got a DVD artwork cover https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/DVD-Blu-ray/Sherlock-4-2016-Benedict-Cumberbatch/B01IRDD4ZY

 

Oh, Heavens! I have pre-ordered the flipping thing like six months ago, and they decide to change the cover at the last minute? Must make the producers of the stuff really happy!

 

Anyway, I followed the whole BBC #SherlockLive case, and it was prettty lame: suicide by way of framing the brother and his own wife to get back at them for having an affair, while the 'victim' was having it off with a waitress at his own restaurant!

That's why you can NEVER trust the creative duo: it's all or nothing for them.

 

Point to consider: how exactly did Euros get her hands on the real Faith Smith's notes, since she wasn't a hallucination the first time? And she carry a gun in her bag in order to eliminate Sherlock if he wasn't as nice as he turned out to be? The usual Mr Moffat plot holes; if they were road holes, the car would have been wrecked, falling into them!

Edited January 11, 2017 by Carol the Dabbler
Moved here by Caya because of spoiler for ep2; quote added by Carol for continuity

[sfmpco]

This was found on YouTube...

 

The E ast Wind

takes U s all in the end

ter R ifiying force seeks

o U t the unworthy

pluck S them out from the Earth.

[sherlockandjohn]

34 things we may have missed in TLD (and I definitely missed the first one... ) http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/sherlock/261361/sherlock-34-things-you-might-have-missed-in-the-lying-detective

 

"28. Mrs Hudson watched the video Mary left for Sherlock at the end of The Six Thatchers. Then she acts as though she doesn’t know what’s on the disc when she points Mycroft and John towards it in this episode. Continuity error or fiendish act from a non-civilian?"

 

This could confirm my suspicion that Mrs. Hudson is working with Sherlock to bring Mary's message to John's attention - so that he will realise that Sherlock is in danger.

 

Speaking of which, I love how this show keeps nodding to earlier episodes. Like when John realises that Sherlock has gone to deal with a serial killer on his own, and that he could be in grave danger, so he rushes to his aid. Just like ASiP. Or when John wants to give Sherlock his cane as a parting gift, probably because it symbolises the best thing Sherlock has done for John.

[Arcadia]

I was thinking John left the cane at Baker Street, which is why Sherlock had access to it to put the bug in it. But would John go there to get it? Oh well, apparently yes. :d

[Alex the Dabbler]

Oh, Heavens! I have pre-ordered the flipping thing like six months ago, and they decide to change the cover at the last minute? Must make the producers of the stuff really happy!

Anyway, I followed the whole BBC case, and it was prettty lame: suicide by way of framing the brother and his own wife to get back at them for having an affair, while the 'victim' was having it off with a waitress at his own restaurant!

That's why you can NEVER trust the creative duo: it's all or nothing for them.

Point to consider: how exactly did Euros get her hands on the real Faith Smith's notes, since she wasn't a hallucination the first time? And she carry a gun in her bag in order to eliminate Sherlock if he wasn't as nice as he turned out to be? The usual Mr Moffat plot holes; if they were road holes, the car would have been wrecked, falling into them!

 

I seem to recall Euros saying that she got the note from Culverton Smith.

 

I also thought it was a nice touch when Sherlock made a reference to Mary when he put on the hat, as if he had heard Mary in John's mind palace.

 

[Pseudonym]

Yup, Euros definitely said note was from Smith when he and Euros were put in touch by a 'mutual friend', presumably Moriarty. 

[Janine M. Adler]

Ok, its a silly question. I guess who is the oldest one among the Holmes sibling. Is Mycroft is a middle child or the eldest one? I think Euros is the oldest or the middle child, and Sherlock is the youngest one. But I wonder why Euros wants to kill her own brother?

[Pseudonym]

But in Sherlock's flashbacks isn't he playing with another small child? Mycroft was seven years older than him, so couldn't have been Mycroft. Or do we not actually see another child? It would make more sense with Sherlock not being aware of her if she was older. 

