BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Sherlock's reaction when Moriarty shoots himself

**Posted by Davina** July 30, 2012 11:37 am

I've just watch this part again and focussing in on the moment when Jim pulls the gun from his pocket and before he subsequently shoots himself, it looks to me as if, just for a split second, Sherlock thinks he might be shot by Moriarty and that he is unprepared for this possibility. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

Last edited by Davina (July 30, 2012 11:38 am)

**Posted by kazza474** July 30, 2012 11:54 am

That is exactly the take I have on his reaction. That would be a logical one after al, for anyone.
You & a sworn enemy in a 'heated & cryptic' exchange, the other guy pulls a gun. What else could you instantly assume?

**Posted by Fetchinketch** July 30, 2012 3:07 pm

Same here. Sherlock tells Moriarty that he had been beaten, Moriarty agrees and then pulls out a gun?

**Posted by besleybean** October 6, 2012 8:27 pm

I think Moriarty does it for the reason he states: he'll be bored, now he thinks he's beaten Sherlock. But it may also be the signal to the snipers.
I am convinced Sherlock was not expecting it.

**Posted by Sam** October 6, 2012 8:40 pm

I'm still torn if Sherlock was not expecting or acting. I'm leaning toward acting because I believe Sherlock was ahead of Moriarty the entire time. He just couldn't let it show so Moriarty would fall in his trap. He knew Moriarty had to die somehow before he jumped or else Moriarty would have seen the suicide was fake and would have the snipers kill everyone. I think...haha.

**Posted by besleybean** October 6, 2012 9:02 pm

Yeah, but was Sherlock expecting to have to commit suicide? Did he not just think it may be a scuffle? He was hoping to escape...

**Posted by veecee** October 6, 2012 9:05 pm

Sherlock is a good actor, but I think he was surprised. He jumped like that in Pink when John shot the cabbie, and there was no one to be acting for there.

**Posted by Sam** October 6, 2012 10:11 pm

besleybean wrote:
Yeah, but was Sherlock expecting to have to commit suicide? Did he not just think it may be a scuffle? He was hoping to escape...

Sherlock yes, because he had everything set up for him to jump before he went to the roof. Or do you mean Moriarty commit suicide? Maybe he wasn't expected that I suppose. It's still a toss up for me. I'm going off this theory that I love and can very well see to be the case.

veecee wrote:
Sherlock is a good actor, but I think he was surprised. He jumped like that in Pink when John shot the cabbie, and there was no one to be acting for there.

Moriarty could have had cameras up there. Sherlock may have wanted to play it safe by acting just in case someone was watching. People were watching his every move basically throughout the whole episode. Not saying I think this for sure though.

**Posted by Be** June 17, 2013 10:05 am

Let's ask the question the other way round?
Was Sherlock able to see the outline or bulge in Moriarty's pocket (if there is one)?.
We are supposed to believe that Sherlck can see through everything and everyone in seconds (according to John).
He saw the gun or not gun in the shoulder holster of the American guy in 221 b in Scandal. He saw through the coat of the guy in 221 b who "abducted" him to go to the Palace. He saw the bulge in Kitty's pocket, too.
So I think it is not far fetched to assume that Sherlock was able to see whether Moriarty had a gun in his pocket.
I had a look at Moriarty's left pocket on the roof. Is this a bulge? Or a fold?

**Posted by Mattlocked** June 17, 2013 10:35 am

I would assume that Moriarty always had a gun somewhere with him....... I mean, he is the good old villain.

**Posted by Be** June 17, 2013 10:45 am

Mattlocked wrote:
I would assume that Moriarty always had a gun somewhere with him....... I mean, he is the good old villain.

So it is probably save to say that Sherlock knew Moriarty had a gun? Sherlock knew from the tea scene that he was left handed. And he had the previous experience with the handshake and being shot at.

**Posted by Mattlocked** June 17, 2013 10:58 am

But then there was his reaction after Moriarty had shot himself. Looked quite surprised, too. And then there was nobody who could see......

Last edited by Mattlocked (June 17, 2013 10:59 am)

**Posted by SusiGo** June 17, 2013 11:07 am

And I suppose Sherlock reacted the way he did because he may have expected Moriarty to try and kill him (Sherlock) but not himself.

**Posted by Be** June 17, 2013 11:10 am

Mattlocked wrote:
And then there was nobody who could see......

Was there...?

**Posted by sj4iy** June 17, 2013 11:44 am

Be wrote:
Mattlocked wrote:
And then there was nobody who could see......
Was there...?

Exactly. Moriarty says "unless my people see you jump." Who's watching? Who's listening? The sniper? Maybe, but someone else could be watching, too. And how would Moriarty give the recall code? We'll just have to see

**Posted by Be** June 17, 2013 11:54 am

sj4iy wrote:
Be wrote:
Mattlocked wrote:
And then there was nobody who could see......
Was there...?

Exactly. Moriarty says "unless my people see you jump." Who's watching? Who's listening? The sniper? Maybe, but someone else could be watching, too. And how would Moriarty give the recall code? We'll just have to see

Kitty: You are save here, Richard. They wouldn't harm you in front of witnesses.
Sherlock in Hounds: No witnesses I suppose. Never are.
Mr. Crayhill: We are not calling any witnesses.

**Posted by sj4iy** June 17, 2013 12:19 pm

Be wrote:
sj4iy wrote:
Be wrote:

Was there...?

Exactly. Moriarty says "unless my people see you jump." Who's watching? Who's listening? The sniper? Maybe, but someone else could be watching, too. And how would Moriarty give the recall code? We'll just have to see

Kitty: You are save here, Richard. They wouldn't harm you in front of witnesses.
Sherlock in Hounds: No witnesses I suppose. Never are.
Mr. Crayhill: We are not calling any witnesses.

I don't understand the one from Hounds...that's about Fletcher seeing the dog, right?

**Posted by Be** June 17, 2013 12:22 pm

Yes.

**Posted by sj4iy** June 17, 2013 1:02 pm

I just think of it like this:

"The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime." ~Watson, A Scandal in Bohemia

**Posted by Mary Me** June 17, 2013 3:22 pm

Sherlock was clearly surprised. Apparently the suicide of Moriarty crossed his plans in some way.
Even if there were men watching (how many metres away?) Sherlock hadn't had to act. That would have changed nothing.