Baker St. in batter.

From Dr. Dan the pancake man.

Because it's Friday and you deserve it. . . finally, again.

Elementary - S2E23 #47 - 'Art in the Blood' - a review

Once I get past the fact that I don't like the relationship still developing between Mycroft and Joan, and the fact the Sherlock's reaction to this relationship (and many other things) is really immature, I rather liked this episode.
Mycroft reveals to Joan, and later Holmes, that he works for the British secret service, and eventually we find out he has for a long time.
Mycroft had gotten out of it, but, eventually, to save his brothers reputation, becomes involved again, which leads to Sherlock and Joan also getting involved.

Once these revelations are made to Sherlock, other than the reason for Mycroft's re-involvement, he is invited to, appearance-wise, the "Diogenes Club" for spies and asked to work for "Queen and Country" to help find out if a recent murder is connected to MI-6.

We are not sure if he does this because the case interests him, or to get back at his brother.

The episode suffered again from it's need for grotesques crimes, but if that part of the story develops (with Sherlock solving that mystery and the code on the arms) it could prove interesting. (Then again, Cadogan West probably didn't look to good after coming of the train.)
And it still suffers from the over use of Sherlock's drug habit as the driving force of his personality.

The episode was full of good Canonical references.
'Cadogan' West.
Mycroft's involvement with the British Government.
Sherlock's unorthodox methods noticed by others.
His affection for Watson, and his inability to express it.
A building with the real atmosphere of the Diogenes Club and its offering of a space where like mind men can 'hang-out'.
12B.
And although some may say West's ex-wife walking in and giving Holmes so much information is a lazy way to handle the story, when in fact in BRUC West's  fiancee provided Holmes with some valuable clues.

And others.

I loved Joan's explanation on where she stood on Sherlock's personality.
The relationship seems a little in trouble however, and it is going to be interesting to see how it is handled.
Because of the nature of the short story, Canonically we never got a look at how Watson's other relationships were handle in the Canon. Of course times were also different and such things for the most part were not handled the same. However, if we remember, Watson did have experience on several continents, so, indeed, how did he handle it.
Canonically Watson left because he got a private life. On "Elementary", Watson is leaving to get one.

This episode also highlighted some well done observations on Sherlock's part.

Canonically we sometimes wonder why the relationship between the Holmes brothers is so limited, Mycroft only appearing in four stories. So if nothing else and even if we don't like it, "Elementary" is filling in some of the details.

Hopefully next season Joan will be allowed to develop a relationship with someone Sherlock does not despise and someone we Sherlockians can Canonically except. After all we are never lead to believe Sherlock did not like Mary.
If the relationship changes between the brothers, it will be interesting to see if Sherlock still has problems with Watson getting together with his brother.

Mostly because of the wealth of Canonical references in this episode, and the twists in the case, I can happily give it . . . .

Here is another review I rather liked. . .

This in from Doyleockian

He, Doyleockian, knew I would have to have one.
So, yes, I went ahead and ordered one.
Limited Edition Print

Tom Richmond is one of the best at doing what he does.

And Tom has down several other great images of Holmes.

Penny Dreadfuls = Holmes mentioned twice on NPR

Penny Dreadfuls

Again, you only get one question. What would it be? What would you ask Watson?

You have caught an omnibus in London, and happen to sit next to Dr John H. Watson. You are having a very pleasant conversation when you realize your stop will be coming up soon and you only have time to ask one question and get an answer. What would it be?

Would you ask about his wound?

His marriages?

What?

Would you ask him something about himself or Holmes?

This is your chance, what would you ask?

Seven Degrees of Sherlock Holmes - #52 - Jackie Lynn Taylor (1925-2014)

Jackie Lynn Taylor just passed away yesterday. Mostly known as a child actress in the "The Little Rascals" features from 1934-1935.

Jackie Lynn Taylor (1925-2014)

also took part in 1934's "Babes In Toyland"

which featured Henry Brandon (1912-1990)

who also took part in 1939's "Nurse Edith Cavell"

in which George Sanders (1906-1972) also took part

also playing in "Mr. Moto's Last Warning" 1939

with third billed, and great character actor, John Carradine (1906-1988)

who played Barryman, not Barrymore, in 1939's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles"

So, there you have it, there you are.

What is the one question you would ask Sherlock Holmes?

Sherlock Holmes is standing on a stage. He just gave a lecture on his most recent monograph.
He is taking some questions at the end. Each person is allowed one question (and none of them can be about fan fiction)?

What would you ask him?

What is the one question you just have to have an answer to?

Is it something to do with a case?

Something about his private life?

Is it going to be about Irene Adler?

Is it going to be about Watson?

This would be your chance. What would it be?

'Elementary' - S2E22 #46 - "Paint it Black" - A Review

The bad guys have Watson. It is Mycrofts fault. Holmes wants her back. And he is pissed. But not up to his game for getting her back.
After Watson last week got herself in trouble with some French terrorists, it is now up to Sherlock to get her back. Something he had a hand in, but in the end could not do.
While there were some very good parts in this episode the resulting conclusion was a little below expectations.

Good points first.

There were some very good moments of Sherlockiana in Holmes' observational skills while surveying various crime scenes. Some of the little details we keep hoping he will come up with were finally played out in this episode; Details in photographs, markings on floors, etc. At one point, when Holmes was examining the ground for poor Norman's body, I kept hoping he would prostrate himself on the ground like the great Sidney Paget drawing. It got close, but did not quite make it.
We had a couple Canonical references to Mycroft's lack of energy.
There were several examples of Holmes' feelings for his Watson.
Examples of his knowledge in chemistry.
Although not Canonical, the acting was strong.
Mysterious Mycroft and the climactic discovery of his involvement with the British Government (which was, if not surprising, fairly well done.)

What spoiled this episode for me was it's falling back on habits we keep hoping it will get beyond.

Overly gross crimes, that lack panache. Or as Watson would say, "grotesque". And it's need to have an innocent victim being murdered in just about every episode.

The sibling rivalry between the brothers is getting a little tiresome, especially the younger Holmes' immaturity in the situation.

And it seems like instead of Sherlock being only slightly less intelligent than his brother, he seems to be coming in at least fourth in the running to other characters in the show. We are told, Canonically, that Sherlock knows Mycroft's position of importance in the British Government. But in 'Elementary' Sherlock is very Alicia Silverstone, 'Clueless', to Mycroft's real involvements. Canonically we expect the difference between the two brothers to be more a level of energy issue and not a blinded by resentment one. I kept hoping the investigation would turn into a tit-for-tat, back and forth bouncing off of ideas between the two. It would almost come to that, then just fade away.

While this episode was very strong in a couple of Canonical Holmes references the immaturity of Sherlock rather spoiled it. We were even lead to believe Sherlock was completely, again, clueless and absent in the cases resolution. Mycroft once again pulled to wool over Sherlocks eyes. Surely Mycroft would know, once Watson was released, that Sherlock would learn of that involvement. Why then exclude him from the finale?

In "Sherlock" the sometime showing of immaturity works because B.C. at least gets away appearing to be a younger Holmes (in reality they are only about three years apart). In "Elementary" we expect Holmes to be old enough to have out grown it.

Although I found this episode well above most of what the show has had to offer, it did not come up to expectations over the last couple of weeks promise. (I can't wait to see what Brad has to say.)

So, for that reason I can only give it; 

For the artistically inclined.. . .

H&V