A Scandal in Belgravia (Sherlock BBC)

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And that was... dissapointing


The episode went sort of like a curve for me: it started out REALLY great, then it got annoying, then I got bored, then a leeeetle bit of drama, then I was completely unempressed with the over-all plot, then Sherlock cracked the phone-code and I was all 'Wooohooo' and then that ending was about the lamest thing in ever.

Moffat, it's alright for characters to die and stay dead. It happens. Also, he can't write romance to save his life. I would say more about that, but just go read kilodalton's review of this. To quote on Moffat-romance: 'they're too rushed, too vapid, too based on sex as opposed to emotion, and fall flat.'

I got a kick out of Mrs. Hudson's scenes. Sherlock and John's relationship seems to have reverted to a former status however: oh, and the Molly scene was greatly executed as well. But overall? Not at all living up to the pure quality that was the first season. Instead of a plot-driven episode with amazing interaction, we have an episode that is mainly about a sexy-sexy lady (who is played beautifully by Laura Pulver I must admit) who double-hands Sherlock, and the secret, somewhat-eeeevil (only not really) government project. Oh, and Mycroft told Mrs. Hudson to shut up. Mycroft, that is so not on. You have been relocated on my favorites-list, and am now just above Anderson. Shame on you!!

In the canon story, Irene Adler is an opera-singer who, yes, cons people and yes, tricks and outsmarts Sherlock, but her story is a small one and in the end she runs away with this guy that she wants to marry - this guy who isn't Sherlock. At all. And this woman - written by a dude who lived in a society where women were not equal to men - managed to write her as strong and brilliant, without the bloody sex jokes.

Sorry, but its starting to become a pattern that a woman is strong if she's comfortable with being naked: she's strong if she's all about her sexuality. These don't have to be connected, at all.

Moriarty's ringtone almost saved this whole episode, though. That was so fucking amazing, I cried from laughter!!!

Comments

[fueschgast]

Aw, I'm sad you didn't like it. Personally, since my focus was on the Sherlock/Irene relationship and Sherlock's asexuality, I really liked the episode. And there were so many great character moments for the old characters. Although the plot really was all over the place. And although I couldn't help but seeing Irene as Moffat's wank material. ...Now I'm feeling a bit rude, even though I'm sure I'm right about it.

The ringtone, I KNOW, RIGHT XD?! I was like "Is that? No, that must be my brain making things up ...no wait, it really is that song!".

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But that's what bugged me about it :/ also, Mycroft was really cruel to Sherlock I think.

LOL, I laughed at your comment ;) we can be rude together

I thought some add had gone off on my computer or something, and then Moriarty was all: '.... -.-' and Sherlock was all 'O.o' and I was all 'XD'

[fueschgast]

Wait, what exactly bugged you? And where was Mycroft crual to Sherlock. Ooh, it's already time for a rewatch for me, heh.

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The romance-bit: I thought it felt forced and unrealistic to me. And I thought Mycroft went just a bit too far in the Palace, during the: 'Sex doesn't alarm me', bit. 'How would you know?, was very deliberately meant to humiliate him in front of an audience: a result of Sherlock showing up in only a sheet, sure, but still incredibly childish for the self-proclaimed 'Mother'.

[fueschgast]

But it wasn't romance! That's why it didn't feel force to me. Had I interpreted it as romance I'd been so very "BULLSHIT! Moffat, what the hell have you done?! I will skinnnn you!", but I really didn't see it as romance. It's interest in a non-sexual, non-romantic way. Although there was that moment where it got close to romance.

Well, Mycroft is still Sherlock's brother and only human. I can't be too angry with him about that. Sherlock's being difficult all the time and that on purpose (like teasing Mycroft about his weight).

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

But I think Moffat was writing it as romance, and that's what bugged me. It felt forced on us, like the Doctor/River dynamic where we have lots of feelings but really not a lot of background for them. I mean, I can understand Sherlock being fascinated with her, but the ending clearly showed that it was more than that, and it bugged me, because it didn't feel real.

