Sherlock Episode Review S4E2: The Lying Detective
The second episode of this Sherlock series is the triumphant return that we have all been waiting for. It’s dark and funny and thrilling, it’s one of the finest works in the series. We haven’t got anything like this since Scandal in Belgravia and how long ago was that again? The Lying Detective is a Sherlock essential - here’s why. Spoilers ahead!
First things first, this episode is from Doyle’s The Dying Detective, Story-wise, this is indeed loyal to the canon to a great depth that only the second series has ever reached before. We love that the show gets back to the episode-long case format, we’ve missed it so! The episode introduces Culverton Smith, portrayed by Toby Jones, who is shown as an entrepreneur/philanthropist by day and despicable serial killer by night who can’t stop killing and - apparently - can’t stop confessing. Surrounded with fame, money, and power, Culverton is untouchable and has access to means of catering his “special needs”. He has his own hospital to deal with his victims and his own memory-inhibitor drug to let him freely confess to his own small circle and have them forget quickly after. Culverton Smith becomes the horrendous and chilling figure that is easily the highlight of this episode.
However, the case in itself turned out to be the follow-up of Mary’s message from the previous episode, in which Sherlock was instructed to “pick a fight with a bad guy” and “throw yourself in harm’s way” to get John back. Despite that most of what Sherlock gets himself into for Culverton is a lie, we’re quite sure this is a bit not good, considering the resulting violence when John was projecting his fury at Sherlock as well as the danger when Sherlock laid himself bare and dying in front of the murderous Culverton. We don’t know at first if it was good that the bigger purpose of the case is essentially John Watson, because it makes the Sherlock-John dynamic seem obsessive, dependent, and potentially harmful in a way we aren’t sure is healthy. However, it worked out in the end to wrap up our Baker Street Boys’ rough journey, and we can only hope their relationship gets better from here on.
Another important thing is how heart and humor is nicely woven with said horror and violence in this episode. After Sherlock and John’s fallout from the last episode, we see Mrs. Hudson in all her badass glory (speed-driving while on the phone and guns and handcuffs!) trying to clean up the mess that are grief-stricken John and drug-addled Sherlock. Una Stubbs’ performance is especially wonderful in this one, finally getting the spotlight she deserved from long ago. Other fun bits were Irene Adler’s text alert cameo and flirtatious interactions between Mycroft and Lady Smallwood. Mary (in the form of a hallucinated ghost) makes a heartwarming return, guiding John through his grief all the way to the reconciliation with Sherlock and the confession of his infidelity. Her part in the episode was just enough to tip things off the right direction and makes us miss Amanda Abbington even more. Ultimately, Mary was the one who brought it all into one big moral conclusion: “it is what it is”, for there’s only so much a human being can do about their own dark side and the things they cannot control.
The episode ends with a massive reveal of a secret Holmes sister and a cliffhanger that we think is very much on par with that pool scene from The Great Game. It was exciting to find out not only that she exists, but also that she was literally three different people throughout two episodes! There are questions to be answered in the next episode, like why she disguised herself as E for John or as Smith’s daughter for Sherlock, where she has been, why she is here now, and why Sherlock doesn’t recognize her the first time round. A round of applause is due for Sian Brooke who was simply astounding and successful in tricking us all into undermining her not-so-minor character(s).
The Lying Detective is the Sherlock episode we’ve all been waiting for. Halfway into this series, if it ends up becoming the last, we cannot be more grateful to have this story in it. With renewed mysteries and heightened dynamics, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next week!
