Episode 2.1, "A Scandal In Belgravia"

[sherlockandjohn]

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 ... :-)

 

...

 

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?

 

 

Really, you've only watched this 4 times? Wow. I'm impressed (at your self-control) - though, of course, I don't know when you started watching 'Sherlock' I started last spring, and I've watched every single Sherlock episode at least 8 times.

 

Cumberbatch carries the subtle emotion in this so beautifully, I agree! And because of all the subtleties and subtext, it is incredibly hard to figure out, not just for you, believe me! I've watched it about 10 times, and I still haven't figured out everything. Actually, I didn't even realise how little I've figured out until I read your questions, because most of them I can't answer. Especially no. 5... I never got that whole scene. Mainly, why is it so urgent to John that Irene tells Sherlock that she's alive? Is he afraid for Sherlock's feelings, or is it that Sherlock is in danger, because he's got Irene's phone? Or...?

 

And I completely share your sentiment that Sherlock and Irene are mainly intellectually (and maybe physically) drawn to each other, and their game-playing leaves little space for sincere feelings to develop. There might be the potential of something more between them, something real, if they were to be honest with themselves and each other, but they both seem to enjoy the thrill of the game too much to quit it.

[sherlockandjohn]

 

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?

 

 

You ask some really good questions that I hadn't even thought of. I guess with no. 6 I'll have to use Irene's own words, though in a different context: "I knew you'd keep my secret". She trusts that Sherlock will help her. Maybe because she sees that he has some interest in her. Or maybe because she is very confident of her own sway over men - and women. It seems she is very self-confident in that regard.

 

About no. 7: I think it's stated that she's not after money or favor... not that she's not after blackmail. If blackmailing is needed in order to get protection, she is clearly not shy about using it.

[throwAway_12345678]

 

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. 

 

 

No, Janie. Sherlock the Dragon-Slayer simply does not kill based on how beautiful a person is. That would make him a racist which he is not. Sherlock killed Charles because Charles is pure evil. Irene simply used the information to get protection and probably get a few odd jobs done( like money, safehouse.etc). On the other hand Charles used this information to manipulate the government into doing things that they shouldn't. Irene was a criminal and Charles would dictate people. Information against the PM or almost any man in the world is something very powerful. This information was being used in the wrong way. Did you see how desperate Mary was to hide the information ? 

 

My theory : Sherlock realized that Charles was an equally smart person and calculated all moves perfectly. He and John would face imprisonment meaning John would not be able to see his child. Charles was unstoppable and would continue to live a life like this causing pain to a huge number of people. He could still get Mary into trouble so Sherlock would have to listen to him. Killing Charles was the only way out as this is the only thing Charles had not thought of.

[Carol the Dabbler]

... I just can't buy it that Sherlock and Irene could have genuine feelings for one another. Intellectually intrigued by one another, maybe....

That's my impression, too. I think each of them considers the other to be an interesting challenge.  Sherlock can't "read" Irene like he can most people, and she apparently finds him equally unique.

 

1. I think you've got the basic plot straight. Irene has presumably pissed off a lot of people with her "misbehaving," and wants to be prepared in case they come after her.

 

2. My best guess about the CIA involvement is this: When the MOD man sobered up, he realized that he'd given Irene some very sensitive information and was brave enough to tell his boss what he'd done. The CIA was working with the MOD on the "flight of the dead" plan, so they wanted to confiscate Irene's phone.

 

3. I suspect that Mycroft underestimated his little brother -- he really doesn't seem to have much respect for his intellect -- and figured the code words would be sufficient to keep Sherlock from knowing what the phone call was about.

 

4. I don't think Mycroft's people needed to "find" the body as such, just phone around to various morgues to see who had a fresh body fitting Irene's description. Irene wanted the body to be found (so people would think she was dead), so she would have made it easy. And Sherlock seems to truly believe that Irene is dead, judging by his mood on the way back to his flat.

