by Kimmie Chameleon:
Sherlock Recap: “A Study in Pink”
Original Air Date (BBC One): July 25, 2010
Series 1 Episode 1
The allure and intrigue of one of the most iconic fictional detectives, Sherlock Holmes, has been brilliantly brought into the new millennium with the BBC series, “Sherlock”. In keeping with the timeless characters and relationships that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created, Matt Gatiss and Steven Moffat have re-imagined the stories taking place in present day London. Technological advancements from the 21st century aid the British sleuth, like texting and GPS from cell phones. The dynamic relationship between Holmes and Dr. Watson is effortlessly played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Even the famous address of 221B Baker Street houses the duo, along with the caretaking by Mrs. Hudson, effortlessly played by Una Stubbs.
221B Baker Street
A string of three nearly identical suicides have given rise to near panic in London. Detective Inspector Lestrade acknowledges the similarities and vows to solve whether or not the cases are suicide or the workings of a serial killer. All three cases involve the person taking a deadly pill in a remote area where they would never venture out to under any normal circumstances.
Dr. John Watson has returned to London from serving as an Army medical doctor in Afghanistan. He has been injured in combat and requires the use of a cane. He regularily attends therapy sessions to aid with his post traumatic stress disorder. John begins his search for a flatmate and runs into an old pal named Mike Stamford. Mike suggests that he meet another bloke that is looking for a flatmate, as well. Upon first introduction, John is sized up by Mike’s other friend, Sherlock Holmes, who then abruptly leaves. Bewildered, John researches Sherlock and comes across his website called, “The Science of Deduction”. Intrigued by Sherlock, John arrives at the flat that Sherlock has suggested and sees that Sherlock has already moved in. John cannot refuse the lovely place and is introduced to the landlord, Mrs. Hudson, who insists that she is not their housemaid. Mrs. Hudson alerts Sherlock to the three alarming suicides, suggesting that this sounds like a case he could solve. Sherlock corrects Mrs. Hudson and tells her that there are now four suicides. Indeed, Sherlock is correct because DI Lestrade pulls up to the flat to seek his help. Sherlock immediately accepts the case and invites John to tag along. John is completely awestruck by Sherlock’s ability to correctly analyze people down to very specific personal details in a matter of moments. Sherlock accurately estimates that John is returning home from war, has a psychosomatic injury, and has a brother named Harry that is a drunk and is divorcing his wife named Clara. John validates all of these observations to be correct…except that the name Harry is short for Harriet.
Much to her dismay, Sgt. Sally Donovan has no choice but to let Sherlock into the crime scene of the latest suicide victim. It seems as though Sherlock and Sally don’t get along well. A member of the Scotland Yard’s forensics team, Anderson, is dismayed by Sherlock’s presence, as well. Sherlock informs them that DI Lestrade has personally requested his aid and then infuriates the two even more when he suggests that Donovan and Anderson are having an affair with each other.
As John dresses in the proper safety attire for the investigation, Sherlock ignores the precautionary clothing and instead assesses the crime scene intently. They are in an old abandoned apartment building and the suicide victim clothed in a snazzy pink suit, is lying face down on the floor. She has scrawled into the floorboards “Rache”. With his quick thinking, Sherlock proclaims that the woman, Jennifer, has travelled from Cardiff, a few hours away. She is a serial adulterer judging by the state of her wedding ring and that “Rache” is actually incomplete. It is a name, Rachel. Sherlock insists that Jennifer would’ve had a small suitcase evident by the splatter marks of mud on the back of her ankles, but the team has not come across a suitcase. Sherlock is takes off in a mad dash and leaves Dr. Watson at the crime scene. Sgt. Sally Donovan suggests to John that he disassociate with Holmes on the basis that he is a complete psychopath.
People Don’t Have Arch-Enemies
As John searches for a cab, he notices that as he passes every public telephone it begins to ring. He finally answers one and is immediately ordered by the man on the phone to get into the car which has now pulled up in front of John. Arriving at an abandoned warehouse, John is propositioned by a man claiming to be Sherlock’s “arch-enemy” to update him on the status of Sherlock in return for monetary compensation. Watson refuses and returns to his old apartment and picks up his gun before heading over to the new flat. John reveals to Holmes that he was approached by a concerned man to spy on him in return for money. Sherlock seems only slightly amused, but does admit that this man is very dangerous. Sherlock then asks John to send a text message to Jennifer’s cell phone because he believes that Jennifer planted the cell phone onto her murderer. John texts : “What happened at Lauriston Garden? I must have blacked out. 22 Northumberland Street, please come.” John then realizes that Sherlock has found the suitcase. The two hurry to Northumberland Street and notice a suspicious cab staking out. The cab quickly takes off and Holmes and Watson are on foot chasing after it. Sherlock’s extensive knowledge of the streets of London guide him to intercept the cab, but the passenger in the cab is an American tourist that has recently arrived.
