One more you ask. . . .

Back by popular demand. . . .

An 'Elementary' discussion of BLUE

Let's Play the Game.
For me, the theme of the most recent episode of Elementary was 'Does the end justify the means?'.

Is it OK for Sherlock to work outside the boundaries of the law to get his results?

It is not the first time this issue has been brought up in discussion of Holmes methods in the Canon.
And it won't be the last.
What makes it perhaps a little more unique is that Elementary took it to the degree where someone was injured and nearly died because of Holmes' methods and lack of restraint.

It could be argued that these same methods also nearly caused Sir Henry in HOUN to almost meet his end.
As it could be argued that Holmes' methods got Watson shot in 3GAR.

We also know of several occasions when Holmes used disguise to gain entry, and a few times he burgled his way in.

We accept this behavior in the books. In part, because of our love of Holmes, so we believe he is going to make the right decision.. But probably, for the most part, because we trust Watson. We trust that he has accepted this as part of Holmes character, and since he is the moral compass of the stories, if it is OK with Watson, it is OK with us..

Now for the most part, none of us would argue with the methods. They work well within the frame work of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and make for some interesting endings. But because of Watson we also do not hold in very high regard the London police force, and we then therefore accept the fact the Holmes is making the best decision.

In BLUE we see Holmes not only being the investigator, but also the judge and the jury of Ryder, allowing him to go free at the end. We will never know if it was the right decision, it never came up again. Did Ryder stay on the straight and narrow and leave the country, go to America where he made good and eventually his descendant's started the Ryder truck rental company and are now wealthy?

Or did Ryder stay the low life he seemed in the story.
We see a former criminal who is going straight then accused of a crime, while seeing someone not known as a criminal in the past, turn bad and allowed to go free. And what about his accomplice?

Because Watson finds these results OK, we end up finding them OK. And, once again, because of the usually harmless outcome they make for interesting results.

I think it is brave of Elementary to take the examination of Holmes' methods a step further by examining the methods under the light of someone getting injured that is not the story-teller. We see a police force a little more intelligent than Lestrade and his peers, one that recognizes the need for restraint when you are hired as a consultant. It asks; Would Holmes methods work in a modern police age?

In Sherlock, in A Study in Pink, we see both Watson and Holmes pursuing results that gets a man killed in the end. But because it is Watson that does the shooting Holmes' methods are never put under scrutiny.
We are OK with the results, we like and trust Watson.
Are we to believe the Scotland yard of now is as dim as in 1895? Will Sherlock eventually examine this theme also?
But, as Elementary explores, in this day and age, would that be accepted? Can Holmes work with the law, while working outside of it?

We are OK with our hero's being judge and jury when we don't believe the justice system will make the right decisions. But what if someone innocent gets hurt?

Well, let's just trust Watson.

Does Lucy Liu's 'Watson' question that behavior more than other Watson's'?

It is also interesting to note that Miller's Holmes may have compromised two friendships, Bell's and, having her twist the truth for him, Liu's 'Watson'.
Would that Canonical Watson do that for Holmes?

Did Holmes' methods change after 3GAR?


Just a few things to think about this cold Monday morning.

'Elementary' - a review - Season Two, Episode Ten - Tremors'

The story opens with Holmes sitting before a police court explaining how a case went wrong.
We are given the case not only in the court proceedings but also as flash-backs. It is not till the story has moved along a bit that we learn Detective Bell has been shoot, apparently because of the way Holmes handled the investigation.

Although the show lacked in Sherlockian references and any remarkably new deductive and observational performances, I think the story line and the theme involved was very well linked to things that have often been discussed in the Canon.

The police court is trying to examine whether or not Holmes, and by virtue of her involvement with Holmes, Watson often skirt the boundaries of acceptable police practice during their investigations helping the NYPD.

It is a situation that has often been discussed at Scion meetings, and although 'Elementary' probably takes the law breaking a little further than the Canon does, it is not without precedence.

At first Holmes is reluctant to admit or accept the fact that his procedures are responsible for Bell's possible career ending injuries. He pointedly twists the truth when asked how he sometimes gets his information, thinking the end justifies the means.
But be the end of the episode, with help from Watson and the court, Holmes realizes his methods do not always have the most advantages endings for all involved.