 

5 & 6. I'll have to give these some thought. It had never occurred to me to wonder about them.

 

7. I think that Irene started out using the threat of blackmail as protection against what she assumes the government is planning to do to her. Her motto seems to be "the best defense is a good offense." But you're right -- she follows through and demands a huge sum of money. Maybe that was Moriarty's idea. Or maybe she just got carried away with herself. In any case, good point!

 

8. Because it wasn't in the script! Besides, he clearly doesn't loathe her, possibly because she's "merely" blackmailing the government (which he seems to have little sympathy for), rather than ruining people's lives as Magnussen did.

 

9. Moriarty likes to play. Which means he needs someone to play with.

 

[sherlockandjohn]

7. I think that Irene started out using the threat of blackmail as protection against what she assumes the government is planning to do to her. Her motto seems to be "the best defense is a good offense." But you're right -- she follows through and demands a huge sum of money. Maybe that was Moriarty's idea. Or maybe she just got carried away with herself. In any case, good point!

 

 

Oh, right, I'd forgotten about that... She did end up asking for money. Maybe she owes someone, or it's a means for future blackmail...

[Arcadia]

Ok, here's how I understood it:

 

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

So Mycroft really doesn't know his little brother very well, then! Hmm, interesting. The interaction between those two continues to fascinate me.

 

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.

Same measurements, yeah, but same moles? Same belly button? Same freckles? Same nipples? Same length fingers, neck and toes? He got a pretty good look at her ...! I know, I know, I'm over thinking this. :-)

[Arcadia]

Really, you've only watched this 4 times? Wow. I'm impressed (at your self-control) - though, of course, I don't know when you started watching 'Sherlock' I started last spring, and I've watched every single Sherlock episode at least 8 times.

Huh, I WISH it was self-control! No, it's just lack of time! I started watching about the same time you did, and only splurged on the DVD's a month or so ago (when I discovered that I was about 15th in line to get them from the library....)

 

Especially no. 5... I never got that whole scene. Mainly, why is it so urgent to John that Irene tells Sherlock that she's alive? Is he afraid for Sherlock's feelings, or is it that Sherlock is in danger, because he's got Irene's phone? Or...?

Exactly!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I think in the beginning she was telling the truth about not needing to use the pictures as blackmail. Sherlock said the phone was her "get out of jail free card". It was her protection if someone did decide to hold a grudge over her "misbehaving" like the MOD man.

 

  In the scene where she finally does make blackmail demands, I think that was Moriarty's plan. She said she had all that information and didn't know what to do with it until she met Moriarty....and probably he sought her out. Like said above, he got bored and needed to play. This was another way to make the Holmes boys play.

[Arcadia]

 

 

About no. 7: I think it's stated that she's not after money or favor... not that she's not after blackmail. If blackmailing is needed in order to get protection, she is clearly not shy about using it.

 

But isn't saying "she's not after money or favor" the same as saying "she's not after blackmail"? To me, that's what blackmail is; threatening someone with something in order to get what you want, be it money or favor or protection.

 

Anyway, I was being (ahem, sorry) sarcastic ... of course there's no reason to put a bullet in her brain, Sherlock's got a MUCH better way of defeating her. It just irks me that the writers didn't come up with a "better" way for him to defeat Magnussen.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

It just irks me that the writers didn't come up with a "better" way for him to defeat Magnussen.

 

  Or stayed closer to canon and had a women shoot him. Same result, and while richly deserved, less shocking to the Sherlockian system. I can understand their reasoning behind it, absolutely, but it's taking some time to get used to.

[sherlockandjohn]

 

 

 

About no. 7: I think it's stated that she's not after money or favor... not that she's not after blackmail. If blackmailing is needed in order to get protection, she is clearly not shy about using it.

 

But isn't saying "she's not after money or favor" the same as saying "she's not after blackmail"? To me, that's what blackmail is; threatening someone with something in order to get what you want, be it money or favor or protection.

