Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
I will say now that this post will contain spoilers and ramblings.
Do not go further if you've not seen the episode.
I'm going to state this now. This episode was not everything it could be. It was not the stupendous and marvelous and wonderful thing that people were describing.
I did not feel that after a year and a half this is what the episode should have been.
I was disappointed, bored and very, very annoyed.
Firstly, I'd like to say that I did not enjoy Irene Adler. Okay, well, I would have liked Irene Adler if Moffat hadn't pushed the whole sex thing. Seriously. Irene is Sherlock's intellectual equal in playing the game they play, which is a whole lot different than Moriarty playing with Sherlock and we will get to that. Instead Moffat says we'll make her a dominatrix and then get all pushy on Sherlock who I'd really like to think is not a virgin because he's probably had sex to understand motives behind crimes and whatnot.
Okay. Maybe not. But I don't think he'd be as flustered around Irene. I really don't believe so.
And then to make Irene gay and to have Sherlock as her exception. Especially how it was displayed in this episode was slightly bothersome.
*sighs*
That last bit is sorta understandable because while John keeps denying left and right that he's gay doesn't mean he doesn't have some kind of interest in Sherlock. He's worried about the man most definitely by indicated so many times during this episode. His life certainly revolves around Sherlock. And there are just many moments that the two have that speak on so many levels that it makes it easy to say the two definitely have a thing.
Though I suppose my biggest problem really is just how Moffat writes women or anything to do with them. They are apparently one of two things: sex kittens or housewives. Or both. (Look at Amy and River in Doctor Who.)
Another problem that I have with this episode is that everything about just seems so off. I don't know what it is, but it's like Moffat is retracting things about John and Sherlock. Like rewriting each character a bit differently than he did in the first series. I wanted a see a natural progression, but it seems like there's a backtrack. Perhaps it's just me, but I really think Moffat and Gatiss need to rewatch the first three episodes again.
Now down to business.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POOL SCENE!!!
That was one of the worst letdowns a cliffhanger has ever given me. I would have accepted any of the following: an explosion, shooting, Mycroft showing up or even the TARDIS appearing to scoop up Sherlock and John.
Anything else most likely would have been fine, but Moriarty getting the call then just strolling out of there without Sherlock trying to shoot him or even John trying to do. Moriarty just left.
I was disappointed. I truly was.
And there wasn't even a follow up where John and Sherlock talked about or even hinted at what the hell happened for the rest of the episode. Not one mention that could have made me happy. It's like Moffat believed that it didn't warrant a discussion. Just like he does on Doctor Who. The whole thing was ignored and that pisses me off.
John was kidnapped, strapped to a bomb vest and Sherlock thought for one moment that John might have Moriarty. My gosh! How does that not earn a scene of just staring at each other then some kind of hug or shared cup of tea of relief. I know that they did the little joke thing at the end of "The Great Game", but that was then and this is now.
I was amused my the montage thing. Sort of. I kinda wish we had seen more of those cases. Like "The Geek Interpreter" because if you read the write-up on John's blog he and Sherlock dressed up like ninjas. I want to see that.
However, the montage was apparently there to distract me from the fact there was a crap resolution at the pool. Oh, I guess it was also to establish that Sherlock was getting more recognition and what not.
I did enjoy the one headline 'Hat-Man and Robin'. I want art of that. And I also think that the hat John wore was really one of Martin Freeman's own.
Sherlock having conversations with John when this he is not there. Makes me wonder what else Sherlock talks to John about when John is not there. Is that why he gets really annoyed when John goes out on dates? Because he believed they already had one, but it was one of those conversations Sherlock had when John wasn't there? (And that's a reason why I believe they've got a thing.)
The Buckingham Palace scene...it had cuteness. They were like two schoolboys waiting to see the principal. And dear gosh did John stare a long time at sheet wearing Sherlock. He was totally checking Sherlock out. Normally a person will just glance at the other, but that was significant. Seriously.
"Just once can you two behave like grown-ups?"
"We solve crimes. I blog about it. And he forgets his pants. I wouldn't hold out too much hope."
I went back just a few seconds to hear that dialogue a few times.
Then John doesn't care whether or Sherlock is clothed. He just wants to avoid arguments. That's pretty much his job. Keep Sherlock from getting punched unless he's the one doing it because subtext and horseplay.
And of course John stared at Irene who is naked. Everyone who is mostly normal and not used to people parading around in the nude would stare. I'd stare.
