Episode 3.3, "His Last Vow"

[Karie]

 

At this point, I am starting to feel like we're talking in circles, and some of it is coming off in a rather nasty tone. Maybe that's just lack of sleep causing me to misinterpret. In any event, I'm going to call it a night. 

 

Happy First Day of the Hiatus, people.  :'(

 

I agree Karie, feel like I'm reading the same things over and over. It's amazing the passion behind these opinions!! Must be awesome telly!!

 

I've never been in a "hiatus" of Sherlock before. I saw the repeat of series 1 on Alibi and then got the dvds for my birthday in June. When I saw series 3 was coming back I rewatched series 1, blitzed through 2 (which is when it took over my very life!) and then watched 3.  Tell me, how does one cope?? What if it's 2 years before it's back??? I'm already having withdrawals.................

 

 

 

Oh, dear, I can't answer that! I only watched seasons 1 and 2 for the first time on Netflix in November, and by December I was ready to pull my hair out waiting for season 3. I don't know how the poor souls who waited two years survived, and I don't know how I'll make it six months now, let alone a year or more. This is where I need a handsome man in a blue phone box to show up and offer to take me anywhere in space and time. 

 

 

I'm just going to add my comments in pink here, because I still haven't gotten the whole quote-breaks things. I hope that's OK! 

 

 

All this talk of Mary and John being killers. Do we think Sherlock, in his two years of chasing down Moriarty's network, simply offered his marks tea and crumpets and then had them arrested?  No. I assume he's put bullets into the heads of a great many of them. His killing of CAM was pretty darn precise.

 

You know, I hadn't really thought of that, but you're right.  There is a good chance this is not the first life Sherlock has taken. I would really, really love some flash back footage of his time away at some point. 

 

 

As much as I did like Mary in the first two episodes, her so coldly shooting Sherlock and her reaction after telling him he can't tell John, was too irredeemable. I'm hoping she and baby die (because I SO don't want to see a kid at Baker St) in the next series.

 

As much as I liked Mary before this episode, I was pretty much like "yeah, she's dead" as soon as the pregnancy was revealed in TSOT. I also have no desire to see a baby running around Baker's Street. And I definitely want John back there ASAP. He's been away for far too long. 

 

 

I do adore Janine but hope she doesn't really 'know how he is'. I'd love it if Mycroft was gay but not Sherlock. His reaction to Irene, I'm hoping proves he isn't.

 

It doesn't really matter to me what his sexuality is. I'm not really interested in seeing him in any kind of relationship on the show... at least not at this point.  My understanding of what Janine said was,"I know you're not the type of man to ever be interested in a romantic relationship, but we could have been friends." And that wasn't any kind of revelation to the audience. Sherlock has said that since day one... he considers himself married to his work. 

 

But, if it makes you feel any better, Magnussen had noted Sherlock's "porn preference" as "normal".  I was surprised he had any sort of porn preference at all, as I figured he'd see that sort of thing as beneath him, but there you go.  Now, some people on tumblr are arguing that "normal" does not  have to mean "straight", but rather "not deviant or unconventional" (i.e., no sub/dom, donkey shows, or anything else other than two partners of whatever gender having normal, consensual sex with each other). There is certainly a believable case in that, but anyway, all they gave us on screen was "normal" so you may choose to interpret that in any way you wish to appease your own personal head canon.  

 

 

The 'pressure points' scroll was fun. Did anyone pause for the characters other than Sherlock? What did they say? The porn use being normal made me laugh. And I like that 'morphine' was added later to CAM's mental vaults.

 

Oh, well I see you did notice that after all, and that whole last paragraph of mine was a wasteful bore. Sorry about that!   

 

FYI, Mrs. Hudson's former occupation was "exotic dancer" and her pressure point was "marijuana".   

 

[Karie]

 

 

Some people were talking about Mary dying in season 4... I feel like she pretty much has to, for many reason, not least of which because

the actress has said that she took the role because she knew she would get to "die in John Watson's arms" at some point, and because Mofftiss have commented that they added Mary to the show with the idea in mind that they would eventually tackle writing John-Watson-the-Widower. So her death is imminent, it's just a question of how long they are going to drag it out.

 

 

Where and when did they say that? Just curious. It does not matter a bit anyway, because they also said repeatedly that Moriarty was dead.

 

I can't remember for sure, but I think I read the widower thing maybe in an article somewhere? And the other thing from Amanda, it was included in those spoilers from someone who went to the HLV screening, so I assumed she said it at the Q&A that was held afterward. I wasn't there, however, and will leave it to someone who was to weigh in and vouch for that. 

 

As for Mary's child... This might be the nastiest thought I have had today, but what if that stuff Billy poured into her tea wasn't so good for it after all? Oh no, I really hope they didn't have that in mind. Imagine how horrible it would be if Sherlock killed John and Mary's baby by mistake. No, the writers can't be that cruel. Can they? No.

 

I should really shut up and go to sleep now...

 

I thought that was crazy to assume the drug would have no consequence for the baby. Who would take that chance, no matter how good of a chemist you are? I do agree that it would be horrible if they had Sherlock accidentally kill the baby, but since she did look further along in the pregnancy at the end of the episode than she did in the tea scene, I'm not too worried about it. 

 

When she first fainted in his arms in that scene, I immediately thought he was going to look down and see blood gushing between her legs, and that she would be miscarrying right then and there (and that she would die as a result of the blood loss). It felt like something they would do... have John forgive her and make a commitment to move forward with her after months of anger and the silent treatment, only to have her immediately die of complications. It would have given them plenty of guilt for John for the next ten years.  "Why did I wait so long to forgive her?" "Did the stress of my anger and shunning her cause her to miscarry and die?" Etc., etc. 

[Karie]

Karie, I agree, I was angry with Lady Smallwood too for exactly the reason you said. Funnily enough I am not as angry with Mycroft - I expect it of him and anyway, I always think he has something up his sleeve!

I agree that it would be interesting if one of Mary's victims killed her in revenge. We again have already seen a foreshadowing in TSOT, when the photographer is murdering the Major in revenge for his relative being killed. It appeared that the Major killed by accident, whereas Mary certainly didn't, so there would be even more feeling for revenge. Also when the photographer said 'i'm not the one who should be arrested' Mary looked shocked so I dare say it crossed her mind!

 

Very good point! I actually mentioned in the TSOT thread last week that I found it suspicious, the look on her face when he said,"I'm not the one you should be arresting." She looked panicked for a second there. What a great parallel that would be if she were assassinated by one of her victim's family members! What if they even tied it back to the incident with Sholto and we find out that she was somehow involved in what happened with those recruits (like maybe one of them was her mark and so she set up an accident that killed them all), and the anger everyone directed at Sholto actually should have been directed at Mary? Ah, way too big a coincidence and very unlikely to happen. Still, it would be a crazy twist! 

[Cheerio1021]

Can I just comment that I'm so relieved that I'm not the only person wishing death on Mary and her unborn child?    

 

When I said last week that I wanted both of them to die, I felt like it made me a bit weird and callous, but now it seems that I'm far from alone. 

 

And for what it's worth, I think Mary's a goner in Series 4 (whether in the first episode or the last), but I suspect mining the dramatic potential of a baby will be too alluring for Moftiss to resist.  Think of all the plots that could revolve around John's baby!  Is it alive or dead?  Is it really John's?  Kidnapping!  Held hostage! Switched at birth!

 

And as much as I'd hate to see my favorite show devolve into a soap opera, I doubt I'd be able to resist those opportunities as a writer, either.

[mangopony]

I'm off to bed after this post, but I have to say I never thought an episode of a TV programme would make so many people want to see a pregnant woman and her baby dead!!! It's funny the surreal nature the world takes on!

 

(By the way that is in no way a criticism to people who have said it. Merely an observation at the irony of it. In any other situation none of us would feel these things. However, I know Mary dies, and I know that turning Baker St into a crèche is ludicrous and I do feel sad seeing John's chair empty so I kind of want it to happen too....)

[mangopony]

Actually, no, this will be my last one. Does anyone else notice that Sherlock wore an awful lot more white shirts this season? I like the coloured ones better (especially the purple - he looked freaking hot in the purple!!)

 

 

....right bed!!!

[Sherlock_luvr]

Oh my gosh. Quote boxes. I don't understand thee.

 

But in reference to Sherlock's porn reference being normal. Well, Sherlock did use John's computer and mentions the porn there. So is that referring to John or Sherlock...
 

[Slithytove]

I just watched HLV for the second time and found it almost painful - just wanted to shake John, during the reconciliation scene, and say "Seriously? Are you out of your mind?"

 

I understand that some people still like Mary, which is fine and Amanda plays her beautifully, but I think she is pretty hateful and certainly a psychopath. To put a bullet in someone and then be able to spend Xmas with the victim and his family, chatting happily to his dear old mum and dad, requires a depth of coldness that even Moriarty didn't manage to reach. The fact that Sherlock invited her and John does not excuse her acceptance. Could you spend Xmas with the family of a man who died on the operating table because you put him there?

 

Actually, I am okay with Mary the psychopath. I can even understand why Sherlock doesn't hate her, and tells John to trust her, apparently on the tenuous grounds that she didn't shoot him in the head and she did call an ambulance. His emotional responses have always been very strange - excited by serial killers, irritated by those who love him, and largely enjoying himself every time he tangled with Moriarty . Maybe it is not so odd that he doesn't resent Mary for the suffering she inflicted on him. What I can't accept is that John still wants to play Happy Families with her. When Sherlock is reacting bizarrely to everything, John's job is to point out that his behaviour is A Bit Not Good. Now I am beginning to doubt whether he has any better grasp of morality than Sherlock has.

 

I have to agree with the previous posters who found the parting scene cold and upsetting. I can see that maybe John was keeping a stiff upper lip, and that he did not really believe Sherlock was going for good, but that is not what the scene actually says. Given that Sherlock is going because of what he did to protect Mary, John seems less than heartbroken that the friend he missed so much is apparently leaving forever.

 

I think this episode is painful not because of Mary's lies or because Sherlock is driven to murder but because it makes us see John, and the friendship between the two men, in a very different light....and I loved that friendship and I loved John's character because he was a brave man but also a good one. Now I am not so sure.....

[wildwoodflower]

 

I'm new! And have a few, well, I suppose, comments

 

 

I adored the last episode, though would have liked to see John's (and everyone elses, really) reaction/concern over Sherlock being so badly hurt. And/or after his collapse at Baker St a week later. I think some great potential for drama/concern/fear/anger was missed with the exclusion of this. I really want to see some fallout. Maybe series 4 will pick up not so far in the future.

 

 

All this talk of Mary and John being killers. Do we think Sherlock, in his two years of chasing down Moriarty's network, simply offered his marks tea and crumpets and then had them arrested?  No. I assume he's put bullets into the heads of a great many of them. His killing of CAM was pretty darn precise.

 

 

If Moriarty is back, can we have more Irene, too? I rather like to believe she rid him of Moriarty's little title after he rescued her from Karachi.

 

As much as I did like Mary in the first two episodes, her so coldly shooting Sherlock and her reaction after telling him he can't tell John, was too irredeemable. I'm hoping she and baby die (because I SO don't want to see a kid at Baker St) in the next series.

 

 

I loved Sherlock's character development this season. It proves to him that 'sentiment' is dangerous, as he's always believed. He's nearly died because of it. Been exiled because of it. Put more at odds with his 'iceman' brother because of it. I'd like to see him revert back to his old self at some point. Cold and calculating like in Series 1. But then later realize that the absence of sentiment doesn't make one a happier person, just maybe a safer one.

 

 

I haven't seen this mentioned but Sherlock shot CAM because it would protect Mary (though his concern was the extension of Mary who was John) and he knew Mycroft wouldn't let anyone shoot him. He knew if John took the shot, Mycroft wouldn't stop it. Sherlock used Mycroft's 'sentiment' and 'pressure point', his little brother, to his advantage there.

 

 

I do adore Janine but hope she doesn't really 'know how he is'. I'd love it if Mycroft was gay but not Sherlock. His reaction to Irene, I'm hoping proves he isn't.

 

 

The 'pressure points' scroll was fun. Did anyone pause for the characters other than Sherlock? What did they say? The porn use being normal made me laugh. And I like that 'morphine' was added later to CAM's mental vaults.

 

 

Can we not wish for babies to die, you know, just on general principle?  I'm pro-choice and all, but once they're born I kind of wish them all the best.

[Karie]

Actually, no, this will be my last one. Does anyone else notice that Sherlock wore an awful lot more white shirts this season? I like the coloured ones better (especially the purple - he looked freaking hot in the purple!!)

 

 

....right bed!!!

 

My new favorite is the green one from TEH. That one made me want to do things I can't repeat on this board without getting about 10 warnings for inappropriateness.       

[wildwoodflower]

Watched the goodbye scene again and I still don't like it.

