Elementary 2x9

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

Discussion post for Elementary 2x9 'On the Line'.

Spoilers in the comments.

What did you think?

Comments

[darknessfactor.livejournal.com]

Not going to lie - this episode genuinely scared me a bit. That guy was one of the creepiest characters I've ever seen on the show. He reminded me of Adam in 1x03 a bit.

Not much plot wise, plus it looks like we have to wait two weeks for the next one... but definitely scary. Also we got to see a bit of darker Sherlock, so I'm not complaining.

[wolfinred.livejournal.com]

I was reminded of Adam, too. Super creepy and manipulative. I love it!

I was a bit disappointed by the interaction between Joan and Sherlock at the end, though. I wanted Joan to tell Sherlock that his personality is not set in stone and that he can become a nicer person if he works at it, even if he is clearly not willing to work at it.

[darknessfactor.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but now that I give it more thought I think that the writers may be setting something up here. Sherlock mentioned that he can be cruel, which we've seen in 'M'... maybe this season will eventually feature him at his darkest? We've seen that two people are trying to manipulate him (Moriarty and Mycroft, though possibly for different reasons). However, in this episode he's being manipulated more directly. Maybe his response to that is foreshadowing what he could become if he finds out about his brother's machinations?

[wolfinred.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right! I would definitely like to see that.

[p-for-polkadots.livejournal.com]

Yes, good points! Sherlock seemed rather edgy to me in general with the whole should have let her frame him/should frame him myself/getting a restraining order bits etc. And I think this edginess, plus the tension and conflicts between Sherlock, Joan and Gregson made him less observant and easier to manipulate into making mistakes. It will be interesting to see where they're taking this. Especially if Sherlock actually does spiral out of control and Joan has to be much more asserive to oppose him than she is now.

[p-for-polkadots.livejournal.com]

I actually liked the last scene because of the 'unsatisfying' way it played out. :)

Sherlock has changed a lot and he will continue to do so in the future, but he isn't ready to see that, and I think Joan knows it and that's why she didn't say anything.

[wolfinred.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting thought. I hope they're setting up for him to learn, then! I do have a lot of faith in this show after how awesome last season was...

[tazlet.livejournal.com]

Well the case kinda hung together, they used Gregson more, to my great joy, (great speach!), great white shirt, and HE'S MAKING A FUCKING DIORAMA!!!!

[venusinthenight]

Fella was seriously creepy.

And there was definitely some serious tension between Sherlock and Joan. Shit's gonna hit the fan before long. *nods*

[p-for-polkadots.livejournal.com]

This episode was lovely! So much conflict! Conflict between Sherlock and Joan, Sherlock and Gregson, Gregson and his team... what a delight. The case was actually exciting, hurray. Strong episode. I really hope they continue in this fashion.

I hope this will be the beginning of a bigger arc with more morally questionable behaviour from Sherlock and Joan trying to be the voice of reason or maybe even Sherlock dragging her down with him or even a role reversal. Oh, the potential of this turning from good vs. evil into lighter grey vs. darker grey. :D

I enjoy fluffy, heartwarming interactions between Sherlock and Joan etc. as much as everyone else, but too much of it would be the kiss of death for this show. Well, at least for me.

Also the fondant bomb was awesome. I liked that!

[classroomnotes.livejournal.com]

I agree! This episode was genuinely frightening...not just because the killer was threatening but because Sherlock was on shaky emotional ground multiple times...his satisfaction at solving the original bridge suicide morphing into guilt that drove much of his actions, his loss of control when he broke his finger, his refusal to bend to Watson's insistence that he tie things up neatly at the end. I don't at all mind a character doing morally questionable or regrettable actions if I trust that there's something enlightening on the horizon. The journey wouldn't be very interesting without a few dark valleys!

[p-for-polkadots.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely! You articulated that much better than I did. :)

[rap541.livejournal.com]

I liked it but frankly I think Sherlock was over the top in being intentionally obtuse about the benefits of being nice. He clearly knows how to interact with people and knows what is and isn't appropriate behavior. Joan was making perfectly valid points about how he was making things more difficult and his finding someone extraordinary is supremely arrogant on his part.

The case was interesting and sufficently creepy but I will call some BS on Sherlock and Watson not questioning where the lair was upstate. Lukas lives in NYC and his lair is in Onondaga County.... its a six hour drive to Syracuse from NYC. There's no way he could tend a captured woman with that commute.

[p-for-polkadots.livejournal.com]

Agreed! 1) There was quite a bit of wilful ignorance on Sherlock's part. 2) Yes, his recording studio was rather obvious.

[rap541.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I get bothered by a character acting like he can't understand something when it's demonstrated many times that Sherlock knows how to turn on the charm and treat people with dignity and respect even if he doesn't particularly respect them.

As an ex upstate New Yorker, its just a fail point for me that two reasonably bright people like Sherlock and Joan didn't question the five hour drive when Lukas was diverting them. I know it's because the writers are sloppy and assume the audience doesn't know the geography of New York state but if you want a place in the country its just as easy to pick a town in the Catskills. Heck Sleepy Hollow could use some normal serial crime these days... :)