I've Totally Fallen for "The Reichenbach Fall"!

[rusty_armour]

I had all these things I wanted to say, ideas I was formulating in my mind while watching "The Reichenbach Fall". However, I was so blown away by the ending that I'm just sitting here in shock and amazement. Actually, I'm still trying to work out how the fuck Sherlock did it? How did he fake his own death when to all appearances he was dead -- and in front of witnesses, no less? I did notice that the staff of Bart's wouldn't let John get too close -- in much the same way Holmes made sure Watson wouldn't get too close to him in "The Adventure of the Dying Detective" because he knew Watson (as a doctor) would figure out that he wasn't really ill. I wonder if this is what Sherlock asked Molly to do? Help him fake his death? I thought Sherlock looked surprised and stunned when Moriarty told him he would have to commit suicide, but, then, "Richard Brook" isn't the only one who's an actor. And, after all, Sherlock and Moriarty are the same person, right?

I feel as if nothing I could write could possibly do justice to this episode, so I'll just record some of my geeky fangirl observations. Okay, the first observation isn't really Sherlockian, but just my glee over the fact that Sherlock retrieved that painting of the Reichenbach Falls from my favourite painter of all time, J.M.W. Turner! Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. However, the next moment of excitement for me was Sherlockian because Moriarty breaking into the Tower of London had to be an allusion to the Tower of London jewel heist Moriarty carried out in my second favourite Basil Rathbone film, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. For that matter, Moriarity was on trial at the beginning of that film, but he got off because Holmes didn't arrive in time with the crucial evidence. Hmm...Of course, the main source material for the episode was "The Final Problem". I loved the way Moriarty kept referring to "the final problem," which was a nice nod to canon Holmes fans. This episode also included what I believe was almost an exact quote from "The Final Problem," that famous comparison Holmes makes to Moriarty being like a spider in a web:

He sits motionless, like a spider in the centre of its web, but that web has a thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each of them.

Stephen Thompson also recreates that confrontation scene between Holmes and Moriarty at Baker Street, though it plays out quite differently in "The Reichenbach Fall". Nevertheless, Moriarty's message is the same: I'm going to destroy you. And, speaking of destruction, I thought it was brilliant that Sherlock's downfall didn't involve his death but the total annihilation of his reputation. As a shameless Lestrade fan, I really enjoyed watching our poor DI fight against the seeds of doubt that had been planted in his head. I'm not sure if he entirely believed that Sherlock was involved in the kidnapping. He did try to warn Sherlock and wasn't happy about the arrest. Of course, that was nothing compared to that final conversation between Sherlock and John. It was heartbreaking to see Sherlock tearfully tell John that he was a fraud, sacrificing himself in order to save his three friends. It's fantastic that the note left at Reichenbach Falls in "The Final Problem" became a phone call here. I wonder if it was worse for John to see Sherlock "die" than it was for Watson to imagine what Holmes's "death" was like at Reichenbach Falls. Lastly, it was fabulous to see John give his own version of the "best and wisest man whom I have ever known" canon quote at the cemetary and catch that glimpse of Sherlock watching John, much as Holmes watched Watson at Reichenbach Falls after he faked his death.

I'll be waiting with bated breath until the next new episode is broadcast.

Comments

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pointing out all the canon geeky references!

I thought it was an excellent episode, really mind-boggling. And Moriarty was properly scary.

I don't know exactly how Sherlock did it, but it involves Molly somehow, and it was definitely rigged as Sherlock was very particular about where Watson was standing during the phone call and he couldn't see where SH landed. There was also a convenient rubbish truck going past, full of bags. The person on the pavement certainly looked very like Sherlock (pale eyes etc) but did we only see him through the dazed eyes of John who saw what he expected to see? It certainly wasn't Moriarty's body, which would have been the obvious suggestion.

On a more emotional level, I found it more difficult to believe. I know that what went on between the superior brains of Sherlock and Moriarty is very complicated, but I couldn't believe that Moriarty would ever imagine that Sherlock would sacrifice himself to save others, and that seemed a flaw in the whole plan. Sherlock thinks he is too special and superior for that. We've been told explicitly that Sherlock thinks he has no friends except John, and he didn't show any inclination to go and see Mrs Hudson when he was told she was dying. And he shows little regard for Lestrade. So why should he destroy himself for them?

So if Moriarty didn't really think that Sherlock would kill himself, what was going on? Was loss of reputation enough? I'm lost in the double-think. And had Sherlock anticipated all this with Moriarty before he went up onto the roof to meet Moriarty, and had therefore made suitable arrangements with Molly for cadavers of a suitable size and shape, cyclists to knock down John and a convenient passing rubbish truck? My mind is boggling....

Any enlightenment gratefully received!

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

We've been told explicitly that Sherlock thinks he has no friends except John, and he didn't show any inclination to go and see Mrs Hudson when he was told she was dying. And he shows little regard for Lestrade. So why should he destroy himself for them?

