4.04.2013

Television: Elementary, "Snow Angels"

Nor'easter is coming. Homicide at a skyscraper housing a tech company. And an unexpected houseguest at the brownstone. (Miss Hudson? Really? Except, biologically, she's a he.)

The theft of an upgraded model phone doesn't much interest Holmes until all the power in the city goes out. The phones were a red herring anyway; pretty quickly it's determined the phones were discarded by the thieves when a bum is found selling them on the street. Further investigation of the building suggests it was actually an architectural firm that was the true target for the break-in.

Miss Hudson's most recent lover comes to call in the hopes of winning her back. (Apparently Holmes has called for Hudson's knowledge of ancient Greek several times in his work, which is why she came to him when ousted by her "protector.")

Perusal of the architectural plans (the ones that show contact) lead Holmes to EROC. Turns out $33m that was supposed to be shredded has instead been stolen, with fake paper shredded in its place.

Taking a page from Holmes, Detective Bell hunts up one of the perpetrators at a local hospital, and he and Gregson hold their own stripping down her false identity and turning her over. Unfortunately they—and surprisingly Holmes as well—forget how clever the whole plan has thus far been and somehow believe the information on the bad French woman's phone is truly indicative of . . . something. Which prompts a sting that goes bust. (It's either that the information on the phone was meant to be misleading, or else the writers also somehow forgot these people were supposed to be clever . . .)

Miss Hudson makes herself useful by cleaning up. Housekeeper anyone?

As per usual, someone introduced early and briefly becomes a key player: the FEMA supervisor comes under suspicion of having facilitated the getaway for the money. They set her up to attempt to free the bad French lady (whose name is Elle, but I like calling her that), and she falls for it. Case closed. Bad French lady turns on her cohorts, the money is retrieved, and Miss Hudson is hired to clean on a regular basis.

On the whole, not a terribly enterprising episode. But a few nice call-outs: Bell's and Gregson's growing ability to use some of Holmes's methods; the introduction of Miss Hudson; and the subtle showing of Holmes's generosity (paired with a glimpse of what was likely a privileged upbringing) as he uses money to simultaneously help people and get what he wants. Also, a cameo by Clyde the Tortoise.

What the episode lacked was more of the banter between Holmes and Watson. Now that they've moved into mentor/protegeé territory, things are in some ways less compelling. Though they do occasionally spat, Holmes and Watson are now more comfortable with one another, and yet Watson's grudging subservience as Holmes attempts to teach her fails to be as interesting or entertaining as when she was the one responsible for him. I'm hoping this is just a phase and the writers will find some way to up the ante soon.

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