Elementary S3E19 "One Watson, One Holmes" - It's about time!

The episode opens, once you get past the 'prevousily on' opening (which proves to be relevant), with Holmes attached to a heart monitor. He is trying to teach himself to slow down his heartbeat to fake death. If Watson had come in at this point we could have maybe had a reference to DYIN.
But, alas, Holmes is interrupted by a knock at his door.
A young hacker "Sucking Chest Wound", is wanting Holmes help in finding the identity of another hacker, "Species". For whatever reasons, Holmes refuses to help "Sucking Chest Wound".

"Sucking Chest Wound" and other hackers have helped Holmes in the past as "irregulars".

Joan is involved with a 'self Cyber-bullying' case on the side.

A short time later the NYPD contact Holmes about a murder. The victim turns out to be "Species".
"Sucking Chest Wound' is the prime suspect. Eventually it is proved that "Sucking Chest Wound" is framed, . . . . by the FBI. (After watching TV for a few years, one has to wonder way anyone still applies for jobs with the FBI or CIA.)

For a change, the plot keeps developing throughout the episode and we are not handed the murderer early in the show only to move away from him and then come back. We are kept moving from clue to clue and get a rather interesting look into the dark side of hacking. (Is there a light side?)

The only faults with the plot are that the how and why for the need to frame "Sucking Chest Wound".
(How did they get a sample of his hair? Why did they chose to frame him?) And we never get to see Watson's confrontation with the 'self Cyber-bully'.

The pace of the investigation and the deductions along the way made for an interesting episode.
Miller's Holmes was very much a thinking machine in this one. And although it may seem a little weird that Holmes was practicing slowing his heartbeat down at the beginning, we can always go back and listen to Stamford for an explanation; "To do him justice, I think that he would take it himself with the same readiness. He appears to have a passion for definite and exact knowledge.” 

This episode had much more balance in it than perhaps any other episode so far. Especially between Holmes and Watson. Watson, although still involved in the investigations had a much more of a , shall we say, Watson like role.
Miller's Holmes was much more subdued and in control. His quirks would seem less weird if this show were the gauge for upcoming episodes.
The dialog between Holmes and Watson, especially the one near the end of the show where Holmes explains his understanding of there relationship is probably the best exchange all season. He seems to understand the balance Watson creates in his life. He also understood that Watson was giving away to much of herself and was losing her balance. It actually felt sincere the way Miller's Holmes explained his feelings. A definite growth in his character.
One thing that is rarely examined in the Canon ( I said rarely, not never ) is how Holmes changed over the years and how Watson may have had affected some of that change. Canonically, was Holmes a more balanced, social person because of Watson?

This episode was also balanced in the way it handled the murder case and in the way Watson was dealing with her personal life. The story lines flowed well together.

I would love to believe that the producers have been listening to the fans along the way, and have started to get away from the weirdness of "Elementary" and just focusing on the good Holmes stuff.
But I doubt if we have influenced it at all. I just hope this is not a 'one-of'

Oh yea, Clyde was back.

I have to happily give this episode;