Episode 2.1, "A Scandal In Belgravia"

[Carol the Dabbler]

You guys are SO SWEET to cover up the season 3 spoilers.    Thank you!

 

You are most welcome!

 

HOWEVER:  That practice may be coming to an end very soon (since Series 3 has now aired in most countries), so beware!

 

Note:  You can think of this as a good excuse to acquire / watch Series 3 right away!

[mxmarg]

  I'm workin' that death frisbee! 

 

Hugsband and I FINALLY got to watch Study In Pink together last night.  He wants me to wait for him before seeing Empty Hease... I don't think that's going to happen!!!!!   Mr., just as soon as I clear planning a Tuesday meeting and figure out how to get the ep feeding through the tv from Amazon, I'm watching it!!!  

 

 

[mxmarg]

I just re-watched this one yesterday.....God--I love this episode; every time I watch it, I see more. It's utterly fantastic, from the intricate plotting to the depth of the character development. Just the opening alone: the paralleling of Adler and Holmes....Neither of them really interested in their clients, because the clients really are not all that interesting--just a job. Adler's flicking through the photos of Sherlock sent to her by Moriarity as Sherlock flicks through the photos of Adler given to him by Mycroft--and thereby setting up the idea that this epsiode is really about Moriarity and Mycroft acting as puppeteers in the background...and wholly miscalculating about their puppets. Sherlock's wrapped in the white sheet, while his pile of tailored clothing is solid black/Adler's tailored white dress, while she carries a black wrap. Sherlock's 'battle dress' is a vicar's collar; Adler's is her nudity--and neither is fazed by the other's battle dress; instead, they discover the commonality of their intellectualism....I believe Adler is the first person in the show whom Holmes has challenged to 'figure it out' on her own--and she does.

This episode is a stunning piece of work--on everyone's part.

 

Just doing a bit of rereading and I do love what you said about the paralleling, ss.  After several viewings I never registered the white sheet/white dress and with their black clothing in the background yet.  Marvy catch, not to mention everything else you noticed! 

 

I do love a work where the people who assemble it put so much care into these sorts of details.  ...they feel almost like little prezzies when I discover them!

[mxmarg]

It was fascinating to watch this episode with hugsband!  What he laughed at, what he responded to.  He laughed so hard when the American thug flew past the window into the bins. Harder still when Sherlock said he lost count of how many times the guy "fell" out of the window. 

 

And I couldn't help but think of everyone here when he blipped past the opening of the show... landed somewhere in the first scene and I realized with mortification that he missed John opening the refrigerator to find a head!  AAAAANNNNND the practically iconic moment of Sherlock shooting up the walls!!!  The horror!  The outrage!  I was practically jumping up and down beseeching him to go back to see those moments!    We get a trifled protective of our show I'd say...
  

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, that was hubby's loss, I think, skipping the best parts!

 

[perma-nerd]

Okay, so I was reading Ariane DeVere's fantastically detailed episode transcript (https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Farianedevere.livejournal.com%2F26320.html%3Fthread%3D286928&ei=FSQZU4fHG8aKlAXkzYDgDg&usg=AFQjCNGx5KSrOFGcMjTsgWc44MpEDhZksQ&bvm=bv.62578216,d.dGI), which of course noted something that I didn't notice before: John punches Sherlock with his right hand, despite being left handed. This is presumably out of an intention to not really injure him.

 

But it kind of doesn't make sense. I don't think your dominant hand is necessarily stronger than your non-dominant but it would certainly be more accurate. In that case, surely if he wants to hit Sherlock but aim carefully to avoid really hurting him, John would use his dominant hand for accuracy, but just not hit him as hard? It seems like using your non-dominant hand would risk an equally-strong, but potentially less-precise blow.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

When Benedict Cumberbatch is in character mode, he really doesn't care how hard he gets hit. In the same episode, when Irene is using her crop on him, she purposely holds back, he keeps telling her not to. That she is to use full force. So maybe Martin uses his off hand gives him the feeling that he's not hitting "Sherlock" quite so hard.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Considering that John also holds his gun in his right hand, I wonder whether the reason may be either:

 

1.  Military training -- I don't really know, but perhaps everyone in the army is told to use their right hand, to make it easier for the instructors.

 

2.  Blocking (though in this case, you'd think it would vary, but it doesn't).

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

1.  Military training -- I don't really know, but perhaps everyone in the army is told to use their right hand, to make it easier for the instructors.

