BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Sherlock & Moriarty Tea Scene

**Posted by besleybean** June 2, 2013 11:22 am

I assumed it was for dramatic effect.
But maybe upsetting the English institutions?

**Posted by Mary Me** June 2, 2013 11:25 am

It's even more dramatic when you know the meaning of falling.

**Posted by IamSherLock3d** June 2, 2013 11:51 am

Yeah, like England falling to Moriarty...
makes sense

**Posted by Mary Me** June 2, 2013 11:57 am

IamSherLock3d wrote:
Yeah, like England falling to Moriarty...
makes sense

I was actually referring to Sherlock's fall from the roof, but you also have a point! So many meanings of falling... *sigh*

**Posted by Lupin** June 23, 2013 4:52 am

I don't think the final problem is staying alive. Moriarty kills himself in the end after all. I think it is more that the two great forces of Sherlock and Moriarty cannot coexist: both can't remain alive.

Moriarty does give Sherlock a metaphorical and then a literal fall. Moriarty disgraces Sherlock and then puts him in a situation where he is forced into committing suicide.

The IOUs I think are a sign to Sherlock that Moriarty has had a hand in the various events during which the IOUs appear.

**Posted by besleybean** June 23, 2013 7:47 am

I think you're right.

**Posted by Sofiou21** May 29, 2014 8:22 pm

IOU definitely does mean something. After all, this show is all about cases so every detail means something. In season 2 episode 3 there's this scene where sherlock is analyzing something in a microscope at the lab, and he mumbles, I o u.. After Molly questions him about it and he just replys with, "nothing, just a mental note". I could write a whole essay about I ou haha so I'll just leave it there. Just search on google what does I o u mean in sherlock and you'll find a good theory