Sherlock: Now with In-Canon Fandom
Sherlock is back! And I loved most of the episode, although I have apparently reached the point where I actually think they're exaggerating Holmes' canonical flaws a little too much (canon Sherlock is not actually rude all the time; has a better social and moral compass than this one, at least in some of the tales). I have also reached the point where this is how I view Sherlock and John's relationship and I wish the creators and actors would stop talking about gay/not gay relationships before my head implodes with the need to sky-write "YOU ARE MAKING THIS AN ISSUE. NO ONE BUT YOU". With regards to Irene Adler, I once again feel like no one has actually read A Scandal in Bohemia. She's not actually, canonically, a master-criminal. And I think their choice to have her embroiled in a - ugh, I hate this word - treasonous plot was problematic, particularly since she then escaped punishment, because it once again reinforces the show's subtext of: if you are brilliant enough, you are allowed to do anything. Again: not my Holmes. Canon!Holmes bends the law and occasionally breaks it, but he is very moral and interested in the idea of justice. This Holmes...not so much.
Still:
I loved the John/Sherlock relationship in the first half, particularly them giggling in Buckingham Palace.
I loved that Irene was naked and unreadable and in control of everything during those scenes. Fuck yeah, Irene. Also her flirtatious assistant and her general handling of Sherlock.
I really liked the Christmas party and the awkward attempt at having a friend's group. I still can't watch the Molly-thing, but it was handled decently enough, as a chance for Sherlock to grow a little as a person. It was a nice bit of character-development which also worked alongside Sherlock's protectiveness with Mrs. Hudson (England would fall! Oh, Sherlock.) I wish they'd give her something to do that isn't pining though.
I am...undecided about the last half hour and the Irene/Sherlock within it. It just felt...off.
I am on the fence about Irene's sexuality - normally, I'd be insulted by the straight-for-Sherlock, but I thought the scene was good, and by creating a parallel to John's sexuality, it kind of made it seem like maybe she wasn't explicitly talking about sexual attraction to Sherlock - like maybe Sherlock is fascinating for non-sexual reasons (which he is!).
I want all the Mycroft gen fic. Seriously, Mycroft was perhaps my second favourite thing about the episode and the most consistently interesting and heartbreaking part of the episode.
So I loved it, but am a little confused. I do like this piece of meta a lot, though, even if I'm not sure I agree with it all.
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Completely unrelated, but you should all read Running Towards Gunshots, a wonderful essay on the meaning and history of Joan of Arc. I love the idea of a patron saint of of queer folks in the military, victims of gender policing, cross-dressers, queer folks and women in politics, people and especially women who come from out of nowhere to exercise political voice, people and especially women who are violently assaulted or killed for having effective political voices [...] lapsed Catholics, lapsed Catholic women, women who have huge-ass troubles with the sexism of Catholics, and feminism. This is perhaps blasphemous, but Joan is also the patron saint of blasphemy. Go. Read.
Still:
I loved the John/Sherlock relationship in the first half, particularly them giggling in Buckingham Palace.
I loved that Irene was naked and unreadable and in control of everything during those scenes. Fuck yeah, Irene. Also her flirtatious assistant and her general handling of Sherlock.
I really liked the Christmas party and the awkward attempt at having a friend's group. I still can't watch the Molly-thing, but it was handled decently enough, as a chance for Sherlock to grow a little as a person. It was a nice bit of character-development which also worked alongside Sherlock's protectiveness with Mrs. Hudson (England would fall! Oh, Sherlock.) I wish they'd give her something to do that isn't pining though.
I am...undecided about the last half hour and the Irene/Sherlock within it. It just felt...off.
I am on the fence about Irene's sexuality - normally, I'd be insulted by the straight-for-Sherlock, but I thought the scene was good, and by creating a parallel to John's sexuality, it kind of made it seem like maybe she wasn't explicitly talking about sexual attraction to Sherlock - like maybe Sherlock is fascinating for non-sexual reasons (which he is!).
I want all the Mycroft gen fic. Seriously, Mycroft was perhaps my second favourite thing about the episode and the most consistently interesting and heartbreaking part of the episode.
So I loved it, but am a little confused. I do like this piece of meta a lot, though, even if I'm not sure I agree with it all.
----
Completely unrelated, but you should all read Running Towards Gunshots, a wonderful essay on the meaning and history of Joan of Arc. I love the idea of a patron saint of of queer folks in the military, victims of gender policing, cross-dressers, queer folks and women in politics, people and especially women who come from out of nowhere to exercise political voice, people and especially women who are violently assaulted or killed for having effective political voices [...] lapsed Catholics, lapsed Catholic women, women who have huge-ass troubles with the sexism of Catholics, and feminism. This is perhaps blasphemous, but Joan is also the patron saint of blasphemy. Go. Read.