Sherlock Meta: This Woman's Work

[addyke]

This Woman's Work
In Defence and Affection of BBC Sherlock's Depiction of Irene Adler
To Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman.... In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex.
A Scandal in Bohemia (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Comments

[fenm]

Sherlock calls people idiots for fun, embarrasses them for fun

Yes, but the show acknowledges Sherlock's an arsehole. I never really felt that with Irene. Honestly, the ending, with Sherlock saving her despite her not changing her actions or behavior, kinda felt like the show saying, "She's awesome! Love her!" That's the thing that really bothers me: She does bad shit, and I don't feel like she's really called on it in any meaningful way.

She blackmails Mycroft. Who represents a whole government.

You right, I should have said "She attempts to blackmail the government".
And while I see your point about Mycroft hardly being an angel, I'm not sure I buy, "Mycroft's a jerk so it's ok for Irene to try to blackmail him".

Yes, she might have got a body from the morgue (hopefully after it was ID'd). But it's never addressed, and that in and itself if a problem for me. We're... just not supposed to care.

That to me is acctually good, because canon Irene was not a criminal master mind.

True, but isn't she supposed to be smart?
And again, Moriarty being involved created all sorts of problems in and of itself.

[annievh]

If I ever met someone like Irene Adler in RL i'd probably hate her - but as a character I think she's fascinating. It kinda reminds me a bit of when Sherlock would not pull the trigger on Moriarty, not just because John was there, but because Moriarty is a mastermind. I think he saved her for the same reason he did not kill Moriarty - the world is more interesting with her on it.

I do agree there was a lack of back ground for her character, though.

"Mycroft's a jerk so it's ok for Irene to try to blackmail him".

No, no, that's not what I meant - though I knew that's how it sounded when I typed it. It does not make things OKAY, and I don't think Mycroft's a jerk at all (my baby!!), what I meant to say was that she was fighting him in more or less equal ground.

True, but isn't she supposed to be smart?

I dunno, I found her pretty smart. All I got from Moriarty's involvement was that he helped her find a way to crack the code, but how much of the whole plot was his idea was never clear to me. I think - and this is me guessing - she said, I got a lot of info, and he nudged her in the right direction, probably by suggesting how to play the Holmes once he realized they were involved, and she came up with her fake death, ressuraction and whatnot.

Gosh, now I need to watch the whole episode again!! :D

[fenm]

It kinda reminds me a bit of when Sherlock would not pull the trigger on Moriarty

Yeah, I really hate Jim, too (and, hey, he doesn't have a vagina or threaten Sherlock/John). I really, really hope he's dead. So comparing the scenes is... just making it worse for me. Sorry. I do get your point, but...

what I meant to say was that she was fighting him in more or less equal ground.

Oh, I see. Yeah.
Though I wonder... does she not have the money and/or power to buy her own security?

I dunno, I found her pretty smart.

But she couldn't figure out that she could use information to get something she wanted from someone?

but how much of the whole plot was his idea was never clear to me

I'm not sure it was in the episode, either. Which, again, is problem.

[annievh]

Don't worry ;) opinions are beautiful because they are different.

They overused Jim so much in both seasons and then just killed him. I don't know if I'm glad he died and it was all over, or if I want him back to get a decent plot for his character - when he fisrt showed up on TGG I thought he was going somewhere, and now...

does she not have the money and/or power to buy her own security?

No idea. Probably not, since they got her in the end.

But she couldn't figure out that she could use information to get something she wanted from someone?

Lestrade usually does not know what to do with a crime scene, but he's smart. I don't think Irene was ever in equal ground with Sherlock as well (both in BBC and in canon), she was just "above average". Just like Lestrade is a good policeman, she is a good "criminal", but needs a push.

[fenm]

They overused Jim so much in both seasons

No kidding. Why the fuck was he even in TBB? At least in ASiB, he was... kinda relevant.

she was just "above average".

Uh... wasn't she supposed to be, like... Sherlock-level smart? That's the impression I've gotten both from the publicity about her and from some of her fans.

[annievh]

the blind banker is my least favorite, and using jim there sounded pointless.

Uh... wasn't she supposed to be, like... Sherlock-level smart?

You know, i'd have HATED to have a Sherlockette!Irene Adler, then she'd have been just a variation of the protagonist, and they do this so much with female characters it really pisses me off - would be like the Smurfette all over again :P

[fenm]

I'm not saying she should be a "Sherlock-ette", I'm just saying I thought she was supposed to be exceptionally bright, not just "above average".

[annievh]

I see your point.

And may I just add, this icon you're wearing never fails to creep me out!

[fenm]

Cool. (-:

Re: My icon: Heehee... that's cool, it is supposed to be creepy. In context it's just weird, but with no context... yeah. There's actually a few comms I won't use it in, knowing it might bother people.

[annievh]

i know the context, i love that fic, and yet, creeepy!!
lol

[fenm]

Ah, ok. (-: