Episode 2.3, "The Reichenbach Fall"

[Julia Mae]

While I am perfectly willing to credit the real world for the two different rooftops, I see no reason to let it intrude in this case. But regardless, why the dickens didn't Sherlock make some effort to blend in?

I'm sorry, Carol, I only have my standard response to all things nonsensical in the show:  Moffat is an arrogant git who has no respect for viewers.  If he makes it happen, we are just supposed to accept it without question.  He has so alienated the Dr Who fandom they have a movement to get him sacked from that show.  If we had more Sherlock, we'd just have more irreconcilable anomalies. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

You may well be right.  However, that does not stop us from trying to make sense out of the anomalies, much as Holmes fans have been doing for over a hundred years with Conan Doyle's stories.

 

And I reserve the right to bitch!

 

[Julia Mae]

You may well be right.  However, that does not stop us from trying to make sense out of the anomalies, much as Holmes fans have been doing for over a hundred years with Conan Doyle's stories.

 

And I reserve the right to bitch!

 

But, of course!  Besides, I'd hate to be the only one doing it. 

 

And it is a great tradition to write fanfiction to explain anomalies, it's true!   I'm just thinking that until we see them present the explanation in Season 3, we will be wasting our creative talents explaining because we don't know yet what Moffat's reality was/is.

 

For instance, I don't think anyone kidnapped Mrs. Hudson at the cemetery.  And even though it looks a lot like Sherlock's arm, I think it's really just Benedict helping his friend Una who, in her 70s, really shouldn't be walking over that uneven ground!

 

So, here's an idea.  What if they haven't told anyone Moriarty is dead?  Molly helps hide that fact and Sherlock cracks his passcode and is using James' mobile to send text orders to his henchmen and has sent them all off to Belarus or someplace, so he knows they are not in the cemetery.

 

Howzzat?

 

[Caya]

Good point! By keeping up the façade, Sherlock (and Mycroft, presumably) can make the spider web quiver for them now, while keeping its inhabitants feeling safe.

 

I had to look up your comment about Mrs. Hudson - never heard of that theory (that's what I get for coming into the fandom late). One googling and a perusal of Aithine's screencaps later I'm still not quite sure. Here's the best pic I could make of it:

 

 

It's so small it's really hard to tell, but given that a) she turns up again briefly after that little wobble to the left, b ) she never shouts or anything and c) both the hand's complexion and, more tellingly, the coat sleeve are matching the rest of her I'd guess it's just her putting her left arm behind her back as she's walking away.

 

But I found something else while googling for this, namely this tumblr post by a patient soul with some serious sleuth skills, concerning the exact positions of everyone at the gravesite scene. From this, it becomes clear that Sherlock was standing not only to the side, but somewhat behind John as well, so he was well outside John's line of sight even if the latter hadn't been too distraught to see clearly. Also, he could have ducked behind that gravestone should John have turned to the right in leaving instead of left and away from him.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I think the scene shows him back among some trees as well, so he could have stepped behind some concealing foliage if John should stop and take a sad heartfelt look around.

 

I also like the idea of him having Moriarty's phone and using it to distract and misdirect the consulting criminal's minions. It would be very much in character for him and or Mycroft to do so.

[Julia Mae]

I had to look up your comment about Mrs. Hudson - never heard of that theory (that's what I get for coming into the fandom late). One googling and a perusal of Aithine's screencaps later I'm still not quite sure. Here's the best pic I could make of it:

 

hudson.jpg

 

It's so small it's really hard to tell, but given that a) she turns up again briefly after that little wobble to the left, b ) she never shouts or anything and c) both the hand's complexion and, more tellingly, the coat sleeve are matching the rest of her I'd guess it's just her putting her left arm behind her back as she's walking away.

 

A lesson in suggestibility.  I heard the theory before I watched for the incident and your explanation, on reviewing the footage, seems the most plausible.  I noticed this time she had moved her handbag from her left arm to her right hand.  That frees her left arm to make the move you suggest.  I also admit I may have ignored the possibility because it's not something a lot of women in their 70s can so, what with shoulder and elbow joints stiffening up.  Yet, it does look like what you describe.  Nice call.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Apparently her left shoulder is in better shape than her hip!

 

I do like the idea of Sherlock keeping Moriarty "alive" by using his phone.  (But I still think he's an idiot for looking like himself.)

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Gatiss did say that his Sherlock would never use fake noses, beards, bald heads or such. He'd just be "invisible", maybe he had Khan's mini transporter just in case he was seen, he would simply.....disappear.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I do recall Gatiss (or Moffat?) saying there'd be no fake noses -- but did he also promise no changes in hairstyles or facial hair?  I'm not talking about Sherlock putting on a wig or gluing on a beard, I'm talking about him letting his own hair grow or cutting it shorter and/or letting his beard grow, at least to a noticeable stubble.  That would make him far less recognizable without constituting what I personally would call a disguise.

 

But if Moftiss have sworn off anything of the sort, Sherlock could at least wear something besides The Coat.  There's precedent for that in "The Great Game" when he wore a museum uniform.

 

[Caya]

Let's try to view this in the spirit of The Great Game (the pastime, not the episode) then.

 

Why would Sherlock not bother with even the flimsiest of disguises?

 

From the condition of the gravesite it seems clear that some time has passed since The Fall. There's a headstone, the burial mound is flat and safe to thread upon, and there's some grass growing on it. This is not a fresh grave - John must have been too shattered to come here earlier to say what he needed to .

 

So if some time has passed and Sherlock is not disguised at all, it seems that the snipers are no longer a problem, for whatever reason. I quite like Julia Mae's theory with Moriarty's mobile, so he might have either sent them off, or (I wouldn't put this past Sherlock, especially lone Sherlock) lured them into traps to be either apprehended or killed. Or they really simply buggered off once Sherlock jumped, as instructed, and, well, Moriarty can no longer rescind that particular order.

 

So why does Sherlock not approach John, then?

 

Now that's a tricky one. Might be there's some other danger that prevents him from contacting John (he's still being observed by the underworld, although casually enough that Sherlock feels he can follow him like this), might be Sherlock can't or won't risk news of his being alive because he's stil unraveling the spider web, might be that he doesn't approach John cause he's afraid he'll upset him even further or ashamed of what pain he has caused him or somesuch. I must admit that this is where this theory begins to fray at the edges .

[Carol the Dabbler]

... if ... Sherlock is not disguised at all, it seems that the snipers are no longer a problem, for whatever reason....

 

So why does Sherlock not approach John, then?

 

Now that's a tricky one. .... I must admit that this is where this theory begins to fray at the edges .

I think you've put your finger on the problem with any possible explanation of Sherlock's very identifiable appearance -- if he's not worried that Moriarty's henchmen might see him, why is he still hiding from John?

 

If "The Empty Hearse" manages a plausible explanation of that, I'll definitely be impressed!

[Julia Mae]

I do recall Gatiss (or Moffat?) saying there'd be no fake noses -- but did he also promise no changes in hairstyles or facial hair?  I'm not talking about Sherlock putting on a wig or gluing on a beard, I'm talking about him letting his own hair grow or cutting it shorter and/or letting his beard grow, at least to a noticeable stubble.  That would make him far less recognizable without constituting what I personally would call a disguise.

 

But if Moftiss have sworn off anything of the sort, Sherlock could at least wear something besides The Coat.  There's precedent for that in "The Great Game" when he wore a museum uniform.

 Yeah - lose the coat is probably all the "disguise" Sherlock needs. 

 

Maybe a hat.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Maybe.  But not The Hat!

 

[Julia Mae]

So why does Sherlock not approach John, then?

