Elementary - Step Nine

Elementary opens its Second Season with the introduction of two familiar supporting characters, and a famous London address, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) and Watson (Lucy Liu) head across the pond to help out Inspector Lestrade (Sean Pertwee) whose obsession with a murder has cost him both his job and good name. While visiting his old stomping grounds Watson suggests Holmes use the opportunity to make amends to those his addiction has harmed which Sherlock takes to heart and decides to help the disgraced detective rather than bring him to justice.

Although Holmes discovers the Lestrade's suspicions that Lawrence Pendry (Rufus Wright) was responsible for his wife's murder, and discovers the rather ingenious method the killer used to dispose of the murder weapon, the pair are left with no proof to the actual crime. As Sherlock throws himself into the case, Watson spends a little time getting to know the current resident of 221 B. Baker St., the brother whom Sherlock has never spoken - Mycroft Holmes (Rhys Ifans).

Eventually Holmes solves the case, but it's Mycroft who gets the episode's big victory as thanks the advice of Watson the man gets some much needed revenge on his brother as well as buries the hatchet with Sherlock once and for all. Although the show allows Lestrade to take his rightful place as the mediocre detective hanging on Holmes' coattails, the choice to make Mycroft a restaurant owner instead of the secret genius behind the British Government is yet another of the show's unusual choices with the classic characters. This time I'd have preferred the Mycroft to be a little more like the he is on the page, but I'll admit Ifans has quite a bit of fun with this new version of the character (whom I have no doubt we will see again).