Reichenbach Thoughts and a very confused Theory
Spoilers for Sherlock Ep. 2.3 :)!
The biggest mystery of this episode, for me, isn't "how did Sherlock survive the fall?". I am with the majority of people: he jumped on the garbage van, from the van to the floor, had Molly arrange all the people on the scene crowding around him (and applying the blood), distract John via the biker, maybe tied his own arm with a tourniquet to trick John, ect.
But what the hell happened on the roof?
When Sherlock went up on the roof, did he expect to fall off (maybe being pushed by Moriarty?). Did he know he was going to die, so he chose a place where he could plan to fake his death (with Molly's help)? He can't have expected Moriarty to push him off - or suggest suicide (Sherlock's reaction to Moriarty's "Glad you chose a high building - nice way to do it!" - that was genuine surprise and shock, or at least it was acted that way).
I think Sherlock had planned to pretend to kill himself all along, if the code thing went wrong. He arranged the garbage truck, ect (notice how he looked down before he started to laugh). But then, when Moriarty suggested the suicide, why was Sherlock shocked? It was all going to plan! Better than expected, even. He could time the jump perfectly! My problem with this scene was this: if the fall was "prepared for" by Sherlock all along, why was this scene acted like this?
After Moriarty told him about the danger to his friends, Sherlock completely changed his strategy, I think. Before, he probably wanted to kill Moriarty and fake his own death (like it happened in the original story).
Now he had to convince him to call the shooters off - which he tried to in the wonderful handshake-in-hell scene: "I am you. Prepared to do anything. Prepared to burn. Prepared to do what ordinary people won't do.You want me to shake hands with you in hell, I shall not disappoint you." and the whole "I may be on the side of the angels, but I'm not one of them.". And then this look:
Isn't Benny precious? The way he holds his head in this scene - and the expression... I don't know what it is, but when I first watched it, I had to pause at this exact moment just to stare at his face :).
But back to the point: what does this scene mean? More specifically, what does it mean to Moriarty? That he has finally found someone who is just like him? Is Sherlock seducing him (would have worked on me)? Is this a double-suicide plot ("shake hands in hell")? Or, more plausible, a double-fake-suicide plot?
Is Sherlock saying: "I can be as heartless as you. I will completely break my friends' hearts by pretending to kill myself, and I will even make my best friend watch (certainly something "ordinary people won't do"). It kind of sounds like Sherlock is (pretending to?) go over to the Dark Side (if I may be allowed to be a little over-dramatic here) - both fake their deaths and go on planning crimes together or something like that. Is that the impression Sherlock wanted to give here? Is he trying to trick Moriarty or is he sincere (at least concerning the fake death bit, maybe not so much the crime thing)? Is he saying: "Let my friends live, and I will become you - let's do this together."?
Whatever the intention, Moriarty's apparently happy - and proceeds to shoot himself. But now my confusion starts. Up until now I thought they were both going to pretend to kill themselves, and they both knew this. Sherlock was expecting Moriarty to first call off the shooters, then jump down with him or whatever, only to fake his own death, same as Sherlock. Then they walk off to live their lives anonymously.
But Moriarty surprises him by killing himself instantly (Sherlock doesn't even check if he's really dead! WHY?). Sherlock is apparently shocked and surprised that Moriarty shoots himself too soon (and for real).
This whole scene only works, in my opinion, if Moriarty really did kill himself. But why? Did he really want to kill himself all along, and was this set up with his "living is boring" speech? A "grim fairy tale ending" with the hero discredited (and believed dead), and the villain dead? Was this Moriarty's way to "burn Sherlock" - to take away his friends, his work, his reputation?
Sorry for my rambling thoughts, I am really confused by this episode. I'd love to discuss this, though :)! Any opinions? Am I completely off the mark (possibly, haha)?
The biggest mystery of this episode, for me, isn't "how did Sherlock survive the fall?". I am with the majority of people: he jumped on the garbage van, from the van to the floor, had Molly arrange all the people on the scene crowding around him (and applying the blood), distract John via the biker, maybe tied his own arm with a tourniquet to trick John, ect.
But what the hell happened on the roof?
When Sherlock went up on the roof, did he expect to fall off (maybe being pushed by Moriarty?). Did he know he was going to die, so he chose a place where he could plan to fake his death (with Molly's help)? He can't have expected Moriarty to push him off - or suggest suicide (Sherlock's reaction to Moriarty's "Glad you chose a high building - nice way to do it!" - that was genuine surprise and shock, or at least it was acted that way).
I think Sherlock had planned to pretend to kill himself all along, if the code thing went wrong. He arranged the garbage truck, ect (notice how he looked down before he started to laugh). But then, when Moriarty suggested the suicide, why was Sherlock shocked? It was all going to plan! Better than expected, even. He could time the jump perfectly! My problem with this scene was this: if the fall was "prepared for" by Sherlock all along, why was this scene acted like this?
After Moriarty told him about the danger to his friends, Sherlock completely changed his strategy, I think. Before, he probably wanted to kill Moriarty and fake his own death (like it happened in the original story).
Now he had to convince him to call the shooters off - which he tried to in the wonderful handshake-in-hell scene: "I am you. Prepared to do anything. Prepared to burn. Prepared to do what ordinary people won't do.You want me to shake hands with you in hell, I shall not disappoint you." and the whole "I may be on the side of the angels, but I'm not one of them.". And then this look:
Isn't Benny precious? The way he holds his head in this scene - and the expression... I don't know what it is, but when I first watched it, I had to pause at this exact moment just to stare at his face :).
But back to the point: what does this scene mean? More specifically, what does it mean to Moriarty? That he has finally found someone who is just like him? Is Sherlock seducing him (would have worked on me)? Is this a double-suicide plot ("shake hands in hell")? Or, more plausible, a double-fake-suicide plot?
Is Sherlock saying: "I can be as heartless as you. I will completely break my friends' hearts by pretending to kill myself, and I will even make my best friend watch (certainly something "ordinary people won't do"). It kind of sounds like Sherlock is (pretending to?) go over to the Dark Side (if I may be allowed to be a little over-dramatic here) - both fake their deaths and go on planning crimes together or something like that. Is that the impression Sherlock wanted to give here? Is he trying to trick Moriarty or is he sincere (at least concerning the fake death bit, maybe not so much the crime thing)? Is he saying: "Let my friends live, and I will become you - let's do this together."?
Whatever the intention, Moriarty's apparently happy - and proceeds to shoot himself. But now my confusion starts. Up until now I thought they were both going to pretend to kill themselves, and they both knew this. Sherlock was expecting Moriarty to first call off the shooters, then jump down with him or whatever, only to fake his own death, same as Sherlock. Then they walk off to live their lives anonymously.
But Moriarty surprises him by killing himself instantly (Sherlock doesn't even check if he's really dead! WHY?). Sherlock is apparently shocked and surprised that Moriarty shoots himself too soon (and for real).
This whole scene only works, in my opinion, if Moriarty really did kill himself. But why? Did he really want to kill himself all along, and was this set up with his "living is boring" speech? A "grim fairy tale ending" with the hero discredited (and believed dead), and the villain dead? Was this Moriarty's way to "burn Sherlock" - to take away his friends, his work, his reputation?
Sorry for my rambling thoughts, I am really confused by this episode. I'd love to discuss this, though :)! Any opinions? Am I completely off the mark (possibly, haha)?