I got 99 problems with the new season of Sherlock, but character motivation ain't one

[aruan]

I'd like to respond to marsdaydream@Tumblr's list of the bitterest pills we were expected to swallow in season 3, especially His Last Vow which contained, for me, the most consistent characterization of them all.

Comments

[kizzia]

I like your thought processes here and I especially agree with your assessment of John at the end. Thank you very much for sharing.

[aruan]

Thanks very much! I, in turn, approve of your choice of icon.

[pony_rocks]

Totally agree.

[aruan]

Cheers!

[ariadnechan]

I like your last one very much!!!

and i don't think either that John stayed with Mary only for the baby. He is also accepting himself as he accept Mary.

[aruan]

Absolutely. Mary's sworn her commitment to the life they've built, and so does he when he decides that he doesn't want to know who she used to be. The show likely won't allow them much happiness for all that, but who knows.

[maybe_amanda]

Well, YES.

I thought all that was obvious.

[aruan]

Touche. ;)

I think a lot of people were caught off guard by the tone of the season, so the characterization was immediately suspect, too.

[voodoohedghog]

I knew there were reasons I really enjoyed Season 3 and particularly HLV. You have assisted me in my future verbal defense of this show, thank you!

[aruan]

Thanks! The reactions to the new episodes have been so mixed (within fandom, at least) about all three episodes that I just wanted to take a deep breath and look at what we were being presented with, minus the weight of expectations of two years of theories, fic and meta. And it all holds together!