‘Elementary’ Season 5, Episode 5 Spoilers: Sherlock Opposes Joan’s Decision To Help Shinwell Find A Job

Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) is against Joan’s (Lucy Liu) plan to find a new and better job for Shinwell (Nelsan Ellis) in Season 5, episode 5 of “Elementary.”

According to the synopsis for the episode, entitled “To Catch a Predator Predator,” Joan finds out that Shinwell is having a hard time looking for a full-time job due to his criminal records, so the surgeon-turned-detective decides to help him find one. Sherlock, however, disagrees with Joan’s decision, which is a little bit surprising since he’s the one who actually convinced her to assist Shinwell in his transition from prison life back to the outside world.

Even though it’s unclear why Sherlock doesn’t want Joan to help Shinwell find a job, the London-born private investigator probably notices that the ex-convict is starting to abuse her kindness. In Season 5, episode 2, entitled “Worth Several Cities,” Joan got Shinwell a new apartment with the help of her real estate agent sister, Lin (Samantha Quan). In the same episode, Shinwell also asked Joan to locate his teenage daughter, whom he didn’t get to know while she was growing up.

Alternatively, it’s also possible that Sherlock is just worried about what could happen to Joan’s reputation in the event Shinwell performs badly in the job she finds for him. Since Joan doesn’t really know Shinwell that much, Sherlock probably thinks that it’s a bad move for her to risk her name just for him.

Whatever Sherlock’s reason is for disagreeing with Joan’s plan, series creator Rob Doherty told Entertainment Weekly last September that the partners’ “difference of opinion” will lead them to reflect on whether keeping Shinwell in their orbit is a good idea.

“Elementary” Season 5, episode 5 airs Sunday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Meanwhile, this Sunday’s episode, “Henny Penny The Sky Is Falling,” airs at 10 p.m. ET. Check out the synopsis for Season 5, episode 4 below:

“Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn) lobbies to include Sherlock and Joan when his unit is selected to receive a city commendation for its exemplary work. Also, as Sherlock and Joan consult on the investigation into a financial analyst’s murder, they are drawn into the world of asteroid research.”