 

John does the following:

- Says he can't think of anything to say

- Tells Sherlock tersely: "The game is over."

- Inquires almost casually about where Sherlock's going

- Acts almost like he doesn't even want to look at Sherlock.

- Reiterates "We're not naming our daughter after you."

- Shakes Sherlock's hand and watches him walk away

 

And that's it.  John is quite chilly in this scene.  No real emotion, not even the sense that he's choking back a lot of emotion.  I mean, I know John's supposed to be stoic, but between the dialogue and the way Martin Freeman plays him in this scene, it's almost like he doesn't even give a $#*% that his friendship with Sherlock is over and he's never even going to see his best friend again.

 

John doesn't even say "Thank you" to the man who just gave John's assassin wife a fresh start -- the same wife who nearly killed Sherlock -- and who now has to get on a plane and disappear because of it.

 

I'm not saying I'd expect a big slobbering emotional hug-fest, but really?  Is this the John we know?  The one who made the speech at Sherlock's grave?  Who called him the wisest and best man he'd ever known?

 

You can certainly see emotion coming from Sherlock in this scene -- and I think Cumberbatch plays it beautifully -- but it's as if it just bounces off of John.  I don't get the sense that John is returning any of it.

 

I don't know what to make of it.  Like I said, it's a combination of the dialogue and Martin Freeman's acting (and of course how the scene was edited), so the coldness must have been intentional.  I just don't understand it in the context of this episode or their relationship.

 

Also I thought it was said that he's going to be gone for six months (Sherlock may think there's a chance he won't be coming back but he doesn't share that). John seemed relieved to hear it. I think people have such high emotional expectations they can't simply enjoy the story they get. It's the fan's curse:-)

 

I still think Mary is interesting. And yet, we hear that Sherlock and Mycroft's mother gave up her calling to be a mother. Mary gives up her former life for love. Is this noble are we supposed to think it's noble.

 

I thought she was scary cool in that scene and I freaked out as much as the next person when she shot him, but I was also disappointed that she turned out to be bad. I so wanted another good strong female character in the show. Not one who was strong because she kills people for a living. (or spanks them, whatever.)

[Cheerio1021]

 

Watched the goodbye scene again and I still don't like it.

 

John does the following:

- Says he can't think of anything to say

- Tells Sherlock tersely: "The game is over."

- Inquires almost casually about where Sherlock's going

- Acts almost like he doesn't even want to look at Sherlock.

- Reiterates "We're not naming our daughter after you."

- Shakes Sherlock's hand and watches him walk away

 

And that's it.  John is quite chilly in this scene.  No real emotion, not even the sense that he's choking back a lot of emotion.  I mean, I know John's supposed to be stoic, but between the dialogue and the way Martin Freeman plays him in this scene, it's almost like he doesn't even give a $#*% that his friendship with Sherlock is over and he's never even going to see his best friend again.

 

John doesn't even say "Thank you" to the man who just gave John's assassin wife a fresh start -- the same wife who nearly killed Sherlock -- and who now has to get on a plane and disappear because of it.

 

I'm not saying I'd expect a big slobbering emotional hug-fest, but really?  Is this the John we know?  The one who made the speech at Sherlock's grave?  Who called him the wisest and best man he'd ever known?

 

You can certainly see emotion coming from Sherlock in this scene -- and I think Cumberbatch plays it beautifully -- but it's as if it just bounces off of John.  I don't get the sense that John is returning any of it.

 

I don't know what to make of it.  Like I said, it's a combination of the dialogue and Martin Freeman's acting (and of course how the scene was edited), so the coldness must have been intentional.  I just don't understand it in the context of this episode or their relationship.

 

Also I thought it was said that he's going to be gone for six months (Sherlock may think there's a chance he won't be coming back but he doesn't share that).

 

Sherlock says he'll be doing undercover work in eastern Europe for six months, and John asks him "And then what?" and Sherlock replies, "Who knows?" Sherlock then tells John he needs to tell him something "since it's unlikely we'll ever meet again." 

 

So even allowing for the possibility of some Holmesian trickery, John's on notice that there's a decent chance this will be his last conversation with Sherlock.

 

[Cheerio1021]

 

I have to agree with the previous posters who found the parting scene cold and upsetting. I can see that maybe John was keeping a stiff upper lip, and that he did not really believe Sherlock was going for good, but that is not what the scene actually says. Given that Sherlock is going because of what he did to protect Mary, John seems less than heartbroken that the friend he missed so much is apparently leaving forever.

 

 

Yes, this is how I feel. 

 

I'm all about unspoken messages in scenes and reading between the lines.  But I have to have something to work with, and in that scene the show doesn't give us much other than Sherlock obviously choking back emotion and John basically saying "So... bye."

 

Again, I can totally imagine John being emotionally numb, shutting down, battered from Sherlock already leaving him and returning.  But for me personally, to interpret the scene that way I need to see some basis for it, however subtle, onscreen.  And as hard as I squint, I'm not seeing it.

[Karie]

Since Janine was mentioned earlier, I've been wanting to weigh in on this. I've re-watched the episode a few times and had some time to reflect on it.  

 

Upon first viewing, I was really appalled by a woman who, as Sherlock put it, was an opportunistic wh0re who used him to get rich and famous. Which really sucked, because I loved her (but only after several viewings, I'll admit) in TSOT. 

 

After watching a couple more times, however, I am retracting that. Was she a little impulsive or possibly desperate to be considering getting engaged to a man she'd been dating for no more than a month? Yes. But there really was no proof that she was planning to sell him out to the tabloids until after she found out he'd used her. That was her revenge for what he did to her (and it's not like he didn't deserve it). And maybe she really didn't believe that he loved her, and maybe she knew it was never going to be serious. But that didn't really mean she couldn't have fun with it in the mean time. If someone told me "You have one month to lounge about Sherlock Holmes' flat in your underwear, walk in on his baths, sprawl across his lap, and have some intimate physical contact even if there will be no actual consummation" -- I would say OK SEE YOU IN A MONTH. (And, also, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.) 

 

I can't be angry with her for the newspaper articles, because like I said, he did use her and that would piss off any woman. And did she turn it to her advantage and get the money to move away and get out from under the thumb of a boss who evidently routinely humiliates and abuses her? Hell yeah, and I say good for her.  

 

I also really like how she ended that conversation. I agree that she probably understood Sherlock in a way that not many people do. If he hadn't decided to shamelessly pretend to have feelings for her to get something from her (instead of just approaching her for her help with Magnussen), and had just said,"Hey, I'm not looking for anything romantic or sexual, but let's be friends" they probably could have been really good ones.  

 

I think the look on his face after she said that spoke volumes. He's realized now what it is to have friends... that it's a good thing. And he realized that, had he done things differently, he could have had a pretty good one in Janine.  It's interesting to see that loss quickly pass across his face. 

[Ally.C]

Okay, so, hi everyone. First post. Gosh,  haven't been on a good old discussion forum for a show since I was watching LOST. 

 

I've really enjoyed reading all the posts here and finding people who I both agree with and whose views make me question what I just watched. So stimulating! I just thought I might toss my two cents in to the fray.

 

I am so legitimately upset by Mary. She was such a fabulous character and I feel she is ruined now. Either I am upset because I don't know what of her I can trust or I am upset because she will inevitably become something I loathe. Her portrayal was fabulous, thanks Amanda, but all the love I had for her can't soothe the scene of her coldly telling Sherlock not to tell John. I didn't hear panic, I heard threat in those words. And then to simply go off with her gun to meet him later, searching him out in all her clever ways, in a moment she knew he would be weak. Searching him out alone. It wreaks of assassination. Foiled by cleverer Sherlock. She might love John, I give that to her, but how much of that is love of John and how much of it is love of her life with John? How can you love someone that much and shoot their best friend, kill their best friend, when you saw how much that best friend truly means to them?

 

Because I can't for a moment choke down the idea that Mary's shot was 'surgery'. She killed him. It was Sherlock's cleverness and will power that kept him from that grave, not her careful shot. It was cold, it was ruthless, and I can't help but feel anything but contempt for her - even if John does seem to forgive her, even if Sherlock does seem to like her. Or does John just forgive her because he has a strong moral compass and she is his wife and the mother of his child? Or does Sherlock like her so that he can keep a close watch on her.

