CBS's Elementary calls on the past in Thursday's all-new episode, with Rick Sommer, known for his role on Mad Men, reprising as the topless mathematician we saw in the second episode of the crime drama's sophomore season.
The third episode of this season is titled "Just a Regular Irregular" and is written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe and directed by Jerry Levine. Wolfe joined the writing team late last season, and Levine directed the previous episode in which Sommer starred.
That mathematician goes by the name Harlan Emple, and Holmes sought his advice on solving a problem a murdered mathematician was trying to solve before he was murdered. In this year's edition, Emple is caught up in a game, the type only a mathematician could participate in. There's a sizable bounty on the line, and there's a few other mathematicians hunting for it as well. The case is very well put together, as is typical for the series, and provides plenty of humor and entertainment.
The reception fans of the series have given newcomer Kitty Winter has been well and truly spread across the spectrum. I've been a fan since day one, and believe the Elementary creative team have executed the introduction of a new character far better than most other series manage to.
The character again undergoes plenty of new development this week. We see both Watson and Holmes, in their own ways, try to better understand Kitty and incorporate her into the team. Kitty's past is further unveiled, and while we still don't know even half her story, what is revealed goes a long way to explaining why Holmes took her under his wing. What happened to her is something you wouldn't wish on anyone, and we see Holmes and Watson discuss how best to manage their new colleague. It's clear Kitty is a very brave young woman who has had a lot to overcome, and is working hard to get her life back on track, while being willing to make the most of her opportunities with the duo.
In a nice touch, it's Kitty who partially breaks the case this week, partly because her and Emple have something in common. Former New York Giants quarterback turned CBS sportscaster Phil Simms guests as well, and is regarded as the world's best at a rather interesting occupation, which which Holmes has shown some interest. Holmes also meets Watson's new man, in typically awkward fashion, and Detective Bell and Holmes are almost on the receiving end of a shotgun blast. We are also gifted a tour of Watson's new apartment.
In all, this is another fine hour of television from one of CBS's most outstanding series, and it was great to see a past character being brought back into the loop alongside the enjoyable humor and character interaction the series is known for. Don't forget to share your questions, thoughts and theories on the episode in the comments below, and check out Elementary on my website, www.seriesmonitor.com/elementary.
Elementary airs Thursdays, 10|9c, on CBS.
Thanks as always for reading!
Jimmy.
