Elementary 1x16 Details

[oyceter]

Clearly I need an icon for this show now given my level of investment.

Spoilers could have been a knife

Ahhhh, that was such a lovely episode. Development of Detective Bell! Joan and Sherlock coming to a new relationship! A plot that wasn't fascinating but eschewed gimmicky twists every five minutes to show off Sherlock's deductive skills and instead used the plot progression for character development!

I kind of knew there would be good Joan+Sherlock stuff going in, given the overall positive buzz about the episode, but I was very pleasantly surprised to see Marcus Bell getting more screen time! Thank you so much, show. We've gotten glimpses of Marcus the very competent detective, as opposed to Marcus who always dismisses Sherlock, from the Chinatown episode on, particularly when Sherlock has been suspended and keeps calling him for info. I'm not sure the two will ever like each other, but the mutual respect in this episode was really nice to see. That's actually a large part of why I have really been enjoying Elementary: it is very good at portraying competent people doing their jobs well. I just loved how much of Marcus' love and dedication to his work shows, from the fact that he was the one who blew the whistle on Hudson to a glimpse of just how much time and effort was spent in the Bradshaw investigation.

As yasaman notes, Marcus' backstory is a little cliche—I wish two of the most memorable side roles for black men weren't so associated with the street (Andre and Alfonso)—but it was a well-done one that let Jon Michael Hill really shine. I maybe have a bit of a crush on Marcus now... honorable people attempting to do good by working within the system! I feel I don't see that that often, and it really hits my competency kink.

Also loved the scene between Marcus and Gregson as Gregson tries to reassure him that they'll get this cleared up.

And now.... OMG!!!!! PARTNERS!!!!! I loved the opening; Sherlock of course deals with his new-found anxiety about Joan's safety in the most awkward and least effective manner possible. Ahahaha, oh Sherlock. Please keep attempting your annoying and yet oddly endearing attempts at human connection. I know I have said it before, but I am SO GLAD that neither the show or the characters excuse Sherlock being a jerk. And that the show doesn't take the easy way out with a lot of things. I love the one or two lines Sherlock has referencing his kidnapping and planned murder of Moran and the restrained but palpable sense of regret underneath it.

I also love Joan sitting at the very edge of her chair during therapy, nervous and excited and very uncomposed for her, especially the look on her face when the therapist asks her if she's experiencing any negative effects from the last case. She looks thrilled and then quickly tries to tamp it down to be professional and counselor-ish. I love how awkward and nervous she looks during Sherlock's "partner" speech, how you can see her wavering, how it's one of the few times we see Joan actually being personally vulnerable. She is so good at helping other people and counseling and being professional but so hesitant to take that step and that risk for herself.

I am babbling about all of this because I can't even get to Sherlock's speech because then I just dissolve into sheer FLAIL OMG BEST! Partners! She makes him better! He knew and was grateful and tried to give her an out! He offers to teach her but does it without putting himself in the superior position! OMG and Jonny Lee Miller's blend of total awkwardness and vulnerability and trying to get it all out and how difficult it is for him. SO MANY HEARTS.

Ahhhh, this is excellent. Also, I love how this sets things up for the show to be a lot about Watson's growth as an investigator and makes it about her journey.

Comments

[vonniek]

Back in November, when I was just starting to get fannish about the show, I wrote the following after an episode:

I do wish they'd address the approaching end of their contracted relationship though. Watson was to stay for only 6 weeks, to transition him to the outside world. I'd like there to be some kind of an admission of mutual needs. Not, like, gross begging or anything (well, I probably won't mind as long as it's Sherlock who does the begging). Something subtler. Scenes where they acknowledge a life without each other would be a bleaker place and make a conscious decision to move forward together. C'mon, show. Hit my partnership kink a bit harder, why don't you.

And then this episode happened, FULFILLING ALL THE FANNISH HOPES AND DREAMS DEAREST TO MY HEART. It's been two weeks, and I still haven't recovered yet. That proposal scene, my God. How careful Sherlock is being, and all the things he says to underline that this is about her choice and her fulfillment. How completely open and honest and vulnerable he is, while trying so hard not to pressure her into giving into his needs, as great as they may be. The body languages from both of them! I love how he makes his offer to her back. The lack of eye contact gives it a sort of confessional feel. Almost supplicatory in a way. I read somewhere that a lot of the directional choices in that scene were made specifically to avoid romantic overtones. Their attempts to circumvent that particular spin (with its set of well-formed cliches) give many of the scenes between these two more interesting energy, I think.

I also love Joan sitting at the very edge of her chair during therapy, nervous and excited and very uncomposed for her

Wasn't that great? Rather than traumatized, she looks lit up and invigorated when talking about the experience. She subdued a gunman! She flexed her doctor muscles and saved Rhys' life! She knows what her therapist's saying makes conventional sense, but that's not how she feels! I love her quiet and a little bewildered "... but I'm not staying with Sherlock for some grand adventure." And the stride she makes in this episode from that place of emotional confusion to the clarity at the end! SO AWESOME.

Seriously, favourite fannish moment of this entire TV season, I swear. God, I love them.

[oyceter]

I rewatched the scene so many times already!!! I was kind of afraid of the show getting to Watson staying on as partner, just because if they did it wrong, it would be so wrong, and I was nervous that if they did it right, it would fall flat somewhat... sometimes that happens to me if I've anticipated something TOO much and it shows up on canon. But oh man, all the little bits in there! The way Sherlock's voice is pretty steady until he says of course she should ask other people, like he's afraid other people will counsel her to not do it. And I love so much that the word "partner" is what makes Joan begin to turn around.

Oh show, you got it SO RIGHT.

[meganbmoore]

I can't believe you went this whole post without mentioning how very well Bell filled out that tight tshirt. Tsk. *shallow*

I really wasn't expecting to end up emotionally invested in this, and yet...

[oyceter]

He fills out that shirt VERY WELL INDEED.

I know... I just watched in the beginning because Lucy Liu was in it, and now it's at the point where I slept at a terribly late hour because I was up watching all the clips on the CBS Elementary YouTube channel.

[umadoshi]

That episode was SO GREAT. *_* PartnersPartnersPartners!

[oyceter]

Yes!!! I am so happy about it!!!

[tigerlily]

I made audible noises! I hit the cushions flailing when I rewatched it.

[oyceter]

Such the best thing ever!!!

[starlady]

I just watched this episode and it was so great! And aside from everything else, I love how they are showing Watson be/come Watson--canonically Watson is one of those people who runs towards danger rather than away, and I love how they have made that part of Watson's character while having that character be interpreted so well by Lucy Liu. She was so thrilled! She likes this stuff and she is good at it! But she is still herself. Oh, show!

I need some Elementary icons.

[oyceter]

Eeee, for some reason I didn't realize you were watching for the first time and not doing a rewatch! I think this is pretty much when I ran out to get myself an icon as well. Just. OMG!!!!! Watson! Holmes talking about how they would be good partners!!!