Sherlock – The Blind Banker

Three-Act Structure/Classical Hollywood Narrative

Set-up/Normality
At the start of the episode, Soo Lin Yao (a young Chinese
lady) is conducting a tea ceremony demonstration at the
British Museum. She discusses the significance of the tea
ceremony with Andy – another employee. This is something
that Soo Lin Yao would do regularly, so we can deduce that
this part of the episode is representative of normality. Figure 1 - Soo Lin Yan talking to Andy

Confrontation/Disruption
The normality of the tea ceremony soon descends into
disruption. Soo Lin Yao is working in a museum storeroom,
when she realises that she isn’t alone, as a “gust of air makes
the dust covers billow.” We learn that that the investment
bank ‘Shad Sanderson’ has suffered a break in, which
Sherlock has been asked to investigate. Graffiti has been left
at the scene of the break in.
Figure 2 - Graffiti left at the scene of the
Sherlock and John proceed to investigate the break in and break in
conclude that the graffiti is a message. He concludes that the
message would have been intended for Edward Van Coon, so
enters his apartment and finds Edward Van Coon dead.

They discover that the graffiti is an ancient Chinese dialect

after going to a Chinese ornament shop. Sherlock notices a
wet Yellow Pages outside a house, which he deduces would
have been there ‘since Monday.’ The windows of the flat are
open, so he enters and realises that he is not the first to break
in. He realises that the killer is still in the flat and is strangled Figure 3 - Yellow Pages left outside a
but survives. house

Sherlock finds Soo Lin Yao (who lived in the flat) in the
museum, who reveals that she used to smuggle antiquities
from China and was part of the Black Lotus Tong crime
syndicate. She attempts to reveal the meaning of the code
(hidden in the graffiti), but the killer starts shooting at
Sherlock.

Sherlock links all the murder victims to the Black Lotus Tong Figure 4 – Black Lotus Tattoo
clan, by proving that they all have the same tattoo on their
heal to Detective Inspector Dimmock.
Sherlock looks at all the books in Edward Van Coon’s department, and discovers that the
graffiti numbers link to the London A-Z. The code creates a death threat, which Sherlock
decodes just in time to save Sarah (Watson’s girlfriend).

The bulk of the episode comes under the ‘confrontation/disruption’ heading, as most of the
action goes against the ideals of normality.

Resolution/Restoration of Normality
At the end of the episode, Shan (the general) attempts to kill Sarah with a circus crossbow,
but is stopped just in time by Watson, who redirects the arrow towards one of Shan’s
henchmen.

The scene ends with Watson jokingly saying, “don’t worry,

next date won’t be like this”. Inspector Dimmock and several
police are seen outside the scene. Sherlock allows
Dimmock to take credit for the case, saying “I have high
hopes for you inspector, glittering career.”

Sherlock visits Van Coon’s secretary, who admits to having

Figure 5 - Sherlock talking to
a relationship with Van Coon. He reveals that the hairpin Dimmock
Van Coon gave her was worth nine million pounds. Homes
collects their payment for the case. At this point, the case is closed, and normality appears
to be restored.

However, at the end of the episode, General Shan has a video conference with a seemingly
more powerful member of the clan, who says she cannot be trusted and kills her. This
creates a cliff-hanger, which makes the audience want to watch the next episode.

Binary Opposition
At the beginning of the episode, the normality of the tea
pouring ceremony is contrasted with Soo Lin Yao’s fear.
During the tea ceremony, serene Chinese music plays, with
relaxing imagery of tea being poured. The line “sometimes
you have to look hard at something to see its value”
foreshadows the plot, as the series of murders are caused
by the robbery of a hairpin valued at nine million pounds.
Figure 7 - Tea pouring ceremony
In binary opposition, the next scene has eerie music, with
ascending violins. Soo Lin Yao senses movement as a dust
sheet starts to move. Clearly afraid, she says “hello” and “is
that security” – to no response. The tension continues to
build as Soo Lin Yao unveils what is behind the dust sheet,
which the viewer never finds out as the opening sequence
starts.
Figure 6 - Soo Lin Yao's fear
The security that the London A-Z street atlas represents is
contrasted with its malicious use. In the final 15 minutes of
the episode, Sherlock realises that the London A-Z is key to
cracking the graffiti code. He takes a copy of the London A-
Z from two tourists, who are using it to navigate London –
the London A-Z represents security and navigation to them.
Figure 8 - Tourists using the London
In binary opposition, Sherlock uses the London A-Z to A-Z
decipher the code created by the graffiti. Therefore, the
London A-Z is being used to solve murder cases. This
scene shows Sherlock’s blind panic, demonstrated with the
dramatic music and facial expressions.

Figure 9 - Sherlock using the London

A-Z to crack the code

Propp’s Character Types

Vladimir Propp analysed the plot of Russian folk tales and concluded that all characters
could be categorised into eight types. The table below identifies the character types that are
present in The Blind Banker, and how they shape the plot.

