Sherlock to encourage Joan assist Shinwell in his transition from prison life to freedom in Season 5, Episode 1 of “Elementary.” Pictured: Del Negro arrives at the Premiere of New Line Cinema And Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's “'Hot Pursuit” at TCL Chinese Theatre (Photo : Getty Images/ Frazer Harrison)
"Elementary" Season 5 will see Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) come up with an idea that may turn Joan's (Lucy Liu) detective career to a more fulfilling one.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rob Doherty, the "Elementary" executive producer said that Season 5 will start with Sherlock sensing that Joan is no longer happy about her work as an investigator as she has been in the past.
"When the season begins, Sherlock will comment that Watson has seemed down in the dumps over the course of the summer," Doherty said to the news outlet, noting that the super sleuth is "concerned that maybe the sadness he has detected Watson has something to do with the approach" of their anniversary as a pair.
In addition, Joan will make it clear that she is "quite happy" being a detective, and Doherty said she will admit that "she misses helping people."
"It is something that she can manage to do when she was a surgeon," Doherty said adding that she have done the same when she was a sober companion. "But, as she says in the first episode, she and Sherlock are in the punishment business."
The good news is that, it will not take long before Sherlock finds a way for Joan to continue keep on with her work as a detective and at the same time, helping others as she has always wanted to do.
According to Doherty, Sherlock will convince Joan to help reformed criminal Shinwell Johnson (Nelsan Ellis) as he move from prison life and back to the outside world.
"He is someone with a troubled and dark past, who is trying to change himself, but he brings a lot of baggage to us," Doherty added of Shinwell. Shinwell is a character who is created by Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in "The Illustrious Client," his 1924 short story.
However, Doherty said that "there may be a different opinion" between Joan and Sherlock along the way regarding whether having Shinwell in their circle is a good idea.
Last month, TVLine reported that Shinwell will first make an appearance in the Season 5 premiere, which finds Joan and Sherlock joining the NYPD hunt for a serial bomber who is back after going dormant for almost six years. During the investigation, Joan requests help from Shinwell.
According to a press release "Folie a Deux," which is the title for Season 5, Episode 1, Joan and Shinwell have known each other for a while, since she saved his life onetime when she was still a surgeon.
After the season premiere, Ellis is set to appear in at least two other episodes.
"Elementary" Season 5 will air on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10/9c on CBS.
Watch "Elementary" Season 5 Episode 1 FULL EPISODE here:
