REVIEW: Sherlock, Series 2 Episode Three 'The Reichenbach Fall'

 REVIEW: Sherlock, Series 2 Episode Three 'The Reichenbach Fall'

There are certain moments within television that capture the nation's interest. Be it a talent show winner or the latest soap opera scandal, if there's one thing TV is good at it's getting people talking. One such example is 'The Reichenbach Fall', the third episode in Sherlock's second series. This story within the BBC's Sherlock adaptations sparked so much discussion that in the lead up to the third series - which picked up from where this episode left off - there was even a science documentary show presented by Professor Brian Cox trying to deduce how the detective survived his own apparent death.

We begin with John Watson (Martin Freeman) talking to his therapist Ella Thompson (Tanya Moodie) about the said death, and this scene actually hits harder knowing that Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) survives. The poor man is distraught at having lost his best friend, and in hindsight it feels somewhat cruel that Sherlock led him to believe that he was dead. Martin Freeman plays these scenes of a grieving John Watson perfectly though, displaying so much emotion in his face and vocal intonations; he really sells you on this great tragedy that John is going through. The man responsible for Sherlock's eventual demise is his arch nemesis Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), kicking things off with a rather unusual series of events. Moriarty manages to break into the Tower of London, the Bank of England and the Pentonville prison all at the same time, in what has to be one of the most remarkable cases yet. It builds up to a hilarious moment where Moriaty sits inside the case where the crown jewels once sat, dressed like royalty, as the security burst in. An iconic piece of imagery for sure, in what is surely one of Sherlock's most memorable moments.

This leads to an excellent courtroom sequence, where Moriarty is tried for burglary in front of the jury and somehow found innocent, despite all of the evidence against him as well as the fact that he has no defence. It's that kind of curious twisting of the expected that really sells Sherlock as a series; as with the Professor Layton games, it proves that turning what would be expected to occur on its head and providing the opposite makes for a much more engaging plot than showing us what we would normally assume to see. It means that the mystery becomes how he got away with it, rather than how the crimes were committed, and it's quite a tantalising question to pose.

A brilliant new addition to the cast here is Katherine Parkinson as journalist Kitty Riley. Initially she is introduced as just another tabloid reporter who wants an exclusive interview with Sherlock Holmes - leading to a hilarious moment where Sherlock tells her that he despises her because of her career with the press - but later the episode pulls an ingenious twist, where it turns out she's working with Moriarty (who she believes to be an actor called Albert Brook) on a story that exposes Sherlock as a fraud. It's a hugely effective pay-off, especially when Sherlock's words are twisted back at him when Kitty tells Sherlock that she despises him, and it's quite startling just how much work Moriarty has put into this fake identity. It shows just how serious of a threat he is to Sherlock's life solving various criminal mysteries, that there is this man who will go to the effort of faking CVs and altering database records in order to convince the world that Sherlock is a fraud who paid him to be his enemy.

Which brings me onto the 'Hansel and Gretel' case. This concerns Moriarty setting up a mystery regarding kidnapped children based around the fairytale classic for Sherlock to solve, and the way the screenplay ties this in with the later reveal of Moriarty's plan being to frame Sherlock as a fraud is so clever. He effectively uses Sherlock's skills as a detective against him, manipulating those around him from behind the scenes into wondering whether he could have had anything to do with the crime. After all, is it more believable to assume he knew the childrens' shoe size because he was involved in their kidnapping than to think it came from his superior intellect? You can't exactly blame Lestrade (Ruper Graves) and Sally (Vinette Robinson) for wondering.

He's less successful with John, of course, who stands by Sherlock no matter what. Because of course he does, and Steven Moffat knows that. If there's anything that defines John Watson, it's that he possesses an undying loyalty to those he cares about, and this is a trait present throughout the screenplay. It's what endears us to the army doctor, and his relationship with the consulting detective, and why we enjoy watching their partnership evolve.

Of course, you can't talk about The Reichenbach Fall without discussing the fall itself, and God is it spectacular. It's a beautiful piece of television production, superbly directed by Toby Haynes, and there's little wonder that it's become one of the most iconic sequences in recent British TV history. It's also wonderfully acted by Martin Freeman, when John Watson sees Sherlock supposedly committing suicide and rushes to the scene, and I honestly doubt any other creative team could have done a better job.

Overall, The Reichenbach Fall is easily one of Sherlock's greatest episodes. Featuring a captivating plot, a glorious closing sequence and Martin Freeman's finest performance within the show, it's a truly impressive piece of television production. The Reichenbach Fall is not an episode that anyone is ever likely to forget.

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