Episode 3.0, "Many Happy Returns" (7-min. Mini-Ep)

[Carol the Dabbler]

Sorta like closing the door on him in "Study in Pink." 

 

[Zain]

That'd be great, wouldn't it?

Loved that scene when Sherlock virtually slammed the door in Anderson's face. It was just hilariously rude, and just... Sherlock.

 

 

And thx, Carol.

[MindPalaceStuck]

Actually wouldn't it be a real shock if he just stood there and took the hug? Imagine John being like "Wow, I can't believe Anderson's not been strangled yet."

[Carol the Dabbler]

That would evoke a reaction from John, for sure -- maybe even better than when Sherlock kissed Molly at the Christmas party!

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'd love for [Anderson] to hug Sherlock. That'd be hilarious.

Oh god I can imagine him trying to and Sherlock just casually moving him out the way like "No."

 

Actually wouldn't it be a real shock if he just stood there and took the hug?

 

Are you guys psychic or something? 

 

 

[J.P.]

Well, this actually happened. In TEH. And Sherlock reacted as always: freezing, trying not to run away. :D

[J.P.]

Because I have seen MHR after S3 my reaction wasn't that enthusiastic.

 

But there is another element that gave me a little goosebumps. The Signs:

 

 

JOHN: I can tell you what you can do. You can stop being dead.
(He drinks.)
SHERLOCK (back in front of the camera and looking straight into it): Okay.
(John looks at the screen, startled, but Sherlock has already walked away again.)

 

 

SHERLOCK: Oh, and don’t worry. I’m going to be with you again very soon.

 

 

Greg is walking along a road, intermittently looking down at his phone, but then stops and stares at a man with a white beard standing nearby. The man is reading a copy of the Daily Express and the back page of the newspaper is facing towards Greg. It shows three footballers in the middle of a match, and the headline reads, “THE GAME IS BACK ON!”

 

THIS. It happened to me many times, that my obsessions started to leak into the reality producing synchronicities of this kind. Answers that came from the TV set in the middle of a discussion, the little occurrences building up a meaning. Sometimes I was concerned about my sanity. After years and years I decided to call it selective perception. :D

So now, seeing this on the screen I had a little gulp-moment. Someone was reading my thoughts? Knows my past?

 

WOMAN: You bastard!

 

This actually made it into TEH! :D

 

 

Lestrade's HEADDESK! Is there a gif of that moment somewhere?

 

 

Like John's apartment. What a difference to the cluttered 221B! But there is a detail in a corner of my Mind Dumpsite: Arwel saying something about a room with this triple window being used for all possible locations. I will take a look tomorrow.

 

Of course I’m gonna miss dinner. There’ll be people.

 

If it was only possible to transfer an intonation into print, this would be the T-Shirt saying of my life :lol:

 

SHERLOCK: How can John be having a birthday dinner? All his friends hate him.

 

Now this is interesting.

 

I'd love for [Anderson] to hug Sherlock. That'd be hilarious.

 

Someone has heard you.

 

The Case of the Missing 'Stache.

Well, if I only could remember what S3 episode was actually made while the MHR was shot - in a corner of another set, in a hurry, with much improvising. Steven told me, and I listened, but forgot it anyway. :(

 

Well, Mary is talking about six months of bristly kisses, so it had to be sooner than six months before Return. Which doesn't really make sense, because 6 months are too long. Do we actually have a date for the Return in TEH? I suppose that it is just a goof/continuity mistake, that probably someone has forgotten to put that furry thing on Martin's face.

 

 

The Case of the Awful German Language

 

I think I have written (and said) everything on that topic already. -_-

 

A note from Ariane's transcript:

 

It should be noted that in Germany there's no jury to convict a criminal. We've got a judge, and there might be citizens in certain low-profile cases (cases where the crime is a minor one) that help with the decision, provide a different perspective. It's not like it's in the US. But perhaps that's what's meant with "unusual circumstances"?

 

[Arcadia]

Like John's apartment. What a difference to the cluttered 221B! But there is a detail in a corner of my Mind Dumpsite: Arwel saying something about a room with this triple window being used for all possible locations. I will take a look tomorrow.

I think it's the same set that was used for Mycroft's exercise room in TSo3. Although now that I see the remark from Arwel, I realize it could also be the same set as Mycroft's office in Scandal, but with different panes in the windows. They're both over on the Mycroft's Offices thread.

[Arcadia]

I quite love this little mini episode, although perhaps more for the fact of its existence than anything that's in it. But I can remember what a treat it was to see Sherlock again when it first came out.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the continuity problem is; why is 6 months too long? Seems to me this could have taken place almost any time during the hiatus ... ?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Only a bit of time before hectic day but I better pop in to post this, so that I would stop thinking about it today (Fat chance!)

Why fat chance and slim chance have same meaning?

 

Opening scene:

- It’s Soo Lin’s tea making music in Himalaya!

- Are we supposed to recognize Sherlock only by his hands only? Well, no problem I guess.

- Thinking about why Sherlock bothers to go there, get into the high rank, just to catch the drug dealer? But it’s Sherlock, it’s probably his version of golf. Anyway, I love how the actress delivers, ”You Bastard!”

 

Now to the episode, it’s embarrassing that I have so much to say for such a short episodes (episode? Clip?)

 

- I didn’t have any dislike for Anderson before S3. I think the way he behaved makes sense, from questioning Sherlock’s role in investigation, being annoyed by him, to actually try to impress him. Unlike Donovan, he was not unnecessary mean to Sherlock, compared to how Sherlock treated him :lol:

So in MHR I actually feel very sorry for him, especially from the painful look on his face when Lestrade said,” He is dead.”

 

Imho, there are three biggest horrible feelings of someone who is left behind after a death, beside the sadness of losing. Guilts. Which is unfortunately, happens a lot in real life too.

 

One, is the feeling that they are the one who causes it. (Anderson)

 

Two, is the feeling that they are helpless and didn’t do enough to prevent it. (John)

 

Three, the last words. (John)

 

These three multiply the sadness and trauma that they have to live with for the rest of their lives (unless the said person comes back to live of course) that makes it difficult for them to move on and potentially ruins their lives.

With Anderson, he ruins his life, career and probably relationships. But he stood up to admit his mistake and that’s what makes me sympathize with the character a lot. I’m glad that Sherlock treats him much better in S3.

 

With John, even though he stuck with Sherlock and tried his best to help, he would never stop feeling guilty that he took Moriarty’s bait and left him at crucial moment, before he blew up and called him a ‘machine’ and disbelieved him for having any care for Mrs. Hudson.

In John’s human mind, it must had driven Sherlock more to suicide, because Sherlock was in a very delicate situation where he thought nobody believed him anymore, but John. And yet he stormed off after accusing him of not having any feeling or compassion, and didn’t take into consideration at all about the logic of the situation asked by Sherlock. (plus after TRF happened, John had the knowledge that Sherlock was doing all those to save his friends which is the opposite of him not having compassion to people who care about him/he cares about at all). All these guilts must had been very very difficult for John to deal with, and the pain was still so raw even after one and a half year, brilliantly acted by Martin Freeman.

 

Which brings us to timeline; I think MHR should happens somewhere after Sherlock was proven not guilty and before John started having serious relationship with Mary. Maybe half a year before THE, because:

 

- The way Lestrade and Anderson talked about Sherlock somehow indicates that Lestrade knew Anderson felt very guilty, they didn’t discuss the setback of Sherlock coming back (if he was still a fake) which make me think that the truth had been exposed by then. It should, because I imagine this would be a very high profile case, which drew a lot of attentions, the media would blew up and analyzed every single case that Sherlock took and there would be too many missing gaps to maintain the story that Sherlock was a fake, the inauthenticity of Richard Brook would surface.

 

- John’s apartment. Well we know in SIP he doesn’t really have a lot of personal things, but he was a different John back then. The apartment in MHR looks very sterile, and there was no indication that there was woman’s touch, or even efforts to make it look cozier and lively (which happens when an occupant expect special guest) so I think the relationship with Mary had not started/serious phase yet at this moment.

(Nevermind the moustache though :lol:, I’m sure it’s very possible for John to grow that moustache in half a year)

So that means the revelation of Sherlock is not a fake in THE is at the same timing with MHR, about half a year before THE, while the rest of THE is two years after Sherlock’s supposed death.

 

Sherlock said, “Only lies have detail.” Which probably a hint of elaborate TRF. But I have to disagree with that actually. Truth has details, but it’s not as foolproof as well-rehearsed lies. Anyway, I still stand by that TRF is not a lie, it’s just one of the better outcome scenarios, but everything else behind it was real.

 

Sherlock said ‘All his friends hate him.’ While this is hurtful, I can see the possibility that it’s not completely untrue, although hate is a strong word. John didn’t consider turning into any of his friend’s help in SIP. But anyway, hate is not something bad in Sherlock’s world. He himself also believes that people hate him.

 

Argh..! Now I might have to work overtime to compensate the time I lost at work for typing this post.

Will comment on others later.

[Carol the Dabbler]

SHERLOCK: How can John be having a birthday dinner? All his friends hate him.

 

Now this is interesting.

My interpretation is that Sherlock (mistakenly) believes this because every time he sees John's friends, they are acting uncomfortable, as they would around someone they don't like -- but of course he has observed their behavior only when he himself is also present!

 

The Case of the Missing 'Stache.

Well, if I only could remember what S3 episode was actually made while the MHR was shot - in a corner of another set, in a hurry, with much improvising. Steven told me, and I listened, but forgot it anyway. :(

"Many Happy Returns" was apparently filmed at the same time as "His Last Vow" -- note that John's living room in MHR is the same as the one in John and Mary's house, and also that the pub where Greg meets Anderson in MHR is the same one where Greg sees the telecast of Moriarty's GIF.

