The Six Thatchers

"The Six Thatchers"
Sherlock episode
Episode no.	Episode 1
Directed by	Rachel Talalay
Written by	Mark Gatiss
Produced by	Mark Gatiss Steven Moffat Zakaria Alaoui
Featured music	David Arnold Michael Price
Cinematography by	Stuart Biddlecombe
Editing by	Will Oswald
Original air date	1 January 2017 (2017-01-01)
Running time	88 minutes

"The Six Thatchers" is the first episode of the fourth series of the British television programme Sherlock. The episode was first broadcast on BBC One and PBS on 1 January 2017.

Plot

The episode opens with a monologue from Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) telling the story of a merchant who comes into contact with Death as a figure and despite his attempts cannot escape fate. Mycroft briefs Sherlock on the new 'official' story of Charles Augustus Magnussen, who was killed by Sherlock. John and Mary Watson welcome the arrival of a baby daughter, whom they name Rosamund, or Rosie for short. At the same time, following the events of "The Abominable Bride", Sherlock has become obsessed with working out his archenemy Moriarty's posthumous revenge, with Mycroft and various Scotland Yard detectives including Greg Lestrade assisting him in solving seemingly trivial cases, hoping it will lead them to a larger scheme.

He investigates a case where the son of a rich couple is found dead in a car crash, despite seemingly being on a gap year in Tibet. Sherlock quickly solves the case, but is then led into another mystery involving the smashing of a bust of Margaret Thatcher. Further busts are smashed and upon encountering and fighting the culprit, Sherlock discovers that the last bust contained a memory stick containing information about Mary and her past as a government agent. A figure from her past is bent on revenge in the belief that Mary betrayed him. Upon questioning from Sherlock, Mary explains that she and her colleagues were members of a freelance task force named 'A.G.R.A.', derived from the members’ names, Mary being 'R' for Rosamund – her real name – and 'A', her pursuer, Ajay (Sacha Dhawan). All members have a memory stick containing data on each other to force an inability for one to betray the other. (If one released information on the other, the victim could do the same likewise.) A failed rescue mission of members of the British embassy (set off by code word 'Ammo') in Georgia under coup d'etat resulted in the embassy members dead and Mary fleeing. After informing Sherlock, Mary knocks him out with a drugged letter and runs away across the world, following a random path. Sherlock and John quickly find her, having placed a tracking device on the memory stick. Ajay has also followed their lead. He explains that he was captured by the terrorists but not before hiding his memory stick in one of the Thatcher busts which he intended to recover. During his torture Ajay heard whispers of "Ammo" and "the English woman" being the reason for the mission failure. Ajay attempts to kill the trio but is shot by police. They reflect on what has happened and believe that Ajay was working on the assumption that "the English woman" was Mary.

Sherlock visits Mycroft and discusses the situation. Mycroft explains that he previously hired 'A.G.R.A.' but hasn't since the failed mission. Mycroft also states he has no knowledge of 'Ammo'. Later Sherlock calls Mycroft and explains that 'Ammo' is really Amo, the Latin word for "I love". Smallwood, whose codename is Love, is then questioned by Mycroft. Sherlock later pieces together the final part of the puzzle when he recalls Mary explaining the great thing about 'underlings' bringing information but still being under everyone’s noses. He meets Smallwood's secretary Vivian Norbury in the London Aquarium. Vivian reveals that she tipped off the terrorists on the rescue so that the hostages as well as 'A.G.R.A.' could be eliminated. Her motive was to kill the British ambassador taken hostage in Georgia who found out that Vivian was selling secrets and to achieve a 'quiet life'. When the police and Mary arrive, Vivian pulls out a gun and shoots at Sherlock. Mary jumps in the way, taking the bullet. John appears and Mary tells of her love for being 'Mary Watson'. She then dies in John’s arms. Since Sherlock had vowed to protect her, this puts a rift between him and John Watson.

After Norbury’s arrest, Sherlock visits John’s therapist but is reluctant to converse. Returning to Baker Street, Sherlock and Mrs. Hudson lament the loss. Sherlock opens a parcel containing a DVD; on it is a posthumous message from Mary. She instructs him to 'Save John Watson'. Returning to the story of the merchant, Sherlock concludes that death is inevitable but questions if how one dies is also certain and unchangeable.

In a post-credits sequence, additional footage from Mary’s DVD shows her scathing 'Go to Hell Sherlock'.

Production

The title and elements of the plot come from Conan Doyle's story "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons".

Broadcast and reception

The Episode premiered in the United Kingdom and the United States simultaneously. In the UK, it was premiered at 8:30pm GMT on BBC One and in the US, it premiered at 9 PM ET/PT on PBS.

The Guardian review gave a good review by saying "Cumberbatch channels Bond in the most explosive outing yet". , IGN gave a mixed review a 5.5/10 calling it "Mediocre" and "Sherlock returns with a confused and confusing case involving Margaret Thatcher's head." , Digital Spy liked it by saying "'The Six Thatchers' is an engaging outing with one fatal flaw, Everything works... apart from the one thing that really needs to."

"Appointment in Samarra"

Sherlock's monologue at the opening of the episiode is an abridged version of an ancient Middle Eastern fable, first appearing in its modern form at the conclusion of the play Sheppey (1933) by William Somerset Maugham.