1.03 – The Great Game – Sherlock Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

“The Great Game” brings the short, but eventful first season of Sherlock to a thrilling, if somewhat ambiguous conclusion. From start to finish, this installment is riveting and suspenseful, while providing a deeper exploration of the motivations and eccentricities of its central figure: Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Indeed, the story is so thoroughly engrossing that even though the ending is a bit … unsatisfactory … the result is another truly exceptional episode.

The episode begins with Sherlock Holmes absentmindedly firing a pistol at the walls of his flat at 221B Baker Street. He’s bored, you see, unable to find a truly immersive case — something that would be worthy of his intellect. Indeed, he and Watson spar about the value of knowledge, with Holmes emphatically stating that the nature of the solar system is entirely irrelevant to his efforts as a “Consulting Detective.” It’s the beginning of a study in Holmes’ disillusionment with reality as most of the world sees it. But by the time the episode has concluded, Holmes will have found a kindred, and altogether ruthless, spirit.

The main story begins with a bang. Literally. After an explosion rips through the building across the street from 221B Baker Street, Holmes receives a package discovered in the rubble: a phone which begins a long, twisting, and deadly game. Innocent bystanders are abducted, strapped with explosives and forced to divulge clues to Holmes, who must solve increasingly complex puzzles set for him by a shadowy adversary — all within a shockingly small amount of time.

This, of course, is exactly the kind of adversity Holmes thrives on and his unabashed joy at having to defeat so clever a villain is starkly contrasted to the mortal danger the game poses to innocent people throughout London. Watson is key to bringing this strange dichotomy into focus, illuminating the brilliance and flaws of Holmes’ character. Indeed, Holmes cavalier attitude is a direct byproduct of his personality and intelligence — one cannot exist without the other. This level of characterization demonstrates a highly sophisticated bit of writing, which turns into pure drama thanks to the performances.

Much of the episode is consumed by the puzzles which Holmes must solve. They span from Holmes’ very first “case” involving the death of a boy swimmer to a rather modern complication involving stolen missile plans which are very important to Holmes’ brother, Mycroft. What makes it all work, though, is in how tightly wound the knots are — and in how thrilling Holmes’ solutions turn out to be. The ticking-clock aspect of the puzzles also ramps up the tension. And the companionship from Watson lends the investigations with some much needed humor and, most importantly, humanity.

As the story progresses, though, the focus ultimately becomes the battle of wits between Holmes and his adversary. It’s a chess match played with the highest stakes possible — pieces that are sacrificed could very well end up dead. And by the time Holmes has finally identified the culprit as the infamous Moriarty, the revelation comes as no real surprise. Who else could so thoroughly challenge the mind of Sherlock Holmes? Who else could consistently remain one step ahead of Holmes’ deductions?

And it is squarely on the shoulders of Moriarty that the success of the episode rests because yes, in fact, Holmes’ nemesis finally makes his appearance in the final climactic scene. A lot of the episode’s credibility — actually the credibility of the series, even — is contingent upon how believable Moriarty is as an equal of Sherlock Holmes. To that end, the performance is something of a risk — Moriarty is portrayed as a soft-spoken, almost effete man whose words often takes on a sing-song voice. It’s strange and quirky — much like Holmes’ mannerisms are strange and quirky — but there is the possibility that such a stylized portrayal may prove to be too much for some viewers.

Either way, what works is the concept behind Moriarty as a perfect “shadow” of Sherlock Holmes. Whereas Holmes is a “Consulting Detective,” Moriarty is a “Consulting Criminal” whose operations span the globe. The strange performance of Moriarty aside, the confrontation between the two minds — with Watson as a hostage — is a perfect example of exceptional drama.

That it all ends on a cliff hanger almost doesn’t matter because the rest of the episode was completely compelling.

Overall Grade: A

“The Great Game” might end with a maddening cliff hanger, but it is otherwise a fantastic episode, featuring breakneck tension and drama, legitimate and compelling characterization, and a showdown worthy of a feature film. Even the mystery is well-written, with twists and turns which, somehow, all mesh together in the final moments of the episode. Also, the episode does a great job of referencing other material — both within the Sherlock series and withing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s larger written works. Watson has written a blog post titled “A Study In Pink,” which is how the discussion of Holmes’ view of reality becomes a topic for exploration. It all points to an exceptionally well-crafted show.

The shame of it all is that it will take nearly a year for any sort of resolution to be seen.

Topics: Mystery, TV Reviews
Filed under: Sherlock Holmes