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Being loved by you is a dangerous thing, Sherlock. Probably why I'm still alive. Men like us we're not meant to make such connections.

— Morland to Sherlock, "A Difference in Kind"

Morland Holmes is the father of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. He was married to May Holmes, whom he banished after she refused addiction treatment. He was wounded and his companion, Sabine, killed by a gunman.

Biography[]

Background[]

According to Sherlock, Morland Holmes doesn't care about him and only does what he does out of a sense of familial obligation. Sherlock says he is a serial absentee and that he has been so since Sherlock was a boy. He sent Sherlock to boarding school when he was eight years old. He owns five properties in New York, although he does not live there. When Sherlock became addicted to drugs, he checked Sherlock into a rehabilitation facility in New York. After six months, Sherlock moved into one of his father's properties. Morland told Sherlock that if he started to use drugs again or refused Joan Watson's help as his sober companion, he would throw him out of the Brownstone.

Season 4[]

S04E02-Morland in office

"Miss Watson. At long last."

Morland Holmes visits New York to deal with Sherlock's legal and sobriety issues, as well as other business matters.[1] Despite Sherlock's relapse, Morland indicates that he is proud of Sherlock's work and can arrange to have he and Watson work with the NYPD again. Watson meets Morland privately at Morland's office and doesn't believe that his offer comes freely. Watson investigates and finds that Morland sold one of his estates at below market value as part of a scheme to influence the D.A. to not pursue assault charges against Sherlock. Watson reveals this to Morland, who is impressed. Watson warns Morland to not hurt Sherlock after informing him that she and Sherlock had decided to accept his offer of help.[2]

S04E03-Sherlock Morland finale

"I wish to move forward."

Sherlock confronts Morland as to why he remains in NYC and offers to help him with a business matter to expedite his departure. Sherlock reveals that a rich developer had a Costa Rican environmental assessor paid off to overlook an endangered monkey habitat on land for a planned resort. Morland's clients want to build a wind farm near this land, and he offers the developer the opportunity to jointly release a statement that both developments will be revised to protect to monkey habitat. Later, Morland reveals that his business could have been handled from anywhere, that he came to NYC to be with Sherlock, and that he will be remaining indefinitely. They argue about May and Morland hopes they can collaborate again.[3]

S04E06-Morland threatens Lukas

"Call me Mr. Holmes."

Morland offers to help Sherlock with a case of a sniper who killed four people. Morland knows who the sniper is and uses his influence to gain access to Dynastic Energy's emails on a large dam project that may have been involved in the shootings. He then helps Sherlock question sources and provides a helicopter. Sherlock sees kindness in his father which makes him doubt his assessment of him. Agent Lukas Muller of Interpol secretly provides Morland with critical information. This leads them to suspect that the hirer of the sniper was a partner of Dynastic Energy, but when the suspect can't be proven guilty, Morland approaches the CEO of Dynastic Energy to request more information and realizes that he was the one that hired the sniper. He later informs Sherlock and Watson of the CEO's reputation as a serial adulterer and pursuer of the wives of his employees. Morland's motives toward his son are not believed by Agent Muller, who flies to NYC and tries to blackmail Morland to not tell Sherlock about any possible danger. He responds with a threat that terrifies Muller and sends him away apologizing.[4]

S04E09-Watson Morland dining

This food is not just fuel.

Morland invites Watson to an restaurant opening where he asks her to evaluate a blood bank he intends to use. She notices he eats small bites and later when she delivers a report on a bank to him and asks for his help on an arms dealer's business, that he takes many vitamins. Using facial recognition software, Watson trolls the internet and finds that Morland's lover, Sabine was killed by bullets meant for Morland, who was wounded in the stomach. She informs Sherlock.[5]

S04E10-Morland tux and Sherlock

"The would-be assassin has been dealt with."

Sherlock confronts his father regarding the attempt on his life and the death of Sabine, but Morland lies, assuring him the gunman has been dealt with and that he, Sherlock, and Watson are safe. Sherlock does not believe him. After Agent Lukas Muller won't talk to him, Sherlock confronts Morland that the reason he never told Sherlock about the attempt on his life is that Morland believes Sherlock was the gunman. Morland confirms this was true at one time which insults Sherlock. Later, Morland apologizes and explains a cabbie, who afterward went missing, identified Sherlock as the gunman. Morland claims the only reason he visited NYC was to care for Sherlock. Sherlock discovers that the Interpol agent before Muller was working for whoever tried to kill Morland. Sherlock vows to find the person behind the Morland's murder attempt while Morland leaves for London.[6]

S04E14-Morland Sherlock

"You haven't changed."

