Elementary Review: Miss Understood (Season 7 Episode 8)
On Elementary Season 7 Episode 8 “Miss Understood,” an old face temporarily takes us away from all the crises of the final season.
Almost exactly three seasons ago, Sherlock met “Cassie”, posing as the long lost Mina Davenport. Her deception had him declare her “one of the best liars [he’d] ever met.” High praise for him indeed, regardless of whether it’s really a compliment.
It seems, though, that admiration for skill shares little with admiration for a person. And considering Sherlock firmly believes Cassie killed or assisted in the murder of a detective, that probable makes sense.
Having an episode like this air during the final season, when there’s already so very much else going on is an…interesting choice. It’s not that the episode is bad at all. In fact, I like it quite a lot. It just feels kind of awkward.
There’s so much we have to get to in these final episodes. Never mind all the threats and drama—we want to see closure for every character we love, and that’s something that will take an entire season to accomplish.
Even filler episodes usually make some reference to ongoing storylines. This feels like an entirely separate entity. It could go in any season (after Cassie’s first appearance, of course,) and so I have mixed feelings seeing it when every moment counts.
When I set those feelings aside, though, this is a great hour of character dynamics. As far as morally grey “frenemies” go, I’ll take Cassie over Reichenbach any day. I bet she’s never compared a suicidal person to a rabid dog. No, I’m not letting that bit of Odin go.
A few clunky moments aside (the moment where Cassie semi-jokingly tries to convince Joan she’s Sherlock’s daughter is cringe-y for all involved,) this is a smooth series of interactions that leaves us constantly guessing.
For most of the episode, Sherlock is resolute in his mistrust of Cassie, and she seems to prove that correct several times over. She certainly hasn’t lost the ability to act and manipulate those less perceptive than a consulting detective.
The overarching question is why Cassie would return to this risky territory of her on free will. We eventually learn that she has no connection to the woman she claims as a foster mom, even as she gains the trust of the widowed husband.
This should typically be a clear sign of someone Sherlock is right to go against. At least, Cassie appearing to offer the true murderer a bribe to get away with his crimes should be. Yet this too is an act—one that makes us face the idea of using deception for good.
We should also question Sherlock acting as judge here in the first place. He has told many lies and cut countless corners in pursuit of the truth. Also, let’s not forget that time in season one where only Joan’s interference stopped him killing a man in cold blood.
Still, we identify with these imperfect heroes and their wariness. In the end, Cassie is perhaps lonely and just searching for answers. It’s not altogether clear, but neither is she.
We can’t be sure where their relationship goes from here, except that Sherlock does seem to have a very restrained affection for Cassie now. It’s something I’d like to see continue. Sadly, the chances of that are slim.
The other issue with having a random tangent episode, especially in the final season, is that it’s almost certainly a “one and done” thing. It could be removed altogether without affecting a single ongoing plot. Frankly, this installment deserves better than that—and so does Cassie herself.
What did you think of this episode of Elementary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Elementary airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.
2 comments
I think that in this last season, they are pulling out the stops to dot i’s and cross t’s. Sherlock rejected one of his lovers attempts to have his child, so this may in fact be a (however awkward) attempt to show what a child of his might be like. And there have been other characters that lasted a partial season, and perhaps this even enables a series spin-off that stars Cassie. Stranger things have happened.
The fact of the matter is that after Seven Seasons of Elementary I still haven’t found out who actually put FBI Agent Robert Underhill into the wood chipper!!!!!
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