# Sherlock January 8 2017 "The Lying Detective" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650 "2017-01-08T20:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/21 "2017-01-09T20:53:19Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > … I’m pretty sure there was something about her having an acquaintance who handled his trash and gave her the letter. But wouldn’t he have just destroyed it instead of tossing it into a garbage can? Nope. Culverton gave her Faith’s original note. A mutual friend put them in touch. So she says anyway. Makes sense it does not but there you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/22 "2017-01-10T02:16:57Z")
I was so confused this episode, not being able to keep all the women straight. When it was revealed to be an actual plot point and it wasn’t just me not paying close enough attention, my opinion of the episode went way up. I don’t mind being fooled for a good reason. It made me kind of chuckle about the studies that supposedly say one identifies people of one’s own race better, as other races do tend to “look all alike” in certain circumstances. I’m a white woman of a certain age and they ALL looked indistinguishable to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/23 "2017-01-10T02:39:16Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Nope. Culverton gave her Faith’s original note. A mutual friend put them in touch. So she says anyway. > > Makes sense it does not but there you have it. Huh. Hopefully it’ll work better once we know her backstory. Also hard to accept is the, “Nobody knows about my secret passages because I kept switching architects,” explanation. But it was a good enough episode to make that kind of thing forgivable. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/24 "2017-01-10T04:17:40Z")
That’s what HH Holmes did. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/25 "2017-01-10T05:47:32Z")
As Evan Drake said: “Also if Sherrinford was Watson’s wanton lady on the bus, and Watson’s psychologist, and the False Faith it seems a little remiss of Sherlock not to recognise his own sister.” The whole series is about his ability to sense almost everything, yet he did not recognize his own sister? Unless, of course, he does not know he had a sister. So there is that. Sure Mycroft knows, but does Sherlock? Probably, since I missed something to indicate otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/26 "2017-01-10T05:59:49Z")
Sherlock has never met the woman on the bus, has he? He did meet the psychologist briefly when they let him out of the car boot/trunk. Not sure who/what he saw when on his literal and psychedelic trip around the streets of London … ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/27 "2017-01-10T06:15:18Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I loved the rug in the therapist’s house that looked like a huge bloodstain. If I was a little bit smarter, I might have picked up on that clue. I was thinking that no therapist would have that rug in her office, but didn’t take the next step to suspect that the therapist was an imposter. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/28 "2017-01-10T06:38:42Z")
Although it was the home of a real therapist, and presumably Eurus didn’t bring the rug in herself. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/29 "2017-01-10T08:46:02Z")
I’d just like to state for the record that “Eurus” is a stupid name and there’s no way I’m ever going to remember it. From now on, I’m going to refer to the Holmes sister as “Dot”. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/30 "2017-01-10T09:49:35Z")
When was the last time Mycroft and Shezza actually saw her. As a young woman? A girl? A baby? She was not there at the Christmas party 2013-2014 which they attended with Mum and Dad/ ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/31 "2017-01-10T10:50:49Z")
Thankfully I know little of asylums — except _vide_ Hollywood and video games, bad things happen in them — but I don’t think they commit babies to the Funny Farm. Maybe in the 1930s. If the baby grimaced or burbed or something. But not to well-off families. The Holmeses don’t live in a sink estate. I would like to think that if I grew up with a sister and last saw her when she was 15, I would still know her years down the line. And Mycroft ( ‘Mikie’ ?) has been in contact in the previous episode… - Looking at the note for a long moment, Mycroft then reaches into his waistcoat to take out a pocket watch on a chain. Looking at the time on it, he puts the watch away and turns to a nearby telephone. He picks it up, dials what appears to be a speed-dial number and puts the phone to his ear. MYCROFT: Put me through to Sherrinford, please. … Yes, I’ll wait.