After Sherlock and Watson visit Sabine's daughter and steal correspondence she has from her mother, Morland finds out and confronts Sherlock. Sherlock believes that Sabine was complicit in the attack on her and Morland. Morland doesn't agree and blames himself for Sabine's death, which Sherlock finds infuriating as he sees Morland as also being responsible for his mother, May's death. Later, Sherlock returns the stolen correspondence and Morland gives him access to her email. Morland explains that why he sent May away was that she was an addict and wouldn't go to a rehab center. He regrets the action, especially as she died in a fire. Sherlock finds that a computer worm was forwarding Sabine's emails to a Chechen killer who is in a Russian prison. Morland vows to find out who hired the killer.[7]

S04E17-Watson Morland lecture

"I didn't hire you to lecture me on things that don't concern you."

After Morland donates $250,000 to a charity Joan works for, he asks her to investigate if he has a mole in his organization. Watson confronts Morland on several matters, including if he's starting a war with Sabine's killer and tells him that she didn't find a mole. However, Joan lied as she did find the mole, Emil Kurtz. She confronts Kurtz with her findings and coerces him into being her mole in Morland's organization.[8] Kurtz provides Watson with info she requests on Morland's activities but he believes that he knows he has a mole and tells Watson he won't provide her with more info. Watson arrives at the Brownstone to find Morland waiting. Morland indicates that he left an item in storage in the basement which he wants to retrieve. Watson knows that he's looking over the materials in her basement office. A member of Morland's security team (Mr. Coin) arrives and indicates that he found nothing. Morland leaves and ignores Watson's questions.[9]

S04E22-Morland Gregson

"Those close to him must always take care..."

After Kurtz is found dead in an apparent robbery gone wrong, Sherlock visits Morland and tries to ascertain if Morland is behind Kurtz's death. Captain Gregson visits Morland and threatens him if anything happens to Sherlock or Watson. Morland arrives at the Brownstone with all of Kurtz's correspondence and proves that he wasn't behind Kurtz's death. At Morland's office, Sherlock makes an apology of sorts and Morland gives Sherlock details of the Colombian oil deal in which Kurtz had been the mole. Later, Sherlock discovers that an on-line survey is being used to recruit psychopaths and that Moriarty's organization is behind Kurtz's death.[10]

S04E23-Morland Sherlock balcony

"I'm not easily intimidated."

Preparing to leave his office for the evening, Morland first chastizes VP Allison Pitzker for not having the bids that Emil Kurtz was working on. Pitzker is murdered by Ruslan Krasnov who then detonates a bomb in Morland's office on behalf of his employer, the current head of Moriarty's organization, destroying evidence of Krasnov that Morland had in the process. A security team brings Morland to a secret penthouse, but Sherlock finds it. Sherlock informs him that Moriarty's organization is behind the attempt on his life and that he is endevoring to find out who the new leader is. Morland tells Sherlock that Krasnov is in NYC and that he suspects Krasnov bombed his office. He asks for Sherlock's promise to keep him informed of any new developments.

S04E23-Morland Sherlock argue

"Stop lying to me, Sherlock!"

One of Morland's police contacts later tips him off that Sherlock has evidence that Krasnov detonated the bomb. Morland angrily confronts Sherlock for not telling him. Sherlock is adamant that Krasnov is brought to justice and knows that if Morland captures him, he'll be tortured. Morland deduces that Sherlock knows who is behind Krasnov's murder attempt and when Sherlock claims ignorance, Morland blames Sherlock for Sabine's death and for not dismantling Moriarty's organization after she was imprisoned.[11]

S04E24-Watson Morland Hashemi Sherlock

"They want you to lead them."

After the head of Morland's security team is wounded, Sherlock finds Morland in a church with the body of the man who planted a bomb at the Brownstone. Morland claims to not have killed him, and is willing to give up his quest for revenge to help Sherlock bring down Moriarty's successor as, he is not willing to see Sherlock die. The bomber is connected to an Iranian diplomat, Zoya Hashemi, who Morland, Watson and Sherlock visit after he uses his influence to arrange a meeting. She admits to planting the bomb at the Brownstone to implicate Joshua Vikner as she wants him removed from leadership of Moriarty's network. Sherlock wants to destroy Moriarty's organization, but Hashemi shows them a board in which UN votes by country are tracked and, where operations by the organization are in motion. The vastness of the network shows Sherlock that bringing down the organization would be very difficult. Hashemi tells them she and others want Morland to lead. Hashemi won't help Morland in his battle with Vikner, fearing the latter's retribution.

