Those are exactly my thoughts as well.  He can't have made plans that were too specific, though I do think he had a general plan that worked in this situation.

I'm thinking that the plan was similar to the one that the canonical Sherlock had after Watson was called away from the Falls.  He was resigned to the chance that he would likely not survive, but was willing to risk it in order to rid the world of Moriarty.  He invited JM to the rooftop for a reason...

Maybe he expected them both to fall from the rooftop, but had some hope of surviving?

I reckon he did have a very good plan in place; however, any sane person would have thought to avoid following through with it if not needed.

Just a very clear calculation regarding unnecessary risks, I'd say!

If he didn't know he was possibly about to jump, he wouldn't have survived.

The code thing is rather confusing...

Well, this could be one possibility.
I agree with what our boss said: "I think he was still hoping he wouldn't have to go through with it though, and that maybe he could find a way out."
Because I don't think he wanted to do this. (which is a possibility discussed on the "Let us start with the assumption Sherlock DID plan his 'death'" thread)

I'm uncertain with the code. He could have believed that there really was a code. This would go along quite good with the facts that he didn't have much time (and the show suggests that he only figures out that the tapping is the code when John taps on the table of St. Bart's) and that he always wants everything to be "clever" and that Moriarty is actually playing in the same league as Sherlock. You see, for the last point... which all the Sherlock-beating-Moriarty there should and could always be some things in which Moriarty beats Sherlock (at first).
And he really seems surprised when he finds out that the code is a lie on the rooftop.
OR he knew the code was a lie and was just pretending to fool Moriarty. That would be a very Sherlock thing of him to do.
What supports the latter theory is - was someone mentioned on this forum at some point - the code is actually "Partita No. 1" by Bach and the song Sherlock on his violin was playing when Moriarty entered 221B was a similiar piece by Bach, so he probably was familiar with the Paritita.
I can't decide which one is right. I think, though, that Sherlock believed that there was a code at least until John did the tapping thing. If he figured out then that it actually was a melody... I don't know. I think we have to wait for season 3 for the answer.
But even if he believed that there was a code to recall the snipers, I'm certain that he knew Moriarty would want him to jump. So either way he had something prepared to save his fall.

Sammy, the code confuses me too. I have gone through the same thought processes and will probably revisit them again (more than once, sadly). What confuses me even more is that Mycroft tells John about the keycode the second time John visits him at the Diogenes club, so he obviously believes in it. It was the reason for the interrogation at the end of Hound - so before the Tower of London/Pentonville/B of E caper. These were done to convince everyone that there was indeed a keycode. My thoughts only and these are likely to change in the future.

Davina, Moriarty initially taps the keycode surreptitiously on his knee, all I can think of is that Sherlock is playing the game (or at least is convincing Moriarty that he is still playing the game) by being equal to his stealth. (Equally stealthily didn't sound right). Other than that I'm hoping someone else can come up with something better.

Last edited by JaneCo (July 20, 2012 3:50 pm)

Also, if there was no keycode but Moriarty had everone running around over it and so on what would these interested parties' reactions have been once the code was revealed as non-existent. Surely this would have, at the very least, undermined Moriarty's credibility in the marketplace. A dangerous position to be in.

I think we're just overthinking the code. I mean, how likely is it that there's a code that can break through anything?  I don't think we'll be getting an explanation in season 3 on this one.

I don't think there is a code. A code that could get you anywhere? Seems unlikely. Also Moriarty seemed rather angry about the fact that Sherlock fell for it on the rooftop, not like he was lying. Plus the flashbacks that showed Moriarty's accomplices, what JaneCo pointed out.

Yeah, but I do think that the code is a big deal... not the code itself but what it meant for the whole situation.
And I think Mycroft was convinced that it existed and Sherlock as well, at least until he figured out that tapping = code. (Which means that Moriarty did a lot of convincing work on that.) If he then recognized it as a piece by Bach or still believed that it was a code...that's what we can't be sure about.

Isnt there a text from Moriaty to to the guy in the tower saying „its showtime“?
I think this supports the theory that there is no code, if Moriaty is just lying why show this text?

And about the code I think Sherlock didnt believe it existed but didnt know what or where it was suppossed to be until John did his fingertapping. John being the Beacon of light again. And Sherlock needed to know what it was to play his game with Moriarty. He immidiatly texted Moriaty after Johns fingertapping.

Good - no, excellent points Davina (tempted to say 'Perfectly sound analysis but I was hoping you'd go deeper'  ) Wish you would actually because this is getting interesting.

Is it possible that on the rooftop Sherlock only goes along with the idea of the code to make sure that it really didn't exist (and perhaps to find out how it was actually done?)