Setlock 4, first break; May 2016

welovethebeekeeper:

Taking the time to look at setlock s4e1. Mainly what were the standouts for me during this 5 week setlock, so not a recap, just impressions.

John Watson did not look happy. We didn’t get many setlock photographs of Martin, one at Pinewood and then several during the market/Trinity Square/Bonn Sq scenes, and the ones out of character were lovely. The chemistry is back with Benedict, the shots with the real baby actor were cute and he was smiling and genial with onlookers. But John Watson looked concerned, worried, out of sorts. In the images of actual filming in London, he was firmly walking with Sherlock versus Mary and appeared to be less than enthusiastic with the events unfolding. Only one scene in reality but enough to theorise that the dissatisfaction with the marriage we saw in HLV is continuing in this new episode.

Sherlock has a lot of things unfolding which he deals with alone. So secret things, things he wants to keep away from John/Mary. We had reports Sherlock is in the scene at Portland House, maybe an embassy siege situation, no mention of John being involved but hints that Mary was there. We have Sherlock alone on Vauxhall Bridge, in front of Vauxhall Cross and at the shark tunnel in the London Aquarium, and at the Senedd in Cardiff; where is John? A report that John met with Sherlock inside MI6 during a closed set filming, suggests John may be in danger or acting secretly behind Mary’s back?
Mycroft features in the episode actually out and about at a crime scene!!! Hello, this is rather unusual. We usually see Mycroft in his house, 221b, his office or his club. Outdoors we see him waiting near Speedys and in a warehouse for meetings with John. It’s the exception rather than the rule to see Mycroft out on location. He hates ‘leg work’. Yet we know he is at the crime scene where the SOCO team are investigating. This is a major crime then, or one that is so close to home it is alarming, like Mycroft’s presence at Appledore or on the tarmac; Mycroft emerges when ‘his little brother’ is in danger.
The Sherlock, Molly and Baby Watson scene at the Watson’s flat is strange. Neither of these two people strike me as baby sitting material, and Mary would have a hoard of friends ready to look after baby if need be. Molly is not Mary’s friend in the show, there has never been a relationship building scene between the characters. Sherlock looks worried in the scene, as if a Marie Celeste moment has occurred and John and Mary have just disappeared from their flat, leaving baby unattended and the stove on, the doors unlocked; they have just disappeared. Molly is called in to look after baby and Sherlock needs to find John.
The Ferrari, and the wrecked cars, the filming on the back lot at Dragon Studios, all hint at a car chase, car crash event. I still contend that a car goes into water and submerges. There is strong action scenes in this episode, we know they used green screen at Dragon Studios, I expect someone is injured/killed.
Sherlock has his own hair, it’s not a wig. Benedict’s hair is long enough to twist and diffuse, it’s the short version of Sherlock hair, but it is his hair. In ep 2 & 3 it will be longer and better. 
Silver Blaze is getting a strong nod in this episode. The Ferrari emblem and the burned car are all suggesting puns on the story title. 
We don’t appear to have a guest villain. We didn’t have reports of any actor/actress on set or seen around Cardiff receiving a starring guest VIP treatment, such as Lara and Lars received. Which means the focus is on the story arc already in place. Yes there may be a side story taking place, maybe the Ambassador/embassy incident, but the MI6 stuff, the danger is closer to home. Think it maybe Mary’s enemies unleashed. 
On the johnlock front, I have absolutely not one iota of concern. The addition of a baby is just a continuation of the pregnancy speculation. Nothing has changed apart from the fact we can eliminate a fake pregnancy as a possibility. Sherlock and John, in scenes together, look as joined at the hip as they ever where. Mary is still smug and trying to dominate. There is no new evidence of anything having changed since HLV. 

As always these are just random thoughts, based on impressions I have had over the setlock period. As ep 2 unfolds we will be able to look back at ep 1 and see things that take us in different directions. Things to watch for as of next week:

John Watson ringwatch

Baby watch
Mary/Amanda presence
Benedict and Martin as the only actors on a location shoot [that beach recce is crying out Devil’s Foot]
Reoccuring guest actors such as Ollie Lansley, Yasmine, Lindsay Duncan, Tim and Wanda

And please….let us have a read through pic of Ben and Martin enjoying each others company.

Nice recap. Spot on though I think the villain is Mary rather than Mary’s enemies.