REVIEW: Sherlock, Series 1 Episode Two 'The Blind Banker'

 REVIEW: Sherlock, Series 1 Episode Two 'The Blind Banker'

When Sherlock began in 2010, it got off to an electrifying start. Its series opener did a superb job at introducing its lead characters and the world of the story, and offered a case that was both clever and engaging. It was clear that showrunners Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss had quite a task on their hands to maintain that strong standard of storytelling with the second episode of the series.

It's a task that they would succeed at, with flying colours. This second episode, 'The Blind Banker', sets up easily one of the most intriguing mysteries in any detective series ever. Here, we are presented with a killer who can scale buildings, spray graffiti markings of Chinese numbers as a means of threatening their victims and leave within the space of a minute, all before murdering them in their flats later. It's a mystery that keeps you hooked throughout the hour and a half of runtime, and shows just how skilled episode writer Steve Thompson is at screenwriting.

It was nice to see Gemma Chan guest-starring in this episode, playing museum assistant Soo Lin Yao. Her character has a rather tragic story; herself and her brother Zhi Zhu (not credited) having previously become embroiled in a Chinese crime gang called the Black Lotus Tong. Soo Lin Yao believed she had managed to escape, having fled from China to the UK, but now they have come for her - and have sent her brother, who is still a part of their gang, to seek her out. The way her story concludes is quite sad, but Gemma Chan plays the role beautifully for the brief bit of time she spends on-screen, and it's no wonder she is easily one of the most profilic British actors in the film and television industry right now.

Graffiti artist Raz (Jack Bence) is a fun addition to the series, operating as Sherlock's (Benedict Cumberbatch) eyes and ears on the streets. He's quite cheeky, particularly in the way he leaves John Watson (Martin Freeman) with the spray can he uses for his artwork and essentially frames him for spraying graffiti. He's a cunning sort of character who fits right in the world of Sherlock Holmes, and exactly the kind of person you could imagine Sherlock using for help with a case.

John Watson seems to be having a particularly unlucky day in this episode. First, he has quite a problem with the self-service checkouts, which refuse to let him pay for his shopping. This is where you can really feel the influence of Steven Moffat creeping into Steve Thompson's script. It feels exactly like Steven Moffat's sitcom style of humour, taking that instantly relatable everyday scenario and turning it into a joke; you can almost see Moffat's hands tapping it into Steve Thompson's Final Draft document.

Then, later into the story, John's date with doctor Sarah Sawyer (Zoe Telford) goes disastrously wrong. It starts innocently enough, with John taking Sarah to a Chinese circus, but then it starts to turn into the kind of date that would make many a man cringe when John's detective partner Sherlock turns up. Sherlock, the kind of oddball he is, doesn't seem to mind playing the third wheel, and it makes for some very amusing scenes where you feel John and Sarah's awkwardness.

But that's not even the worst thing that happens on John's date. For both John and Sarah end up kidnapped by the Chinese criminal gang - led by Shan (Sarah Lam) - who wrongly believe him to be Sherlock. You wonder, by this point, if John is starting to regret working for Sherlock, as it really does seem to be interfering with his life on a significant level. It's a great scene though that adds a considerable amount of peril, and results in a gripping climax between Sherlock and the Chinese criminals.

Overall, The Blind Banker is a strong second episode for Sherlock's first series. It's an instalment that offers an intriguing central mystery, whilst also giving a glimpse into how getting involved in Sherlock can really leave an impact on somebody's everyday life. John Watson really does not have it easy, and in a sense you really wonder if he made the right decision by working for Sherlock in the first place.

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What are your thoughts on Sherlock's second episode? Let me know in the comments.