The Blind Banker (31 Oct. 2010)

Mysterious symbols and murders are showing up all over London, leading Sherlock and John to a secret Chinese crime syndicate called, Black Lotus.

Director:

Euros Lyn

Writers:

Mark Gatiss (creator), Steven Moffat (creator),

Stars:

Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Sherlock Holmes
Martin Freeman	...	Dr. John Watson
Una Stubbs	...	Mrs. Hudson
Zoe Telford	...	Sarah
Louise Brealey	...	Molly Hooper
Gemma Chan	...	Soo Lin Yao
Al Weaver	...	Andy Galbraith
Bertie Carvel	...	Seb Wilkes
Daniel Percival	...	Eddie Van Coon (as Dan Percival)
Paul Chequer	...	DI Dimmock
Howard Coggins	...	Brian Lukis
Janice Acquah	...	Museum Director
Jack Bence	...	Raz
John Macmillan	...	Community Officer
Olivia Poulet	...	Amanda

Storyline

Banker Eddie Van Coon and reporter Brian Lukis are both shot dead in identical slayings, in rooms locked from the inside. Chinese museum employee Soo Lin tells Sherlock Holmes that, as a teenaged orphan in China, she ran drugs for the Black Lotus crime syndicate, for whom the two dead men also worked. She too is then murdered, the killer being a human fly who can scale buildings. The gang mistake Watson for Holmes and capture him and his new girl-friend, requiring Holmes to come to the rescue.

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Plot Keywords:

secret organization

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

187 North Gower Street, Somers Town, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hartswood Films, BBC Wales, Masterpiece Theatre

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Amanda, the secretary, is played by Olivia Poulet, who was in a 12 year relationship with Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) at the time of filming.

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Goofs

The "Walther P5" used by the General is actually an ME8 blank firing pistol made in Italy.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Soo Lin Yao: The great artisans say, the more a teapot is used, the more beautiful it becomes.

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Connections

References Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1998)

User Reviews

A Good Continuation, But Not Quite On the First Episode's Level

With its major character introductions already out of the way, this second episode of BBC's Sherlock is able to focus more on defining roles and settling in. Holmes and Watson are already developing a prickly, sarcastic working relationship that's not without precedent but still somewhat befuddling. Watson, the kind-enough everyman, is so constantly on the pointed end of Sherlock's icy pokes and prods, it's easy to question why he sticks around - that is, until the duo lock in and begin functioning together near the end of the chapter. Even at their worst moments, though, the two work as a good balance for each other: Holmes as the brilliant, socially-stunted brains behind the operation and Watson the more personable, common sense-minded counterweight. The production values of this episode aren't quite up to those of the premiere, with a few major scenes looking very much like they were shot for TV, but it does manage to retain the cool, unique editing techniques and visually-indicated clues I liked so much in its debut. In terms of the plot, the B-level murder mystery does lead to a couple of surprisingly good scenes, but ultimately doesn't measure up to the high standards set by the first episode. Still, it's fine material that's much, much better than the Downey-helmed American interpretations.