Elementary 2.21

[selenak]

Having finished my Remix assignment, I'm in the clear with both the ficathons I had signed up for last month (Rarewomen was the other), and am now awaiting the beta. While the Rarewomen will be public from the start, the Remix will have an anonymous week, as I just saw. Mind you, I think it's glaringly obvious that I wrote it, but then I alwas think that.

On to tv.



Given some of the crazier murder methods in the ACD stories, employing a mini drone disguised as a mosquito actually works as a clever updating. Also it allowed the show to go for a swipe against current warfare and coverups of friendly fire incidents, which isn't exactly daring but still good to do. It was, too, a good example of teamwork by our regulars, with Holmes, Watson and Bell dividing different parts of the investigation among them.

Guest star wise, we got Ms Hudson back on screen at last, but alas with only two lines and otherwise a silent presence at dinner. Also back was Mycroft, and here I feel out of tune with what I see of online fandom, because I really don't have a problem with the Joan/Mycroft thing which seems to be upsetting so many people. It's not like Joan is presented as losing her intelligence or initiative when he's around; having dinner with him doesn't stop her from noticing the same thing Sherlock did earlier and taking a picture of the French criminal. For the record, I'm assuming it will turn out that Mycroft does what Mycroft does in most canons, i.e. spying for the British government, only in this modern day canon he has an actual good working cover in the form of his restaurants. (BTW I'M all for the Diogenes Club being updated into a restaurant - or chain of restaurants - as opposed to an old boys meeting club - and Mycroft into someone who is regarded as a harmless gourmet by most people who know him. I mean, Sherlock's Mycroft is easily the most charismatic and interesting of the current crop, but he's also someone EVERYONE seems to know is a scary grey eminence. No wonder he doesn't do field work very often.) As to what he's scheming re: his brother, I have no idea, but it's the type of red herring where we're supposed to assume something bad and then it'll turn out to be something actually sense making.

So while I don't mind Mycroft asking Joan out again (which btw I don't assume will survive the season, because whatever agenda he's having, Joan doesn't take well to being lied to), I do mind a cliffhanger of Joan getting kidnapped by the international criminal with a fondness for Mycroft's pastry, though then again, I expect her to free herself; she's been in the business for two years now, after all. If I'm wrong and Joan spends the next episode damseling, I'll be angry; if I'm right and Joan frees herself, then I'll enjoy every minute of watching.

Comments

[lonelywalker]

I was thinking that, as Lucy Liu is directing the next episode, she may not have much screentime (at least that was always the case on Smallville when cast members directed). But yes, unless she's being held in a genuinely unescapable situation, I hope she'll at least make valiant attempts to get out. And probably escape just in time to have to save those bumbling Holmes brothers.

[selenak]

Ha, this reminds me of the recent interview I watched with Adrian Lester, where he said about the episode of Hustle which he directed that the writers had his character kidnapped and shoved into a car trunk right at the start so he wouldn't have to do double duty. :) Okay, so fewer Joan scenes. I still want her to free herself, though!

[saturnofthemoon]

I think the only real problem I have with Joan/Mycroft is Sherlock's incredibly childish reaction to it...and the fact that Joan has to take him into account in pursuing a relationship with Mycroft. *sigh*