What I’m Watching: Elementary

Elementary: Season 2, Episode 8 “Blood Is Thicker” (B+)

I like the way this episode started, with a furiously exciting score and the sight of the two Holmes brothers engaged in playful duel on the roof. It’s a relief that Sherlock avoiding a visit to Mycroft’s restaurant didn’t have anything to do with a personal vendetta, rather with the prioritization of work over play, and that he was actually quite impressed with the cuisine he experienced once he finally made his way there. Unfortunately, it seems that Sherlock had reason to be worried, and Mycroft’s intentions were in fact duplicitous. I’m hopeful that Watson will be able to help Sherlock realize that Mycroft has something up his sleeve, and that it won’t prove as devastating as, say, the return of one Irene Adler. The introduction of this week’s case was once again done in stylish fashion, with the truck being driven away with a body on top of it after a distant crashing sound was heard. As usual, the case was full of surprising developments, namely the declining health of one Ian Gale, played by William Sadler of “Die Hard 2” and “Wonderfalls,” among other things, his relationship to the victim, and the very impactful news that his surgery should have gone extremely well had it not been for foul play. Once again, Watson is asserting her helpful nature, and she and Sherlock do make a truly terrific team. It was good to see Sherlock stick up for their partnership and make sure that something like a move to London didn’t risk pulling them apart.