(Your response to Moffat made me laugh though!)

Oh, I still love Mycroft, it was just that that remark was much more cruel IMO than some jibe about his weight made in private. Mycroft was setting out to hit were he hoped it would really hurt, as opposed to just poke irritatingly. It was a reaction to Sherlock acting like a petulanet child about the clothes, but I still found it out of line and very hurtful.

[fueschgast]

Hm... I think I'm starting to understand what you mean. And I found that ending weird at first too, but after rewatching it made more sense to me. I mean, by getting to the info on the phone Sherlock pretty signs Irene's death sentence. So he did what any somewhat decent person would have done: he saved her. And by showing that, we're not left wondering.
I just had a thought... Irene probably really lives in the US now and changed her last name to Norton, hehe.

But would that remark hurt? Hey, I'm a virgin too, but I don't have a problem with that. ...But I do have problem with people who attempt to use it as an insult. I mean, what bullshit! Who cares and what does it matter?!

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

But I think that's placing too much blame on Sherlock and saying that Irene should be absolved for all the crap she's done. I mean, she's a con-artist, she threatens to blackmail, she works with super-criminals and she actually does blackmail the British government. Sherlock very demostratively doesn't help her in that scene with the phone when she begs for it, because she screwed him over and now she has to deal with the consequences.

Nevermind if Sherlock was hurt or not, the remark was meant to hit hard and be hurtful, and it was said in front of a potential client, someone representing the British Royal Family, which is as high as you get over there. It wasn't just mocking the fact that Sherlock was a virgin, but that he has no interest in that. Mycroft implies that he can't handle the case because of it, and that would be very hurtful to someone like Sherlock (as hurtful as anything can be for someone like Sherlock). I'm not saying it did affect him, I'm just saying it was out of line, and very childish of the self-proclaimed 'mother'

[fueschgast]

Im still having trouble seeing Irene as a baddie. I still think that all the things that were real crimes were only done because Moriarty threatened her.
And now I think the reason that Sherlock saved her is because she was fun to play with and so he wants to keep her alive. And the good thing about her is that, unlike Jim - she's not a psycho. So games with Irene don't have to be deadly.

Ah, I think I understand now. Ha, it's so great when conversations lead to understanding the other person's point.

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

But Irene's actions did have very tremendous consequences: it's her fault the terrorists knew that the government knew about their codes, and so they will change it and the government might not be able to stop them next time they plan an attack. Hundreds of people could die because she did that, and she is very aware of the fact. Let's also not forget that she was the one who contacted Moriarty, so if she's being threatened or not it's technically her fault - I mean, he picks it up when he's pretty busy, he obviously knows who it is and knows that Irene is someone with the good stuff (bee gee tickets!!). While she is not a sadist or a cold-hearted murderer like Moriarty, her actions are still more towards the 'baddie' category I would say :)

[fueschgast]

Sorry, I just can't stop defending Irene. I'm still clinging to the book idea of her. Bad!Irene just doesn't compute!

Consequences, I know. But I wonder if she really knew. You know, when you only have a vague idea about something (like Why should I not listen to my iPod during take-off and landing? *listens to iPod during take-off and landing*) you don't really care that much.
But we don't know if she contacted Moriarty voluntarily. I still think he came to her and demanded stuff (Hahaha, the BeeGees tickets should become fanon ...if they aren't already), in exchange he would let her live.

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

I believe I can't change your mind about this ;) thought, I'd still have to take your comment that she doesn't really know --> she doesn't care, as not exactly in her favor: she's dealing with terrorists, she knows peoples lives are at stakes, so that actually just makes her seem more amoral to me.

[fueschgast]

Hm, yeah, you're kinda right there. ...Maybe she hoped it wouldn't be that bad?

And when I think about it, Sherlock fucked up big time! I wanted an episode where that happens, but in 2x01 there's no impact. I'd love to have an episode where Sherlock fucks up and is all "Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!".

[fueschgast]

Oh, and have you read my review? I'd just love to squee with someone. You must have liked some of the bits.

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

I'll go check it out :)