The reason why he didn't go with John to see mrs. Hudson was that he wanted John out of the way and only something very serious would make John leave. It reminded me off the original story where Holmes and Watson go up to the Reichenbach fall and Watson is called back by a local because a woman is in need of a doctor. Watson goes back to the hotel while Holmes continues his journey, and he discovers that Holmes was behind it.

The reason why Holmes would destroy himself for the others is, I think, deep down he really does care about them and if there's anything he can do to prevent them from harm he will do it. And there wasn't really an alternative: there was no way he could prevent all three assassins from killing their targets.

To me, it showed the major difference between Moriarty and Holmes: Holmes appears to not care about people as it's only a distraction to him solving a problem whereas Moriarty really doesn't care about people's lives.

on a sidenote: is this the alysscarlet who used to run a website for Ray Winstone?

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your thoughts, radiogaga80, very helpful.

So the call about Mrs Hudson was set up by Sherlock, rather than by Moriarty... I didn't know the canon reference, but that makes things clearer.

I'm not entirely convinced that Holmes really does care about people under the gruff exterior (that seems a bit of a cliche to me). But I guess those who are more familiar with the canon can say if it is indeed the case, regardless of my preferences.

And yes, I am indeed the Alys Scarlet who used to run the Ray Winstone website. In fact, it's still online, preserved in aspic, but I don't have time to update it any more. :-)

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

In all fairness, I think in canon Holmes only once showed genuine care and when he did, it was because Watson got shot. To quote Watson: "It was worth a wound; it was worth many wounds; to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation." (source: "The three Garridebs" (and a bit of Wikiquote))

Nice to "see" you online though - I used to run a site for certain Saracen, that's why I wondered. :)

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

That's a very nice quotation - thank you!

Hehe - it's not surprising that RoS fans crop up on Rusty-Armour's blog! :-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I just did a rough count and I'd say that at least 20 people on my flist are RoS fans. Okay, in one case, it's one person with three different pseudonyms, but still... *g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

radiogaga80 pretty much covered everything -- and quite beautifully, I might add -- but I'll just add my two cents as well. *g* I agree with you that Sherlock's "death" involved Molly and was something that was very carefully planned and executed. I mean, Sherlock was the one who chose the location for his meeting with Moriarty, so he could have worked out all kinds of details beforehand. I'm guessing that he intended to fake his death all along. I mean, his reputation is in ruins and he's a fugitive from the law. If he pretends to be dead then he's got some much needed breathing room.

As radiogaga80 said, the message was intended to get John out of the way. This echoes the fool's errand Watson is sent on in "The Final Problem". I'm assuming that Sherlock arranged to have the message sent in order to keep John away from Barts. He knew Mrs. Hudson hadn't been shot, which is why he seemed so cold-hearted about the whole thing.

I think Sherlock's gifts are everything to him. He loves being clever and needs to solve puzzles not only to keep his brain occupied but to show off. Keep in mind that with his reputation ruined, no one is going to go to him with their problems, which means he'll have nothing to solve. Besides, I don't think Moriarty thought Sherlock would kill himself for that reason. He really did expect him to sacrifice his life to save his friends. We've seen how much he cares about John and Mrs. Hudson at least. And as Moriarty points out in "The Great Game," Sherlock does have a heart even if he doesn't want to admit it.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks Claire! I really think I need to rewatch the episode, although I too found it most unsettling and I'm not sure I want to see it all again!

I hadn't realised there was a canon equivalent to the call about Mrs Hudson, arranged by Sherlock, rather than Moriarty, so that helps.

It's really tough that poor John has to suffer so much and not know that Sherlock is still alive. If I was John I'm not sure I would ever forgive him for that when I found out.

That's a good point about Sherlock's need to solve puzzles. I'm still a bit ambiguous about the idea of Sherlock with a heart under the gruff exterior, which seems like a cliche to me. But if it has a canon precendent then who am I to argue. :-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hey, alysscarlet! Just a quick comment to clarify something I should have been more clear about. In "The Final Problem," it's Moriarty who arranges to have a message sent to Watson about a sick English woman back at their hotel. I'm not actually sure if it was Sherlock who sent the false message to John in "The Reichenbach Fall". I just figured it might be as I assumed he would have more reason to want John out of the way as he orchestrated the meeting with Moriarty. If anything, I'm guessing Moriarty would want John there so that he could actually hold him hostage directly in front of Sherlock.

I can understand why you're having a hard time picturing Sherlock with a heart. However, if there's one person in the world that he cares about it's John. This is shown in canon, and I would argue that it's shown in Sherlock as well. Canon Holmes was actually willing to sacrifice himself in "The Final Problem" to rid the world of Moriarty. I'm pretty sure Sherlock isn't that selfless, but I don't have a problem seeing him lay down his life for John.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree that it would make more sense (and be more sympathetic to Sherlock) if he had arranged the phone call about Mrs Hudson to get John out of the way. Rather than it being Moriarty and Sherlock refusing to go and see her...

I agree that the one person Sherlock does care about is John, and that was shown in Hound quite nicely. That's why it is so sad that he's having to put John through all this grieving for him unnecessarily. :-(