Sherlock's (Jonny Lee Miller) reunion with his dad Morland (John Noble) in the previous episode of "Elementary" cannot be described as a happy one. Their relationship has been fraught with tension, mainly because of the older Holmes' inconspicuous absence throughout the years. Even though he did make a point to help Sherlock when he reached rock bottom, it still was not enough to bridge the gap caused by so many years of being apart.
Meanwhile, even though much of the spotlight was trained on the father and son union, viewers also took note of the chilly reception that Joan (Lucy Liu) gave Morland. Series co-creator Rob Doherty explained to Entertainment Weekly why this was so, as Morland was supposedly the one who set up Sherlock with his sober companion back in season 1. He said that Joan does not completely trust his motives, considering the bad things she has heard from Sherlock about his father.
"As the season progresses, we're going to see that Joan is worried that [Sherlock's] dad is a little more like the guy Sherlock has described versus the guy he seems to be now. She'll be keeping a careful eye on him," he shared.
For his part, Morland was thankful to Joan for staying with his son. Doherty told TV Guide that Noble's character was quite surprised with her longtime relationship with Sherlock, considering the latter's crappy attitude.
"He is absolutely grateful to Joan. He, like others in Sherlock's life, had a sense that he would shake Joan loose pretty quickly, and to everyone's surprise, she managed to not just hang on but thrive. He could not have predicted that it would turn into the partnership that it has," he revealed.
While Sherlock has been reunited with his dad, TV Guide reports that Joan will also get together with her stepfather. And just like her friend, her relationship with him is also "pretty complicated." Doherty reportedly said that this convoluted bond within families would be the prevalent theme to be explored during the first half of the season.
"Elementary" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.
