Elementary Recap: “M”

Elementary Recap: “M”
Original Air Date (CBS): Thursday, January 10, 2013
Season 2 Episode 12

by Solomon J. Inkwell:

“…when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

Sherlock Holmes [The Blanched Soldier]

It’s fitting that my debut article for this season’s new CBS show ELEMENTARY occurs after what I consider to be the most ingenious episode to date. I am, without a doubt, a massive Sherlock Holmes fan. I’ve read most of Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventures and have enjoyed cinematic representations of Holmes in such movies as Murder by Decree, Young Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, and, yes, even The Great Mouse Detective. So, I was extremely curious when I saw that CBS was releasing a new series based on Doyle’s characters. I found the modernized elements fascinating—Holmes, a recovering drug-addict, partnered with a female Watson who not only serves as his complimentary counterpart, but his “sober companion” who was hired by Holmes’ father.  Interesting? Indubitably.

I have loyally watched the show since its premiere and I have to say with all sincerity that I believe it to be one of the best shows to hit primetime in years. I enjoy Jonny Lee Miller immensely. I think he is an incredible actor with tremendous depth and range. His canonical representation of Holmes is complementary to Doyle’s character in many ways. I find Miller’s depiction is more aggressive, agitated, and even cold at times, which lends to the charm of the role. Yet, half of the fun is watching Watson chip away at Holmes’ crude, self-absorbed exterior. Lucy Liu’s portrayal of Watson is deeper and further removed from the original Watson character, I think. However, this is necessary considering her role as an ex-surgeon/addictive counselor.  The dynamic between the two is incomparable.

Last night’s episode introduces the concept of the elusive Moriarty. The episode opens up with “M”, played by Vinnie Jones, watching a football game on television while a helpless man lies on the floor bound and gagged. M focuses on the game while he sets up a tall tripod apparatus in the center of the room. After connecting a series of cables and hooks to the equipment, M drags the man over to the tripod and hangs him by his feet, then presents a rather large knife, and…well, you can guess the rest.

Holmes and Watson are grappling with the reality that Watson will soon be parting ways with Holmes following their six-week companionship. Watson’s time as his rehab confidant is nearing an end and she is hoping to prepare Holmes, and herself, for the transition. At this point, the audience knows that Watson has found a new sense of purpose in the work that Holmes does, a far cry from her tedious responsibilities as a sober companion, a job she has fallen into after suffering suspension from the medical field. Holmes’ work with the NYPD, his uncanny ability to see things others cannot, and even his insolent charm, intrigues her.

A call from Captain Thomas Gregson (played by Aidan Quinn) prompts Holmes and Watson to meet the NYPD at a victim’s apartment, where M has left a rather peculiar clue—a massive puddle of blood on the floor in the middle of the room approximately five feet in diameter. Despite its size, there are neither smudge marks in the blood nor any shoe prints. Upon Holmes’ view of the crime scene, we sense that he knows something more, that the scene before him brings back a memory long since buried deep in his mind. It doesn’t take Holmes long to deduce the specifics: the tripod, the hanging victim, the slitting of a throat allowing all of the blood to spill to the floor. Holmes informs them it is not powers of deduction which have led him to his conclusions, but rather his familiarity with the perpetrator. He had hunted M while with Scotland Yard, to no avail. Now it appears that M has followed Holmes to New York. For revenge?

Holmes becomes more erratic, even more so than usual. Watson continues to attempt to connect with him about their parting, but Holmes distances himself from the conversation advising her that once she leaves he plans to turn her room into a sanctuary for his bizarre hobby of beekeeping. The two visit the police station where Holmes explains his history with M to the officers. He has chased the elusive M for some time. M’s modus operandi has always been the same: a puddle of blood left at a crime scene, no discernible fingerprints or clues, a make-shift letter anonymously sent to local authorities, a body that washes ashore sometime later, and no distinguishing connection between victims who vary greatly in age, sex, and social stature. After briefing the officers, Holmes dismisses himself. Detecting something else in the air, Watson follows him, eager to learn more about his past with M and why he seems so invested in the madness.

The conversation continues as they arrive home to find one of M’s trademark letters proudly displayed in the room. Holmes calls the police who encourage him and Watson to stay at a safe-house. Holmes, however, refuses stating that he is as safe there as anywhere else. Captain Gregson insists on at least having policemen remain to guard the house. After Holmes is alone, he retrieves a hidden camera he has kept concealed high upon a bookshelf. He reviews the footage and finally catches a glimpse of the man called M.

