The Final Problem

Dear followers and any other kind-hearted Sherlockian who may stumble across this post: I’d like your help.

Do you remember what my reaction was when someone pointed out they’d switched the body on the gurney after wheeling Sherlock away from John? It was pretty much: “This is amazing, and it means Sherlock is totally in that phone booth. No, seriously, phone booth, phone booth, phone booth. *brain explodes*” (And, yes, I’m afraid it’s going to be “gurney” and “booth” for me. I’m too messed up from American fear gas leaks to call things by their correct names, but feel free to mentally substitute “trolley” and “box” as needed.)

That was simply my weird, gut-level reaction, but I think it was with good reason. Once they take that gurney around the corner, the phone booth is easily the best place to have someone waiting to switch places with Sherlock. It’s visible from the roof the whole time, it’s publicly accessible to the person working as Sherlock’s double, and the door even opens facing the correct direction for the switching to be done. It’s perfect as a slightly ridiculous “tada” finish to this massive magic trick. Assuming Sherlock ducked back into the booth rather than immediately running for it, it’s also a really good place for him to watch and confirm John doesn’t get shot (the assassin doesn’t stand down until after the gurney is taken away).

So I’m already liking the whole phone-booth-switch thing on principle… but then there’s 01:21:33. That’s the time of the first screencap above. The one where it looks like there might just be a Sherlock-alike waiting there for the switch to happen.

Can anyone help me confirm this? Do you have the highest-definition version of the episode available, and if so can you take some screenshots and see if they’re any clearer?

Or feel free to weigh in if you think the whole thing’s just a trick of the light or an especially tall gelfing. I understand those things happen as well. I just think it’s a lot more fun if they actually made the solution to the switch even slightly visible.

Here’s a picture from Google Maps of the same phone booth when empty if that helps you judge anything. And a slightly alternate screengrab while we’re at it.