A mathematical wiz is found murdered with a fireplace poker shoved through his chest in Elementary this week. “Henny Penny the Sky is Falling” has Holmes and Watson trying to find out why the man was murdered and who did it. Along the way, Holmes gets a bit of poison ivy on his wrist and he and Watson are put in for an award.
Although the award, which was a citation actually, is for the entire unit. Holmes requests his name be taken off the thing as he had a bad experience with awards while working with Scotland Yard. Watson, however, is completely up for being included.
“Henny Penny the Sky is Falling” is the 100th episode of Elementary and while this is an impressive milestone, the show did nothing spectacular for its century episode. The plot centered around the murdered man’s claim that the scientific world were looking at asteroid size all wrong.
The supposition was that the composition of the space rocks had been ignored, thereby making size prediction inaccurate. As Holmes and Watson question various witness they also bicker over the award.
Holmes is upset to learn that Joan is all for it. The duo agree to disagree about the award. While Sherlock is adamant that he wants nothing to do with the ceremony he does show up at the end.
This was a touching episode, in terms of the relationship between Joan and Sherlock. He explains that their status has changed. He now loves investigating cases with her and she is a positive motivator.
The investigation has Holmes and Watson questioning the victim’s boss, Mitch Barrett. (Played by Richard “John Boy” Thomas) They learn that the dead man was dating his bosses wife. Other things learned by the two included the discovery of a dead drop which yields up a thumb drive.
They learn that the paper written up by the dead man was a fraudulent bit of work. It contained just enough information to keep companies waiting for a decade. The premise also changed the face of asteroid hunting to asteroid mining.
After questioning Barrett’s wife, they learn of a cabin in the woods and find what went into the paper. Holmes gets a rash, caused by poison ivy and it is this that solves the murder.
The duo question Mr. Huber, the murdered man’s partner in crime, and it is revealed that Huber had gotten the Russell’s suitcase covered with poison ivy. The itchy plant grew all around the dead man’s cabin.
Sherlock works out that it was Huber who killed Russell. The pair also learn that the entire paper was about the more profitable prospect of asteroid mining. This was the motive for killing Russell.
By the end of the episode, Huber is in cuffs and Holmes opts to attend the citation ceremony after all.
Elementary left any reference of Shinwell Johnson out this week. It focuses instead of the relationship of Holmes and Watson and their reaction to the award news.
While it was a bit of a letdown, in terms of this being the 100th show, the episode was entertaining nonetheless.
Elementary airs Sundays on CBS.
Cast:
- Jonny Lee Miller – Sherlock Holmes
- Lucy Liu – Dr. Joan Watson
- Jon Michael Hill – Detective Marcus Bell
- Aidan Quinn – Captain Thomas Gregson
- Nelson Ellis – Shinwell Johnson
Guest starring Richard Thomas as Mitch Barrett, Owain Yeoman as Julius Kent and Gordon Clapp as Deputy Chief Prosky.
Mikes Film Talk 
I like the quiet plodding, the comfortable (regular) characters, and the fact that each episode can pretty much satisfy on its own. Shame the ratings have dropped.
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Agreed. The show has the feeling of an old pair of slippers sans pipe.
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