(Note: Spoiler Free)
Okay, so the finale of the fourth series of Sherlock, The Final Problem, was much better than the episodes which preceded it, but there's still some strange narrative choices going on.
First of all, it was refreshing to see an episode which for the most part was very contained, with three of the main characters locked in a room (well, a number of them), trying to solve puzzles while faced with terrible choices. The first act started fairly well, with the cliffhanger from last week being resolved in the way I had expected, followed by some exposition about the secret Holmes sister before a cataclysm occurs. The next two thirds of the episode form a tense, brilliantly written thriller of Sherlock attempting to solve the mysteries of his past while also trying to deduce the endgame Eurus Holmes has in mind for him.
The positive things in this episode are numerous. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman still excel in roles they have made their own, as does Mark Gatiss as Mycroft. Here we saw a more vulnerable side to Sherlock's older, reptilian-hearted brother which was quite refreshing. There are also great if small performances from Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper. The key performance is that of Sian Brooke as Eurus, who dominates much of the episode with a chillingly emotionless candour. She has been separated from any social contact for most of her life and as a result has become colour-blind to morality. Eurus sees the world through the same grey lens, which is a great contrast to the devilish psychopathy of Moriarty in earlier seasons.
Speaking of Moriarty, the mystery about him which has persisted since the end of His Last Vow is resolved (after a fashion). I won't spoil anything, but I found the scenes concerning his fate to be a welcome diversion, although at times it was hard to tell if the events of this episode were really all part of Moriarty's posthumous plan.
If there's one thing Sherlock does right, it's the cinematography and set-design. The main location for this episode is a terrifically designed labyrinth full of psychological torture. The way shots are set up to illuminate things not seen at first is great, as is the ever-present pop-up deduction text. While I felt this had started to outstay its welcome a bit this series, it is particularly well done when we reach this story's eventual conclusion.
Despite the aforementioned pluses, there are still a number of things a bit off about this series finale. For one, Eurus, despite being intriguing as a character, at times resembles a character out of a Luc Besson film with her super-intellect and being incarcerated in a secret facility. One particular revelation about her was initially a welcome surprise, but upon closer inspection small details lead to further technical questions which are unanswered. Also the ending shows a character making a choice which I didn't quite believe given the revelations earlier in the episode.
Then we come to the ending itself, which while I liked as a standalone scene, came across like a bizarre summing up of what the episode means for the future of Sherlock. Since I'm writing this so soon after watching it I might be overlooking something. Hopefully I will find it out, or maybe someone will be kind enough to enlighten me.
So guys, that's pretty much all I have to say at present regarding The Final Problem. I may do a spoiler-filled take on this post at some point in the future. If you saw the series finale of Sherlock, what was your take on it? Good or bad, we have the promise of another series on the horizon. Now to settle in for another two-year wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment