Sherlock Character Files

Jim/James Moriarty

Name: Jim/James Moriarty

Played by: Andrew Scott

Sex: Male

Nationality: Irish

Occupation: Consulting Criminal

Family: Unknown, although many believe he is the 3rd Holmes brother.

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"Every fairy-tale needs a good old-fashioned villain. You need me, or you're nothing."

―Moriarty to Sherlock

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James "Jim" Moriarty is the world's only "consulting criminal"; a huge contrast to his nemesis', Sherlock Holmes' similarly rare "consulting detective" occupation.

Biography

Early history

In 1989, Moriarty murdered Carl Powers, whom he claimed "laughed at him", suggesting that he may have been unpopular.

Moriarty is responsible for all of the crimes in the three episodes of the first series, acting as a sponsor, an informant and a mastermind. He is shown to have an interest in Sherlock that borders on obsession, though he does not hesitate to try to kill him when he loses interest. In his operations, there is never any direct contact between Moriarty and his clients.

Personality

Sherlock: "People have died."

Moriarty: "That's what people DO!"

―Holmes and Moriarty

An intellectual and criminal genius, Moriarty appeared to others as an insane and psychopathic individual.

Moriarty was arranging the deaths of others from a young age. In 1989, he killed schoolboy Carl Powers by poisoning his eczema medication and the boy was presumed to have drowned in a swimming pool. This shows him to have been surprisingly vengeful in his youth. However, Moriarty kept Powers' trainers almost twenty years until he used the shoes as part of his plan to meet Sherlock Holmes and had them planted in the disused flat at 221C Baker Street.

Just like Sherlock, Moriarty is vastly intelligent. He is also highly skilled at manipulation and even Sherlock found it hard to predict Moriarty's next move. He also appeared cunning, sly, quick-witted and hot-tempered.

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"No. Sorry... Wrong day to die!"

―Moriarty walking away from Sherlock Holmes at the start of A Scandal in Belagravia.

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Moriarty was obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and enjoyed his role as a villain, showing a cold-hearted indifference for other people's lives. He happily murdered or organised the murder of innocent people simply because he enjoyed it. Moriarty considers life to be pointless and like Sherlock, he is willing to do anything to stop himself from getting bored. He did not hesitate to commit suicide when he felt that he had defeated Sherlock Holmes, because he felt that his role as Sherlock's arch-enemy was his only reason for living, and he was convinced that if he killed himself, he would be taking Sherlock down with him.

Although this shows him to be unbelievably self-confident, it shows extreme pride and arrogance. Moriarty is considered an incredible opponent for Sherlock Holmes, as well as being an excellent strategist and intellectual genius. As someone who has an obsessive desire for power, Jim displays immense lack of social connection as well as extreme psychopathy and egomania. He is incredibly ruthless and revealed that his lack of empathy made him Sherlock's direct and invincible equal. He has a sarcastic, ironic and sadistic sense of humor and often spoke in a tone that would intimidate or annoy his opponents. He has complete mastery of terrorist techniques and intimidation strategies.