The Final Problem

“I’ve been online and looked at all the theories,” Moffat told us, “and there’s one clue that everyone’s missed. It’s something that Sherlock did that was very out of character, but which nobody has picked up on.”

Hang on, Sherlockians, I think I might just have this one.

After Jim shoots himself, there’s a moment or two when Sherlock appears to be freaking out. His breath gets really loud in the sound mix at that point. The first time watching the episode, it comes across as Sherlock having a panic attack.

Except… panic isn’t very in-character for Sherlock, is it?

Check out this how-to article on holding your breath for a really long time:

1. Hyperventilate.

The buildup of CO2 in your lungs can get just as painful as the lack of oxygen. Purge as much as you can before you begin. Repeatedly exhale and inhale. Hard.

If you’re going to play dead, even for a few minutes, the obvious things to take care of hiding are your pulse and the fact that you’re still breathing. Sherlock could’ve used the rubber ball trick to hide his pulse, and made himself hyperventilate as the first step of preparing to hold his breath for long enough to convince John he was gone.

#ARE YOU READING THIS, MOFFAT?