 

Mary aside! Let's talk about the Mind Palace for a moment. What a scene. Oh goodness, the cinematography was enough to give me shivers. The staircase in his mind seemed to be almost the exact same one as the staircase in the building from A Study in Pink. Sherlock's Mind Palace is, at least partially, constructed around the first place he had a case with John. Wow. And Molly. Personally, I have never been a Sherlock/Molly shipper. I like Molly, she's a good character, but I have always kept in mind she is not an ACD character. It would seem so extraordinarily bizarre to pair Sherlock with a non-canon character, one the creators have even said they were hesitant to add. But what I do love is how she compliments Sherlock. Shows some of his growth. And for me, the most painful part of the Mind Palace (No, I lied, Redbeard ;_; ) was that Molly seems to have been his doctor in this moment, not John. Sherlock, I feel, we see systematically trying to cut John out of his life in this episode to the point he has replaced Dr. Watson with Ms. Hooper as the one to get gunshot advise from. He didn't just redecorate Baker St. He redecorated his Mind Palace as well. Ouch.

 

And then.. Moriarty. Oh, Moriarty. Honestly, if Moriarty and Mary both live through this, I might give up. That seems to be such a wild slap in the face to ACD canon. Yes, brothers, etc, but it just doesn't sit well with me for a series that has been so, so passionate about canon. 

 

I, for one, also hate the idea of a child in the series. It just would ruin so many dynamics. 

[Karie]

Hi, Ally.C! Welcome!  

 

I agree with pretty much everything you said in your very eloquent post. 

 

Regarding Molly in the Mind Palace: I was also confused as to why Molly would be there instead of John, but then Anderson was there, too, and I realized the connection.  Molly and Anderson are both in forensics (forensic pathology, in Molly's case).  It made sense to me that they would be the avatars for the part of Sherlock's brain that was calculating bullet trajectories and exit wounds. 

 

It could also be that, as he had just been murdered by John's wife, Sherlock's brain was making an effort to keep John out of the picture. He needed to focus, in that moment, on staying alive. As "Molly" said, he only had 3 seconds of consciousness left to work out how to save himself. If he had started thinking about John in any way, his thought processes might have wandered to "John's wife, John's wife, John's wife, what will John think, what will he do, what will happen, Mary killed me, oh my God" and that would have surely cost him his life. 

 

In regards to Moriarty and Mary both living: Another possible way in which Mary might leave the show... Sherlock sacrificed himself to save her by killing Magnussen.  So, next time around, Mary could sacrifice herself to save Sherlock by killing Moriarty (in such a way that she dies with him). It still wouldn't completely redeem her in my eyes, but she certainly does own him an enormous debt. However, I can't really see her doing that if she were still pregnant, so that still leaves us with a baby in 221b. Unless they cop out and have her miscarry or deliver a still born child. 

[Ally.C]

Hi, Ally.C! Welcome!

 

I agree with pretty much everything you said in your very eloquent post. 

Eloquent. Oh my. Thank you. I'm blushing, haha.

 

 

Regarding Molly in the Mind Palace: I was also confused as to why Molly would be there instead of John, but then Anderson was there, too, and I realized the connection.  Molly and Anderson are both in forensics (forensic pathology, in Molly's case).  It made sense to me that they would be the avatars for the part of Sherlock's brain that was calculating bullet trajectories and exit wounds. 

 

It could also be that, as he had just been murdered by John's wife, Sherlock's brain was making an effort to keep John out of the picture. He needed to focus, in that moment, on staying alive. As "Molly" said, he only had 3 seconds of consciousness left to work out how to save himself. If he had started thinking about John in any way, his thought processes might have wandered to "John's wife, John's wife, John's wife, what will John think, what will he do, what will happen, Mary killed me, oh my God" and that would have surely cost him his life. 

The Forensics made sense to me and I thought about it as well, but I couldn't quite grasp that as the only reason. I think when you pair it with not wanting to think about John, it starts to come together. As we see later, it takes John Watson to save the life, eh? Sherlock will solve the crime (how the bullet enters you, how to fall), but it's John (John Watson's in danger) that saves the life. The parallels and symmetry of this series always come together so wonderfully.

 

 

 

 

In regards to Moriarty and Mary both living: Another possible way in which Mary might leave the show... Sherlock sacrificed himself to save her by killing Magnussen.  So, next time around, Mary could sacrifice herself to save Sherlock by killing Moriarty (in such a way that she dies with him). It still wouldn't completely redeem her in my eyes, but she certainly does own him an enormous debt. However, I can't really see her doing that if she were still pregnant, so that still leaves us with a baby in 221b. Unless they cop out and have her miscarry or deliver a still born child. 

