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]

I watched this last night. Amazing episode! Thanks for the review. I didn't pick up all the allusions to the books and films, of course, being a mild fan not a "geeky fangirl" in this case!

I'm really happy you enjoyed the episode! :-) And I wouldn't worry about not being a geeky fangirl as it probably means that you get out more than I do and lead a richer and more fulfilling life. *g*

Actually, I'm still trying to work out how the fuck Sherlock did it? It definitely looked like Sherlock lying there dead.

Yes, it looked that way to me too. radiogaga80 is arguing that we saw was what John was expecting to see. Maybe the body on the ground was similar to Sherlock (e.g. height, build, clothing, suitable wig) and John bought into it. However, that still leaves the question of where Sherlock went after he jumped off the building because it certainly looked like him taking that leap!

my favourite painter of all time, J.M.W. Turner! Mine, also!

Really? That's AWESOME! Small world, eh? :-)

I'm worried about Lestrade! With Sherlock supposedly a fraud won't Lestrade be sloshing around in the proverbial soup?

Yeah, I'm worried about Lestrade too. As I said to bwblack, I think there's going to be an inquiry into all the cases Sherlock was involved with. I also wouldn't be surprised if Lestrade was suspended and possibly even fired. bwblack predicts that John and Lestrade will work together to clear Sherlock's name, which would help clear Lestrade's name in the process. John would do it out of devotion to Sherlock (though I'm sure he would like to help Lestrade out as well). Of course, I'm sure Lestrade's motivations wouldn't be entirely selfish and he'd be doing it for both Sherlock and himself.

As John didn't want to return to Baker Street, I hope he becomes Lestrade's flatmate. I'm pretty sure that won't happen in the show, but I bet it will happen in fic. *g*

[karen9.livejournal.com]

And I wouldn't worry about not being a geeky fangirl as it probably means that you get out more than I do and lead a richer and more fulfilling life. *g*
I am a geeky fangirl in the case of some other fandoms!

We both have good taste, so it's not surprising we both like Turner!

As John didn't want to return to Baker Street, I hope he becomes Lestrade's flatmate. I'm pretty sure that won't happen in the show, but I bet it will happen in fic. *g* That would be good! I hope you'll write some fic yourself? If not, can you recommend another writer?

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm not allowed to write any fanfic for at least three or four months. In fact, I'm hoping to go longer than that as I'm trying to stay focused on my original fiction project. As my internet is down at home (again), I'm behind with what's been posted recently. As far as I know, there haven't been any stories in which John becomes Lestrade's flatmate, though I know there have been some Lestrade ficlets set around "The Reichenbach Fall". I'd say the best place to find Lestrade stories is dilestrade. To find fic (and Holmesian things in general), I highly recommend holmesian_news.

I know I'm behind, but you can find some favourite stories of mine bookmarked on Pinboard (https://pinboard.in/u:rusty_armour) and AO3 (http://archiveofourown.org/users/rusty_armour/bookmarks). If I do come across any stories with the flatmate premise, I'll be sure to let you know! :-)

[karen9.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I read some of your favourites, which I enjoyed. I particularly liked Nor the Years Condemn.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hi, karen9! I'm glad you've been enjoying my favourites, especially Nor the Years Condemn. :-) I should just bookmark impishtubist's LJ because all of her stories are awesome. She's also really prolific. She posted several stories (that had been on her hard drive) in December. I'm still trying to work through everything she's posted and comment. *g* I think my current favourite is Burdens of the Father (http://impishtubist.livejournal.com/45520.html). It's part of her Winter's Child verse, so I would suggest you read A Winter's Child (http://impishtubist.livejournal.com/38998.html) first and then continue with the other stories in the series (http://canonisrelative.livejournal.com/13960.html) if you enjoy it.