[T.o.b.y]

So far, my impression is that Sherlock knew her as a child. If the phrase "it wasn't me who upset her, Mycroft" really is supposed to refer to the third sibling, then he must know there was another one and also either have memories of her or know of something upsetting that she did. Also, I saw two children as well in the flashbacks and why would they be of Sherlock and Mycroft?

 

But he probably hasn't seen her in a while or else he would have recognized her no matter how high he was or how good her disguise. He might have thought she was dead or in another country or in an institution or god knows where.

[Arcadia]

That's my impression as well, based mostly on that little "dream sequence" in T6T where we see Redbeard and a child in what I took to be a pirate hat. And for some reason it was my impression that the second child was a girl.
 
I always thought there was chance "the other one" would turn out to be a sister (a 50/50 chance? ) What surprised me was her turning out to be the therapist, although looking back on it, there were plenty of clues. I remember wondering why she had such a prominent role. Well, not prominent, but more than most minor characters get. More than Molly, drat it.
 
Speaking of Molly, does anyone else think she almost had to be in on Sherlock's plan, and exaggerated his condition? If nothing else, I prefer to think that, rather than think he really was consuming so many drugs he was weeks away from dying. What if he'd really died, how would that have helped John?

[T.o.b.y]

That's my impression as well, based mostly on that little "dream sequence" in T6T where we see Redbeard and a child in what I took to be a pirate hat. And for some reason it was my impression that the second child was a girl.

 

I always thought there was chance "the other one" would turn out to be a sister (a 50/50 chance? ) What surprised me was her turning out to be the therapist, although looking back on it, there were plenty of clues. I remember wondering why she had such a prominent role. Well, not prominent, but more than most minor characters get. More than Molly, drat it.

 

Speaking of Molly, does anyone else think she almost had to be in on Sherlock's plan, and exaggerated his condition? If nothing else, I prefer to think that, rather than think he really was consuming so many drugs he was weeks away from dying. What if he'd really died, how would that have helped John?

 

Could be... after all, she was in on The Fall, too. But it's also possible that once he was alone with her, Sherlock just said, look, I need you to tell John so and so and Molly just said "okay" and did it.

 

He really was on drugs, of course, the episode is pretty unambiguous about that. And he was probably overdosing. I mean, Billy should know.

 

Molly didn't say he was three weeks away from dying then, she said that if he went on at the rate he was going, he would last about three more weeks.

 

 

I just rewatched the episode (it does really well on a large screen, reminds me of His Last Vow in many ways) and it struck me how it should have been fairly obvious that it was the therapist. Why else should she be so interested in Sherlock?

 

Oh, about the already infamous beating scene: It occurred to me that if my best friend appeared to have gone completely round the bend and pull a knife on someone (after I had already witnessed her commit murder about a year ago), I would have a pretty extreme reaction as well. John was properly shocked, I think. No wonder he lost it.

 

Mary's ghost is already beginning to bother me less, which is a good thing. I'm still not happy with it but I did enjoy the episode a lot the second time round.

 

I love Sherlock's evening with "Faith" and I think it's awfully scary at the same time (she had a gun, goddammit, was she considering putting a bullet in him before she left?). The romantic softie in me hopes that it will turn out just a teeny, weeny bit of their connection was real and that she was indeed surprised at how much "nicer" her brother had become.

 

It could be a very lovely bitter-sweet scene. Depending on what we learn about Sherlock and Euros next episode.

 

I think they were good friends as kids. Probably got along better than Sherlock and Mycroft.

 

Once more, Sherlock proves to be my favorite kind of crime fiction: The kind that gets better once you know what's going on instead of boring.

[Pamela]

THIS:

 

Once more, Sherlock proves to be my favorite kind of crime fiction: The kind that gets better once you know what's going on instead of boring.

 

Thanks, T.o.b.y.!

[bedelia1984]

 

I love Sherlock's evening with "Faith" and I think it's awfully scary at the same time (she had a gun, goddammit, was she considering putting a bullet in him before she left?). The romantic softie in me hopes that it will turn out just a teeny, weeny bit of their connection was real and that she was indeed surprised at how much "nicer" her brother had become.

