Rewatch: Sherlock - A Study in Pink (Part 1)

[hells_half_acre]

This rewatch will be posted in 3 parts over 3 days, because it clocks in at ~14,500 words.

For those of you who read my Supernatural Rewatches, you will be very familiar with the format. However...

Special Sherlock Disclaimer: I talk a lot about love, falling in love, being in love, etc. in this rewatch. If you choose to read this as romantic love,

Comments

[hells_half_acre]

I get the impression that the frontline is a lot blurrier than it used to be… I wouldn't be surprised at a number of situations that might have resulted in John's wound… sniper, ambush, etc

It's true. Even in WW2, when my grandfather was on the "second line", he still nearly got taken out by a sniper. Of course, with John, his dreams are filled with very front-line looking stuff...though, that could be dreams and not so much memory.

I think that Sherlock deliberately calls John "average" to wind him up, because Sherlock gets a kick out of fighting with people.

While I do think that Sherlock sometimes belittles people just to get a reaction, I actually don't think he gets a kick out of fighting with people...though, it's kind of hard to explain why I think that.

Why does Sherlock fall for John so quickly? I think it's John's sterling qualities myself. :D

I'll submit my own theory in the next two parts. ;)

Re: Mycroft, Rent, and John

While I think the scenario of Sherlock burning through his trust on drugs and Mycroft now restricting his money access is totally believable...I don't think Mycroft engineered the meeting between John and Sherlock AT ALL. Mainly, because 1)Mycroft would actually have to have the ability to screen potential candidates and narrow it down to John (too much work) 2)Mycroft would have chosen someone more co-operative. John continually annoys Mycroft, almost as much as Sherlock annoys him.

I'll get into that more in the next part when I totally pick apart John and Mycroft's meeting line by line. :P

But yes, the stipulation that Sherlock needed a roommate as something put forth by Mycroft (or caused by Mycroft) and Sherlock finding out about it at St. Bart's and ranting to the nearest person (Mike) was always how I saw it happening too.

And you're right, there's nothing like finances to tear apart relationships (especially if relationships are already strained.)

[fannishliss]

re Mycroft arranging John -- I've probably read too many stories where John is chosen by Mummy or Mycroft as Sherlock's perfect mate..... adventurous, dangerous, loyal, highly intelligent, compassionate but firm in regards to addiction, fluid thinker, quirky sense of humor.... he fits Sherlock to a tee. ... I was just watching Baskerville and noticing the number of good-looking women that seem to work directly as Mycroft's support staff, and it seemed easy to imagine them vetting flatmates for Sherlock. I kind of think ex-military would be the first qualification, and a medical doctor with an alcoholic sister would quickly rise to the top of the list.

I actually love the idea that Mycroft chose John and is both highly annoyed by him and perversefly proud of him simultaneously. :D But really, I'll be looking forward to your next parts and particularly your reactions regarding Mycroft and John, and why Sherlock likes John so much when he basically doesn't like anyone at all (except Mrs. Hudson).

The ACD Holmes is just as singleminded but not so sociopathic. I enjoy making the comparisons.

[hells_half_acre]

Yeah, I guess it just comes down to personal taste. I prefer Mycroft not to have a hand in it...and I really don't think he manipulates people to that degree. Plus, I think if he did have a hand in it (or Mummy did...though, I think she's dead), Sherlock would know and reject John right off the bat for that sole reason alone.

John actually pushes Sherlock in a different direction than Mycroft...their messages and the way they treat Sherlock are such opposites, that I just can't see Mycroft (or his assistants) CHOOSING John. I think John his happenstance. If Mycroft DID give Sherlock the stipulation that he couldn't move into Baker Street without a roommate - then I think he was hoping that the stipulation would drive Sherlock to do something else, rather than actually find a roommate.

But yeah, I guess it all comes down to how you see Mycroft...and I must admit, that I don't have a particularly high opinion of him. (Though, don't get me wrong, I love the character and Gatiss! I just don't think he's a good person, nor good for Sherlock...but I'll get into that in S2...oh man, there will be a long wait for that one.)