Elementary‘s Season 2 premiere on Thursday took a trip to London, but the real highlight was the introduction of Sherlock’s brother Mycroft — or “Fattie,” as the P.I. calls him.

While I expected a little more from the on-location shoot – this episode could have been filmed anywhere, given how much the international setting played a role, yes? – Rhys Ifans did not fail to give a performance that was equally idiosyncratic to that of Jonny Lee Miller.

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Here’s how it all played out…

Sherlock and Watson travel to London to help out his former colleague, Inspector Lestrade, who’s convinced that a wealthy man killed his own wife and has taken to harassing the suspect. He’s right, of course, but the case isn’t so much important as is Sherlock and Lestrade’s partnership. Back in the day, Sherlock helped him on the condition of anonymity. As a result, Lestrade became accustomed to the spotlight, and thus, in a fascinating parallel, former drug addict Holmes turned the inspector into a sort of addict, too. When, at episode’s end, Lestrade once again goes on television and takes credit for solving the case, Sherlock remarks, “Curious. I’ve never felt this particular cocktail of emotions – anger, exasperation and a hint of –”

“Worry?” interjects Joan. “Welcome to caring about an addict.”

Sherlock’s personal life also gets fleshed out as he takes Joan to his former dwelling, 221 B. “Stepping inside it is not unlike stepping inside my very brain,” he describes to her. “You will no doubt see things that will confuse or even upset you.” But when they enter, it’s totally nondescript.

“The inside of your brain is…kind of boring,” remarks Joan.

It turns out Sherlock’s brother Mycroft has taken up residence in the space. Joan is shocked to learn Sherlock has a sibling whom he never mentioned. There are a lot of reasons for that. Holmes thinks his brother is lazy because he doesn’t apply his brain the same way Sherlock does. Instead, he opened several restaurants with his trust-fund money. Mycroft’s reasons for the estrangement are a bit more emotional. Sherlock deduced that Mycroft’s fiancée was after his money, and he slept with her – seven times!

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Mycroft asks Joan to dinner, which, per Sherlock, means he intends to bed her to get back at him. And this way, through psychological transference, she gets to sleep with Sherlock. (Well, that’s one way to address the “Will they ever hook up question?”) Sherlock gets into Joan’s head enough that she starts to question Mycroft’s intentions when she shows up at an empty restaurant. But it turns out he just wants to fix things with his brother. He had a bone marrow transplant, and even when he was sick, he didn’t call Sherlock to find out if his brother was a match. His one regret is the state of their relationship.

“I want to know how does one become Sherlock Holmes’ friend?” he asks Joan like it’s one of his brother’s complex crime puzzles.

When the two men meet up the next day, Mycroft reveals that he had Sherlock’s stuff put into the storage room behind them, then shares Joan’s advice: “When someone has something to tell you, one must make really sure that you’re listening.”

Cue the storage space blowing up.

“I consider us even now, which means I can tell you I forgive you – for everything,” Mycroft continues. “Have a safe trip back to the colonies, and know that things are different now.”

Like two apples fallen from the same tree, yes? It was certainly an unusual and perfectly odd way to make peace. Even the fact that Mycroft never mentioned his illness, something that might bridge the gap, seemed right for this estranged and fraught relationship. Instead, he spoke to Sherlock on his (unlazy) level.

Elementary fans, what did you think of the introduction of Sherlock’s brother Mycroft? Before you hit the comments with your thoughts, grade the episode below!