I loved how Sherlock and John jumped on Mycroft who was being rude/mean to Mrs. Hudson. Sherlock and John protect Mrs. Hudson big time and she's gonna protect her boys. She's like the new Mrs. Cunninghamn.
The Christmas scene was a bit awkward and random. Awkward in the sense like they just kinda jammed it in there for a progression of time thing. I did love John's sweater and Lestrade's reaction to Molly. Though Molly really needs to stop holding out for Sherlock. And where is her reaction to finding out just who Moriarty is? I needed to see that. Where is that, Moffat? You think I'm just gonna forget she was dating Moriarty for a bit? Geez, apparently Moffat and Gatiss think I'm going to forget/ignore/move on from a lot of things.
Oh, and I think Sherlock would recognize a lot of people from not their face. It's part of his job.
"All lives end. All hearts are broken. Caring is not an advantage, Sherlock."
Yeah, well, f*ck you, Mycroft. (Then he redeemed himself like two seconds like when he called John.)
"He will out live God trying to have the last word." Oh, John.
"We're not a couple."
"Yes, you are."
Stop denying it, John. You're just making me sad now.
Sherlock followed John. That says so many things that I can't even start describing them right now.
F*ck you, Irene. Working with Moriarty. And then f*cking up Mycroft's day/night.
And here's Mycroft being uber creepy. I hated the whole plane scene so much. In the sense that it was a really good Doctor Who scene like from "Blink" or "Midnight" or something from one of the Library episodes (where it's scary and not where River is being obnoxious).
Now, who in one period of there life hasn't said "F*ck it. I'm gonna be a pirate."?
I want to know who was really lying to who. Because there were so many levels of it in the cafe scene followed by the bit in the flat. There was some hardcore lying going down and I don't know if it was all of them. Or there was some code thing happening between John and Sherlock or what. All I know is that their little triangle had someone lying to someone.
Overall, the episode had its moments, but that's it. I would not rate the whole thing as excellent. I was too bothered by Irene and the lack of resolution from "The Great Game". There were too many overlooked plot points because Moffat was trying to be clever. I saw a lack of proper characterization and too many unclear things.
This episode was not worth the wait, but I watched it all the way through. And I will watch the other two because I'm still a fan.
Do not go further if you've not seen the episode.
I'm going to state this now. This episode was not everything it could be. It was not the stupendous and marvelous and wonderful thing that people were describing.
I did not feel that after a year and a half this is what the episode should have been.
I was disappointed, bored and very, very annoyed.
Firstly, I'd like to say that I did not enjoy Irene Adler. Okay, well, I would have liked Irene Adler if Moffat hadn't pushed the whole sex thing. Seriously. Irene is Sherlock's intellectual equal in playing the game they play, which is a whole lot different than Moriarty playing with Sherlock and we will get to that. Instead Moffat says we'll make her a dominatrix and then get all pushy on Sherlock who I'd really like to think is not a virgin because he's probably had sex to understand motives behind crimes and whatnot.
Okay. Maybe not. But I don't think he'd be as flustered around Irene. I really don't believe so.
And then to make Irene gay and to have Sherlock as her exception. Especially how it was displayed in this episode was slightly bothersome.
*sighs*
That last bit is sorta understandable because while John keeps denying left and right that he's gay doesn't mean he doesn't have some kind of interest in Sherlock. He's worried about the man most definitely by indicated so many times during this episode. His life certainly revolves around Sherlock. And there are just many moments that the two have that speak on so many levels that it makes it easy to say the two definitely have a thing.
Though I suppose my biggest problem really is just how Moffat writes women or anything to do with them. They are apparently one of two things: sex kittens or housewives. Or both. (Look at Amy and River in Doctor Who.)
Another problem that I have with this episode is that everything about just seems so off. I don't know what it is, but it's like Moffat is retracting things about John and Sherlock. Like rewriting each character a bit differently than he did in the first series. I wanted a see a natural progression, but it seems like there's a backtrack. Perhaps it's just me, but I really think Moffat and Gatiss need to rewatch the first three episodes again.
Now down to business.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POOL SCENE!!!
That was one of the worst letdowns a cliffhanger has ever given me. I would have accepted any of the following: an explosion, shooting, Mycroft showing up or even the TARDIS appearing to scoop up Sherlock and John.
Anything else most likely would have been fine, but Moriarty getting the call then just strolling out of there without Sherlock trying to shoot him or even John trying to do. Moriarty just left.
