From: AsurasKordoth | Posted: 1/17/2012 11:05:30 PM | #021
Not sure how much he anticipated regarding Moriarty but he could've easily switch places with the body while the "crowd" surrounded him. The sniper wouldn't be able to tell from the angle he was at.
But then wouldn't the crowd notice him switching the bodies?
From: OmarsComin | Posted: 1/18/2012 7:16:02 PM | #023
That episode was amazing.
I have a question too. Why did he have to fool Watson? I guess because the sniper was watching and if he didn't look upset the sniper wouldn't have bought it?
Going from the canon answer:
Holmes faked his death in "The Final Problem" because there were too many dangerous people after his life(including Moran, the sniper) and he thought that Watson wasn't good enough of an actor to pretend that Sherlock was dead, which could be dangerous for his plans. And in the BBC series, it would be dangerous for Watson as well. He came back two years later(if I recall correctly) once he had taken down the entire Moriarty gang saved for Moran, whom he then took down together with Watson and Lestrade.
No idea how much the BBC series is going to change the canon reason though, so who knows?