I'm intrigued by the fact Mary played the Moran role of The Empty House bit of this episode. Not sure why or what significance that might hold, but it makes me think. She also seemed very interested in the idea of Moriarty being back when he was mentioned at the end. Less fearful, to me, and more... interested.

 

I really, really hope they don't do miscarriage. It's been terrible enough trying to affirm to everyone on the internet that Mary did not die of childbirth in the novels. Though, it seems all forms of canon are game (William Sherlock Scott Holmes? The other brother?), so I suppose some of the old school theories might be up for grabs too. Just seems a bit, as you said, cop out. 

[Karie]

 

 

Eloquent. Oh my. Thank you. I'm blushing, haha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Forensics made sense to me and I thought about it as well, but I couldn't quite grasp that as the only reason. I think when you pair it with not wanting to think about John, it starts to come together. As we see later, it takes John Watson to save the life, eh? Sherlock will solve the crime (how the bullet enters you, how to fall), but it's John (John Watson's in danger) that saves the life. The parallels and symmetry of this series always come together so wonderfully.

I'm intrigued by the fact Mary played the Moran role of The Empty House bit of this episode. Not sure why or what significance that might hold, but it makes me think. She also seemed very interested in the idea of Moriarty being back when he was mentioned at the end. Less fearful, to me, and more... interested.

 

Exactly! 

 

 

 

 

I really, really hope they don't do miscarriage. It's been terrible enough trying to affirm to everyone on the internet that Mary did not die of childbirth in the novels. Though, it seems all forms of canon are game (William Sherlock Scott Holmes? The other brother?), so I suppose some of the old school theories might be up for grabs too. Just seems a bit, as you said, cop out. 

 

I've seen people saying all over the internet that Mary died in childbirth, and I've been wondering about that, because while I have not read that far in my book yet, I have been unable to turn up ANY cause of death for her anywhere on wikipedia or any search engjine. Everything just says that she's in one story, and then in the next story, Watson casually mentions his own "sad bereavement", and that's pretty much all we know. That, in between two stories, she apparently died. I had no idea where the childbirth thing was coming from and if it really was based on canon somehow.  Thanks for clearing that up! 

 

However, I never got the sense that canon Mary was an ex CIA agent or assassin for hire, so I guess it's fair to say that they've thrown caution to the wind as far as she's concerned.  

 

As of now, I'm putting my money on Mary either doing the sacrifice thing, or taking the baby and disappearing somewhere John can't find her. I wouldn't put it past Mofftiss to go that route, just so they'd have the opportunity to bring her back later. 

[BLS_Pro]

 

Mary, however, is a murderer. She deliberately kills. She broke in, she hurt all those people that were simply working for Magnussen. Then she tries to kill him. It was deliberate. That is murder.

No.  Mary is not a murderer.  She, like John, is a killer.  As was made explicit in the "flicking" scene, CAM had threatened to have men kill her.  As such, her action was self-defense, not murder.

 

 

 

 

[Sherlock_luvr]

I think the look on his face after she said that spoke volumes. He's realized now what it is to have friends... that it's a good thing. And he realized that, had he done things differently, he could have had a pretty good one in Janine.  It's interesting to see that loss quickly pass across his face. 

 

Exactly. I love that every interaction he's had this season with new people have shown him in different ways what it's like to have a Sherlock version of friends or at least companionship. Even the kid, who I adored, got to Sherlock in a way.

 

And he's grown from all of it. And maybe not in a way he would like. I wonder if he still feels (as he told Irene Adler) that sentiment is a disadvantage.

 

Even after all of his enormous character development, I was really hoping that he'd get burned so badly (and be exactly right in his words to Irene) that he'd revert back to his unemotional, cold deductive ways for the next season. Because even in that there is character development. Would enjoy watching him figure out that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. As the saying goes.

 

[BLS_Pro]

 

There where plenty of witnesses who had seen that Sherlock had taken that shot, so what could John have done?

In fact, that is the reason Sherlock took so long to kill CAM.  Sherlock wanted there to be witnesses to the fact that he, and he alone, killed CAM.  That's why he let CAM display his supposed ownership of John.  Sherlock was delaying so as to get Mycroft etc as witnesses to John's innocence.

[sh_fan]

Now that I've had a chance to ponder and to watch it a second time, I have a few more thoughts:

 

1)  I've seen one or two people here think Sherlock was actually high (on the opium).  I didn't think so the first time, and I still don't (but if there's something I've missed, I'm open to seeing it).  His eyes weren't dilated, and he acted completely normally.  But the main reason I don't think he was high is because he wasn't in the "Twisted Lip" story where they took this from.