At the end, Holmes also comes to realize his actions could end, if not friendship, a very good working relationship with Bell.

Although I found the case itself uninteresting, and to much like previous cases, I thought the handling of the main theme of the episode was done very well.

Holmes comes to realize all that he has to lose by his behavior; Watson, Watson's lose of a job working as a NYPD consultant, Bell's life and friendship, and his chance to keep working for the NYPD.

Although the show does not completely resolve whether or not Holmes will change his habits it does suggest that he is now questioning those habits.

I think it was very well done.

Sherlockian connections I made:

Holmes 'flourishings' of the recounting of the case would suggest how, in the Canon, Holmes thinks Watson embellishes the cases to much and strays from the facts.

Holmes comment about Bell being 'deviation from the norm' is a probably a nod to the Canonical Holmes saying Lestrade is 'the best of a bad lot'.

Once again, a reference to Holmes' knowledge of chemicals.

Single-stick.

His need to distract himself when stumped on a case.

Yorkshire pudding could be a reference to Holmes' origins being up north and not London.
(And as a Yorkshireman, to see them just thrown away caused the loss of one pipe in my ratings.)

So, being fair, and because they threw away the Yorkshire puddings, I give this episode

Which is your favorite scene in BLUE?

We are of course introduced to this adventure with the iconic scene, 
'I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination.' 

and of course we have the wonderful illustration by Sidney Paget to go with it.

And although it is a wonderful scene, and I to do like it, it, alas, is not my favorite.

My favorite comes a little further into the story as Holmes and Watson start tracking the path of the wayward geese.

Now, being a bit of a beer snob, and loving the atmosphere of old pubs, may favorite scene covers both of these passions, 

                                                          

'It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord.'

Ulster coats

I just love the though of these two gentlemen, who have known each other for a fairly long time, walking together in what must have still been a holiday atmosphere. Then walking into the pub and sharing a pint.

I realize the way the story is written that it does not seem likely that Holmes and Watson stayed long enough to finish the pints. I also imagine that Watson was a little peeved at that. But when I replay that scene in my mind, I have Holmes and Watson staying a little longer and maybe even having a second pint, or at least another half.

We are however left with only our imagination to picture the scene and the interior of the Alpha Inn.

The Museum Tavern in London is often suggested as the location of the Alpha Inn of BLUE fame. 

And while we did lunch there when once in London, I do not recall a private bar inside. I could have just not been looking, it may never have existed, or it may have been remodeled.  It doesn't really matter.

Following is as good a description of a private bar or 'snug' that I could find. 

'The Irish Snug.  is named for a quaint ritual in Ireland in the 1800's.  A "snug" was nothing more than a a small private room in a PUB or "public house" (bar) that was in some way connected to the bar so that patrons in the snug could order and enjoy their drinks without being seen by the rest of the patrons of that particular establishment.  Women, who wanted a drink but didn't want the rumors that often followed a visit to a Pub would use the snug.  Other people that might take advantage of the privacy that the "snug" might a policemen stopping in for a quick brandy, or perhaps the local priest who didn't want his business known around town.  Also, wealthier clients that just wanted some simple privacey would pay a little bit more for the discretion that came along with use of the "snug".'   source

They were not limited to Ireland, as is made clear by BLUE. Some would have been more private than others. Some would just have been a small partition, others full rooms.

What's your favorite scene from BLUE?

Say it may be so. . .

Now, I am not as against Deerstalker hats as some may be, having actually seen them worn in the correct location (Scotland and Yorkshire) (Although I did see a Scot wearing one in Penn, and he pulled it off nicely). But I must agree, they don't usually fit in very well over here (USA). And like Sherlock Peoria, I refuse to wear one (I do own one however) at Sherlockian events.
(Other than maybe a nice suit or something, I don't usually do the dress up thing.)
But, like Sherlock Peoria points out, the hat may soon be back in vogue.
With the cold weather coming in today, it may just work with a nice wool jacket.

And yes, I said something nice about Sherlock Peoria.

Fun Site

Sherlockian-Sherlock

As if we need reminding, our reading list for Dec.

1889 - BLUE - Dec 27th.

Has anyone ever heard of this. . .

. . . or better yet, watched it?

Elementary, My Dear Watson.

If you have the legs for it. . . .

London Walks