Under the lens takes a deep look at films and TV by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture or episode that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Its been a heck of a ride, but the Elementary Series Finale is here. Elementary has run for a total of 7 seasons and 154 episodes. The CBS show which starred Johnny Lee Miller as the titular hero and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson courted some controversy at its start by gender-swapping Watson and moving the action from London to New York City. However, it was not long before the show found its feet and was loved by a core base of viewers (Some even call it the best iteration of Sherlock Holmes). Now after so many cases solved and adventures gone on, its time for Sherlock and Watson to take their last bow and walk off into the sunset. Does the series finale accomplish this well or does it fail? Let’s take a look!
Under The Lens: Moriarty and Non-Ending
Moriarty: Elementary presented us with perhaps the most interesting take on Sherlock’s archvillain, genderswapping him and making him a her named “Jamie Moriarty”. What made this interesting was making Moriarty Sherlock’s former lover and great lost love, this added an undercurrent to the relationship. While Moriarty is caught in season 1 and had not made an appearance since season 2, she was constantly teased and many expected her to return in the final season. However in the Elementary Series Finale, the showrunners decided to not bring her back and instead just tease her again, this was a negative part of the finale. Moriarty was a major hinge to who and what Sherlock had become in the show, and was a major reason for his struggles with sobriety. Not bringing her back even for a scene or two left a major component of the show dangling, having her live and continue her game with Sherlock was good, but it would have been nice to see a conclusion or even a cap off to the relationship that in many ways gave birth to this version of who Sherlock was.
Non-Ending: Many series finales take their characters in one of two directions. They either present the end as “A typical day” or they uproot the lives of the heroes and villains in some way that ends the current storyline. Elementary does not do either of these but settles for a “Non-Ending”. In many ways, this was the best possible conclusion to the story being told, while we do get a case, and some mysteries to be solved, they are all character-focused. We are given a time jump of three years and see the lives of our favorite characters upended, but then they all come together again. By the end of the episode, Sherlock and Watson are going back to consult for Captain Bell and the NYPD and a new chapter in their lives is starting. Sherlock and Watson will be forever solving cases, Sherlock will always fight and love Moriarty, and Joan will help and write about him. It was a good road to take and a satisfying ending.
Highlights
Johnny Lee Miller gets to showcase a more emotional Sherlock then ever before, and we see just how much he cares for his partner.
The ambiguous relationship status. Viewers have always wondered if Watson and Sherlock would end up romantically involved, the finale hints at this but in the end, leaves the question unanswered. It’s up to the viewer to decide.
Something to think about
Do you think Watson and Sherlock end up romantically involved? did the final episode give any hints you picked up?
Conclusion
Overall Elementary was my favorite version of Sherlock Holmes, he was very human, yet brilliant, broken yet the most together of us all. We got to see bold interpretations of iconic friends and foes, the scripts dived into just who Sherlock and Watson were. The Elementary Series Finale was not perfect but it ended the series adventures in a mostly satisfying way, we know that Sherlock and Watson will forever keep New York safe and we the viewers can take comfort that the adventures are not ending we just won’t get to see the rest of them.
