It was great seeing Amelia Bullmore ( Suburban Shootout/Ashes to Ashes etc) as Dr Stapleton. Absolutely loved this episode. Jumped a couple times. Russell Tovey was brilliant and thinking next trip to the UK.. will have to check out Dartmoor.
Moriarty explicitly stated that his victory was also the end of his fun and purpose. He had spent his life bored, playing with ordinary people for some meagre distraction, till Sherlock came along and gave him a real reason and something actually enjoyable. Something that gave him a sense of accomplishment. Defeating Sherlock was effectively his reason for living.
Sherlock was defeated, but he could still win so long as he could find a way to call off the assassinations. The only way he could do that was getting them out of Moriarty. So long as Moriarty was alive there was a chance, a way Sherlock could win. For his defeat to be certain and absolute Moriarty had to be dead.
Combine the two and you can him seeing his own death as a reasonable price for completely destroying Sherlock.
The question is how much of what either of them said and did was genuine and how much was the game. Hell, it's only Sherlock's reaction to the suicide that suggests he didn't deliberately manipulate Moriarty into shooting himself with that last speech, and we know at least part of that reaction (the jump) was somehow planned and fake.
I would note that the new video on John's blog of BBC news talking about the death of Sherlock doesn't mention Moriarty's body being found, despite mentioning Richard Brook. I'd assumed it would be reported as a murder/suicide, so that at least suggests something fishy on that side.
I would note that the new video on John's blog of BBC news talking about the death of Sherlock doesn't mention Moriarty's body being found, despite mentioning Richard Brook. I'd assumed it would be reported as a murder/suicide, so that at least suggests something fishy on that side.
Well, I just sort of assumed that it was Moriarty's body that fell off the roof (somehow). So there wouldn't have been another body found. I mean, Holmes said it when he was talking to Watson at the end. "It's a magic trick." Even if they noticed the bullet wound on top of the impact trama he could have left the gun on the roof, and they'd assume he shot himself then fell. Watson was the only one looking closely, so who'd know? The only question in my mind is how'd he do it? I mean, you know, wrap the dead guy in your coat and hold him up there, sure while Watson watches, ok. But how'd he style the dead guy's hair so quickly? Or was there a time cut and he went out to a shop and got a wig or something? I dunno.
That was not Moriarty. Sherlock told the ME he believed he was going to die, he needed her help. Sherlock set up the meet to be on the roof. And who do you think called Watson? The ME got a body, got it prepped (time had passed), and called Watson, all under Sherlock's direction. He probably rather not jump, but he had a back up plan.
As for Moriarty's body, either he did fake it or the cops figured out it was self inflicted which wouldn't be hard, even for Anderson, and so it wasn't a murder/suicide but a suicide/suicide, hence the news articles.
I don't think it's Moriarty's body at all. Not without massive cosmetic surgery between the time we see him with a gunshot wound and when he is seen on the ground outside.
But I think the magic trick part is important, especially given how carefully he controlled where John was standing before the jump. That and the very deliberate bike hit.
For one, something never settled right with me about this last episode and I figured it out today and suddenly the episode leaves me with a seething anger. That, along with the first two not really having the punch as the first season did makes me prefer the first season.
As for the point that bothered me about the finale... well... in the original, Sherlock knows the only way to save everyone is to stop Morarity, and the only way to do that is to sacrifice himself. Okay, fair due, everyone is sad that Sherlock is dead but he goes out a hero. In Fall, there is the same motive, Sherlock does it to save his friends, but he lets Watson think that it's a real suicide. He has him on the phone and instead of telling him something like "I'm being forced to do this" or, dunno, the truth, he purposefully lets Watson believe he is committing suicide on his own volition. Believe you me, this fucks a person up, I unfortunately have experience in this matter (which granted might make me a bit biased or maybe I just see it more clearly). Obviously the writers understand this because they sent Watson to the shrink which means they purposely make Sherlock an extremely cold hearted and basterdly person. Top that with the fact they have basically made Sherlock's name and reputation completely un-salvagable... it's like they wanted to go for broke and litterally broke something. The more I think about it the more I find this episode reprehensible.
Though I do think Benedict and Freeman acted the hell out it which is what made me take a moment to have to stand back and go "what a second...".
How? Other than the Sherlock letting Watson think he's dead, that I can accept, but he could have least said over the phone "i'm being forced to do this" not "i'm a fraud, this is my note".
For the same reason he does in the original story.
Watson has to believe Holmes is really dead so no one will come after him. Holmes reasons that Watson would not believe Holmes would just kill himself but can't explain over the phone because who knows who is listening.
There is nothing to say Sherlock can't at least say he's being forced to do this, no other way. Watson would still buy that he is dead. Instead he dilebertly goes with the full on suicide reason.
Ok, Watson has to think he's dead, or it will be obvious that he's not because Watson's reaction won't be real. That was the premise in the books for why he never told him the truth, and it works here.
Now, why couldn't he say he was being forced or send some similar message? Because then Watson would go to bat after Holmes' "death" trying to make everyone believe that Holmes wasn't really a fraud. Hell, he'd be more passionate because he's not protecting his friend any more, he's protecting his friend's memory. And since all the evidence is against him, he would look to everyone like a deluded lunatic or a complete moron. It would be bad for all of Holmes' friends to try and fight the perception, and since he's "dead" it's easier all around to just let people think he was a fraud and move on with life.
Not to mention that, while he's out there secretly trying to start a new life, the last thing he needs is people trying to dig up shit about Sherlock Holmes. If he lets everyone believe he was a fake, they're all happy, and no one is digging around for more info. And once again, John has to believe or no one else will. So he couldn't tell him anything else.
I can see the logic there, but the simple fact that it devolved to that point and this is what the authors chose to do when they had so many avenues available to them and still end up with Watson thinking Sherlock is dead just strikes a bad cord in me. Maybe it's just too personal, dunno, but this plus all three lacking the punch and energy of the first season, gonna have to say I prefer the first season.
Thing is though Perhaps Sherlock didn't say I am being forced to do this for fear he was being watched, recorded etc. I mean they did show how the group of assassins, packed their things and went on their way? Sherlock in my opinion though is not about emotions it's all logic and working things out, he may have figured it would be more believable.. Watson is terribly upset, has to return to see his psychologist. My dad watched the episode the other night , he doesn't think Moriarty is dead but he also didn't think that the body was Sherlock.He said did you not notice the dumpster but we as the audience saw him fall. So this one will drive a few people crazy trying to understand and bring up their theories as to what really happened. Now not that this is terribly important but one thing that I thought was rather inaccurate was when Moriarty was obtaining the Crown Jewels. I have been to the Tower of London , saw the crown jewels and many a beefeater. First of all you can't stop and stare. They have conveyor belts in which you stand on and they take you past, on both sides.. Also, only one security guard? Not bloody likely... When we toured the area there was no less than four.
and I can't see it. Now granted there have been Americanized versions of British television series.. Life on Mars and Being Human comes to mind. But Sherlock? Then I read this...
I just don't think this should be Americanized.. ok yes we had Robert Downey Jr do his take on Sherlock Holmes but he wasn't strolling the London streets with an American accent.
