Sherlock: Blind Bankers, Dancing Men and Chinese Gangsters

You know, I’ve got to confess, I’m thinking, here, that I could use getting the idea of pub’s out of my head.

I really do … !

Because I couldn’t help but think the name of tonight’s episode ofSherlock— The Blind Banker — sounded vaguely like the name of one

Not that The Blind Banker actually had anything to do with a pub.

Or was set in a pub.

Or even went past a pub, in a hanson.

Or mentioned — in a bizarre and convoluted bit of scripting — a pub called The Blind Banker.

I’m gabbling, aren’t I … ?

.

And quietly thanking Apple for including a thesaurus, actually … !

And thinking I should get decaffeinated teabags …

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At any rate, you’d’ve probably gathered — by now — that I’ve just spent another quiet Sunday night in, in the company of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, in the Steven Moffat/Mark Gatiss updated take on Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.

And you’ve probably also worked out that tonight’s episode was called The Blind Banker; if you hadn’t you possibly need those decaffeinated teabags a lot more than I do!!

At any rate, The Blind Banker — an updated version of The Adventure Of The Dancing Men — sees Holmes and Watson called in, by an old college friend of Holmes, to investigate the apparent vandalism of the chairman’s office of a city bank.

However, Holmes quickly works out that the graffiti — a rendering of the Suzhou numerals for 1-15 — is a warning.

And a warning aimed at a specific member of the bank’s trading staff.

Which Holmes and Watson soon link to an identically warned — and otherwise both seemingly innocent and extremely dead — travel writer, and a still living, Anglo-Chinese museum curator.

Who, during a rough childhood in Hong Kong, had been coerced, along with her brother, into joining a tong* that was heavily involved in smuggling antiquities out of the country.

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Now, I’ve got to admit, The Blind Banker is another blinder from the Team headed by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and company.

Ok, granted, I’m watching because of their connections with Doctor Who. Which is pretty much why I tuned in to Torchwood.

But Sherlock and Doctor Who are two very different shows.

In fact, much as I’ve enjoyed the Matt Smith/Karen Gillan fifth season, I’m — so far — enjoyingSherlock a touch more.

I’m thinking that that’s possibly because Doctor Who is aimed at more of a family audience — friends with kids have told me as much!! — with Sherlock filling the hole in the Moffat gap left by Russell T. Davies Torchwood.

Actually, I’m also thinking that the Matt Smith era Dr Who could benefit from a touch of tonal bleed-over from Sherlock.

If that makes sense … ?

I hope so … !

But tonight’s episode … ?

Phew … !!

Tonight’s episode was another blinder in a three-part series that’s not let me down.

And possibly not disappointed anyone else, either: from what I’ve picked up, last week’s opening episode picked up something like 7•2 million viewers.

Hopefully, that’s been kept up with The Blind Banker.

If for no other reason than the escapology routine … !!

* This one was called the Tong of The Black Lotus, and — in the episode — leaves a token origami lotus flower made of black paper, with those it has killed. I’ve got to admit, I got thinking of the Tong of The Black Scorpion …