Episode 2.3, "The Reichenbach Fall"

[Arcadia]

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 3:09 PM, T.o.b.y said:

I was wondering today: does this episode make more or less sense now that we know about Eurus and that she had been in contact with Moriarty? 

 

I know that she wasn't planned yet when this episode was written, but I like to think in universe. 

Like, if Moriarty and Eurus had made all these preparations for her to torment Sherlock later, and Eurus definitely wanted him alive, then Moriarty must have never intended for Sherlock to actually kill himself. 

What does that mean for how we understand (or try to understand) the glorious puzzling mess that is this Episode? 

My thinking is that Eurus didn't have that much influence over Moriarty ... just because she wanted Sherlock alive to play with didn't mean Jim was going to keep him alive for her. Another thought is that Eurus knew that Sherlock would win that battle anyway, so she let Jim play his little game, secure in the knowledge her time would come. 

And she's so damaged, she may not have cared one way or the other, she was just trying to find ways to pass the time. Must be terribly boring in that cell. No wonder she's mad.

[Pseudonym]

I hope she didn't have much influence over him, otherwise it invalidates Moriarty as the villain we all know and, er, love. I already hate that Sherlock is the stupid one, his personality isn't 'real' but a persona adopted from a trauma... I don't want Moriarty to be just as stupid because if everyone is just dancing to Eurus' tune, whether they know it or not, it makes the rest of the characters pretty pointless. Everyone is a pawn, no one is autonomous, nothing anyone does is real. 

But I hate the whole Eurus idea with a fiery passion, so I like to think she had a little a hand in things as possible. 

[Arcadia]

Exactly. It was bad enough that Moriarty was reduced to a series of gifs just so that ... what was the reason for that? It was demeaning! For Moriarty, I mean. At any rate, I'm much happier thinking that their meeting was just that ... a meeting. They got a little info from each other, but didn't collaborate.

I don't mind Sherlock being the stupid one. Really, I think all that means is that he's a genius with a heart, unlike the other two. That strikes me as yet another example of the Mofftisses using a more dramatic word when a more boring one would have been more accurate. Like "sociopath." Or "assassin." They do love a touch of drama.

And I still think the Eurus thing could have worked if they'd done it better. Like, for instance, incorporating it into the story from the beginning, instead of slathering it on in a thick layer at the end. I don't mind a crazy baby sister, and the actress did a fantastic job. I just mind it being so obviously dragged in out of left field, instead of being an organic part of the overall plot. I still think that's a bizarre way to plan a serialized story. But I get the impression that only the fans think it IS a serialized story.

[J.P.]

^ this!

[T.o.b.y]

Oh, I am no fan of Eurus either. Not at all. I never wanted another Holmes sibling and certainly not this one. 

But now that she is here, I cannot ignore her and my brain is still trying to make sense of The Reichenbach Fall, so... 

I don't think Moriarty comes across as her pawn. It was a collaboration and he is just as likely to have influenced her as she him. I was just thinking, why would Moriarty make all those recordings and stuff to harass Sherlock with in the future when he was planning to force him to commit suicide before any of that could be used. 

[J.P.]

Probably for the same reason why Eurus blowed up 221b risking to kill Sherlock. <irony off>

[Pseudonym]

I know how she convinced him to do the gifs.

"You know what my brother really likes, Jim? Trains. He loves trains. Send him these clips and he'll be putty in your hands."

*Moriarty happily starts choo-chooing*

As for the blowing up 221B, it's the "boop, they're okay," that I'm still mystified by. All they had to do was throw a cast on someone's arm as evidence that yea, jumping out of a first floor window onto concrete probably will do some damage. I elect John, how much more vulnerable would be have looked down the well with a broken arm... plus injuring John is a guaranteed way to upset Sherlock. Even after the morgue. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

As for the blowing up 221B, it's the "boop, they're okay," that I'm still mystified by. All they had to do was throw a cast on someone's arm as evidence that yea, jumping out of a first floor window onto concrete probably will do some damage. I elect John, how much more vulnerable would be have looked down the well with a broken arm... plus injuring John is a guaranteed way to upset Sherlock.

I like that.  How about you rewrite the script?

[T.o.b.y]

I think they needed everyone able bodied for Sherrinford... 

I kind of like the Baker Street explosion. I know it's silly but I enjoy that scene. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

1 hour ago, T.o.b.y said:

I think they needed everyone able bodied for Sherrinford... 

Just a prominent bandage or two, then?  A few visible bruises?  I mean, what is this, The A Team?

 

(Somebody please correct me if I'm got the wrong show -- but it was famous for scenes like this:  The bad guys drive over a cliff and their car bursts into flames upon impact.  Then we hear a voice-over:  "You OK, Joe?"  "Yeah, how about you?")

[Pseudonym]

I don't know, John didn't do that much physically in TFP. As long as he still had one working arm to hold a gun I can't see there being too many problems. 

Lol! I've never watched the A-Team but that sounds legit; "You ok, Sherlock?" "Yes, how about you?"

Ha, reminds me of a scene in the Family Guy movie (which wasn't very good, but that's by-the-by), drunk Stewie jumps off a shelf, out of shot. You just hear a voice over of manic groan/laughter followed by "Ohhh, ohhh, look at this gash. This big gash down the side of my leg. I cut myself deep. Doesn't hurt though." 