S04E24-Morland meets Vikner

"Thank you for coming Mr. Holmes."

Watson arranges a phone call between Morland and Vikner in which Vikner says a peace offer he had previously asked Sherlock to help him arrange with Morland no longer stands, and that only Morland's death will ensure his family and business survive. The conversation is a ruse to get Vikner's fingerprints off Watson's phone to frame him for murder. When the attempt fails to lead to his arrest as Vikner's own FBI sources tip him off, Sherlock visits Morland to ask him to leave NYC for his protection. Morland seemingly agrees, but he calls Vikner and agrees to his terms. He terminates his security team, with the head of it later visiting Sherlock and Watson to inform them Morland had done so, which draws their attention to Morland's apparent true intent to surrender to Vikner. Morland meets Vikner at an abandoned power plant.

S04E24-Morland Sherlock rooftop1

"I did it for you, Sherlock."

Sherlock and Watson meet Agent Gary Burke and an FBI team at the power plant, and find Vikner dead. Morland meets Sherlock on the roof of the Brownstone and explains that Hashemi changed her mind and arranged for Vikner's death in exchange for Morland taking over Moriarty's organization. He says he did it to protect Sherlock and Watson, that he will dismantle the organization from within, and that it will have no presence in NYC. He leaves his penthouse to Sherlock.[12]

Season 6[]

S06E10-Sherlock Morland shes back

"She's back, son. And she wants what's hers."

In the wake of Mycroft's death, Morland arrives at the Brownstone and provides Sherlock with an update of his dismantling of Moriarty's organization and, that they must visit his lawyer's office to update his will. Sherlock makes strides to heal his rift with Morland. Outside the lawyer's office (Sherlock has insisted his inheritance goes to charity), Sherlock spots a man who he believes has ill intent for Morland. With MI6's help, Sherlock is able to confront the man, Vanja Borozan, who confirms he planned to kill Morland but won't say who hired him. He then commits suicide. Sherlock breaks the news to Morland, who tells him that Moriarty has escaped FBI incarceration and that it is her that is targeting him.[13]

S06E11-Morland and Sherlock

"I hoped I would never have to make this request."

Morland asks Sherlock to help him kill Moriarty first before she can reclaim her network by killing him. Sherlock makes contact with an agent of Moriarty and brokers a cease-fire between them. Sherlock informs Morland of the cease-fire before he leaves NYC. He explains that he arranged it by informing Moriarty that if Morland is killed, he will take over for his father knowing that Moriarty won't kill him. This leaves Morland free to continue his work of dismantling the organization. Sherlock believes Moriarty will honor the truce and expects Morland to do the same. Morland is concerned as Sherlock will still have to deal with Moriarty in the future and he won't be there to help him. However, he accepts the solution and hopes to talk to Sherlock soon.[14]

Season 7[]

Trivia[]

Quotes[]

My father does not care about me. He does what he does out of a sense of familial obligations.

Father's business exists to grease the skids so that politicians and corporations can operate around the globe. Sometimes these are noble ventures. More often, they are not.

— Sherlock, "Evidence of Things Not Seen"

Family tree[]


 
 
Elementary-recap-21
May Holmes
 
Johnoble
Morland Holmes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MycroftHolmes100px
Mycroft Holmes
 
SherlockHolmes100px
Sherlock Holmes

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Season 4, episode 1: "The Past Is Parent"
  2. Season 4, episode 2: "Evidence of Things Not Seen"
  3. Season 4, episode 3: "Tag, You're Me"
  4. Season 4, episode 6: "The Cost of Doing Business"
  5. Season 4, episode 9: "Murder Ex Machina"
  6. Season 4, episode 10: "Alma Matters"
  7. Season 4, episode 14: "Who Is That Masked Man?"
  8. Season 4, episode 17: "You've Got Me, Who's Got You?"
  9. Season 4, episode 21: "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
  10. Season 4, episode 22: "Turn It Upside Down"
  11. Season 4, episode 23: "The Invisible Hand"
  12. Season 4, episode 24: "A Difference in Kind"
  13. Season 6, episode 10: "The Adventures of Ersatz Sobekneferu"
  14. Season 6, episode 11: "You've Come a Long Way, Baby"
  15. Season 3, episode 18: "The View From Olympus"
  16. Season 5, episode 16: "Fidelity"
  17. Season 6, episode 13: "Breathe"
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