The Dragon's Cache: John Hannah and Sherlock Holmes Play With Drugs

Thursday, February 14, 2013

John Hannah and Sherlock Holmes Play With Drugs

The movie, “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution,” portrays a Sherlock Holmes so befuddled by drugs that Watson is able to trick him into traveling to Austria, in order to be cured by the great Sigmund Freud. The TV series “Elementary” takes a different look at the connection between Sherlock Holmes and drug usage. Watson, a former surgeon, lives with him in New York City as a sober companion, forcing Holmes, fresh out of drug rehabilitation, to attend meetings for former addicts. Of course, while he is learning to live without relying on drugs, Holmes also consults with the NYPD on their most perplexing cases.

In last week’s episode, “A Giant Gun, Filled With Drugs,” a former drug dealer, Rhys (pronounced “Reese,” and played by our good friend John Hannah, from "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor") shows up at Holmes’ apartment. His daughter has been kidnapped, and Holmes immediately bursts into action, evaluating all available evidence. Watson asks Rhys how he’s “keeping it together,” and Rhys says that he’s observed Holmes back in London. He watched Holmes draw conclusions from seemingly random data at superhuman speed, and responds with a smile, “I believe in Sherlock Holmes.”

Rhys is under a deadline to pay the ransom demand, and when complications ensue, he begins to question his unswerving faith. He tells Holmes, “I’m proud of you. It must be like trying to relearn the piano after a stroke, doing what you do, without the drugs.” Holmes says “Ridiculous,” and asserts that he’s engaged in a deductive science. “Drugs are a hindrance, not a help.” But Rhys says that part of what Holmes does, making connections, involves the creative and artistic side of his brain. “Some artists need the drugs to fuel the creative stuff,” he tells Holmes. Rhys argues that some artists, such as rock musicians, have often produced their best work while under the influence.

After a particularly troubling setback, Rhys offers Holmes cocaine. Holmes, enraged, hurls Rhys into a chair. “You’ve needed it these last two days,” Rhys tells him. “Listen to the rubbish you’ve been spouting. That’s not you; that’s not Sherlock Holmes. This is some ghost of you, some pale imitation. You need your meds, get yourself right.”

There may be some truth to Rhys’ assertion. Some drugs may temporarily boost a person’s creativity. Sadly, in the long term, we also know that they damage the brain. As Rhys suggests, some artists, after going sober, have found it difficult to equal the quality of their earlier, drug-influenced work. Imagine what that must feel like, to listen or look at something you created, something you made, and wonder if you’ll ever achieve that level of performance or brilliance again. Up until now, Holmes has steadfastly denied the necessity of Watson’s role in his life. While forced to attend meetings for former addicts, he has refused to share his own experiences with drugs. But at the end of the episode, he asks Watson if they can delay dinner so he can attend one such meeting. He says that he wants to share his experience, saying off-hand, “Others may find inspiration in my abstinence.”

I’ve provided a link at the bottom, so you can watch the episode if you like. For those who prefer not to, know that Holmes validates Rhys’ faith in him. When Rhys tells Holmes, one last time, “I believe in ya,” he’s not saying he believes in The Man-Plus-Drugs. This time, he really believes in Sherlock Holmes.

Believe in yourself.

Dragon Dave