Have Sherlock's voice over saying something similar, followed by John's horror and the sound of him ringing an ambulance.  

[Carol the Dabbler]

4 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

John didn't do that much physically in TFP. As long as he still had one working arm to hold a gun I can't see there being too many problems. 

... though the sight of a man with casts on both legs, one arm in a sling, and a gun in the other hand might get the bad guys helpless with laughter rather than intimidated by the gun.  Oh well, whatever works!

[Pseudonym]

Well yea, I wouldn't go that far. 

[Arcadia]

On ‎4‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 2:02 PM, T.o.b.y said:

Oh, I am no fan of Eurus either. Not at all. I never wanted another Holmes sibling and certainly not this one. 

But now that she is here, I cannot ignore her and my brain is still trying to make sense of The Reichenbach Fall, so... 

I don't think Moriarty comes across as her pawn. It was a collaboration and he is just as likely to have influenced her as she him. I was just thinking, why would Moriarty make all those recordings and stuff to harass Sherlock with in the future when he was planning to force him to commit suicide before any of that could be used. 

How about this ... he didn't know he was making them for Sherlock. Maybe he didn't even know Eurus was a Holmes? All we really know is that he was summoned to Sherrinford to meet Eurus, because she'd asked for him. Doesn't mean Jim had a clue who she was or what was going on. They meet, they do this weird glass sex thing, Eurus uses her super mind powers to convince him to make the gifs, he goes away and never thinks of her again. But for some reason he feels compelled to make train noises from time to time .......

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hey, Arcadia -- your reply isn't showing up.  At least, I don't see anything after the quote box.

[Arcadia]

Try again ... I accidentally hit the reply button before I typed anything, and had to edit in my remarks. They should be there now. At least, I see them!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Ah, yes, much better now.  I had thought it was another trick of the new software.

[Arcadia]

I remember hearing about this but don't recall seeing it before … the original ending to TRF. No, wait, it's a fake scene! No, it's a secret message for the Johnlock fans! Hold on, it's a scene from the (failed) pilot of "The M&M Gang!"  

 

[Hikari]

On 4/15/2018 at 4:01 PM, Pseudonym said:

I love this expression so much. Impressed disdain?

In the context of what has just come before this droll expression of Sherlock's, I'd say that this is Benedict manfully squelching the desire to crack up at the sight of 'Rich Brook' and his shenanigans.  Because Sherlock is supposed to be really, really mad here--enraged--but here's this little smirky smile.  I can hear the inner monologue:  "Do NOT lose it--you are supposed to be mad. Get mad!"

[Hikari]

On 9/16/2018 at 4:55 AM, Arcadia said:

I remember hearing about this but don't recall seeing it before … the original ending to TRF. No, wait, it's a fake scene! No, it's a secret message for the Johnlock fans! Hold on, it's a scene from the (failed) pilot of "The M&M Gang!"  

 

Or is this just how Mark Gatiss and Andrew Scott say goodbye after a day of shooting . .?  Mycroft loves his umbrella so much that Mark has to take it home and keep it safe. 

[J.P.]

1 hour ago, Hikari said:

'd say that this is Benedict manfully squelching the desire to crack up at the sight of 'Rich Brook' and his shenanigans. 

To me it always felt like Sherlock cannot - in all his rage - not acknowledge the brilliance of Jim's plan.

[Hikari]

2 hours ago, J.P. said:

To me it always felt like Sherlock cannot - in all his rage - not acknowledge the brilliance of Jim's plan.

That is also very possible.  Sherlock looks, in that moment, that he has stumbled upon the one kid in the playground--among a sea of morons--that can play with him at his own level.

Fan vloggers also use this face as proof that Sherl and Jimbo are having a torrid romance.  Because Sherl looks really glad to see his playmate for a moment there--until he remembers he supposed to be enraged.

[J.P.]

Some people see romance everywhere. 😕

[Arcadia]

I know, it's amazing, isn't it? I couldn't help but have a bit of an eye roll at that one. People, really....  

[Inspector Baynes]

On 9/25/2018 at 2:18 PM, J.P. said:

Some people see romance everywhere.

People see what they want to see.
 

On 9/25/2018 at 2:30 PM, Arcadia said:

I know, it's amazing, isn't it? I couldn't help but have a bit of an eye roll at that one. People, really....

And we must not expect humanity to be other than it is. 


it is all a sign of our times, though it found its beginning a little earlier in history as is always the case.  The way needs to be paved before something becomes mainstream. 

I once wrote a rather detailed essay to the BSJ regarding one author's book and some other related publications, regarding the "fact" Holmes was a Woman, and the obvious results of such a conclusion on the future.  It was titled "The Decline and Demise of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson."  It was written almost 20 years ago, August 10, 2003. I still have the essay, and would post it here, but it is quite lengthy and detailed.  I will link to it if I ever get my webpage set.

The then Editor, Steven Rothman, refused to publish it because 'the author was dead and could not defend himself.'  I had to respond:  "But this is "playing the game" is it not?  And most all the early authors who began the game are now dead? Do we then stop playing the game with regard to all their writings?"  My response essay was still not published in BSJ.  It seems the greater desire is always to pursue and support the sensational rather than the more probable.

All this said, I've now finished Season 2 of the BBC presentation.

Little more can be said given the extent of the excellent contributions over the last 52 pages.

With one thing I definitely agree:  "I will watch it again."  There is much more to glean from future observation,