CBS Elementary Season 2 Episode # 17 "Ears To You" – Review

The opening scenes show Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) practicing his bomb defusion skills. Gareth Lestrade (Sean Pertwee) is not enamored with the fighting cocks, Romulus and Remus.

Sarah Cushing, wife of Gordon Cushing was abducted four years back. Gordon is widely believed to have been the perpetrator, despite receiving ransom demands for her return.

The latest ransom demand is serious enough to involve the NYPD and of course, the two consulting detectives.

Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn) oversees a meeting between Gordon and the person who sent the ransom note. But things go south, when the man tries to take off with the money. Captain Gregson arrives on the scene only to find the unknown man dead and Gordon holding a bloodied weapon.

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Sherlock and Joan (Lucy Liu) track down the dead man to an alcoholics anonymous meeting. Sherlock observes a woman joining the meeting and sees through her disguise. She turns out to be the missing woman, Sarah Cushing.

The customary subplot involves Gareth figuring out the man who mugged him.

I recommend the viewers to check out the episode to find out the resolution to the mystery.

Canonical References

1. Gordon Cushing receives a package containing a pair of severed human ears. The attached message claims that the ears belong to his abducted wife, Sarah Cushing. - In The Adventure of The Cardboard Box, a Sarah Cushing receives a cardboard box, containing the severed ears of her sister, Mary Cushing and her boyfriend, Alec Fairbairn.

2. Sherlock mentions the case of a man who tried to sexually molest two ostriches at a zoo. He also mentions earlier that he keeps himself informed of county crimes. - Dr John Watson mentions about Sherlock Holmes' knowledge in A Study in Scarlet: “Sensational Literature - Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.”

3. Sherlock makes deductions about Jim Browner's occupation based on his calluses and fingernails - Sherlock Holmes explains to Dr John Watson in A Study in Scarlet: “By a man's finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”

4. The character of Jim Browner, the man who was blackmailing Sarah Cushing and unsuccessfully tried to extract ransom money from Gordon - In The Adventure of The Cardboard Box, Jim Browner cuts off the ears of his wife Mary Cushing and her lover, Alec Fairbairn.

It seems everyone in the world of Elementary is addicted to one thing or the other. Sherlock is a drug addict. Lestrade is an alcoholic. Even Sarah Cushing is a recovering alcoholic.

I did enjoy the discussion about Alphonse Bertillon and his observation about the uniqueness of human ears, much like fingerprints.

Recommended only to die-hard fans of the show.

Trivia

The song “Confidence” by The Dodos is played in the closing scene of the episode.

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CBS Elementary Season 2 Episode # 16 "The One Percent Solution" – Review

The opening scenes offer a quick recap of the first episode of Season 2: “Step Nine”. As readers might remember, we were introduced to Gareth Lestrade (Sean Pertwee) in that episode.

Back to the present - Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) brings two fighting cocks, Romulus and Remus to his brownstone with the intention of rehabilitating them. Joan (Lucy Liu) is not happy with this particular idea of Sherlock.

Sherlock and Joan are summoned by Captain Thomas Gregson (Aidan Quinn) to solve a bombing in a restaurant. Some VIPs were present at the time of the bombing. One of them has been killed and a junior employee has been left badly injured.

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Lestrade is also on the case as a result of the influence wielded by his current employer, Richard Balsille (Bill Irwin). Gareth has also brought Miss Truepenny (Sarah Goldberg), his assistant along for the investigation.

Aurelius, a serial bomber becomes the prime suspect for NYPD. Holmes however thinks otherwise.

I recommend the viewers to check out the episode to find out the resolution to the mystery.

Canonical References

1. The episode title: “The One Percent Solution”  - In The Sign of the Four, Sherlock Holmes refers to the famous “seven-per-cent solution” of cocaine.

2. In his DOUG Chat, Gareth Lestrade states: “Like any art form, the science of deduction and analysis requires years of arduous study. You see, one lifetime is not enough to master it. No, no try several. So where does one start? Well, if you want my advice. start straightaway with a simple problem...” - Sherlock Holmes writes in “The Book of Life”, a magazine article in A Study in Scarlet: “Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems.”

3. Gareth Lestade's visiting card reads: “When you have eliminated the impossible” - Sherlock Holmes states to Dr John Watson in The Sign of the Four: “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”

Yet another boring episode. Nothing much to write about the acting of the principal or the supporting cast. In other words: business as usual.

The one notable point is that Sean Pertwee has become another casualty of the weak writing. It is a pity that the characterization of Gareth Lestrade has let such a great actor down.

Sarah Goldberg is completely wasted as Miss Truepenny. All she has to do is dress up well and crack jokes that unfortunately fail to tickle the funny bone. 

Trivia

Sherlock and Joan have set the song “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter as the ringtone for Gareth Lestrade's calls.

