What I’m Watching: Elementary

Elementary: Season 2, Episode 2 “Solve for X” (B+)

It’s interesting to think that Sherlock isn’t an expert in every field. In this episode, he contends with two areas in which he doesn’t have much knowledge, and it’s intriguing to see his approach to things he admits that he doesn’t fully comprehend. The more significant of the two was of course the mathematical equation whose theoretical solution would be absolutely monumental, and Rich Sommer, of “Mad Men” fame, was a great choice to play the first overenthusiastic mathematician who was excited by the progress that the two murdered math geniuses had made. This episode’s construction was great because it circled back around to the real killer while accusing her of the crime several times in the process, and then explaining just how she managed to pull it off, incorporating that legendary equation into it. Hearing Watson talk about what she does is great, and it’s nice to see, for once, Sherlock being selfless and trying to involve himself in her life. Sure, he did it in his typical aggressive and unfriendly way, giving her $22,000 instead of the $5,000 she wants and painting Joan’s friend as only interested in her money, but, at the end of it all, he offered to come with her to visit the grave to pay his respects. This episode was a high-functioning example of both sides of the show, the one that involves complex, layered cases, and the one that fleshes out the relationship between this incarnation of Sherlock and Watson, which continues to be one of my favorites.