The Reichenbach Fall
OMG OMG OMG FLAILYHANDS OMG.
Well, with reservations aplenty. Steve 'I write the shit ones of otherwise brilliant shows' Thompson can't pace anything, and for a show that is all about dialogue, wow that was a lot of montage. The Moriarty sequence at the Tower was gorgeous but just too slow. 'Staying Alive' again felt lazy, not clever. I do not believe John would pick up an envelope with Giant Motherfucking Clue written on it, open it, and stick it in his pocket (and yet I did believe the meat receipt in Hound - so what's the difference? there was a shitload of other stuff going on at the same time), nor stroll past some unknown workman going into the flat. Just not enough complexity in the storytelling - breadcrumbs, mercury, blah - yet too much on the page, too much literal stuff said. The 'Sally thinks Sherlock did it' - we got that from the interview, we didn't need about six more scenes spelling it out. We're not dim. We're Sherlock. Let us be Sherlock.
But but but oh my, oh my broken heart. The opening minute. The handholding while handcuffed. Molly getting to speak and be and have an interior life and things to say and a job to do because she fronted up and made him pay attention. (I was totes gunning for Molly-is-Moriarty because I've loathed her casual dismissal up till now - but this is better, because Useful Woman With Life much better than Crazy Murderous Lady.)
And John being John and the whole of the last 20 minutes completely making me shove a fist in my mouth and squeak. So I find it hard to give a shit about the 'how exactly did the 3 gunmen get called off?' or the 'how could Rich Brooke have been a kids' TV presenter without anyone noticing that when he was TRIED FOR THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY' when they cap it all like that. The phone call, the graveside. Lovely John, who never stops believing.
For a show I consistently have gigantic issues with: bloody hell, I love you, come back at once you fabulous bastard.