BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Undercover Recover

**Posted by Harobed** February 18, 2014 9:18 pm

Must get this off my chest!
If Sherlock was exceedingly happy that a post was written about his possible drug addiction, WHY did he keep insisting that it was all "undercover"?
If it was to be kept underwraps, how then did he expect the story to surface?!
If there actually is an obvious answer, well then, please forgive this "newbie"!

**Posted by SusiGo** February 18, 2014 9:26 pm

Well, I think he went into the drugs scene undercover because people would have been quite suspicious if a famous detective had suddenly popped up among them. He wanted CAM to find out about his "addiction" but only after he had infiltrated the drug den. Had they known he was Sherlock Holmes, I suppose they would have not have sold any substances to him or let him into the house.

**Posted by CaseyB** February 18, 2014 10:15 pm

I took 'undercover' to mean that he was on a case - the Lady Smallwood one - that involved attracting the attention of CAM on a false pressure point. I agree 'undercover' is misleading. I'm not sure if he's famous enough that drug den denizens would recognize him enough that he had to hide his true identity - afterall, he was using his real (uncommon) name, or at least a version of it (Shezza).

**Posted by Harobed** February 19, 2014 12:58 am

Wow, YES...but of course!...methinks, after reading SisiGo's insightful reply (fighting back the blushing cheeks of shame at missing that obvious ploy).
THEN comes a "rescue" from CaseyB's further explainations into the whole puzzling event. I get that perspective & it stands to reason as well.

**Posted by Russell** February 19, 2014 6:15 am

Quite like your explanations… fills in a few details of how I saw the scene! And you're reminding me particularly of the retorts Sherlock and John give as they're exiting the building (and hilariously fun moment to watch). 'Undercover' "Shezza" could have ducked his head back down when he saw John in there, but probably figured 'oh, hey, there's John! I've been secretly in here long enough, may as well leave with my buddy now and get noticed for the headlines I need to attract CAM's attention' (if that was, indeed, his intention). He irritably tries to explain it off as they storm out, saying 'I'm undercover!' John says 'No you're not!' to which he retorts dramatically 'Well I'm not NOW!' since he wasn't even trying to be so at that point.
(But yeah… even scruffed up, and in the midst of druggies, they really wouldn't think 'that looks like Sherlock'?)

**Posted by This Is The Phantom Lady** February 19, 2014 6:26 am

I also believe that Sherlock went 'undercover' in the drugsden for Lady Smallwoods case; he needed to control what pressure point Magnussen had on him and he must have felt that 'junkie' was a safe one. So when John came to find Isac Sherlock saw it as a golden opportunity to not only be a drama queen but also get his 'drug habit' out into the world.

**Posted by Harobed** February 20, 2014 11:23 pm

SusiGo wrote:
Well, I think he went into the drugs scene undercover because people would have been quite suspicious if a famous detective had suddenly popped up among them. He wanted CAM to find out about his "addiction" but only after he had infiltrated the drug den. Had they known he was Sherlock Holmes, I suppose they would have not have sold any substances to him or let him into the house.

A further thought...not everyone has heard of the famous sleuth (WHY don't they have "spell-check" here?!)...(sorry)...as when Kate came to John & Mary asking for help & John said he would get Sherlock Holmes to assist & she retorted; "who?" ... ha ha... so, that's why I couldn't put it together about his being undercover, yet elated when there was that blurb about him in the paper...

Last edited by Harobed (February 22, 2014 6:08 am)