A Consulting Detective in “Déjà Vu All Over Again”: Elementary Review

Did you miss Elementary over the past couple of weeks? “Déjà Vu All Over Again” brings the show back in full form, with Holmes and Watson taking on individual cases. Now that Watson is venturing onto this new path, there is an opportunity for the show to have two mysteries in one episode. It’s still much more fun to have them work together, but this does put a good spotlight on Watson’s development.

We begin in a flashback six months earlier, which sets up the present-day case by revealing a woman being shoved in front of a subway train. It also shows Watson out with her friends as they discuss her sober companion career. As we find out later, Watson has some opinionated peers. More entertaining is the phone call she receives informing her of a potential new client, to which she responds, “I just have one question: what kind of name is Sherlock?”

Cut to Watson in present-day as Alfredo, Holmes’s sponsor, teaches her how to break into a car. The transition is excellent as we marvel at how far Watson has come in a relatively short span of time, yet still in an entirely believable fashion.

In fact, Watson’s progress is a main theme in this episode as she attempts to solve the case on her own. For a man with very little patience, Holmes is a surprisingly good and encouraging teacher. Unfortunately, Watson needs the support as she feels self-doubt start to creep in. Holmes also tries offering a little tough love with, “Have I told you how distracting I find self-doubt? If you must wallow, I ask that you do it in the privacy of your room.”

When Watson’s friend, Emily (guest star Susan Pourfar), stages something of an intervention, Watson’s insecurities grow. Emily accuses Watson of being lost and says she isn’t a detective. It is an extremely irritating lecture based out of supposed concern. If someone is uncomfortable with you pursuing an unusual dream, that says an awful lot more about them than it does you.

Holmes and Gregson analyze. Image © CBS

There are a few bumps on the way to success (and a little incarceration). But after some assistance from Holmes, Watson has a breakthrough with the case. Her friend is later apologetic, and no one looks more pleased with Watson’s triumph than Holmes himself.

Holmes’s case takes the backseat to Watson’s, though they end up being intertwined. Near the end of the episode, Watson changes her online job title to “Consulting Detective.” It’s official.

There is some easy interaction between Holmes and Gregson. The episode doesn’t have time to delve into how that relationship is going on a deeper level, but their banter is still lively. A particularly good exchange occurs when Holmes asks him, “you didn’t know I played the violin?”, to which Gregson retorts, “before today I didn’t even know you ate food.” There is something especially amusing about that line, as it rather accentuates the eccentric and unusual character that is Sherlock Holmes. He is like a machine that we forget occasionally needs things like food (large bowls of scrambled eggs seem to suffice).

What did you think of this one? Unfortunately we have to wait till April 4^th for the next episode, but at least this was a solid one to hold us over. There’s also the good news that the Elementary finale will be two-hours long.