 

 

Or maybe Martin's right eye is dominant over his left?  Many solders are taught to shoot this way and not their dominant hand. According to many British Army web sites, they do allow lefties to use their left hand they just have to put an ejection guard on their rifles to keep the spent hot cartridge from hitting them in the face every time they fire.

 

     I found this online:

 

      http://fyeahsherlock.tumblr.com/post/1216345040/re-right-left-handedness-well-sort-of-despite

[Carol the Dabbler]

... According to many British Army web sites, they do allow lefties to use their left hand they just have to put an ejection guard on their rifles to keep the spent hot cartridge from hitting them in the face every time they fire....

 

Yee-ouch!  I hadn't thought about the gun being right-handed.  Maybe John decided it was easier to just learn to shoot right-handed, especially if the firearms training was not something he expected to make much use of (being a doctor).

 

Same thing could apply to punching, if he had formal training in that.

 

My father was naturally left-handed, but a lot of things that he had been specifically taught how to do, he did right-handed.  Back then left-handed kids were forced to write right-handed (which he said had permanently messed up his handwriting).  And when a big kid shows you how to bat a baseball, the first thing they do is say OK, stand here (so you learn to bat right-handed without even thinking about it).  But Daddy pitched left-handed and used tools left-handed.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

My dad was pretty much the same way, ambidexterice when he needed to be. He was a sniper,  but I can't remember now what his dominant hand was,

[Carol the Dabbler]

An bunch of items came in on the BBC newsfeed about a new dramatic miniseries The Crimson Field, set in France during the First World War.  One of the items is a print-and-video interview with Oona Chaplin, who plays one of the volunteer nurse's assistants at a field hospital.

 

Ms. Chaplin had a minor role in "Scandal" as John's girlfriend Jeanette (I'm glad to see that in this production she's been given a much softer hairstyle).  As one might suspect, she is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin and Oona O'Neill.

 

[sherlockandjohn]

I'm terribly behind in discussing some of the earlier episodes like this one. It's not one of my favorites, but there's still so many beautiful moments (some of them sad), as well as some hilarious scenes in it.

 

• The panic in Sherlock's voice when he tries to convince the American that he doesn't know the code, in order to prevent him from shooting John, makes me ache.
• Buckingham Palace is so funny, in particular: "Here to see the Queen?" Mycroft walks in. "Oh, apparently, yes!"
• Mycroft telling Sherlock to 'stay out of it', and Sherlock's response, is chilling.
• John is constantly trying to get Sherlock to open up, but he won't, and it feels sad when, for instance, John says "She's alive, then. How do we feel about that?" and Sherlock just replies with "Happy New Year, John." It's also hard to interpret exactly why he won't talk about it, which makes it all the more interesting. Obviously, he doesn't want to admit his feelings for Irene, but admit it to whom? Himself or others? Maybe both. But I think it's also got to do with John being the one asking. Sherlock won't make himself vulnerable before his closest friend.
• The airplane scene is beautiful. I love how Mycroft reveals what's really going on inside Sherlock's heart, and how Sherlock keeps denying it. Gorgeous scene. Then it turns around, and Sherlock reveals what's inside Irene's heart, while coldly dismissing any interest in her or in love altogether. A masterfully created moment.

Irene is not my cup of tea, but her character provokes some interesting responses from Sherlock.

[T.o.b.y]

I love Irene. I think it's totally understandable that Sherlock falls for her - who wouldn't? And the (un)love story between them was very, very well done. I remember being very skeptical about the episode in advance and that I considered skipping it. It's still not my favorite and I don't think it's even of the best, but none of my fears about a "Sherlock romance" came true, quite the contrary. And I think watching Lara Pulver in that role was an absolute treat. If I only knew her character from a reading of the script, I would think, how terrible is that - overdone and unrealistic. But actually seeing her on screen, I feel once again as if I was in the presence of a real person.

[sherlockandjohn]

She was very well presented by Lara Pulver. As for who wouldn't fall for her?

I don't see John falling for her. He seems to have very little interest in her, and doesn't like her treatment of Sherlock.

I could think of a few reasons why they wouldn't. Sure, she's got good looks and a sharp mind. And she uses both to get her way with people. Some might find that sexy, and to some degree I understand, but her manipulation puts Sherlock in a position where he unwillingly betrays his country. She plays games, and manipulates, and takes advantage of people... Hm, remind me of someone? Yes. I can understand why Sherlock falls for her. He can be quite cold and manipulative himself, and I think he understands her much better than I do. However, the difference is that he is on the side of the angels, and she is on the opposite team. If Sherlock used his "powers" for "evil", the way Irene does, I'd have little sympathy for him.

