Episode 3.2, "The Sign of Three"

[T.o.b.y]

I think Tessa was simply daft and totally preoccupied with her own concerns. When she tells her story, she doesn't even look at Sherlock most of the time. As for Mrs Hudson showing her in, how was Mrs Hudson to know that her "boys" had gone on drinking after they went upstairs. She probably thought they'd slept their alcohol off on the stairs and were back at work again by the time Tessa called.

 

Ahhh, that episode. That wedding. That ending! Everything from Sherlock playing the violin for the wedded couple as they waltz to his walking off into the night alone is one of my favorite moments on the show. I saw that and thought, okay, they've still got it. It's a bit different now, but just as good as it's ever been.

[by the sea]

Hello from snowy Canada.  Well, the snow is predicted, along with rain, freezing rain and ice pellets.  I could go into great details about the winter from hell but it isn't over yet and I don't want to tick off the powers that be !  

 

I finally got to sit down and watch this episode in HD splendour last night.  I've seen bits and snatches since it first aired on BBC Canada last week but this was the whole thing.  I think the mystery story was kind of thin but the fun of it all was pretty good.  Lastrade asking Molly what's the worst that could happen if John asked Sherlock to be his best man conjures up such a list of interesting possibilities ! The emotional bond between these two characters is wonderful, though, and expressed so eloquently by Sherlock in his amazing voice ... so moving.  I have to admit I got a huge kick out of Sherlock offering Archie a headless nun if he came up with a plausible solution to the mystery of the disappearing knife ... and in fact, he provided the push Sherlock needed to solve it !  Having had the pleasure of attending parochial school myself, I admit there are times when I've entertained the fantasy of ... well, I probably shouldn't go there !  

 

Sherlock seemed genuinely pleased by the attention of the Maid of Honour and I was very disappointed that they didn't get to share their dance.  But, when all is said and done, he forges ahead alone, doesn't he ?

 

I'm glad they departed from the usual format ... I think I'll have to watch it a few more times to really get into the heart of the matter.  I love research !!

 

Debbie

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hello from snowy Canada.  Well, the snow is predicted, along with rain, freezing rain and ice pellets.  I could go into great details about the winter from hell but it isn't over yet and I don't want to tick off the powers that be !

 

Judging by the radar, you folks are getting the storm that had been predicted for us.  So, thank you!!! 

 

 

I keep wondering whether they tried to use this title for the final episode of the series -- would've been cool if Episode 3 of Series 3 were "The Sign of 3"!  (Oh, well, they came pretty close.)

[by the sea]

You're welcome, Carol !  We here on the Atlantic coast are a hardy bunch and since the 30 straight hours of freezing rain that started this winter the weekend before Christmas ... there were homes without power for up to 11 days ... we've managed to keep it going in spite of more snow storms than I can count, interspersed with melts and rain then flash freezes  ... terrifying conditions sometimes.  Perhaps Sherlock could find somebody to behead Mother Nature before he moves onto the nuns.   

 

Debbie

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

 Perhaps Sherlock could find somebody to behead Mother Nature before he moves onto the nuns. 

 

  I think the nun was beheaded long before "A Study In Pink" and he was investigating the crime not committing it. And beheading Mother Nature? Not a good thing! I hate to think of being stuck in one weather pattern from now until eternity happens. We need her.

[Carol the Dabbler]

True.  Fun thought, but hardly practical!

 

[by the sea]

 

 

  I think the nun was beheaded long before "A Study In Pink" and he was investigating the crime not committing it. And beheading Mother Nature? Not a good thing! I hate to think of being stuck in one weather pattern from now until eternity happens. We need her.

 

 

 

 

 

So there actually was a beheaded nun !  Wonderful !  I suppose getting rid of Mother Nature might be a bit drastic.  I'm willing to make a compromise and move to Aruba instead.  Now if only I could win the lottery ...  

 

Debbie

[Carol the Dabbler]

Does anyone actually have any idea where Moftiss got "headless nun" from?  Is it a canon reference, or maybe from an old Holmes movie?

 

[Slithytove]

There was a headless monk in an old radio show starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes.....

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Could be the case where the term "Vatican Cameos" come from?

[Pamela]

Could be the case where the term "Vatican Cameos" come from?

I'm curious myself about the origin of "Vatican Cameos."

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

In the canon it's one of those cases that Watson mentions but it's never presented to the world.

[Pamela]

Do you remember which story?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

"The Hounds of the Baskervilles", I think.

[Caya]

Indeed it was :

 

“I must thank you,” said Sherlock Holmes, “for calling my attention to a case which certainly presents some features of interest. I had observed some newspaper comment at the time, but I was exceedingly preoccupied by that little affair of the Vatican cameos, and in my anxiety to oblige the Pope I lost touch with several interesting English cases. This article, you say, contains all the public facts?”

[Pamela]

Thanks!