\* **[Transcript](http://arianedevere.livejournal.com/88515.html)** Still, Smith’s accent made it certain I shall not be holidaying in Yorkshire any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/32 "2017-01-10T11:58:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d just like to state for the record that “Eurus” is a stupid name and there’s no way I’m ever going to remember it. From now on, I’m going to refer to the Holmes sister as “Dot”. Please let there be a [musical number](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc3xTj3g9QQ)! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/33 "2017-01-10T16:10:17Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > The whole series is about his ability to sense almost everything, yet he did not recognize his own sister? I have problems with that. But I was amused at Mrs Hudson’s car and her explanation for it. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/34 "2017-01-10T16:16:20Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Thankfully I know little of asylums — except _vide_ Hollywood and video games, bad things happen in them — but I don’t think they commit babies to the Funny Farm. Maybe in the 1930s. If the baby grimaced or burbed or something. But not to well-off families. The Holmeses don’t live in a sink estate. > > I would like to think that if I grew up with a sister and last saw her when she was 15, I would still know her years down the line. And Mycroft ( ‘Mikie’ ?) has been in contact in the previous episode… > > - Looking at the note for a long moment, Mycroft then reaches into his waistcoat to take out a pocket watch on a chain. Looking at the time on it, he puts the watch away and turns to a nearby telephone. He picks it up, dials what appears to be a speed-dial number and puts the phone to his ear. > MYCROFT: Put me through to Sherrinford, please. … Yes, I’ll wait.\* It’s not at all clear to me that Eurus and Sherrinford are the same person. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/35 "2017-01-10T16:45:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I have problems with that. > > But I was amused at Mrs Hudson’s car and her explanation for it. Grrl power. Eurus made a comment about how men don’t \*really \*look at women’s faces and Mrs Hudson of course figured out what was up with Sherlock even though Mycroft and Watson couldn’t. And of course the big one is that everyone assumed the missing Holmes kid was\* a boy\*. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/36 "2017-01-10T17:22:29Z")
Can we say for sure that Sherringford and Eurus are the same person? If there is a big enough age gap, Sherlock might well not have a clear memories of his older sister. Remember Rain Man? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/37 "2017-01-10T17:30:29Z")
Let me see if I understand this chain correctly: Three years ago, the real Faith Hill did indeed take some notes from her fuzzy memory of the creepy Culverton meeting. At that time, Culverton took the notes away from her and threw them away, and some “mutual friend” (assume Moriarty) conveyed it to Eurus. It has been in Eurus’s possession all this time, and any marks of where it has been are indicative of how Eurus stored it. Therefore, it was at Eurus’s place of residence that it was stashed in a book, pinned to a board, absorbed cooking smells, was exposed to sunlight in a narrow room (this last sequence of deduction is everything I love best about the show Sherlock - brilliantly done and elegant). I’m assuming this will be expanded upon. Maybe Sherrinford is a loony bin, and Eurus had a tiny room therein. More notes: Mycroft’s surveillance of Sherlock’s wanderings did indeed clearly show a second person at one point. Lady Smallwood is years older than Mycroft. But she’s still good-looking and at least isn’t a “goldfish” by his standards. At least not by much. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/38 "2017-01-10T17:59:00Z")
Wait, wasn’t Mycroft gay? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/39 "2017-01-10T18:00:55Z")
Not in the original Conan Doyle Canon. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650/40 "2017-01-10T18:10:10Z")
> [@bmoak](#): > > Can we say for sure that Sherringford and Eurus are the same person? > > If there is a big enough age gap, Sherlock might well not have a clear memories of his older sister. Remember Rain Man? The actress playing Eurus is 4 years younger than Cumberbatch, and looks it - you’d think if they were going to go down the route of a significantly older sister, they’d have hired an actress who fits. BTW, it does seem they left open the possibility that Mycroft did think Sherlock was alone during his midnight stroll in London - in the situation room he asks “Is he with someone?” and the tech replies “Not sure, we keep losing visual. We’re mostly tracking him through his phone.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-january-8-2017-the-lying-detective/776650.md?page=3)