As the 7th episode of The Irregulars begins, Bea (Thaddea Graham) thinks about her recent fight with Jessie (Darci Shaw). She also thinks about her short-lived relationship with Leopold (Harrison Osterfield). We see a flashback of her argument with John Watson (Royce Pierreson) before she decides to visit 221B. She encounters and accuses Watson of not telling her the whole truth before demanding to know why he did it. He begins by saying he saw greatness in Sherlock (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) who was unknown at the time. They started working cases together and Watson took pride in being able to keep Sherlock focused on the case. He claims Sherlock’s successes were his own. He wanted to show Sherlock that he was capable of greatness as well, but he didn’t mean to open the rip.

Bea wants to know why he saved Sherlock and not her mother. He explains that Alice (Eileen O’Higgins) managed to soothe something deep in Sherlock and it was a place he could never reach. Watson admits he was jealous of their relationship and only wanted Sherlock to see him. Bea pushes and pushes until Watson confesses he saved Sherlock because he loves him. She doesn’t believe that because she doesn’t think he is capable of love. She says he is all alone before Sherlock arrives carrying Jessie. When Bea asks what happened, Sherlock says the devil has arrived in London. After the intro, Sherlock says he found the dockworker carrying her.

He explains the American called the linen man was responsible for this. Then, the American touched another dock worker who instantly took his own life. Sherlock theorizes that Jessie is locked in her nightmares. Watson asks who the linen man is and Sherlock says he was hoping Watson could tell him. Bea says it isn’t Watson and that it doesn’t have anything to do with him. Sherlock says the man has to be an Ipsissimus because he has the same powers as Jessie and Alice. He can access your greatest fears and destroy you with them. Watson suspects the linen man has arrived so he can harness the rip’s power. Jessie runs through her dreams. She is told that the plague doctors can smell her and they’re coming for her.

The linen man tells her they’ll kill her this time. He admits to befriending her because he wanted her to find the rip but she wasn’t strong enough to do it. The linen man says he’ll find the rip and take its power. He claims there won’t be any more monsters but Jessie tells him he is a monster. He talks about the atrocities of man and how you can use fear to control people while Jessie is haunted by the frightening images. Bea realizes they need to find the rip and close it or they’re doomed. Plus, they’ll need to find it before the linen man. Sherlock toys around with a musical instrument and thinks about everything. He explains they have a master Ipsissimus who can find the rip for them. He thinks it would be best to stay there and wait for something to happen, but Bea doesn’t like that idea.

An officer enters and lets Watson know that Gregson (Tim Key) needs him down at the Yard immediately. Bea promises to save Jessie while Sherlock tells John they can still be brilliant. He says they have to be because they owe it to Jessica and Beatrice. Meanwhile, Leopold talks to Louise (Nell Hudson) about wanting to leave the palace and be normal. She encourages him to do himself a favor and just accept who and what he is. Daimler (Edward Hogg) enters and interrupts their conversation before Louise leaves. He tells Leopold that the Queen wants him to know cousin Helena will be visiting this afternoon. Leo also learns that Helena is searching for a suitor. He asks how she knew before telling Daimler to get out. Seconds later, Spike (McKell David) goes to the jail to visit Billy (Jojo Macari).

Spike tells him about the guy from the palace looking for Leo. Billy learns about Leo living at the palace with his mother who is the Queen of England. Then, Billy tells Spike he is going in front of a judge tomorrow to set a date for his trial. Billy is worried they’ll try to kill him and he says there won’t be a city to live in if the rip stays open. They talk about their group and Billy claims he is the skeleton because he keeps everyone together but doesn’t get any recognition for it. Bill suggests there are some things you can’t fix but Spike believes he can find a way to fix it. Sherlock and the others visit Scotland Yard and run into Gregson.

They learn that someone broke in and visited the archives. That individual took the files for the cases Sherlock and his friends have worked on. It is confirmed that the intruder was the linen man and he killed one man and turned another into a gibbering fool. Bea suggests the linen man is searching for a monster. She believes he wanted to find out the exact location of one of the monsters. Watson believes he’ll go after Arthur Hilton The Bird Master (Rory McCann). They rush to Bedlam while Jessie struggles with her nightmares. The linen tells her that they’re going to bring order to this world and he didn’t kill her because he needs her. He reveals he has a son who is an Ipsissimus as well. The linen man wants Jessie to have a family with him and create a dynasty of Ipsissimi.

She says he is crazy before she has to run from the plague doctors again. After that, Spike goes to work by breaking into the palace. Inside, Leo talks to Helena (Sophie Robertson) who says they saw some appalling sights on the way to the palace. Leo isn’t interested in the story she tells about her sister’s missing kitty cat. She accuses Leo of being boring but he says the cat story wasn’t the best story in the world. Then, she says she thinks Leo is already in love. She admits she is in love with a man named Henrik. Helena has fallen for a commoner and that shocks Leo. They discuss getting married because it is their duty to do so and she says they’ll want children. Leo says he is going to do everything in his power to ensure they don’t get married but she wants him to practice and master the female form.