 

It could be a very lovely bitter-sweet scene. Depending on what we learn about Sherlock and Euros next episode.

 

I think they were good friends as kids. Probably got along better than Sherlock and Mycroft.

 

Once more, Sherlock proves to be my favorite kind of crime fiction: The kind that gets better once you know what's going on instead of boring.

 

 

I like that reading because it reminds me of how surprised I was that Sherlock took to Mary so quickly, and now I can't help but wonder if he saw something in her of the sister he had lost. It also goes some way to explaining his strange affinity with Moriarty. Growing up with a mini psychopath/ assasin would have been a unique preparation for the life he ended up l

 

Speaking of Molly, does anyone else think she almost had to be in on Sherlock's plan, and exaggerated his condition? If nothing else, I prefer to think that, rather than think he really was consuming so many drugs he was weeks away from dying. What if he'd really died, how would that have helped John?

 

 

I think she must have been in on some part of it. There does seem to be some other layer to the exchange she has with Sherlock before he goes in. It is hard to know whether the next episode will give her a similarly small role or not.

 

By the way, was re-watching A Scandal in Belgravia (I still cringe so many times on that one, unfortunately) and there is a newspaper with a headline about building a new hospital- wonder was it foreshadowing Culverton Smith? If so, you have Moriarty placed with Irene Adler and CS in close proximity- and wasn't that roughly the time of the amnesia drug meeting? I can imagine Eurus fitting in somewhere in that group.

[J.P.]

I wonder if there will be more Molly. She was barely there so far.

[T.o.b.y]

I wonder if there will be more Molly. She was barely there so far.

If it's really the last episode ever, they definitely need to give her some kind of special final scene. If they don't, the series just can't be properly over.

[sfmpco]

It wasn't just John having conversations with Mary.  Sherlock did too.

 

Can we talk for a moment about the visual framing of this episode?  How characters were often framed to one side or the other?  Even in the Sherlock/Johm hug, it was on the left side of the screen, but the whole scene had shots like that, and so did lots of other scenes.  Very stylistic.

[J.P.]

Talking of frame: im intrigued ans slightly worried about the gun at the start and the end of this episode.

[sfmpco]

Well we know nothing happened to John because he's in the trailers for TFP.  I'm wondering if Sherlock arrived in the nick of time and fired the shot.

[BLS_Pro]

I actually loved that bit too ... it was preposterous, but they knew that it was, and made a joke of it, so it worked for me. But in terms of an actual explanation ... I think it's just that Sherlock really is supposed to know John just that well. And John is rather predictable to begin with. And people really do things like that; give away or return a memento when they're parting ways with someone. But if it hadn't been the cane, it would have been something else, I figure. Sherlock was never as out of it as he was pretending to be, he knew what he was doing.

And it was explained how Sherlock could know something like that in advance. That's the thing - one doesn't need his every deduction explained when one has a similar deduction explained. Once you know the 'trick' you know it can be done.

[Bubu]

It wasn't just John having conversations with Mary.  Sherlock did too.

 

Can we talk for a moment about the visual framing of this episode?  How characters were often framed to one side or the other?  Even in the Sherlock/Johm hug, it was on the left side of the screen, but the whole scene had shots like that, and so did lots of other scenes.  Very stylistic.

Yes, that was one of the first things I noticed when I watched it. It reminded me of Mr. Robot - that is shot like that. And it struck me, because I am interested in camera / editing, so I looked it up.

 

It is called "quadrant framing". Unlike the mostly used "rule of thirds" which is very pleasing to our eye, quadrant framing is somewhat unsettling.

In Mr. Robot specifically, it works so well, because it adds to the main character, who is suffering from social anxiety (plus lost of other things). Also it gives you a chance to notice the surrounding area, because the character in the shot is not taking up much space.

 

So if this technique is used well, it can show feelings and emotions, tell us something about the character.