[Arcadia]

Only a bit of time before hectic day but I better pop in to post this, so that I would stop thinking about it today (Fat chance!)

Why fat chance and slim chance have same meaning?

Good question! English is weird sometimes. Although "fat chance" is usually sarcastic, while "slim chance", er, isn't.

 

Opening scene:

- Are we supposed to recognize Sherlock only by his hands only? Well, no problem I guess.

I didn't actually; I recognized him by his height!

 

Which brings us to timeline; I think MHR should happens somewhere after Sherlock was proven not guilty and before John started having serious relationship with Mary. Maybe half a year before THE, because:

 

- The way Lestrade and Anderson talked about Sherlock somehow indicates that Lestrade knew Anderson felt very guilty, they didn’t discuss the setback of Sherlock coming back (if he was still a fake) which make me think that the truth had been exposed by then. It should, because I imagine this would be a very high profile case, which drew a lot of attentions, the media would blew up and analyzed every single case that Sherlock took and there would be too many missing gaps to maintain the story that Sherlock was a fake, the inauthenticity of Richard Brook would surface.

The only problem with this is, in TEH they show the moment when the truth about Sherlock and Moriarty appears in the media. Then they cut to John and Mary at the graveyard. I suppose a substantial period of time could have passed during the cut, but normally I think a cut like that means "and around the same time, this was happening". If I'm right, then MHR would have to take place while most of the world still thinks Sherlock is a fake. I don't see that as a problem, though.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Lestrade's HEADDESK! Is there a gif of that moment somewhere?

Please make it happens!

I actually missed his headdesk until this rewatch. Shame on me.

 

 

Quote

Of course I’m gonna miss dinner. There’ll bepeople.

:lol:

In my shopping list: couple of plain T-shirt and more fabric paints.

 

 

Well, Mary is talking about six months of bristly kisses, so it had to be sooner than six months before Return.

Ahem. Bristly kisses also applicable when a man starts to grow the mouthstace, practically the time he decides to stop shaving.

 

 

Arcadia:

The only problem with this is, in TEH they show the moment when the truth about Sherlock and Moriarty appears in the media. Then they cut to John and Mary at the graveyard. I suppose a substantial period of time could have passed during the cut, but normally I think a cut like that means "and around the same time, this was happening".

I think they do it in some occasions, like violin playing jumps in SIB, and another Christmas scene jumping to Mr. And Mrs. Holmes?

[J.P.]

Why I think the time between MHR and TEH should be shorter? It's the promise :D

Sherlock says "I'll be with you soon."

Anderson says he's coming nearer and Hamburg isn't that far.

 

Signs and foreboding don't make sense if they come too early. Sherlock's soon comeback is announced not only to the fandom in RL, but also in the in-universe, at least it is how I see it.

 

But on the other hand - well, maybe the makers didn't see it that way.

[T.o.b.y]

Why I think the time between MHR and TEH should be shorter? It's the promise :D

Sherlock says "I'll be with you soon."

Anderson says he's coming nearer and Hamburg isn't that far.

 

Signs and foreboding don't make sense if they come too early. Sherlock's soon comeback is announced not only to the fandom in RL, but also in the in-universe, at least it is how I see it.

 

But on the other hand - well, maybe the makers didn't see it that way.

 

I don't remember the time between the mini ep and series 3 being that long... There was this seemingly endless period of waiting and speculation after The Reichenbach Fall, then Many Happy Returns came as a kind of Christmas present after series 3 photos and so on had already been released, and by the new year, we had the new episodes. Or is my memory terribly wrong here?

 

As for in universe, Sherlock is supposed to have recorded that message long before he disappeared, and the "soon" was meant to refer to a time shortly after John's birthday dinner, not anything related to The Fall. And Anderson is just a nutcase.

 

[Arcadia]

 

Arcadia:

The only problem with this is, in TEH they show the moment when the truth about Sherlock and Moriarty appears in the media. Then they cut to John and Mary at the graveyard. I suppose a substantial period of time could have passed during the cut, but normally I think a cut like that means "and around the same time, this was happening".

I think they do it in some occasions, like violin playing jumps in SIB, and another Christmas scene jumping to Mr. And Mrs. Holmes?

 

Yes, but in those cases they give you other, quite clear clues that a substantial amount of time has passed -- notably, the festive decorations. And the snow, in SiB's case. They've been plenty vague about the passing of time in other instances, though, so you could be right.

 

That interview with Steve Lawes -- reading that made me realize, it's not necessarily that they don't try to catch every detail, they just don't have the budget or the time to perfect everything. They do pretty well with what they've got, imo! I wish I could produce something that good that quickly (When I'm rushed, it shows. Boy does it ever show.... :( )

[J.P.]

Well, someone wished a headdesk gif.

Sadly making gifs from Youtube is not that satisfying... That's the best I could get:

 

 

If somebody finds a video one can download I could make a bigger one.