Episode 3.1, "The Empty Hearse"

[Arcadia]

That's not the only time Sherlock assumes a crucificial position, methinks. The Fall, and the surrender at the end of HLV being the most obvious. I seem to remember noticing others but I'm not sure.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, I did say this even before I saw (or heard any spoilers for) "Empty Hearse":

 

One other thing I suspect we'll see is some vaguely Easter-morning imagery, continuing from the self-sacrifice theme (and the Sistine Chapel moment) in "Reichenbach." Or am I just seeing things?

 

So yeah, that torture scene was highly reminiscent of a passion play.  And I'm not surprised.

 

[Arcadia]

Er... which Sistine Chapel moment are you referring to? The expulsion from Eden?

[Carol the Dabbler]

No, sorry!  If you click on that link, it's the top photo, where God and Adam are reaching toward each other (or for a wider view, the top photo here).  I guess in this episode, Sherlock (on the roof) gets to play God to John's Adam (on the ground).  Certainly not a blatant copy, but close enough to make me suspect they meant it.

 

[Arcadia]

Hmmm, Sherlock as John's creator .... dunno, Carol, that could be seen as "reaching" (pun intended!)

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Or one friend reaching out to another. Of course there is the image of God not so much as a creator but as a lonely being seeking communion with another.

[Arcadia]

Oh, sorry, artist in-joke. I was responding to the title of that particular piece, "The Creation of Man." It's generally interpreted as "God reaching toward Adam" to give him the gift of life. I have to admit I didn't make THAT particular connection in TRF! I was seeing images of sacrifice though.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oh yes, it is definitely an act of sacrifice. One life for three even though Sherlock had deduced from Moriarty's visit to 221b what Moriarty wanted from him, "like flying only the destination is more permanent"...or something along those lines, I don't think Sherlock was prepared for the extra incentives that Moriarty threw at him on that roof top.

[jesskayding]

That's not the only time Sherlock assumes a crucificial position, methinks. The Fall, and the surrender at the end of HLV being the most obvious. I seem to remember noticing others but I'm not sure.

 

Jesus on the cross was mighty heroic & courageous. So it's pretty smart of the writers to place that image in our minds. Makes Sherlock like a real world savior in the minds of the viewer.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

But in TGG, didn't Sherlock tell John not to "make people into heroes", because Sherlock doesn't think of himself as a hero? (Then again, people don't like telling you things. They love to contradict you.)

 

So Sherlock says he's not a hero, and then he

• saves John from being blown up,
• figures out Irene Adler's passcode so John doesn't get shot in the head,
• jumps off the roof of St. Bart's to save John, Mrs. Hudson, and Graham Greg,
• saves John from being barbequed,
• stops Major Sholto from letting himself die,
• and shoots Magnussen to save John and Mary and the baby.

Contradiction indeed.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

At the time he made that little disclaimer a helpless old woman had just been blown up for no good reason whatsoever. He technically had won the game. He probably was feeling definitely unhero like in that he had failed not only her but all the other people who were killed in the blast. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Even heroes can't be perfect. 

[jesskayding]

But in TGG, didn't Sherlock tell John not to "make people into heroes", because Sherlock doesn't think of himself as a hero? (Then again, people don't like telling you things. They love to contradict you.)

 

So Sherlock says he's not a hero, and then he

• saves John from being blown up,
• figures out Irene Adler's passcode so John doesn't get shot in the head,
• jumps off the roof of St. Bart's to save John, Mrs. Hudson, and Graham Greg,
• saves John from being barbequed,
• stops Major Sholto from letting himself die,
• and shoots Magnussen to save John and Mary and the baby.

Contradiction indeed.

 

 

Also Sherlock is not very self aware. He thinks he is but it takes everyone else to help him know himself & his behaviors:

 

The Woman *****

John *****

Lestrade **

Mycroft ****

Magnussen ***

Molly ****

Moriarty *****

Janine *

Mary **

 

The amount of stars represent the characters who help him have the most insight into himself. I put it on a 5 star rating system.

[Schlauer Fuchs]

Can anyone explain me this: At the beginning of the episode, when Sherlock gets his coat back, this dialogue takes place:

Anthea: "Welcome back, Mr Holmes"

SH: "Thank you, blood."

 

What does "blood" refer to? Why does he say that?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Some have translated it as "Blud"  a word meaning "Brother".

 

                                       

[jesskayding]

Can anyone explain me this: At the beginning of the episode, when Sherlock gets his coat back, this dialogue takes place:

Anthea: "Welcome back, Mr Holmes"

SH: "Thank you, blood."

 

What does "blood" refer to? Why does he say that?

 

Yeah what Fox said. Sherlock, although quite proper in speech, likes to throw in modern day slang here and there. When he said that I recognized him as saying: Thank you family, to be more specific.... But of course his family standing there at the moment was his brother.

 

Blood = slang term for family.

[Schlauer Fuchs]

aah, thanks both of you, that makes sense!

[T.o.b.y]

I still chuckle about Molly and Sherlock's day of solving crimes together. "You're not being John" - yeah, right, Sherlock. Molly saw straight through him, as always. Even to the point where she asks "did you get him off a murder charge?", when Sherlock talks about the owner of the fish place he wants to go to for dinner. Of course Molly can't know how much that is an echo of A Study in Pink, but it's like she intuitively gets it right, anyway. And Sherlock petulantly goes "no, I helped him put up some shelves." I bet that's a lie, just like he lied to Sebastian in The Blind Banker about having asked his secretary. It's just another Sherlock way of saying "no, you're not being John, this is entirely different, I'm trying to make a clean start on this job with somebody else."

 

And Molly doesn't buy it. She lets him down very gently, but she does. Molly has come a long way, too. Series 1 Molly might just have pulled off her engagement ring and gone along with Sherlock on any terms he might have to offer. Series 3 Molly won't settle for being anybody's substitute. That's a lot more than a lot of women manage, especially women in love. And she does still have a crush of Sherlock. I think she always will. I love how she looks after him, how she mutters "Maybe it's my type".

 

I love Molly.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Have to agree with you Toby on all counts. 

[sherlockandjohn]

Was just remembering the line, "How would you know?" and how it refers to both ASiB when Sherlock has said, "Sex doesn't alarm me," and to TEH with Mycroft's words, "I'm not lonely, Sherlock." Then I also remembered how Irene said that Moriarty called Mycroft the iceman and Sherlock the virgin. Fits nicely with those two first mentioned scenes. Moriarty seems to know his enemies. Just like they know him.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

At least someone is doing their research.

[jesskayding]

I like you guys to do the research for me.

[sherlockandjohn]

In honor of this very special day in the Sherlock world:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPeaSLMlH

[Carol the Dabbler]

Here's wishing John a MUCH happier Guy Fawkes Day this year! 

 

[Schlauer Fuchs]

In honor of this very special day in the Sherlock world:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPeaSLMlH

 

Confession: Every time I see this scene I think "Thank God that the coat didn't catch fire", when I should be thinking "Thank God John didn't catch fire"