The next day, we see M casing a new victim at her apartment building when he is approached by a young man on the street who attempts to sell him various knock-off goods. Becoming aggravated, M finally pushes the boy away, attracting the attention of bystanders. Soon the boy arrives at Holmes’ and asks to see Holmes, but Watson advises that he is out. The boy then tells her that he is there to collect payment for following M, which Holmes was to compensate him for doing. Looking at the picture of M that Holmes had provided the boy, Watson can discern that the image was taken by a hidden camera in the room and locates the camera on the bookshelf.

Naturally, when Holmes returns, heated conversation commences, during which Holmes delivers the details of his relationship with M Not only did he pursue the menace during his time with Scotland Yard, but M murdered his true love, Irene Adler. Holmes explains that even though his past involved using drugs for deliverance from boredom, it was Irene’s death which took him from user to addict. In turn, it was his increased addiction which led to his failure to apprehend M. Conversely, Holmes admits that not only does he plan on succeeding in M.’s capture this time around, but he plans on killing him out of revenge, much to Watson’s shock. With that, Holmes packs a bag of tools for torture and leaves, telling Watson she can do whatever she feels she must.

We see the young woman whom M was stalking earlier that day. She is watching television, her small dog lying on the floor. Hearing a noise, the dog sputters a small bark and goes to investigate. The woman goes to locate what has piqued the animal’s interest and discovers the dog licking on a hot dog on the kitchen floor. Noticing the door is slightly ajar, she nervously begins to reach for the phone when M snatches her away. We return to see a familiar scene. M is setting up the tripod while the woman lays helpless bound and gagged on the floor. He watches football on the television and as he complains about the play, he hears a familiar voice behind him. He turns to find Holmes in the room with him. With the smack of a nightstick, Holmes renders M unconscious…the game is afoot.

Watson arrives at the police station and advises Gregson of Holmes’ intentions. At a local hospital, they are able to converse with the young woman who confirms their suspicions: Holmes had thwarted her capture and kidnapped M. They conclude that Holmes possibly has M held at another property owned by his father, and they go to the abandoned residence in hopes of stopping him before he becomes a murderer.

Inside the building, Holmes has M constrained and tools for torture displayed before them…very Dexterish, I might add. M, a previous solider for the Royal Armed Forces, displays no fear. During their exchange, M confesses that he is an assassin who has been hired to commit the murders, alluding that these people were not victims, but targets which he was paid to kill by a man named…what? You guessed it—Moriarty. Obviously, Moriarty has betrayed M., whose actual name is Sebastian Moran. Moran was unaware that Holmes was living in New York and had assumed that Holmes had traveled from London to track him down. He didn’t know the apartment where the letter was left belonged to Holmes. Interestingly enough, Moran tells Holmes he couldn’t have killed Holmes’ love as he was incarcerated at the time of her demise. Realizing Moran’s confessions to be true, suddenly we see Holmes’ rage start to recede. Moran tells Holmes that should Holmes kill him, he will lose his best clue to locating the mysterious Moriarty, Irene’s true killer. Holmes backs down for a moment, but then stabs Moran in the stomach.

After that annoying “One-Two-Kalamazoo” commercial from T-Mobile, we return to find Moran at the station in an interview room with Gregson. He confesses to the murders, but states that his wounds were sustained during a struggle with Holmes, a story we know to be false. Watson watches as Moran gives a convincing recount of the events. Though the story is compelling, it is slightly unbelievable. She leaves the viewing room and goes to Holmes, who sits quietly alone in a conference room, staring blankly ahead. She tells Holmes that she finds it intriguing that Moran’s wound was sustained in struggle, seeing that it managed to miss every single major organ. She says it was more like Moran had been restrained. What proceeds next is an emotion-invoking exchange between the two characters. It is the first time we’ve seen this type of openness from Holmes’ character, who speaks with utmost conviction through glossy eyes filled with tears.

Holmes leaves the room, and after he does Watson leaves a message for his father advising that out of concern for his son she would like to remain under his employ a while longer. The next morning, as Holmes sleeps on the couch, Watson receives a reply from his father saying that he appreciates her services, but they are no longer needed. Watson’s message alert stirs Holmes and waking up he inquires about the message. Watson says that she had asked his father to extend her stay…and that he accepted.

I don’t know about you…but I can’t wait to see what is next! Tune in Thursdays to CBS at 10:00 PM EST/7:00 PM PST to catch the next thrilling episode of Elementary!

DarkMedia contributor Solomon J. Inkwell (James Grea) is a screenwriter and author of juvenile horror. He is the author of Vickie Van Helsing and Haunting Thelma Thimblewhistle from the Dead Anna series.  His forthcoming works include The Frighteneers and the screenplay The Winter Files. You can find out more about Solomon and his not-so-dead friends here.