[Arcadia]

Agree on all points.

 

Does anyone else remember when they used a similar character in CSI? And Grissom seemed to fall for her.... And I'm pretty sure I saw that plot on at least one other show around the same time. So it's a thing. I didn't get it at the time and I don't get it now, but I'm not a hyper-intelligent, emotionally repressed, narcissistic male, so what do I know?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I think it's called the femme fatale syndrome or something like that. She's a baddie but so darn irresistible that the males just can't help but fall for her.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I believe you're right about that.

 

It reminds me of Gene Roddenberry's theory as to why Spock was so irresistible to women -- he figured the pointed ears and slanted eyebrows made him look like Satan.  I've known a lot of women who've been smitten by Spock (including myself), but have never heard one say it's because he looks evil.  However, I think the fact that it made sense to Roddenberry supports the idea that men really are drawn to naughty women, at least when those women are safely on television.

 

[T.o.b.y]

Not just men...

 

Seriously, I find Irene pretty damn sexy, and I am female and usually attracted to guys. I found it totally believable that Irene had female clients as well as male, and not only ones whose sexual preference was limited to women.

 

Good point about John, though - he really didn't seem to see much in her, despite all his alleged affinity to danger. I'd even say he developed a pretty strong dislike of her. He had good reason, of course - if somebody treated my best friend as she did Sherlock, I'd hate that person's guts as well, no matter how beautiful and alluring he or she was.

 

Of course Irene is not on the side of the angels, but she's a far more interesting adversary than Moriarty, in my opinion (let alone Magnussen). She's not just "evil", there is far more to her. I find her very much like Sherlock. Who knows what potential for "great and good" she might have as well - if she had people like John, Lestrade and Molly at her side?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Like the old songs go: "Love can turn it around" and according to the set designers for "HLV", The Woman did send Sherlock a single red rose while he was in the hospital.

[Pamela]

This one is becoming one of my favorites, actually.  She's just a great adversary.  And this episode doesn't have a lot to do with this controversial story arc that we're all wrapped up in.  It sort of stands on its own.

 

This Irene is deliciously evil.

[Caya]

Agree on all points.

 

Does anyone else remember when they used a similar character in CSI? And Grissom seemed to fall for her.... And I'm pretty sure I saw that plot on at least one other show around the same time. So it's a thing. I didn't get it at the time and I don't get it now, but I'm not a hyper-intelligent, emotionally repressed, narcissistic male, so what do I know?

 

Oh dear  ... I still watched the show back then; Lady Heather was her name, I think. But I don't think she was all that similar to Irene apart from the dominatrix angle ... she was, deep inside, a warm-hearted woman that realized she'd failed big time on her daughter and tried at least to make things right for her granddaughter (up to and including letting herself get killed for her). I kinda would've wished for Grissom and her to stay together.

 

[sherlockandjohn]

Not just men...

 

Seriously, I find Irene pretty damn sexy, and I am female and usually attracted to guys. I found it totally believable that Irene had female clients as well as male, and not only ones whose sexual preference was limited to women.

 

Good point about John, though - he really didn't seem to see much in her, despite all his alleged affinity to danger. I'd even say he developed a pretty strong dislike of her. He had good reason, of course - if somebody treated my best friend as she did Sherlock, I'd hate that person's guts as well, no matter how beautiful and alluring he or she was.

 

Of course Irene is not on the side of the angels, but she's a far more interesting adversary than Moriarty, in my opinion (let alone Magnussen). She's not just "evil", there is far more to her. I find her very much like Sherlock. Who knows what potential for "great and good" she might have as well - if she had people like John, Lestrade and Molly at her side?

 

I'm generally not attracted to game-players, not even Sherlock... well, at least not to that side of Sherlock... there are other things... like in this episode with the head-butt, the slamming of the can on the table, and the low "Moron"

 

But that was besides the point

 

You're right about Irene not being all evil, and I completely agree that Sherlock's friends make a big impact on his life, so it's hard to tell what Irene could be. Thanks for pointing that out, actually. It's nice to get a little perspective.

 

Concerning the impact of friends, I just love that quote from TSo3, "...redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship."

[Arcadia]

Just finished my 3rd (which turned into a 4th) screening of Scandal. This is some episode! So cinematic, so beautifully paced, and it contains what is possibly my all time favorite scene: Sherlock coming to Mrs. Hudson's rescue. (BTW, BC is just amazing in this episode. They all shine but he's almost incandescent.)

