Ep 16. Uncanny Valley of the Dolls

The hit CBS crime series, Elementary, returns with its sixth season's sixteenth episode called "Uncanny Valley of the Dolls." The episode is directed by Christine Moore. The show revolves around the Sherlock Holmes legacy, where the detective is portrayed as a recovering addict living in New York City. The series' episodes are filled with suspense, mystery, and valuable lessons.

In this episode, Holmes and Watson team up to investigate a murder case. The investigation is made more challenging as the victim had numerous enemies and false leads. The victim is a wealthy CEO of a high tech company that creates lifelike dolls. The company uses human DNA to create dolls that look and act like real people. While this technology is fascinating, it also raises some ethical concerns.

The investigation leads the duo to focus on the staff members of the company. The primary suspect is the victim's soon-to-be ex-wife, who is set to receive a significant sum of money as a divorce settlement. The bank account logs and the deceased's computer leads to a factory in China that creates the dolls. The factory is under intense scrutiny as it is rumored to be using child labor and unethically obtained DNA for the doll's creation.

The team also investigates various other suspects, including the CEO's cousin, who was seen staring at his photograph with anger, and a former intern who was fired from the job. The investigators follow all potential leads, and each character is put under a microscope to detect any questionable behavior. Despite getting sidetracked with investigating several red herrings, Holmes and Watson put the clues together to solve the case.

The episode is not just about solving a case. It highlights the issue of the use of biotechnology, particularly the creation of dolls that are similar to humans. The show discusses how this technology can raise various ethical dilemmas that need to be addressed before releasing it to the public. The moral considerations of cloned human beings are also evaluated, and the comparison between humans and dolls are inescapable.

The show's cast is outstanding in this episode, as always. Jonny Lee Miller is superb as the eccentric, yet endearing, Holmes. He captures the character's awkwardness, dry wit, and intelligence perfectly. Lucy Liu's Watson is the perfect complement to Holmes' character; she is determined, quick-witted, and resourceful. She also brings her experience as a former surgeon to the role, adding a unique perspective to the investigations.

Other cast members, including Aidan Quinn, who plays their boss "Captain" Tommy Gregson, and Jon Michael Hill, who portrays detective Marcus Bell, have also earned praise for their performances. They all work together to address complex issues and engage viewers in each case they solve.

The cinematography is another aspect of this episode that deserves praise. The use of lighting and camera angles enhance the mood of the scene and create suspense for the viewer. The shots of the dolls, eerily human-like, are haunting in their beauty and lack of breath.

All in all, "Uncanny Valley of the Dolls" is a gripping episode that encapsulates the show's spirit. It is a great example of what makes Elementary such a critically acclaimed show – its characters, its mystery, and its ability to address larger questions in our world.