Sherlock: Review

I don't make it a habit to post on Sundays. I generally avoid this. I have virtually promised myself that the Sabbath would be a day to not worry about posting.... Oh well. I recently watched two new episodes of Sherlock and decided to write a review up for the two episodes.

The Blind Banker

In this episodes Sherlock has discovered a Chinese number system which is also being used as a cypher by a Chinese smuggler gang known as the Black Lotus.

The story starts with a woman who performs a ancient tea ritual for tourists. She later disappears without explanation. Sherlock is then called to a bank in which the symbols: 一 and 〥are painted in yellow spray paint on the walls of a dead man's office. They then go find the man who's office they were in. They find him dead, the new police detective thinks suicide but Sherlock, who's right, thinks it's murder. But they cannot figure out how he's getting in. All while this is going on John get's a job at a clinic. Where he finds himself attracted to the lovely doctor in charge. There are a few more murders and some black origami lotus blossoms left as a warning to victims. Sherlock almost dies, mostly from his fault. John ends up with a date with the pretty clinic doctor in which Sherlock gets them to go to a Chinese circus. They have a swell time until later when they think Watson is Sherlock and his date almost dies..... And I highly doubt she's going out with him again. The leader of the group escapes and much to Sherlock's chagrin.

The episode was intriguing and well paced. Hints of humor keep the tone. Not too much to note or anything. But don't worry I've got another episode. (I also haven't read the story that accompanies this one....)

A Scandal in Belgravia

Based on the Holmes story A Scandal in Bohemia Sherlock meets his match, The Woman.

Irene Adler is a dominatrix, and not just in her free time it's her job. There are, however compromising picture's of her and a female member of the royal family. Sherlock is to get these pictures from her and to Mycroft for safe keeping. He goes to her "Place of business" dressed as a priest. Little did he know he'd get in regardless of whether John hit him or not. He goes in only to have a naked Irene enter the room. As she's seducing him John walks in. (For some reason the thought of Leia kissing Han when C3PO walks in, in The Empire Strikes Back comes to mind.)But unlike everyone else Sherlock is unable to figure out anything about her. And is drawn by her intelligence. She dies leaving Sherlock despondent by it. In the end we find she was in connection to Moriarty, the "Consulting Criminal".

I disliked the portrayal of Irene Adler, once more this fell into the stereotype of women being forced to used their wiles to get information. While I have no complete problem with that, after all wiles can be a help occasionally (Gentleman Prefer Blondes, or Marylin in general). I just strongly disliked the idea that Irene Adler, who was incredibly intelligent and in this day and age, could have taken a well paying job, chose instead to basically sell herself as a living. Of course this was all by her choice and she owns her business independently but I still dislike it. This episode is actually pretty funny, I laughed a lot of the time. And the naked Irene only lasts for about fifteen minutes. I highly recommend this episode, I just dislike Irene's portrayal. But it's easy to see Sherlock's fascination with her. Her intelligence rivals his own making her attractive. But you sometimes have to wonder if it's just her brain he's attracted to.

-MaggieG, Evil Goblin Overlady