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

[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. :-(