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BBC Sherlock Season 3 Episode # 3 "His Last Vow" - Canonical References [Part II]

This is the second post listing the nods to the Sherlock Holmes Canon in “His Last Vow”.

Click here to read the first post. 

The main antagonist, Charles Augustus Magnussen (CAM) is based on the character of Charles Augustus Milverton (The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton). 

Here are the references to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories:

1. Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) referring to Janine's love for him as a human error – Dr John Watson writes about Sherlock Holmes' attitude towards love in A Scandal in Bohemia: “All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind... He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer... But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.”

2. Sherlock refers to John (Martin Freeman) as the expert on women - In The Sign of the Four, Dr John Watson refers to his “experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents”. Sherlock Holmes refers to Dr Watson's “natural advantages” with the fairer sex in The Adventure of the Retired Colorman. In The Adventure of the Second Stain, Holmes refers to the fair sex as being Watson's “department”.

3.  Sherlock displaying his knowledge of the different brands of perfume (Versace, N°5, Prada, Dior, Claire-de-la-lune) based on their scent in Charles Augustus Magnussen's office – Sherlock Holmes tells Dr John Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles: “There are seventy-five perfumes, which it is very necessary that a criminal expert should be able to distinguish from each other, and cases have more than once within my own experience depended upon their prompt recognition.”

4. Mycroft's statement to Sherlock (in his mind palace) after he is shot by Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington): “East wind is coming, Sherlock. It is coming to get you.” Towards the end, Sherlock elaborates on this when he tells John about the story about the East wind told to him: “East wind takes us all in the end. East wind is terrifying force that lays waste to all in its path”. - Sherlock Holmes states to Dr John Watson in His Last Bow: “There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared. ”

 5. Janine (Yasmine Akram) expresses her anger at Sherlock repeatedly lying to her. She in turns sells the details of their time together to a newspaper and also tampers with his morphine supply. She also indicates about making up stuff to tell on an upcoming interview with “The One Show”. She summarizes as: “Nothing hits the spot like a revenge for profits” – In A Case of Identity, when Dr John Watson asks him if he will inform Mary Sutherland, his client about the deception carried out James Windibank, her stepfather: “If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub, and danger also for whoso snatcheth a delusion from a woman.'”

6. Janine informs Sherlock about her intentions of buying a gorgeous cottage in Sussex downs and the presence of bee hives nearby, that she will get rid of soon - Dr John Watson mentions in The Adventure of the Second Stain: “...but since he has definitely retired from London and betaken himself to study and bee-farming on the Sussex Downs, ...”
 

7. Sherlock is seen injecting a fresh dose of morphine and tells Janine that being in hospital and being attached with drugs is not good for working. As soon as she leaves, he removes the morphine supply and is back to work in his mind palace – Sherlock Holmes explains to Dr John Watson, why he needs a dose of cocaine in The Sign of the Four: “My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession,—or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world”

8. John mentions to DI Greg Lestade (Rupert Graves) about Sherlock babbling due to being drugged up. Obviously, Sherlock is acting out to John to avoid telling the truth about Mary. – In The Adventure of the Dying Detective, Sherlock Holmes fools Dr John Watson into believing that he is delirious. He explains: “Malingering is a subject upon which I have sometimes thought of writing a monograph. A little occasional talk about half-crowns, oysters, or any other extraneous subject produces a pleasing effect of delirium.”

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9. John remarks about the difficulty of finding Sherlock in London - The Canonical Holmes has intimate knowledge of London 

10. Bill Wiggins (Tom Brooke) explains to Mary that working for Sherlock will keep him off the street. Mary responds that won't be the case – In the Canon, Wiggins is the head of the Baker Street Irregulars, the “unofficial force”. According to Holmes: “There's more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force.... These youngsters, however, go everywhere and hear everything. They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organisation.”

11. Sherlock refers to 23 and 24 Leinster gardens as empty houses, where he sets up the meeting with Mary – Possible reference to The Adventure of the Empty House 

12. Sherlock tells Mary after projecting her face on the building: “Sorry, I never could resist a touch of drama” -
 Sherlock Holmes states in The Valley of Fear: “Watson insists that I am the dramatist in real life,... Some touch of the artist wells up within me, and calls insistently for a well-staged performance.” 
Sherlock Holmes explains to Percy Phelps in The Adventure of the Naval Treaty: “.... but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic.” 

13. Sherlock informs Mary about how he won the empty house in a card game with the Clarence House cannibal - Possible reference to The Adventure of the Wisteria Lodge, in which a mulatto cook indulges in animal sacrifice. Sherlock Holmes quotes from Eckermann's Voodooism and the Negroid Religions: “The true voodoo-worshipper attempts nothing of importance without certain sacrifices which are intended to propitiate his unclean gods. In extreme cases these rites take the form of human sacrifices followed by cannibalism.”