Propp’s character type Related character in the How they shape the plot
blind banker
Villain – carries out evil acts General Shan General Shan was the leader
and struggles against the of the Black Lotus Tong,
hero. which presented itself as a
Chinese circus but,
smuggled ancient artifacts
into Britain. She kidnaps
Watson and Sarah with the
intention of killing both.
Throughout the episode, we
are led to believe that she is
the villain and is
orchestrating the murders.
However, in the final scene,
we learn that Shan is not the
true leader of the Black
Lotus – she is killed by a
member who appears
higher in command.
Dispatcher – starts the hero Sebastian (manager of Shad Sebastian, the manager of
on his quest. Sanderson bank) Shad Sanderson bank,
initiates the investigation,
after the bank suffered a
break in. All the doors were
locked at the time of the
break in, so he realises that
 there is a “hole in their
security system.” He offers
to pay Sherlock “five
figures” to find the hole. His
role is significant, as without
him starting the
investigation, the Black
Lotus would not have been
uncovered.
Helper – helps the hero in Watson Watson helps Sherlock
their quest. throughout the
investigation, often acting
as his more rational
sidekick. For example, when
Sherlock declines the
upfront payment before the
investigation begins,
Watson accepts the check
for him, telling Sebastian he
will “look after it for him.”
Princess – unable to marry Edward Van Coon’s At the end of the episode,
because of an unjust evil. secretary we learn that Edward Van
Coon’s secretary was in a
relationship with her boss.
She was unable to continue
their relationship because
she thought “he didn’t
appreciate me.” As Van
Coon was a member of the
Black Lotus, it was
inevitable that their
relationship would not
continue.
Oracle – a wise figure who Sarah (Watson’s girlfriend) Sarah provides the clue to
provides wisdom. Sherlock that ultimately
solves the investigation. She
says, “each pair of numbers
is a word”, which prompts
Sherlock to decipher the
whole code using the
London A-Z.
Hero – carries out the quest, Sherlock Sherlock investigates the
usually a brave male. murders and solves the
case, proving that the Black
Lotus were responsible. He
works tirelessly to bring
about justice.
False Hero – takes credit Inspector Dimmock Throughout the episode,
for the hero’s actions. Inspector Dimmock is keen
to take control of the
investigation and push
Sherlock aside. However, at
 the end of the episode, it is
clear that he accepts
Sherlock was the real
detective, saying “I go where
you point me.”

Main Characters

Sherlock Holmes - Benedict Cumberbatch

Aged circa 35, male. In the Blind Banker, Sherlock Homes’
role is to investigate the break in at Shad Sanderson Bank.
He uncovers a series of murders that have taken place
and reveals that they are all connected to the Black Lotus
Tong. Motivated by the desire to uncover the truth, he
works fiendishly with his assistant – John Watson – to
crack the code left in graffiti and solve the murder cases.

Dr John Watson – Martin Freeman

In his 40s, male. Dr John Watson, an ex-British Army
doctor, is Sherlock’s assistant, friend, and flat mate. He is
extremely brave, practical, and loyal to Sherlock. His army
background makes him skilled at armed and unarmed
combat – a skill that Sherlock lacks. In the Blind Banker,
Watson acts as Sherlocks more rational companion and is
concerned for his safety (for example calling Sherlock
through the letterbox.) His motivation stems from his thirst for challenge and confrontation
– both of which he is missing from his British Army life.

Soo Lin Yao – Gemma Chan

Middle aged, female. Soo Lin Yao works at the National
Antiquities Museum in London and is seen demonstrating
a tea ceremony at the start of the Blind Banker. We learn
that she was a former member of the Black Lotus Tong,
who had moved to England for a better life. However,
Black Lotus members had not forgotten about her, and
she is killed by her brother in the museum. She is pivotal in
the episode, as she starts the translation of the message before she is killed.
Inspector Dimmock – Paul Chequer
Middle aged, male. Inspector Dimmock, from the Scotland Yard,
is called in when Sherlock finds Edward Van Coon’s dead body.
He believes that it was a suicide case and is stubborn to accept
Sherlock’s opinion that it was a murder. Throughout the Blind
Banker, Dimmock constantly questions Sherlock’s work and is
generally unconvinced. However, at the end of the episode,
Dimmock finally admits that without Sherlock Holmes, the
murders would not have been solved, saying “I go where you
point me.” He is motivated by ‘law and order’ and feels he must
follow proper protocol. For this reason, he appears to resent
Sherlock’s blasé detective approach.

Shooting Script Variation

In the episode, scene three from the

shooting script (in the antiquities room)
was removed. This scene was likely
removed to keep the pace fast and
tension high; scene three consists of
largely contextual detail, without any
action. Scene four, on the other hand, is
far more dramatic, as Soo Lin Yao
realises that there is an intruder.