 

Now that's a tricky one. Might be there's some other danger that prevents him from contacting John (he's still being observed by the underworld, although casually enough that Sherlock feels he can follow him like this), might be Sherlock can't or won't risk news of his being alive because he's stil unraveling the spider web, might be that he doesn't approach John cause he's afraid he'll upset him even further or ashamed of what pain he has caused him or somesuch. I must admit that this is where this theory begins to fray at the edges .

 

One thing we don't know yet is how long Sherlock has been, or will be, "dead."  It's always dangerous to depend on the Canon in  terms of the show but ... there was one Moriarty henchman left in The Empty House and he was a pretty high-powered guy.  So, Sherlock might know the assassin left over is out of the country at the moemnt, but he also will know the guy will be watching John in case he gets wind of Sherlock being back.

 

John, much as we love him, is the world's worst liar where Sherlock is concerned.  One mis-spoken word, even in private as he is likely to be bugged, could be his undoing.  Then he gets kidnapped and all that, again.

 

It's why Holmes in the Canon lied to and hid his own status as living guy from his John Watson. Also, Sherlock is not on his own, he never was.  He may be under orders at this point, the whole operation under Mycroft's control.  The real question to me is why show up at all?  Because he misses them so much and this is the only place he can get a safe glimpse of them, is my thinking.  (Or, yanno, Moffat wanted us to  see them)

 

[Julia Mae]

Maybe.  But not The Hat!

 

Hooded sweatshirt should fill the bill.  (Can't sleep?)

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

... Sherlock might know the assassin left over is out of the country at the moemnt....

So John gets bumped off by the assistant henchman?

[Julia Mae]

 

... Sherlock might know the assassin left over is out of the country at the moemnt....

So John gets bumped off by the assistant henchman?

 

 

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.   If they parallel the Canon here, there will only be one guy left, and that guy will be hard to capture and Sherlock will come back in some fairly public way to draw him in.  (John will be too hurt and angry and punch him on his nose, IMO, but in a mirror of SiP will be the one to save Sherlock in the end.) 

 

If that is the case at the time of the cemetary scene, that there is the one guy left and he is out of the country, Sherlock only has to avoid being seen by John and Mrs. Hudson.  While no one is targeting John at this point, he will be surveilled if the last guy thinks Sherlock is still alive, presuming that Sherlock will contact him.  So, until that guy is found and taken out, Sherlock cannot reveal himself to John. 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Even if there is only one guy left, and he is out of the country at the time, it would be very difficult for Sherlock to be 100% certain that he didn't have an assistant on duty.  If he guesses wrong, John could die.  I'm not saying that couldn't have been Sherlock's rationale, merely that I think he's an idiot for going out in broad daylight dressed as himself.

 

[Julia Mae]

 I'm not saying that couldn't have been Sherlock's rationale, merely that I think he's an idiot for going out in broad daylight dressed as himself.

 

And, of course, you are entirely correct. 

 

Sometimes it takes a monumental effort to suspend disbelief.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, I'm suspending disbelief just fine, thanks.  (That's why I say Sherlock's an idiot instead of Steve Thompson or Moftiss or the director or the wardrobe people....)

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

But we all know he is a genius and as he told John, genius needs an audience, even if it was just us the viewers.

[Julia Mae]

Oh, I'm suspending disbelief just fine, thanks.  (That's why I say Sherlock's an idiot instead of Steve Thompson or Moftiss or the director or the wardrobe people....)

 

I wish I was more like you.

 

 

Maybe .... maybe they will explain things in S1E1 and somehow it'll all make sense .... yeah ... yeah, that's what'll happen!

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Of course it will!

 

 

And if it doesn't, we can all just stop watching the show.  

 

 

 

 

Tim, you've been adding emoticons again!  Just noticed this one: 

 

[Undead Medic]

Tim, you've been adding emoticons again!  Just noticed this one: 

 

It's been there a while now, I can't remember exactly when I activated it though.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I don't often scroll through the whole list, so who knows.

 

Cute!