‘Elementary’ recap: ‘Step Nine’

Sherlock and Joan visit London to help out one of his former colleagues and help solve a murder case in the season 2 premiere of Elementary.

“Step Nine” begins in London, England, at the funeral of media mogul Lawrence Pendry’s father. Lestrade crashes the funeral and uses a fake grenade to scare the crowd. Lestrade yells and says Pendry killed his wife, Mary, and then ruined his reputation as a police officer.

The scene cuts to New York City, where Sherlock is watching a group of pigeons. Joan walks up and asks him why he texted her to met him at the park. He explains he discovered a carrier pigeon was being used to deliver messages important to their current case. He’s watching the birds and waiting to see who picks up the message. The man arrives to collect his message and Sherlock chases him through the pack, but loses him. Joan is able to catch him using some awesome self defense moves. Detective Bell and Captain Gregson make an appearance when the subject is taken into custody, and seem amused and impressed by Sherlock and Joan’s work.

Sherlock receives a phone call from an old colleague at Scotland Yard, DCI Hopkins, saying another old colleague, Inspector Lestrade, is in trouble and needs help. Sherlock tells Joan about his history with Lestrade. Sherlock helped solve various cases and Lestrade took credit for Sherlock’s findings. He believes made an addict out of Lestrade, who craved the attention of the spotlight.

The two arrive in London and visit Scotland Yard first. Hopkins explains Lestrade’s behavior at the funeral and how Lestrade believes Lawrence Pendry killed his wife Mary. Pendry denied the allegations and used his influence to find out information about Lestrade and paint him as incompetent. Lestrade was suspended and using the fake grenade at funeral got him into even more trouble, but he ran. Hopkins asks Sherlock to find Lestrade. Pendry arrives at the Yard and they are all introduced. Pendry mentions he knows Sherlock solved Lestrade’s old cases.

Sherlock takes Joan back to his old flat at 221B Baker Street, saying he had a friend keep on eye on his stuff. They arrive and the apartment is changed, due to the fact Sherlock’s brother Mycroft now occupies the space. Sherlock and Mycroft banter while Joan watches on, confused. He introduces himself as Sherlock’s brother and explains their relationship. Years before, Sherlock had an affair with Mycroft’s fiance because he figured out she only wanted money. It left a rift between the two. Sherlock also sees his brother as lazy and doesn’t seem to approve of him being a restaurateur. Joan and Sherlock decide to stay with Mycroft, despite the awkwardness.

Sherlock finds Lestrade easily, as he’s been using hidden money Sherlock put around the city. Sherlock asks him to go to Scotland Yard with him, but Lestrade is obsessed with proving Pendry is guilty of murder. He asks Sherlock to work with him “one last time,” and Sherlock agrees. Joan and Mycroft discuss Sherlock, then Joan goes to meet Sherlock and Lestrade.

They both look at the clues from the scene, questioning why a vegan, and someone who is lactose intolerant would have milk in their fridge. Joan tells Sherlock she’s going out to dinner with Mycroft, and he tries to tell her Mycroft wants to sleep with her. Joan ignores him and focuses on the evidence. Sherlock discovers a mask on the wall had been moved after the crime. They decide it’s time to revisit the scene, but know Pendry won’t allow them access without cause. Sherlock makes Lestrade write a suicide note saying he will kill Pendry. Sherlock and Joan take the note to Pendry and talk about security around him. Sherlock tells him Joan is the number one expert on home security in America, and he uses her distracting him to check the mask. He looks at the nail and discovers Pendry did kill Mary.

The murder weapon was never found, but Sherlock says it was in the kitchen. He thinks a plastic gun was used, and that Pendry dissolves the pieces of the gun in acetone, which was the milky looking liquid in the fridge. They believe he used a 3D printer to create the plastic gun and it needs a nail to be the firing pin. Sherlock discovered the tip of the nail was charred. Lestrade wants to go to the police, but Sherlock says they need more proof.

He uses CTTV to get a message to Langdale Pike, who can get him a list of people who bought 3D printers lately. Sherlock decides to go look over the list Pike delivered with Lestrade, and encourages Joan to eat dinner with his brother. He wants to know if he is correct in thinking Mycroft wants to sleep with her, or if Joan is in thinking he wants to get to know his brother’s friend. It turns out Joan is correct, as Mycroft asks her how to become friends with Sherlock. Mycroft also tells her his was ill before and that’s why he wants to get to know his brother.

Sherlock tries to apologize to Lestrade for not protecting him from becoming addicted to fame. Lestrade doesn’t listen very well though. Lestrade finds Pendry’s handyman Nicholas Ginn on the 3D printer list before Mary’s death. They go to his house and find him dead in the kitchen from a knife wound. Joan notes Pendry used one of Ginn’s own knives as a murder weapon, and it was done with his left hand. Sherlock explores and finds a piece of plastic in the fruit bowl, declaring Pendry has the printer and tried to make another plastic gun.

They arrive at Pendry’s house with officers, then Sherlock and Joan explain how Pendry murdered Mary and Ginn. He built another gun with the printer, but this one didn’t work. It blew up and it hurt his hand. He had to use his left hand to stab Ginn. He cleaned up all the plastic pieces, except those that fell in the fruit bowl. Pendry’s taken into custody and Lestrade is pleased. Sherlock tells him not to take credit for everything he did for the case, and while Lestrade seems to agree, he does take credit for everything in front of the press. Sherlock is upset and worried about his addiction to fame.

Mycroft texts Sherlock and they meet at a building. Mycroft tells him all his belongs are in one of the rooms. He mentions some of the items, including a Picasso painting and bomb making books. Mycroft admits he asked Joan how to talk to Sherlock, and he blows up the storage room. He then says Sherlock is forgiven. Sherlock then goes to meet Joan at the train station. He tells her what happened and she says the brothers are alike.

Quote and Comments:

"221B is a good deal more than nice, Watson. I spent the best part of 10 years transforming it into a virtual womb of creativity. Stepping inside it is not unlike stepping inside my very brain. You will no doubt see things that will confuse or even upset you." - Sherlock to Joan as they approach his old apartment.

I really enjoyed the season premiere of Elementary. I think the story for this episode was interesting as it focused more on Sherlock trying to make amends than the actual murders. It was obvious Pendry was guilty from the beginning, and it was engaging watching them try and figure out how he committed murder. I thought the acting was superb from all the actors. The change of Mycroft from government official in the Conan Doyle stories to a restaurateur was an interesting choice, but a fun one. I hope to see more of Mycroft in the future. Overall, this episode is a wonderful start to season 2.

Photo Courtesy of CBS