Holmes and Watson return to their flat being turned upside down by the Scotland Yard. They believe that Sherlock is withholding evidence but stage this as a drug bust. DI Lestrade informs Sherlock that “Rachel” is the name of Jennifer’s stillborn daughter from 16 years ago. Sherlock doesn’t buy into this still being a case of suicide over distress. Sherlock realizes that “Rachel” is actually the password for Jennifer’s email address which can enable them to track the GPS signal to the cell phone that has been planted onto the murderer. When Sherlock pulls up the location of the cell phone it shows the address of 221B Baker Street, but nobody has found her cell phone. Mrs. Hudson tells Sherlock that there is a cab out front. Sherlock quickly determines that the cabbie is the murderer and immediately receives a text message from the driver to come outside. Although concerned by the look on Sherlock’s face John watches as Sherlock suddenly enters the cab and is driven off.
“Moriarty!”
At an abandoned school, the cabbie admits his involvement with the four suicides, but tells him that they all had a chance to make the right choice. The cabbie pulls out two bottles and places it in front of Sherlock. He demands that Sherlock choose between the two seemingly identical pills. All of his victims had a choice to pick which pill they would take. The cabbie agreed that he would take the other pill at the same time as them. One was poisonous and the other harmless. With his quick wit and logic, Sherlock correctly evaluates that the cabbie must have a terminal illness but inquires as to his motivation. The cabbie explains that with each successful death, his sponser awards him money that he will give to his children. The cabbie points out that the sponser is also a “fan” of Holmes. This perplexes Holmes. Sherlock refuses to take the pill knowing that the gun that the cabbie has is not real. Sherlock gets up to walk away but is then drawn back in by the game of chance.
Meanwhile, the police have grown tired of searching Sherlock’s flat and have left. Watson is instinctively concerned and is elated when he is able to detect Sherlock’s location from his cell phone’s GPS signal. He hurries to the location just in time to watch from a distance Sherlock and the cabbie each about to swallow the pill. Watson pulls out his gun and shoots the cabbie, mortally wounding him. Sherlock is startled and unaware of who shot the cabbie, but uses this opportunity to press him for the name of his “fan”. Under the strain of his last breath, the cabbie belts out, “Moriarty!”
The police arrive at the abandoned school and begin questioning Sherlock as to who he thinks shot the cabbie. Sherlock rambles on some accurate profiling, but then realizes that it was Dr. John Watson. He doesn’t want Watson to have to endure a trial so he keeps his mouth shut. Sherlock approaches John and thanks him, but assures him that he would have not taken the pill. John doesn’t believe him. A new friendship is formed and the two wander down the street. They are intercepted by the man who earlier tried to pay John to spy on Sherlock for him. Sherlock knows him and introduces John to Mycroft, Sherlock’s brother. John quickly realizes that the two brothers are at odds with each other. Sherlock stammers off and John follows. Sherlock admits with a twinkle in his eye that he is intrigued by the name Moriarty. Mycroft watches as the two friends stroll off and decides that he will have to keep a closer surveillance of the two.
Quotable Quotes:
Sherlock to John: “In fact, you are an Army doctor?”
John to Sherlock: “Yes.”
Sherlock to John: “Any good?”
John to Sherlock: “Very good.”
Sherlock to John: “Seen a lot of injuries, then? Violent deaths?”
John to Sherlock: “Yes.”
Sherlock to John: “Bit of trouble too, I bet?”
John to Sherlock: “Of course, yes. Enough for a lifetime. Far too much.”
Sherlock to John: “Wanna see some more?”
John to Sherlock: “Oh God, yes.”
Sherlock to Anderson: “Oh, and I assume she scrubbed your floors, going by the state of her knees.”
Sherlock to DI Lestrade and Watson: ”What it must be like in your funny little brains. It must be so boring.”
Sherlock to DI Lestrade: “Shut up.”
DI Lestrade to Sherlock:”I didn’t say anything.”
Sherlock to DI Lestrade: “You were thinking. It’s annoying.”
Sherlock to Anderson: “I’m not a psychopath, Anderson. I’m a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”
Mycroft : “Bravery is by far the kindest word for stupidity, don’t you think?”
John to Sherlock: “What are you doing?”
Sherlock to John: “Nicotine patch. Helps me think. It’s impossible to sustain a smoking habit in London these days.”
John to Sherlock: “That’s good news for breathing.”
Sherlock to John: “Ah, breathing. Breathing’s boring.”
John to Sherlock: “Is that three patches?”
Sherlock to John : “It’s a three-patch problem.”
Sgt. Sally Donovan to Sherlock: “Are these human eyes?”
Sherlock to Sgt. Sally Donovan: “Put those back!”
Sgt. Sally Donovan to Sherlock: “They were in the microwave.”
Sherlock to Sgt. Sally Donovan: “It was an experiment!”
Mycroft to Watson: “You don’t seem very afraid.”
Watson to Mycroft: “You don’t seem very frightening.”
Cabbie to Sherlock: “I’ve outlived four people. That’s the most fun you can have with an aneurysm.”
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