Were you watching the last in the current series of Sherlock on Sunday? What a shocker of an ending that was. I think you could almost hear the audible gasp go up around the nation as the genius detective apparently jumped to his death. This can’t be the end for our hero can it? Well, most likely no. It seems as though the rumours of Sherlock’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Particularly as we caught a glimpse of a very alive and well Mr Holmes lurking right at the end of the episode. Which is great news, not least because the detective drama is scheduled for at least one more series after this.
So that leaves us with the burning question. How exactly did Sherlock fake his own death? The Internet is awash with theory and speculation, some seriously clever (did Sherlock jump into a passing rubbish lorry?) and some wildly unlikely (robot spaceships anyone?) One of the theories that we’re finding most intriguing here at Mask Heaven HQ is the suggestion that masks played a vital role in Sherlock’s plan.
One of the theories being bandied around is that, whether or not Sherlock actually jumped and somehow landed safely, the body that John Watson saw lying on the ground was not Sherlock himself but rather another body wearing a Sherlock face mask. Remember the frightened reaction of the young kidnapped girl when she sees Sherlock earlier in the episode? A likely hypothesis is that Moriarty somehow managed to disguise himself as his arch nemesis when he snatched the children from their school. Perhaps with the aid of a seriously lifelike Sherlock mask.
Theorists suggest that the figure lying on the pavement wearing Sherlock’s face could actually be Moriarty. Or a body borrowed from the morgue with the help of Molly. Or even a dummy. Don’t forget that a Dr Watson was prevented from taking Sherlock’s pulse after the accident, disorientated after a clash with a cyclist and jostled away from the scene by onlookers. Could the cyclist and others at the scene have been in on the act?
It certainly seems that Sherlock managed to carry off a grand illusion, with the help of some careful planning and the assistance of some loyal friends (his homeless network and even perhaps his own brother Mycroft?) No doubt all will be explained when the series returns for a third season. Though it will be very interesting to see whether Dr Watson, Sherlock’s most loyal friend of all, will be quick to forgive once he realises he’s been duped into believing he watched his friend die…
By Jennie Humes
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