Jessie tries to figure out why the linen man would stay in her head. She remembers what he said about keeping a person afraid so you can control them. Jessie is convinced fear is keeping her there and she needs to confront the plague doctors. The linen man taunts her for being a freak and being abandoned by her father. Jessie finds herself surrounded by plague doctors who want to bury her alive. She curls up on the ground while they throw dirt on her. Gregson takes Bea and the others to the wing that Arthur has to himself. Gregson warns them that the linen man is coming and they need to prepare to stop him. Sherlock gives Bea a syringe and tells her it is time to speak to an old acquaintance. Bea approaches Arthur and says they need his help.

She tells him about the bad man coming for him and how power can twist people. She gives him the syringe and says they want him to put the linen man under when he enters his head. Meanwhile, Spike sweet talks Louise who admits she likes him. Leopold enters moments later and asks for a few minutes alone with Spike. She leaves seconds later and Spike tells Leo that his mom won’t have a kingdom to rule if they can’t find the rip. Leopold tells him that the city of London is cruel and it was cruel to Spike and his friends but they’re still trying to save it. When asked, Leo admits he isn’t sure if he was ever a part of their group. Leo tells Spike he should go before he has him removed. Spike wants him to say he isn’t his mate first.

Leopold says it so they continue with the others. Leo admits he has lost all of the friends he ever had and he doesn’t belong anywhere. He claims he is too broken to belong but Spike says that is why he belongs with them. Arthur waits for the linen man’s arrival. Sherlock and John talk about the good old days and getting old. While they wait, John tells him what happened with the collector case. He admits Sherlock was right about the hawkweed and that Edith lied to him. Sherlock says there is more to life than being right and he wishes he could’ve been a better man. Bea joins them and Sherlock gives her his scarf because she is cold. Within seconds, a man jumps to his death.

Bea watches as another man does the same. They hide as the linen man walks down the stairs nearby. Arthur waits with the needle next to him. The linen man busts open the door and approaches Arthur. He tells him he won’t kill him if he gives him what he wants. The linen man grabs his arm and watches Arthur gain his powers. When that finishes, the linen man claims Arthur is hiding something. The others outside hear it and decide to move in. They find the linen man out on the bed and Arthur angry with them. He says they got his baby. They struggle with Arthur before the linen man grabs Bea’s arm. The linen man traps Bea in a dream. Gregson is left with her while Watson and Sherlock go after the linen man. Sherlock traps the linen man and locks the door behind him.

Sherlock explains how he trapped him before pointing the gun at him. He tells the linen man to let Jessie out first. Then, he wants to know where the rip is. Bea and the others arrive and watch the encounter. The linen man tries to convince Sherlock to side with him. He unlocks the door and lets the linen man go before following him outside. Bea and Watson return and try to figure out why he did that. Bea begins hearing the singing again and excuses herself. In a flashback, a young Bea is with Alice at the church. She asks the nun to look after her daughter. She gives her daughter a bracelet and tells her she’ll always be with her. Bea remembers this and cries alone.

Seconds later, she is surprised when Spike and Billy show up. Bill explains his majesty pulled a few strings for him. She thanks Leo who says it is the least he could do. They sit around Jessie and encourage her to wake up. Jessie begins opening her eyes in her nightmare. She climbs out of the dirt as the linen man tries to convince her to stay. Jessie overcomes her fears and watches as the miners blow a hole in the wall and find a plague pit. Jessie searches around when they leave and finds a sign that says Inner Circle Line. She wakes up and rejoins the others. She tells them they need to go to Aldgate. Sherlock and the linen man enter Aldgate Station and lock the door behind them. They continue deeper inside and find the rip. The linen man says this is where he becomes a god before the episode ends.

 

The Irregulars Review

For what it is, The Irregulars is decent. It isn’t one of the best shows I’ve watched in recent weeks, but it is at least watchable. I’ve cringed at times, laughed at times, and was impressed with the storytelling from time to time. I can easily see why people wouldn’t like this show. I could see why some people would though.

I think it got better as it went on. At the very least, the first episode was likely one of the worst. Now that we’re down to the finale, I am eager to see what is going to happen. I am curious what is going to happen with Sherlock since it is hard to believe he is going to side with the linen man. Either way, Bea and the others will need to rush to the rip to prevent the linen man from taking its power and becoming a god.

Overall, this episode did a good job of setting up the finale. It also made Sherlock a little more likable before he sided with the linen man. The episode wasn’t bad so I’d give it a 7 out of 10. More recaps of The Irregulars can be found on Reel Mockery here.