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Elementary, Ep.1.15, ‘A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs’: Return of old friend poses as the ultimate temptation for Holmes.

Elementary, Ep.1.15, ‘A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs’:  Return of old friend poses as the ultimate temptation for Holmes.

Elementary, Season 1, Episode 15: “A Giant Gun, Filled With Drugs”
Written by Christopher Silber, Corrine Brinkerhoff and Liz Friedman
Directed by Guy Ferland
Aired Thursdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS

After a quite tense episode, there is a glimpse into Holmes’ past as his old drug dealer – in the guise of an old friend – returns to his life.  Even though the last few weeks have marked the end of one chapter (Watson’s contract as Holmes’ sober companion) and the start of a new one (the introduction of Moriarty in Elementary), the extent of Holmes’ addiction is an issue that has been constantly skimmed but never fully delved.


So, imagine the relief when Holmes comes out and says “Hello, I’m Sherlock Holmes and I am an addict.”  It’s probably a small thing to comment on but to have this realisation tie in with the reappearance of his old dealer/friend Rhys is all too timely.

In fact, Rhys is full of contradictions: there are not many characters who have openly stated their belief in Holmes’ deductive skills.  However, hearing the person who probably led him down the dark side say “I believe in Sherlock Holmes”, only to offer him a bag of coke as a ‘boost’ clearly shows that the long-established friendship is nowhere near as deep as the one between Holmes and Watson, especially as she stands by her role as a sober companion – scolding their attendance in a Dominican bar and flushing weed down the toilet, as well as retaining her faith in Holmes’ natural abilities.

Holmes’ also recognises that this apparent lack of faith, not to mention Rhys’ lingering presence, not only compromises his progress as a rehabilitating addict but also his partnership with Watson – so much so, the fact that he is willing to call (note, not e-mail) his father to pay the ransom to effectively get rid of him can be deemed extreme…or in this case, necessary.

It may not have been the most complicated or intriguing episode, but ‘A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs’ brings about a sense of closure when it comes to Holmes’ personal problems.

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