Elementary 3.19

[selenak]

Now that's more like it again.



Mind you, returning to the "Joan shuts herself off" plot would have been even more effective if Joan in the last few episodes (i.e. the ones after the "I realise now I can't have a private life" one) HAD acted noticably different than usual, which I don't think she has, but then again, we didn't see her interact with any of her non-detective friends, solely with her mother and brother. Still, the emotional subplot here, returning to Joan's angst and have Sherlock attempt to be supportive and steer her back to her old self, was fine, and both the first clumsy and self-related speech and the second one - with a great definition of friendship - which does get through to her were very him. If the Holmes and Watson exchange at the end was a bit meta, it wasn't suspense-of-disbelief breakingly so. And like I said, Sherlock's earlier definion of friendship which he said Joan made him achieve - people bringing out the best in each other - is why I dig this particular Holmes & Watson combination so much.

The case of the week worked for me, too, perhaps because the FBI and right wing "Think Tank" shadiness appeals to my inner grumpy leftist. And the principle of using an agent provocateur to steer a group towards radicalisation sadly is one that has been employed repeatedly in my part of the world. Also, as much as I wasn't fond of the episode where EVERYONE made their first appearance, the subsequent use of them as a running gag has been quite entertaining, and so I'm glad they're still around.

Comments

[king_touchy]

Sherlock failed to get through to Joan that first time, about how her behaviour might not be healthy, and then he went back and tried again -- without as much 'it's about me!' -- and succeeded. Such a joy to witness his emotional growth consciously serve his self-interest. Elementary has given me my favourite Sherlock Holmes, because I can believe he's a real person.

[selenak]

Yes indeed. He's still flawed, and always will be - which makes him human -, but he's also always learning and using what he's learned. And you can really see how he and his Watson are good for each other, which makes me able to wholeheartedly root for their friendship.

[liviapenn]

if Joan in the last few episodes (i.e. the ones after the "I realise now I can't have a private life" one) HAD acted noticably different than usual, which I don't think she has

I had noticed Joan snarking on people in a more "Sherlock-y" way-- I can't remember exactly but she did say some rude/cutting things to the people running the cryogenics facility in 3x17. I thought at the time it was... uncharacteristic, but not OOC, considering Joan's background and the way those people were presenting themselves as, basically, a medical facility. I did think it was odd that Sherlock said she'd been "unsympathetic" since we have seen her say some pointed things, but as far as I can remember, she wasn't denying sympathy to anyone who actually deserved it.

[monanotlisa]

This is a good point about Joan's character development, although I feel ongoing issues have been telegraphed -- her rambling speech about reorienting herself; her move back to the Brownstone. The up and down of her reaction actually felt pretty natural to me...because grief and loss come in waves.

Sherlock's earlier definion of friendship which he said Joan made him achieve - people bringing out the best in each other - is why I dig this particular Holmes & Watson combination so much.

This, this this. I love this relationship so much; it has raised the bar for all other crime-solving partner duos in my mind. (Whoa, that reminds me of my original dynamic duo...can't wait for Mulder and Scully to come back.)

[selenak]

You're right about grief and loss coming in waves.

Another reason why I love their relationship so much is that it's inclusive, not exclusive - Kitty, Marcus Bell and Gregson all being cases in point. And that, too, fits with what Sherlock says to Joan in this episode.