The seventh episode of Elementary's first season.
It opens up with a masked man executing a couple, with pillows taped to their faces. When Sherlock and Gregson investigate, they note similarities to the killings committed by Wade Crewes, who Gregson put away. Sherlock checks the shoes closet and finds a high heel is missing. He notes that in the Wade Crewes killings there had been a shoe stolen as a trophy.
Sherlock claims that not just any copycat would know such a detail, and suggests that Crewes might be innocent. Gregson denies this, sayinng he found his fingerprints on a crime scene. They visit Crewes in prison who insists that he is innocent, and when reminded of the evidence, claims it was planted. Gregson tells Sherlock to watch the interrogation videos, telling him that while Crewes may have held his tongue he did gloat about the crimes.
Sherlock watches the videos and notes that both times Crewes was served coffee. The first time it was in a paper cup, but the second time it was in a ceramic mug. Sherlock also notes that Gregson's partner avoided touching the mug. When Sherlock asks to see the mug in the evidence locker, it is confirmed that it is the same mug. Gregson confronts his former partner who admits it was planted, and is unapologetic, only caring about how it would damage her reputation.
Sherlock checks the list of suspects and notes Victor Nardin, an ex-convict. When Watson asks if his tattoos are gang related, Sherlock states that they are of Chechen Football affiliation. He notes that there are only a few bars in the city that play Chechen football, and there is a motel in walking distance of all of them. Sherlock calls the motel impersonating a bellboy to find out what room he is in. He breaks into the room and notes the disarray as well as handball marks on his ceiling.
Sherlock is then called into another crime scene with the bodies of a couple and a neighbor. Sherlock looks around the crime scene while covering one eye. Gregson informs him that they found cigarettes with Nardin's DNA outside the home, and admits that Wade Crewes might not be guilty. Sherlock however is not so sure. When they bring in Victor Nardin, Sherlock pelts him with an orange and declares that he is not guilty. He points out that Nardin has one blind eye, as proved by the marks on his ceiling and the way he arranged his apartment, and could not have made the shot that killed the third victim. He also points out the cigarettes were ground, not stomped out, meaning they were stolen from his ashtray. The thrown orange verifies this, as Nardin did not react until it was in his field of vision.
Sherlock watches Wade Crewes on the news, notes how he quoted famous literature, and is surprised since Crewes was illiterate. He looks up and finds out about a group called LIFA, Literacy Initiative For All. He recognizes the symbol from meeting Sean Figueroa, the son of a woman whom Crewes had tried to use as his alibi. He visits Sean in the book store and informs him that he is Wade Crewes' son, deducing he volunteered to work at Sing Sing to meet him. He tells him that Wade Crewes was going to testify on who was killing people in exchange for freedom, which convinces Figueroa to confess. He then visits Crewes in prison and tells him that he found his trophies. Wade Crewes is dragged back into his cell, insisting he was framed.
In a subplot, Joan delves further into Sherlock's history and the identity of "Irene", including visiting the rehab center where he stayed prior to meeting her. At the end of the episode, an emotionally wrung-out Sherlock opens up just enough to admit to Joan that "Irene" was a woman he was quite close to, who died, and he did not take her passing well. Joan has to be content with that for now.
Tropes:
- Creepy Souvenir: Wade Crewes took a stiletto from each of his victims. Sean makes sure to also take a shoe from his victims while recreating Wade's methods.
- A Day in the Limelight: Captain Gregson is put in a larger role, exploring his past as a detective.
- Disability Alibi: After investigating Victor Nardin's home, Sherlock and Joan work out that he's monocular and wouldn't have had the depth perception necessary to kill the neighbor, a moving target in darkness, at the final crime scene.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: The copycat Sean Figueroa only appeared for a few seconds, while Sherlock was pursuing a different lead.
- Expository Hairstyle Change: Wade Crewes' hair is much longer in his interrogation videos than in present.
- Frame-Up: Wade Crewes' plan involves framing Victor Nardin, one of the suspects, for both the original killings and the new ones.
- Framing the Guilty Party: Detective D'Amico did this to Wade Crewes in the backstory, by serving him coffee during his interview and the planting the mug at the scene of the crime, sending him to prison for 13 years.
- Hey, Catch!: Holmes proves that Nardin is blind in one eye by bursting into the interrogation room and throwing an orange directly at Nardin's face. When Nardin doesn't dodge it proves that he can't see out of his right eye, and thus couldn't have shot a moving target in the dark.Sherlock: Victor Nardin, think fast! (throws the orange at him)
- Lawman Gone Bad: Gregson's former partner D'Amico planted evidence on Wade Crewes because the police couldn't prove his guilt legitimately. When By-the-Book Cop Gregson calls her out on this, she's more concerned with the potential impact on her career than the miscarriage of justice.
- Lying to the Perp: Sherlock tells Sean Figueroa that his father Wade Crewes is heading to the courtroom to testify against Sean, causing Sean to confess. In fact, Wade is still denying responsibility for the crimes.
- Never Learned to Read: Wade Crewes when younger. Him quoting literature is what makes Holmes realize how he had contact with the outside world.
- Never One Murder: The opening has two people murdered in a similar way to imprisoned Serial Killer Wade Crewes. Sherlock is ready to believe that one of the original suspects Victor Nardin committed the murders, until another pair come up along with a third victim who Nardin could not have shot with his blind eye.
- "Psycho" Strings: Sherlock sets this as Joan's ringtone on his phone.
- Serial Killer: Wade Crewes who killed three couples, and his copycat and illegitimate son Sean Figueroa who killed two couples and a bystander who happened to be present.
- Sex Slave: Sherlock liberates one from a suspect. He notes, with extreme disgust, that she was able to alibi the suspect as he was in her room at the time of the first murders.
- Shout-Out: Wade Crewes is this to Charlie Crewes in Life, who spent thirteen years in prison over planted evidence and found an education inside. The only difference is that Wade was actually guilty.
- Teens Are Monsters: Sean Figueroa, illegitimate son of Serial Killer Wade Crewes, whose father convinced him to commit murders to make himself look innocent. He killed two couples, and a bystander who happened to be present.