 

Anyway, I was being (ahem, sorry) sarcastic ... of course there's no reason to put a bullet in her brain, Sherlock's got a MUCH better way of defeating her. It just irks me that the writers didn't come up with a "better" way for him to defeat Magnussen.

 

 

I had forgotten that she did ask for money towards the end, so that was indeed blackmail. And yes, she did always blackmail her way to get protection.

 

I assumed you didn't mean that you wanted Sherlock to kill Irene but rather that you didn't agree with him killing Magnussen. In real life I wouldn't have wanted him to, but it works for me on the show, because I don't mind that Sherlock - for once - doesn't really defeat a villain, but is defeated himself. I'm okay with that, just this once, to show that he is human. And to show how far he would go to protect John and Mary.

[Arcadia]

On the other hand Charles used this information to manipulate the government into doing things that they shouldn't.

You mean like covering up the fact that Sherlock blew the government's elaborate, years-in-the-making "Bond Air" plan by interfering where he was told not to?

 

My theory : Sherlock realized that Charles was an equally smart person and calculated all moves perfectly. He and John would face imprisonment meaning John would not be able to see his child. Charles was unstoppable and would continue to live a life like this causing pain to a huge number of people. He could still get Mary into trouble so Sherlock would have to listen to him. Killing Charles was the only way out as this is the only thing Charles had not thought of.

 

I think you are probably right, that was the INTENTION. It's just that, on general principle, I don't approve of resorting to murder, for any reason. Again, that's MY problem. I'm just venting a bit. I understand why HLV was resolved that way, I. Just. Don't. Like. It.

[sherlockandjohn]

... It's just that, on general principle, I don't approve of resorting to murder, for any reason. Again, that's MY problem. I'm just venting a bit. I understand why HLV was resolved that way, I. Just. Don't. Like. It.

 

 

By all means, vent! I believe we're all doing that here ;-) Especially after series 3.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 I think it was a real dilemma for Sherlock too. This wasn't what he had wanted to happen. He thought the vaults were real and was hoping for some way to negotiate....you can see the struggle in his face when Magnussen reveals his own version of the "mind palace". You can see his struggle on the terrace. 

 

But Conan Doyle, through Dr Watson,says that Sherlock Holmes was a dangerous man to his enemies and would kill if he felt it served a higher purpose and he only did it once. In canon at Reichenbach Falls...and in Season 3, Magnussen.

 

 In canon, Holmes says "I am not the law, but I do represent justice."

[Arcadia]

2. My best guess about the CIA involvement is this: When the MOD man sobered up, he realized that he'd given Irene some very sensitive information and was brave enough to tell his boss what he'd done. The CIA was working with the MOD on the "flight of the dead" plan, so they wanted to confiscate Irene's phone.

I.e., the CIA was working with them, but not working with them. Sounds plausible!!!

 

 

3. I suspect that Mycroft underestimated his little brother -- he really doesn't seem to have much respect for his intellect -- and figured the code words would be sufficient to keep Sherlock from knowing what the phone call was about.

I suspect you're right. Good, I like thinking that Mycroft is not as smart as HE thinks he is!

 

 

8. Because it wasn't in the script! Besides, he clearly doesn't loathe her, possibly because she's "merely" blackmailing the government (which he seems to have little sympathy for), rather than ruining people's lives as Magnussen did.

LOL. And again, I just want to assure everyone that I'm not advocating shooting Irene!  I love the way Sherlock used his mind to defeat her. I feel cheated that he didn't get to do the same to Magnussen. But I understand what the emotional arc was in HLV, I get why they resolved it that way. I just want someone to acknowledge that murder is never an acceptable solution, I guess. I'm sooooo old fashioned that way......

