Sherlock: The Lying Detective (2017)

Directed by: Nick Hurran | 89 minutes | crime, drama | Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Mark Gatiss, Louise Brealey, Amanda Abbington, Toby Jones, Lindsay Duncan, Sian Brooke, Georgina Rylance, Tom Brooke, Gina Bramhill, Martin Savage, Katy Wix, Matthew Romain, Vijay Doshi, Ben Abell

Season 4’s second episode of the wildly popular Sherlock marks the next stage in deepening Sherlock and Watson’s relationship, or rather, resolving their deep-seated conflict. For those just ‘turning in’: yes, we are indeed talking about Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective, who amazes and amazes everyone with his inimitable intellect in solving cases. But somehow Sherlock’s core business has become subordinate to soap operas involving a couple trapped in some sort of marital crisis. Fortunately, the actors remain interesting enough to watch and that the episode offers enough humor, suspense and intriguing twists to keep it worth watching. And the shivering villain in particular gives this episode that little bit extra.

Story-wise, we pick up where we left off in the previous episode. In other words, John Watson has cut all communication with Sherlock because he believes him to be responsible for Mary’s death, and Sherlock is doing everything he can to make it right. However, it doesn’t seem to work, which sends him into depression and turns to drugs. At least, it seems that way. With Sherlock you are never quite sure what’s going on. Meanwhile, he is approached by a young lady for a case. She suspects – because she was drugged she is not sure everything – that her father, Culverton Smith (Toby Jones), has murdered someone, and perhaps several people. Whereupon Sherlock bites into the case like a madman and confronts the suspect directly without evidence. You would think very unwise. What exactly is his plan? Because that there is something behind it, it can hardly be otherwise.

Yet it remains unclear for a long time what Sherlock’s goal is and whether he can think clearly at all, which ensures that you as a viewer remain continuously fascinated. It is extra ‘stimulating’ because of the great danger he faces in the form of this (presumed) villain, played in a chilling way by Toby Jones. This really is a top-notch creep and the way this character is filmed and presented sometimes makes you feel like you’re watching a horror movie.

Sometimes the makers go a bit too far here with explicit distastefulness that is unnecessary and only intended to shock. Like when Culverton Smith repeatedly opens and closes the mouth of a corpse on the operating table, as if it were a doll. Showing this once is already very sinister, but you could still argue that this is necessary to show his sick mind. But to show this again half a minute later – and also in close-up – is pure sensation.

Other glaring dubious aspects have to do with the remarkable insights of Sherlock in particular, but also some other characters. Revelations – and last-minute rescues – that are clever, thoughtful or comical in the moment, don’t always turn out to be very believable on closer inspection. Sometimes it also strips the characters of their free will because their behavior can be predicted in every little detail. Genuine emotions and in a sense the humanity of the characters are now made almost impossible.

Well, it’s all not as serious as it might seem and there are still many scenes and moments to enjoy – just like in the first episode – but such ‘problems’, as well as the enormous weight given to the central personal drama, give the whole sometimes has a somewhat grim, melancholy character, while the viewer is less effectively taken into Sherlock’s thoughts, which was always a big part of the fun. Despite all objections, ‘The Lying Detective’ is also more than worth watching. Toby Jones is a ‘fine’ opponent for Sherlock and, it must be said, all the turmoil and crises we’ve been presented with make for a really nice, moving conclusion. Oh, and be sure to stay until the end for the very last reveal; one that makes you stare open-mouthed at the credits…