[Arcadia]

By the way, was re-watching A Scandal in Belgravia (I still cringe so many times on that one, unfortunately) and there is a newspaper with a headline about building a new hospital- wonder was it foreshadowing Culverton Smith? If so, you have Moriarty placed with Irene Adler and CS in close proximity- and wasn't that roughly the time of the amnesia drug meeting? I can imagine Eurus fitting in somewhere in that group.

 

​Somewhere ... possibly in the commentary? ... they explain that. Something to do with the building being renovated in real life, and they thought they needed an explanation for that, but as it turned out they filmed in a different spot, or something like that. Anyway, it was intended as a clue, but became just extraneous window dressing.

 

It wasn't just John having conversations with Mary.  Sherlock did too.

 

Can we talk for a moment about the visual framing of this episode?  How characters were often framed to one side or the other?  Even in the Sherlock/Johm hug, it was on the left side of the screen, but the whole scene had shots like that, and so did lots of other scenes.  Very stylistic.

 

​Please, talk more about it! I love that kind of stuff. I'll try to notice on a rewatch. ETA: Another crosspost! I see Bubu did indeed say more about this very thing. Thanks Bubu, I'd never heard of that, but I find that kind of thing fascinating. 

 

Well we know nothing happened to John because he's in the trailers for TFP.  I'm wondering if Sherlock arrived in the nick of time and fired the shot.

That could be really funny, actually ... they finally reveal "the other one", only to have Sherlock walk in at that instant and blow her away. John decides not to say anything for fear of upsetting Sherlock too much, and the incident is over, and they go on to pursue Moriarty instead, and the other one is never mentioned again ... :D

[Arcadia]

Interesting also that you mention "rule of thirds", Bubu, in light of Sherlock's comment about three being a comfortable number (or whatever he actually said.)

[Bubu]

Interesting also that you mention "rule of thirds", Bubu, in light of Sherlock's comment about three being a comfortable number (or whatever he actually said.)

Hahahh.  ;)

[Surelock]

 

I loved the whole part with Sherlock figuring out weeks in advance how things were going to play out.  Right down to planting a bug in John's cane because he already knew John would leave the cane behind.  Oh how I would have LOVED to hear that deduction playing out.  Priceless.

 

That particular part I'm actually not too fond of, since we weren't told how he could make such a deduction, and it just seems way out of proportion - even for Sherlock. How could he possibly know that John would bring his cane and leave it with Sherlock - and at that specific time? Makes no sense. But I'm trying hard to overlook this fact, because I really, really love this episode, and I really want to keep on loving it!

 

 

Even if Sherlock was smart enough to predict all of John's actions and was able to plant a bug in his cane, there's still something that's difficult to explain: how did the bug turn on at the right moment to record Culvertion?

 

The bug needs to be turned on in order to start recording audio. However IIRC Sherlock doesn't say anything about how he turned the bug on. He simply said that he planted a bug in the cane three weeks ago. Was the bug recording audio for three weeks straight? That's implausible.

[Pseudonym]

The rule of three is a pretty well known technique, not only in regards to art but in regards to writing and speeches. Most good speeches, particularly political ones, will have a bit of the rule of three slipped in for effect. 

 

I love how Mr Robot is filmed, it's very unsettling - hadn't realised they'd done it here too, I'll have to keep an eye out for it next time I watch. Well spotted :D

 

I suspect Euros deliberately misses John, after all she would want to torment Sherlock more by having John as collateral rather than just kill him out of the blue like that. I wonder if her hatred is directed mostly at Mycroft rather than Sherlock (I'm still convinced she's Sherlock's twin, there have been too many 'it's never twin' comments). If there are two little kids in that flashback the second one is definitely not Mycroft. Let's say Sherlock was six or so, that puts Mycroft at thirteen, and not only is the second kid too small there is no way a thirteen year old Mycroft would be hanging around with his little brother playing at being a pirate. I wonder if they went to boarding school? And from what age? If Sherlock was sent off to school when he was really young it's more likely he may not remember Euros well and be more inclined to believe whatever he was told about her. I still think she did something terrible to Redbeard. :(