 

 

9. Moriarty likes to play. Which means he needs someone to play with.

Er ... I thought he was playing with Sherlock? Oooooh, so maybe he was using Sherlock the same way Irene was .... to get to Mycroft? Hm, never thought of that before. Don't see that he was particularly successful at it, tho. Yet.

[sherlockandjohn]

Is it just me, or is there are hint of bitterness in Irene towards the end, when she thinks she "won the game", but failed to "conquer" Sherlock? It sounds like she's trying to make Sherlock jealous by taunting him about Moriarty: "Now that's my kind of man." I think she's annoyed that she couldn't get Sherlock to fall for her charms (which he did anyway, at least to some degree, but wouldn't admit it), and is now either getting even or giving her allurements a last, desparate try - or both. I don't believe she's really interested in a relationship with him, despite her feelings. She obviously enjoys her power over people, though.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

She does sound a bit put out and snarky. That line that goes something like: "Oh dear God. Look at the poor man. You don't actually think I was interested in you."

 

  But there is a look in her eyes when she says it...and her voice isn't exactly steady, if I am remembering it correctly. And Sherlock isn't stupid. If he couldn't read her before, he is probably doing it now and knows she's trying to cover up. But he had read her in Baker Street and knew the truth.

[sherlockandjohn]

Ah, yes! That line shows it even better, doesn't it?! She definitely sounds like she's covering up her own feelings while trying to break him down. That's pride for you. Hurt feelings, pride, and power play.

[sherlockandjohn]

Just finished watching the episode for probably the 12th time or something, and it's growing on me. I've always loved the humour, and was touched by Sherlock's suppressed emotions, but never liked Irene as a person. As an interesting character, sure. I still don't particularly like her, but still, I feel for her in those last scenes when Sherlock crudely exposes her feelings for him, while stating very coldly that 'sentiment is a chemical defect' and 'love is a dangerous disadvantage'. It really is a brilliant, exciting, and fun episode with a strong emotional undercurrent.

[Arcadia]

Ditto. I don't like what she is (dominating people for money? Ew.) but she's growing on me as a character. But I wouldn't trust her any further than I could throw her! But the way the episode is structured, the way it's filmed, the acting, the subtlety ... wonderful stuff. Really one of the best.

[T.o.b.y]

It just occurred to me that there might be another way for my brain to accept the stupid Karachi scene, other than assume it was just a daydream of Sherlock's. Since nothing we see on this show is what it seems, apparently, what if Irene's impending killing was a set up by her to prove to herself and whoever else was interested that Sherlock Holmes did care for her and that she could make him travel round the world and put himself in mortal danger to save her life? Hm... I don't think this is what the writers intended at all, but until they prove me wrong... Hurray for head canon.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

Hurray for head canon.

 

  Hurray indeed! And since she did send a rose to Sherlock's hotel room, she certainly is alive and he knew she was supposed to be in Karachi and not in the witness protection plan in the US, it was more then just a dream sequence and maybe he did pull the wool over Mycroft's eyes....again.

[by the sea]

Just watched this episode again ... I started watching them all again the other day.  I think it's the third time now for series one and two and will be the second for series three.  I think this ep went on a little long but mostly I really like it ... got such a kick out of John and Sherlock ... still in his sheet ... laughing like little boys in the reception room at Buckingham Palace and stealing the ash tray.      Sherlock whispering to Irene that he felt her pulse quicken and saw her pupils dilate when he touched her was quite interesting ... you could see she realized he wasn't completely in her power.  And ... I think he did save her in Karachi ... really.  The look of satisfaction on his face kind of said it all.  Mr. Cumberbatch's unusual face is so expressive !

 

Debbie

[Dragonslayer]

I wasn't particularly WoWed by this episode.

Soo mqny things wrong in it.

 

I really do prefer ACD's story here by a long shot.

[Arcadia]

I know, the scene between Irene and John still confuses the heck out of me. But it's great dialogue, whatever it means! And it's really a beautiful show to look at. And listen to. And laugh at!