 

However, I still don't really understand it; the emotional undercurrents are so numerous, and flow in so many directions at once, that a dispassionate clod like me is hopelessly lost. And all those texts/phone calls -- I really couldn't follow who was doing what to whom half the time.

 

I suspect my main issue is, I just can't buy it that Sherlock and Irene could have genuine feelings for one another. Intellectually intrigued by one another, maybe, but no real depth of feeling (unless the act of manipulation is now considered a feeling?) But hey, that's MY problem ... :-)

 

So, given my confusion, I thought I'd toss a few questions out there and see if any explanations pop up. Anyone want to take a stab at answering?

 

1. The plot -- do I even have this right? Irene wants protection from - someone (who?) - so she consults Moriarty. He tells her how to "play" the Holmes boys. Which she does by wooing Sherlock, using him to decipher some information Moriarty wants, then using the resulting fallout to blackmail Mycroft into providing the protection she's after. She's foiled at the last moment when Sherlock figures out the code to her phone. -- Am I even close?

 

2. What are the "CIA-trained killers" after? How do they figure into all this? Esp. since one shows up at the airport when Sherlock is summoned, which implies they are working with Mycroft.

 

3. Is Mycroft also setting Sherlock up for some reason? At 221B, he walks back into the room to announce "Bond Air is go, that’s decided. Check with the Coventry lot." Right where Sherlock -- the most observant man in the world -- can hear. Deliberate? If so, why? In fact, why involve Sherlock at all, at any point? Mycroft of all people would know how much trouble "little brother" can cause. And if he's using Sherlock -- to what end?

 

4. At the Christmas party, Sherlock receives a text: "mantelpiece". On the mantel is Irene's phone, which leads him to deduce she's dead. Within hours, it seems, Mycroft's people have found the body, which Sherlock confirms is Irene's. The timing of all this seems rather suspicious; impossible, even. So does Sherlock -- the most observant man in the world -- REALLY believe that's Irene on the slab? Or is he covering for her? Why would he?

 

5. A few days later it turns out she's not dead after all, she wants her phone back, and we get this amazing scene between her and John; which is brilliantly played but which I don't understand even a little bit of cuz I'm lousy at deciphering subtext. Help?

 

6. Apparently Irene decides she doesn't need her phone so much after all, cuz she doesn't try to get it back again for six months. Then suddenly she does. Huh?

 

7. Throughout this episode it's been stated that Irene's not after blackmail, but protection. Yet when she walks on to the plane she says "On this phone I’ve got secrets, pictures and scandals that could topple your whole world. You have no idea how much havoc I can cause and exactly one way to stop me – unless you want to tell your masters that your biggest security leak is your own little brother." In what way is this NOT blackmail?

 

8. If Irene's a blackmailer, and Sherlock LOATHES blackmailers, why didn't he just blow her brains out, like he did Magnussen? (Yes, that so-called "solution" still bugs me, sorry, sorry.)

 

9. Mycroft says Moriarty seems "desperate" for his attention. Really? Why would he be?

 

Okay, got that off my chest. You are now returned to your regularly scheduled forum.

[Janie]

Ok, here's how I understood it:

 

1. I think you have it right. About Irene's protection, well, she knew a lot of information about a lot of important people so it's logical that she had enemies. She used the photographs to "blackmail" the government to protect her. At least that's how I see it. 

 

2. They're after the photographs. Apparently she knew some things about some important Americans. And yes, it seemed that they were working with Mycroft but it doesn't mean that they had to be nice. 

 

3. I think Mycroft just wanted Sherlock to get the photographs for him. 

 

4. I think he really believes it's Irene. It probably wasn't too hard for Irene to find a body with the same measurment and since her face was "bashed up", Sherlock deduced that it was her. 

 

5. Well, in my opinion she wanted her phone back and thought she could use John to get it for her. She didn't want Sherlock to know she was still alive (don't ask me why) and somehow she thought John wouldn't tell him. 

 

6. Uh... I never thought about that. But you're right, it's weird. But maybe she thought the phone would be safe in Sherlock's hands and she came for it when she needed it again. 

 

7. and 8. Of course it's blackmail. And why Sherlock didn't kill her? Well, maybe it has something to do with Irene being an attractive, inteligent woman whereas Magnussen was a horrible, disgusting, slimy creature. At least that's how I see them. 

 

9. I'm not exactly sure about this one. 

 

So, that's how my simple brain sees this episode. Maybe I'm completely wrong about most of the points so I'd rather wait for someone else's opinion