The Reichenbach Fall: How did Sherlock....?
Was discussing The Reichenbach Fall with Jane yesterday, and the topic naturally went to how Sherlock managed to survive falling off St. Bart's rooftop (megaspoiler, highlight to read). She didn't have any theories (which was a surprise in itself because, how can anyone not have any theories?!).
This is what we're sure didn't happen (unless Stephenie Meyer somehow grabbed creative control of the series):
Haha! Got that from a Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) retweet, by the way.
Seriously, though. Here are the things we know for sure:
I think everyone can already guess where I'm heading with these. :)
Yes, Sherlock jumped. But I think there was something or someone down below that caught him. (I have my eye on those two buses Moriarty saw when he first glanced down. They could have hidden Sherlock-catching tools. And they were gone when John arrived at the scene.)
While John (and us viewers) was being stalled, Molly could have administered to Sherlock a drug that causes a death-like state (and also to get rid of other evidence). So when we and John next saw Sherlock, he seemed to be dead.
But what about all those people who had to have seen it, then? Those ones at the sidewalk? This part gets a bit messy, I admit. But, I think they were all in on it. Even the guy on the bicycle. Sherlock could have contacted his homeless network (from season 1) to help him with this. The police, as well as Moriarty's goons, would have a hard time finding these nameless, faceless people later for questioning. Molly wouldn't talk, none of Sherlock's friends were in on it, so the ruse would likely remain intact. (I'm not too sure about Mycroft, though. I don't think Sherlock would have confided in him, but it's altogether possible that Mycroft would have figured out the plot.)
What are YOUR theories? Discuss! :)
This is what we're sure didn't happen (unless Stephenie Meyer somehow grabbed creative control of the series):
Haha! Got that from a Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) retweet, by the way.
Seriously, though. Here are the things we know for sure:
- Sherlock did jump off the rooftop. We watched it ourselves from the rooftop POV. John saw it from his vantage point one street over.
- Neither we, nor John, saw Sherlock actually hit the ground.
- During his final phone call to John, Sherlock specifically asked John to stand at that exact spot (where he wouldn't have a view of the sidewalk right under St. Bart's).
- At least 30 seconds (probably more) elapsed from the time Sherlock jumped to when we saw him dead on the pavement. We were made to follow John's POV. He had to walk a bit to be able to see, and he got hit by a bicycle along the way, which made him fall and get disoriented for a while.
- Sherlock asked Molly for help, mentioning that he had to die. Molly is a doctor, and would have access to and knowledge of all kinds of drugs.
- Sherlock had what looked a needle-puncture wound on his neck when we saw him secretly watching John at the cemetery.
I think everyone can already guess where I'm heading with these. :)
Yes, Sherlock jumped. But I think there was something or someone down below that caught him. (I have my eye on those two buses Moriarty saw when he first glanced down. They could have hidden Sherlock-catching tools. And they were gone when John arrived at the scene.)
While John (and us viewers) was being stalled, Molly could have administered to Sherlock a drug that causes a death-like state (and also to get rid of other evidence). So when we and John next saw Sherlock, he seemed to be dead.
But what about all those people who had to have seen it, then? Those ones at the sidewalk? This part gets a bit messy, I admit. But, I think they were all in on it. Even the guy on the bicycle. Sherlock could have contacted his homeless network (from season 1) to help him with this. The police, as well as Moriarty's goons, would have a hard time finding these nameless, faceless people later for questioning. Molly wouldn't talk, none of Sherlock's friends were in on it, so the ruse would likely remain intact. (I'm not too sure about Mycroft, though. I don't think Sherlock would have confided in him, but it's altogether possible that Mycroft would have figured out the plot.)
What are YOUR theories? Discuss! :)