14. Mary mistaking John Watson to be a dummy being used by Sherlock to fool her - Possible reference to The Adventure of the Empty House, in which Sherlock Holmes uses a dummy to fool Colonel Sebastian Moran into making an attempt on his life. In The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, Holmes uses a dummy to retrieve the titular jewel from Count Sylvius at 221 B Baker Street

15. Sherlock's mother (Wanda Ventham) is revealed to be a mathematician who has written the book: “The Dynamics of Combustion” - In The Valley of Fear, Sherlock Holmes describes Professor Moriarty: “Is he not the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it?”

16. Sherlock's comment about John: “John, you are addicted to a certain lifestyle. You are abnormally attracted to dangerous situations and people” - 
Dr John Watson reacts to Sherlock asking him to accompany Sir Henry Baskerville to Dartmoor in The Hound of the Baskervilles: “The promise of adventure had always a fascination for me, and I was complimented by the words of Holmes and by the eagerness with which the baronet hailed me as a companion.”.
Sherlock Holmes tells Dr John Watson in The Adventure of the Red Headed League: “I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life”.

17. John has a flash drive with the name “A.G.R.A” inscribed on it. Mary confirms them to be her initials – The plot of The Sign of the Four involves the Agra Treasure, which is the object of pursuit by Jonathan Small assisted by Tonga, his confidant

18. Sherlock drugs his own family and Mary, before leaving with John to Appledore – Sherlock Holmes remarks to Lord Cantlemere at 221 B Baker Street in The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone: “My old friend here will tell you that I have an impish habit of practical joking. Also that I can never resist a dramatic situation.”

19. John is not sure about Sherlock's plan to stop Charles Augustus Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen) and asks him: “Have you lost your mind?”. Sherlock's reply: “I would rather keep you guessing.” - Dr John Watson writes in The Adventure of the Illustrious Client: “There was a curious secretive streak in the man which led to many dramatic effects, but left even his closest friend guessing as to what his exact plans might be. He pushed to an extreme the axiom that the only safe plotter was he who plotted alone.” 

20. Charles Augustus Magnussen refers to Mycroft Holmes as being “the most powerful man in the country.” - Sherlock Holmes explains about Mycroft Holmes in The Adventure of the Bruce Partington Plans: “Mycroft draws four hundred and fifty pounds a year, remains a subordinate, has no ambitions of any kind, will receive neither honour nor title, but remains the most indispensable man in the country.”

I welcome the readers to add any other references that might have been missed.

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Canonical Nods in "The Empty Hearse"

Canonical Nods in "A Study in Pink"

CBS Elementary Season 2 Episode # 15 "Corpse De Ballet" - Review

Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) has just had sex with Tatiana (Nina Lafarga), a pastor. Last week was Sylvia, a mortician. Joan is not happy with Sherlock's exploits, considering he does not even bother to remember the last names of the women.

Iris Lanzer (Aleksa Palladino) is the prima donna in her group of ballerinas. One of the dancers, Nell Solange (Kimberly Faure) is murdered in the midst of a performance.

Vincent Renatto (Bradford Cover), the ballet master intended to cast Nell in the lead role. In his opinion, Nell was unable to connect with the role and hence had to be recast.

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Detective Marcus Bell (Jon Michael Hill) is back to field work, thanks to Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn).

Iris informs Holmes that Nell recently split up with Nicholas Orman (David A. Gregory). Nicholas has a strong alibi during the time Nell was murdered.

Joan visits a hospitalized Morris Gilroy (Curtis McClaren) , who is looking for his friend, Freebo.

Captain Gregson has Iris arrested for Nell's murder. Sherlock on the hand, decides to have sex with Iris and is convinced that she is not the murderer. Iris' attorney Nolan Sharp (Scott Cohen) expresses his gratitude to Sherlock for believing in his client's innocence.

Sherlock and Joan soon discover that Iris was having an affair with Nell and then manipulates her into withdraw herself from the lead role. 

I recommend the viewers to check out the episode to find out the resolution to the mystery.

Canonical References

1. Elementary Sherlock refers to himself as the second best detective in the world - In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr James Mortimer refers to Sherlock Holmes as the “second highest expert in Europe”.

2. Elementary Sherlock refers Joan to his monograph on tobaccoes - Sherlock Holmes mentions in The Sign of the Four: “Yes, I have been guilty of several monographs. They are all upon technical subjects. Here, for example, is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-, cigarette-, and pipe-tobacco, with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash.” 

Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock is back to his womanizing ways. In this episode, he seems to be in a frenzy for what he terms as “hot-blooded company”.

Joan Watson reveals that her birth father is a schizophrenic and is homeless.

Guest star, Aleksa Palladino gives an excellent performance as Iris Lanzer.

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Step Nine