The reason why she is a character in her own right, is because she is very different to both Jim Moriarty and Magnussen. I completely agree that Mary doesn't do very much. For a central character, she is incredibly passive.
The only real piece of action she got throughout the entire series is shooting Sherlock. The show would have definitely benefited from more action from Mary particularly in the form of some kind of redemption after shooting Sherlock.
However I do not think that John and Sherlock's decision to trust Mary is bad writing or a setup for Mary to be the ultimate villain. I see the forgiveness as testament to the sacrifices we will endure for the ones we love. Both John and Sherlock have been wounded by Mary but they chose instead to put their faith in her. It takes a great deal of courage to trust someone who has betrayed but if you truly love them, it is the right thing to give them a second chance. This shows us that Sherlock has progressed along his archetypal hero's journey.
Now if she was cast as the ultimate villain in season 4, it would be a very interesting situation not because of what Mary can do, but because of Mary's character. All the major villains we have seen so far are portrayed as entirely irredeemable. Magnussen is made up of pure vileness with absolutely no redeeming qualities what so ever. Jim in the end was both evil and completely unhinged, so there is no redemption possible there either. Mary is not solely bad, in fact we have seen that she does love, she does care and ultimately there is a conscience there even if she compromises her morality as easily as shooting a fifty pence piece.
The only real piece of action she got throughout the entire series is shooting Sherlock. The show would have definitely benefited from more action from Mary particularly in the form of some kind of redemption after shooting Sherlock.
However I do not think that John and Sherlock's decision to trust Mary is bad writing or a setup for Mary to be the ultimate villain. I see the forgiveness as testament to the sacrifices we will endure for the ones we love. Both John and Sherlock have been wounded by Mary but they chose instead to put their faith in her. It takes a great deal of courage to trust someone who has betrayed but if you truly love them, it is the right thing to give them a second chance. This shows us that Sherlock has progressed along his archetypal hero's journey.
Now if she was cast as the ultimate villain in season 4, it would be a very interesting situation not because of what Mary can do, but because of Mary's character. All the major villains we have seen so far are portrayed as entirely irredeemable. Magnussen is made up of pure vileness with absolutely no redeeming qualities what so ever. Jim in the end was both evil and completely unhinged, so there is no redemption possible there either. Mary is not solely bad, in fact we have seen that she does love, she does care and ultimately there is a conscience there even if she compromises her morality as easily as shooting a fifty pence piece.
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