SHERLOCK AND THE SIX THATCHERS

UK, 2017, 88 minutes, Colour.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Amanda Abbington, Mark Gatiss, Lindsay Duncan, Marcia Warren, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Sacha Dhawan.
Directed by Rachel Talalay.

This is the first film in the third television series of Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson. Mark Gatiss reappears as Mycroft and Amanda Abbington is Mary Watson. Also reappearing a Rupert Graves as Lestrade and Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson.

This is a rather complicated story, taking up the mysteries of the previous Sherlock series, accusations that Sherlock was a murderer, the fact that Moriarty had disappeared and died. Now Sherlock has been vindicated and is looking for a case to explore, interested in the search for a Black Pearl, but also interested in a series of mysterious deaths with which a bust of Margaret Thatcher is associated.

Then the story moves to the activities of Mary Watson when she was an agent before she married John, but not telling him of her past. There are a variety of flashbacks, taking the audience to Georgia, to Tiblisi, where the Thatcher busts were made and where there was a raid and a betrayal of the agents. Another survived, believes he was betrayed by Mary, has been pursuing her for vengeance. She travels back over the places where she served, finally arriving in Morocco, where Sherlock and John had tracked her.

This builds up to a confrontation, revelations, deaths – and finishes with John Watson resenting the fact that Sherlock had promised to protect him and his family and had failed. Which prepares the audience for the next episode.

1. The popularity of the series of films? Contemporary settings? Interpretation of Conan Doyle? The presence and style of Benedict Cumberbatch? Of Martin Freeman? And echoes of Moriarty?

2. The familiar backgrounds from the previous films, Sherlock and his appearance, manner, clothes? Watson and his role, friendship, the blog? Mrs Hudson and Baker Street? The past issues with Moriarty?

3. Sherlock, the accusations of murder, the role of Moriarty, his death, Sherlock expecting something posthumous? The interrogation by Mycroft and the officials? The covering of the story? His being free?

4. Dr Watson, the marriage to Mary, her pregnancy, the birth of the daughter, her name and its symbolism? Married life, at home, waking up in the night? The baptism, the godparents, the role of Sherlock (and his texting at the ceremony)? Sherlock’s promise to protect the Watson family?

5. Sherlock wanting cases? The story of the boy ringing from the Himalayas, the mansion, the birthday party, his phone call, the drunken crash, his body being found in the car, dead for a week? Sherlock and his visiting the parents, his speculation, the bust of Margaret Thatcher, the comic dialogue about her? The mother and her anxiety?

6. Sherlock following through on the busts of Mrs Thatcher? The background in Tiblisi? Tracking the owners? The further killings and smashing of the busts?

7. The background of Mary being an agent, the controls in London, the hostage situation, the rescue, its going wrong, the deaths? The codename, Amo, not ammunition but love in Latin – and the interrogation by Mycroft of the head of operations, her protesting her innocence, the irony of it being the quiet secretary, her control, selling secrets, her house in Cornwall, her giving the orders, the betrayal, the cover?

8. The memory sticks, the initials, the identities of the agents, their having all the information to cover each other? Sherlock and his tracking down AJ, the confrontation, the fight, his anger at Mary? The escape?

9. Sherlock confronting Mary, the explanation of the memory sticks, her going on a journey – retracing her steps, the various countries, the experiences, her manner on the plane and her fears, disguising the flight attendant? Her finishing in Morocco, Sherlock tracking her there, Dr Watson and his presence? The explanations? AJ and his presence, explanations, the flashbacks to his being tortured, the voice on the phone? His presumption about Mary? His shooting Sherlock, Mary in front taking the bullet, the last words, her death?

10. The aquarium, the confrontation with the secretary, the confession, confrontation, Lestrade and his following up the case (and the jokes about his fame after Watson’s blog was published), her arrest?

11. The consequences, Watson denouncing Sherlock for not protecting his family, his refusal to see him?

12. Audience anticipation of the next episode?