[sherlockandjohn]

I've been thinking some more about Sherlock's attitude expressed in his remark: "Involved? I'm not involved!" It seems to be spurred on by Mycroft's warning, and it isn't the first time Mycroft seems to bring up the walls around Sherlock. It's like he's been feeding Sherlock these words of "wisdom" (the world according to Mycroft) all their lives - perhaps trying to protect him? - and Sherlock, being the logical, deducing individual that he is, has seen the reason in his brother's words, taken them to heart (or rather, mind), and shielded himself with them. Until John, he didn't have anyone to prove Mycroft wrong.

 

Just a thought.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

and Sherlock, being the logical, deducing individual that he is, has seen the reason in his brother's words, taken them to heart (or rather, mind), and shielded himself with them. Until John, he didn't have anyone to prove Mycroft wrong.

 

 

  And a good thought it is, I think.  I think that's why Sherlock turned his back on "Mycroft in the councilor's seat" in his Mind palace then turned to John and says something like: "You. You have always kept me right"  

 

 There is also the "hat deducing" scene and what Sherlock says to Mycoft about not being able to "handle a broken heart"  and Mycroft missing the fact that the hat belongs to a man who is isolated because he feels different. For all that Mycroft denies it, he is lonely and Sherlock doesn't want to be like him.

[sherlockandjohn]

Ah, yes - Sherlock saying that Mycroft can't handle a broken heart makes sense if Mycroft has been trying to protect himself and Sherlock against it since they were little. And it must be easy for two minds such as theirs to convince themselves that, logically, caring can lead to heartbreak, so it's a disadvantage. At least easier than it is for most people.

 

I think it's true that Sherlock doesn't want to be like Mycroft. So when he tries to convince himself and his brother that he's 'not involved', it could be that he is simply afraid of getting hurt. Especially in this situation - we can see clearly how it affects him that John is starting a new life.

[sherlockandjohn]

In the end of this episode, Sherlock reveals that he has been tutoring John in the art of dancing. Immediately after, he looks around the room and realises that he doesn't belong, or feels out of place... I feel like the contrast between those two moments really stands out. The first reveals an intimate domesticity, and the second the end of an era. Sherlock knows some things have changed, and though he will still go on adventures with John, he has lost a flatmate for good.

[Arcadia]

This made me think ... they're not wrong, y'know. Caring IS a weakness -- IF the only thing you want for yourself is to always be in control. Most of us are willing to make ourselves more vulnerable in order to savor the benefits that "caring" provides -- but not the Holmes boys. Or at least, that seems to be what they tell themselves. Why the need for so much self-control? Are they afraid of what will happen to them if they're not in control? Or ... are they afraid of what they will DO if they're not in control? That seems to be Mycroft's opinion of Sherlock -- and to some extent Sherlock's opinion of himself. And the end of HLV certainly would bear that out .... interesting. Don't have any answers tho. "Need data." (Or maybe that should be, "Need Data.")

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 I know a lot of people try to avoid getting drunk....maybe not to the lengths Sherlock went....because they don't like the feeling of not being in control. Some people avoid taking any kind of medicine for the same reason.

 

 Sometimes it's because they want to remember the evening and the fun they may...or may not....have had.

 

 Or as you said, Arcadia, they are afraid of what might happen if they do lose control.

[T.o.b.y]

In the end of this episode, Sherlock reveals that he has been tutoring John in the art of dancing.

 

They certainly gave us a mental picture there that's hard to erase... I kind of have a vision of Sherlock with his violin tucked under his chin, playing while navigating his dancing partner around the furniture across a litter-strewn carpet, snapping impatient instructions and at the same time counting out steps. Mrs Hudson must have had a blast watching. Too bad she doesn't seem to share Lestrade's habit of taking videos of scenes like that.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

Too bad she doesn't seem to share Lestrade's habit of taking videos of scenes like that.

 

 

  There are a few roll in the isle funny fanfics about John giving Mrs. Hudson some kind of high tech phone and all the texts he got from her asking him how such and such a feature worked...

[by the sea]

Watched this ep last night.  I'm being careful here ... TEH kind of got me on a roll.  So funny when Lestrade asked Molly what could possibly go wrong if John asked Sherlock to be his best man.  What could go right ?     But, of course, it did go right and there wasn't a dry eye in the house ... some of the time, anyway.  The crime had me a bit confused the first time I watched this but now I'm able to pull out the parts to make sense of it.  I like Mycroft ... we've been through this and I'm one of the viewers who isn't looking for the soul of the matter so I accept him at face value, most of the time ... but when he asked Sherlock if he remembered Red Beard, I wanted to give him a thump !    This was a time when I could hear him say "don't get too invested 'cause I have ways of breaking the connection" and it bothered me a lot.  Of course,  Sherlock leaving early was sad but not unexpected ... and, yes, I have seen it before and knew it was coming !  He's the odd man out and always will be but he made some inroads towards sociability so ..."What a Night ?".  Anyway, I keep going back to how much that amazing wedding must have cost.  Holy Moley !      

 

Debbie