I was disappointed. I truly was.
And there wasn't even a follow up where John and Sherlock talked about or even hinted at what the hell happened for the rest of the episode. Not one mention that could have made me happy. It's like Moffat believed that it didn't warrant a discussion. Just like he does on Doctor Who. The whole thing was ignored and that pisses me off.
John was kidnapped, strapped to a bomb vest and Sherlock thought for one moment that John might have Moriarty. My gosh! How does that not earn a scene of just staring at each other then some kind of hug or shared cup of tea of relief. I know that they did the little joke thing at the end of "The Great Game", but that was then and this is now.
I was amused my the montage thing. Sort of. I kinda wish we had seen more of those cases. Like "The Geek Interpreter" because if you read the write-up on John's blog he and Sherlock dressed up like ninjas. I want to see that.
However, the montage was apparently there to distract me from the fact there was a crap resolution at the pool. Oh, I guess it was also to establish that Sherlock was getting more recognition and what not.
I did enjoy the one headline 'Hat-Man and Robin'. I want art of that. And I also think that the hat John wore was really one of Martin Freeman's own.
Sherlock having conversations with John when this he is not there. Makes me wonder what else Sherlock talks to John about when John is not there. Is that why he gets really annoyed when John goes out on dates? Because he believed they already had one, but it was one of those conversations Sherlock had when John wasn't there? (And that's a reason why I believe they've got a thing.)
The Buckingham Palace scene...it had cuteness. They were like two schoolboys waiting to see the principal. And dear gosh did John stare a long time at sheet wearing Sherlock. He was totally checking Sherlock out. Normally a person will just glance at the other, but that was significant. Seriously.
"Just once can you two behave like grown-ups?"
"We solve crimes. I blog about it. And he forgets his pants. I wouldn't hold out too much hope."
I went back just a few seconds to hear that dialogue a few times.
Then John doesn't care whether or Sherlock is clothed. He just wants to avoid arguments. That's pretty much his job. Keep Sherlock from getting punched unless he's the one doing it because subtext and horseplay.
And of course John stared at Irene who is naked. Everyone who is mostly normal and not used to people parading around in the nude would stare. I'd stare.
I loved how Sherlock and John jumped on Mycroft who was being rude/mean to Mrs. Hudson. Sherlock and John protect Mrs. Hudson big time and she's gonna protect her boys. She's like the new Mrs. Cunninghamn.
The Christmas scene was a bit awkward and random. Awkward in the sense like they just kinda jammed it in there for a progression of time thing. I did love John's sweater and Lestrade's reaction to Molly. Though Molly really needs to stop holding out for Sherlock. And where is her reaction to finding out just who Moriarty is? I needed to see that. Where is that, Moffat? You think I'm just gonna forget she was dating Moriarty for a bit? Geez, apparently Moffat and Gatiss think I'm going to forget/ignore/move on from a lot of things.
Oh, and I think Sherlock would recognize a lot of people from not their face. It's part of his job.
"All lives end. All hearts are broken. Caring is not an advantage, Sherlock."
Yeah, well, f*ck you, Mycroft. (Then he redeemed himself like two seconds like when he called John.)
"He will out live God trying to have the last word." Oh, John.
"We're not a couple."
"Yes, you are."
Stop denying it, John. You're just making me sad now.
Sherlock followed John. That says so many things that I can't even start describing them right now.
F*ck you, Irene. Working with Moriarty. And then f*cking up Mycroft's day/night.
And here's Mycroft being uber creepy. I hated the whole plane scene so much. In the sense that it was a really good Doctor Who scene like from "Blink" or "Midnight" or something from one of the Library episodes (where it's scary and not where River is being obnoxious).
Now, who in one period of there life hasn't said "F*ck it. I'm gonna be a pirate."?
I want to know who was really lying to who. Because there were so many levels of it in the cafe scene followed by the bit in the flat. There was some hardcore lying going down and I don't know if it was all of them. Or there was some code thing happening between John and Sherlock or what. All I know is that their little triangle had someone lying to someone.
Overall, the episode had its moments, but that's it. I would not rate the whole thing as excellent. I was too bothered by Irene and the lack of resolution from "The Great Game". There were too many overlooked plot points because Moffat was trying to be clever. I saw a lack of proper characterization and too many unclear things.
This episode was not worth the wait, but I watched it all the way through. And I will watch the other two because I'm still a fan.