Elementary: The Games Underfoot (4x05)

This was one of those episodes of Elementary that just hits you right in the sweet spot. It wasn't one for the history books, but it was exactly what I wanted at this point. Something comfortable and solidly good.

Cons:

The actual twist in the case this week ended up derailing a lot of the buildup. Basically, for most of the story you believe that the victim was murdered over an old rare video game collectible, but then it turns out the guy accidentally stumbled upon an evil business man's money-saving toxic waste scheme. It felt a tiny bit out of left field. Not enough to be distracting or a huge problem or anything, but definitely not my favorite resolution to a mystery.

Pros:

But on the other hand, the case was pretty great up until a rather lackluster ending. I loved all the intrigue of the missing video game, which was apparently so horrible that stores cancelled their orders based on the reviews given to those with advanced copies. The victim was on message boards, trying to discover the whereabouts of the discontinued game. They are apparently worth a fortune, a fact which one of the video game enthusiasts fails to mention to the police for a long while. His own desire to find the game has nothing to do with money. At one point, "Everyone" gets involved, as Sherlock asks them for help discovering the true identity of one of the online members in the message boards. Sherlock has to beat an old video game to get Everyone's help, but he can't manage to beat it. Joan ends up completing the task for him, though. That was a really funny scene - when she finally beats the game, Sherlock says "my hero!"

One of the best parts of this episode was the subtle way it enforced Sherlock and Joan's partnership. They have such a casual ease with each other, and it's lovely to see how deep their respect and friendship really goes. My favorite exchange was a rather simple one when Joan walks in the door, says "Sherlock?" and he responds "study." I don't know what it is about that simple moment, but to me it just shows off their domesticity really well. As Joan notices the problems between Sherlock and Alfredo in this episode, she checks in on Sherlock as a friend, without ever slipping back into that sober companion role that she used to hold. I love that there's a clear distinction there.

The best part of this episode was the subplot with Alfredo. Sherlock has been avoiding his friend because of everything that happened with Sherlock's relapse and Alfredo being kidnapped. It's not simple guilt, though. Sherlock feels like a clean slate might be good for him in his attempt to get clean again after his relapse. Alfredo, although he is a friend, only serves as a reminder of his failure. Eventually, Sherlock does go to talk to Alfredo, saying that even if they don't attend meetings together anymore, they can still be friends. The only trouble is, as Sherlock explains to Joan, he and Alfredo don't have a lot in common other than their quest for sobriety. Sherlock eventually realizes, due to a couple of subtle hints, that Alfredo has been going to more and more meetings than usual, and that perhaps he is the one who is struggling with his sobriety. Sherlock goes to talk to Alfredo, offering his friendship and support.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love Alfredo and Sherlock's relationship. It's such a simple thing to include Alfredo's character in the story, but it adds so much depth and beauty to this show. I love what Alfredo always tells Sherlock about his sobriety - he has to be selfish, and do whatever it takes to stay on track. Sherlock turns that around on Alfredo this week, saying that he's got to come forward and admit when he's in trouble, or he's not doing the best for himself that he can do. The best and sweetest moment came when Alfredo asked Sherlock if he'd found a new sponsor yet, and Sherlock replied: "his predecessor has proven difficult to replace." That was simply the sweetest thing EVER. It was such a Sherlockian thing to say, and you could tell that Alfredo was so touched.

The comedy award of the night goes to Sherlock's disdain for Alfredo's doughnuts. He remarks: "pink coconuts do not occur in nature." Later, Sherlock noticing those same doughnuts is what makes him realize that Alfredo has been going to extra meetings.

I think that's all I've got. This episode was a real winner. It was comforting and solid in all the necessary ways. I didn't mind the lack of A-plot at all.

8.5/10