 

2)  Being in America, I watched this online, so I didn't see the part at the end people were referring to with Moriarty walking around.  That being said, I am really, really, really hoping this was just a ruse by Mycroft or Sherlock to bring him back and that they don't really bring Moriarty back.  I agree with everyone that he was an entertaining villain, but there's plenty of other source material to draw from instead of Moriarty, somehow, faking shooting himself in the head.

 

3)  I've been interested in all of the discussion about John being Sherlock's moral center.  I'll admit that I haven't read the stories forever, but I have read almost all of them, and most of those more than once.  The distinct sense I get from the essence of Sherlock Holmes, the character, was that Sherlock was primarily driven by the need for mental stimulation, granted, but he also had a strong sense of justice.  True justice, not relativistic justice (a great example is that he thought justice was served when Milverton was shot and wouldn't help Lestrade solve the case).  Justice is a moral quality, so, even though Watson (in Scandal in Bohemia) referrs to his "cold reason," etc., that doesn't preclude that Sherlock had a strong and clear sense of morality.  I say this all the while knowing that he does things that the rest of us wouldn't do (like getting engaged for the sake of a case), but he only did it, again, in pursuit of justice. (As an aside, I loved the way they handled it in this episode, because I didn't feel bad for the woman in the Milverton story (Holmes said he had competition, and other suitors would eagerly step up after he departed), and, the way they did it, I didn't feel bad for her here.)

 

So, why they're choosing to make such a big deal about Sherlock supposedly being a Sociopath (which, don't they have no conscience?), mystifies me.

 

Also, when I heard Jeanine's comment about "I know what kind of man you are" (or something to that effect), I didn't think she was referring to his sexuality - I thought he was referring to his personality  - who he is.  He simply doesn't care about any of that because he only cares about the work (mental stimulation, justice).  In the books, he almost struck me as asexual (not because he wasn't masculine, but because it wasn't on his radar).  That's what I thought she meant.

 

Lastly, I wonder if Sherlock now considers his vow fulfilled, or if he views it as ongoing?  (But, as we've all decided Mary must die in childbirth, that only leaves John to protect, which he'd do anyway.)

[T.o.b.y]

 

I think people have such high emotional expectations they can't simply enjoy the story they get. It's the fan's curse:-)

 

Wise words...

 

About Mary dear (again and still - oh my god, will we never stop pondering this woman? You really have to hand it to the writers that they gave us plenty of food for thought!): I still like her too. And I do not necessarily want her to die. I was only disappointed that her secret turned out to be so, well, boring. Because that is what I think it is. Boring and unbelievable (yes, I know the whole plot and all the characters are unbelievable, but they usually do a better job of helping suspend my disbelief, something I am extremely eager to do). Also, I was hoping she would have some kind of justification for it. She probably has (as I said, I don't think she woke up one morning and thought "oh cool, lets go kill people"), but they might have let us know. I'm not willing to make everything up on my own. It will only raise expectations again

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

From Sherlockology:
 

 

Here’s our latest blog for Metro UK, our further, deeper, SPOILER-FILLED reaction to Sherlock S3E3 His Last Vow.
Head to the Metro UK website to read the blog.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Also from Sherlockology:

 

 

Sherlock S3E3 His Last Vow - the ratings are in!

 

Sherlock S3E3 His Last Vow was once again the most watched television programme of the day in the UK yesterday, bringing in 8.77m viewers in initial overnight ratings.

This is a drop of 70k viewers from the previous episode, still a far smaller drop than the viewer loss from episodes 2 and 3 of previous series.

By way of comparison, S2E3 The Reichenbach Fall pulled in 7.9m viewers in overnight ratings in January 2012.

 

Steven Moffat, co-creator, executive producer and writer of Sherlock said: “It isn’t supposed to be like this. Sherlock began life as a surprise hit, and now in its third series, it’s rating higher than ever. This show, which we all thought would be our vanity project destined for 3 million in the ratings and possibly an award from an obscure European festival, has become a barnstorming international phenomenon. If I live to be a very old man, I might be able to explain how any of that happened - drop me a line in about forty years, I’ll do my best.  Till then, on behalf of Mark and Sue and myself - who started all this, not so very long ago – thank you all for the very best of times!”