Page 2: ‘Sherlock’ series 3 – 10 moments you missed because you don’t read the books
“No, I’m quite sure. I checked. Excuse me. Does, ah, does yours rub off too?”
– Mark Gatiss, “The Empty Hearse”
Months before series 3 premièred, John’s moustache was already a huge talking point amongst the fandom. And the biggest questions on most people’s mind was: ‘Why?’ Thankfully, the show’s characters weren’t too keen on it either and it wasn’t long before John ‘shaved for Sherlock Holmes.’ But the moustache’s appearance had justification.
You see, nearly (though not quite) every depiction of Doctor Watson on film, television, page, or picture shows him with a moustache. In fact, pre-Sherlock, it was probably as synonymous with Watson as the deerstalker was with Holmes. Nowadays, a man with upper-lip hair is a strange sight so Martin Freeman probably couldn’t pull it off with real credibility. However, the show’s handling of this short appearance was a nice way of acknowledging the character’s heritage (just as they did with Sherlock’s ear hat the series before and beyond).
We’re glad it’s gone though.
“It was only a joke at first,” groaned our visitor. “We never thought that she would have been so carried away.”
– Arthur Conan Doyle, “A Case of Identity”
‘Holmes and Hooper’ may have been a short-lived detective partnership, but they managed to solve their fair share of Arthur Conan Doyle cases in their brief time together. When a concerned young woman comes to the crime-solvers with her stepfather to solve the mystery of her partner’s disappearance, Sherlock makes quick work of accusing her stepfather of posing as the woman’s suitor online.
This little mystery is lifted straight from “A Case of Identity,” in which Mary Sutherland’s stepfather literally disguises himself as a bachelor and agrees to marry her – all to secure some inheritance money. In the books, Sherlock solves the mystery after reading a typewritten letter from the impostor. However, he chooses not to tell his client: claiming “she wouldn’t believe me.”
“I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money and the most repellent man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist…”
– Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Sign of Four”
Billy Kincaid is the person Sherlock describes as “the best man he ever knew” – completely misinterpreting his best friend’s best man request in “The Sign of Three.” He goes on to tell the good doctor about Kincaid’s numerous contributions to charity. This piece of dialogue comes from “The Sign of Four” – the second Sherlock Holmes novel, in which John meets wife-to-be Mary Morstan.
The line itself is a reversal of the original (above), where Holmes calls a philanthropist “most repellent” and describes a woman executed for poisoning three children as “the most winning woman I ever knew.” It’s a subtle reference, and one that even escaped many books fans on first broadcast. Thankfully, those more gifted in deduction sniffed out the homage for the rest of us.
“Of course it is! One mention of Baskerville and he sends down my handler to, to spy on me incognito. Is that why you’re calling yourself Greg?”
– Mark Gatiss, “The Hounds of Baskerville”
Sherlock’s frequent forgetfulness of DI Lestrade’s first name works on a character level, as it illustrates the sleuth’s lack of observation when it comes to information he doesn’t deem necessary. However, his persistence in getting his friend and colleague’s name wrong is a witty wink to the character of the books. Sir Arty only ever gave Lestrade’s first initial, G – probably because the notoriously forgetful author knew he would never remember a full name.
Greg has been re-christened by the great detective many times over the years, and nearly made our last list of book references. It secured it’s place in this post because of the writer’s continued commitment to the joke. Graham, Gavin and Goldilocks will never get old!
“That was how I earned the Agra treasure, and you talk to me of justice because I cannot bear to feel that I have paid this price only that another may enjoy it!”
– Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four
Mary Morstan’s role in the Sherlock Holmes stories was hugely developed for the show, and although the character’s back-story has been heavily changed, the whole of series 3 has plenty of references to her origin tale “The Sign of Four.” In episode 2, John’s former commanding officer is named Major Sholto – after the best friend of Morstan’s father and the man who hid a great treasure she is determined to find.
And the name of this treasure itself is used st a crucial moment in the plot of “His Last Bow.” In the novel, Mary seeks the Agra Treasure. In the television series, A.G.R.A. are the initials written on the memory stick containing her former identity as an assassin. As for what the initials stand for, well, that’s another mystery in itself.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to pick up the books to help you through the excruciating and currently undisclosed wait for Sherlock series 4. If you’ve already read them, you should by now be feeling suitably smug – and please feel free to mention any nods to canon we didn’t include.
Find more great articles like this one at our ‘Sherlock’ celebration.
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