Episode 3.3, "His Last Vow"

[jesskayding]

I don't know what I would ask.

[Arcadia]

I agree with Carol, there's more chance of an actual answer if the question is about the actor's character, or about some aspect of their performance.

 

What would I ask if I were able to? Hmmmmm. I think I'd ask what they thought was on the thumb drive. The answer would probably be pure speculation but it'd still be interesting.

[T.o.b.y]

Oh, sfmpco, I am so envious!

 

Okay, I'll jot down a gazillion questions I have about this episode here just for fun, and if you find anything that is actually askable at a public event, then you are more than welcome to use it.

 

- Was Sherlock truly high at the beginning? Because I think he was, and I think it is implied, but the scene is ambiguous like everything on Sherlock, and I have read other interpretations, so apparently, it's not clear.

 

- Does Mary genuinely feel sympathy for Kate? This ties into the much bigger question which probably nobody will answer, but which I wonder about anyway: How much of a psychopath is Mary, really? Is the sweet, compassionate side of her just an act, or is that real? (I vote for real, because it would make her character so much more interesting, but ya never know, do ya...)

 

- Why did Molly and Tom break up? (Okay, the answer to this one may be a bit obvious, but I still like to wonder)

 

- Did Sherlock genuinely enjoy his time with Janine? Because in spite of the way he bangs the door shut behind her with a complete change of facial expression, he still seemed to be quite contented while she was sitting on his knee and kissing him... But you never know with Sherlock, do you. He's such a good actor.

 

- To take this question even further, did Sherlock genuinely fall a very little bit in love with Janine...? (I don't think so, but theoretically, it would be possible... I think he likes her, at any rate)

 

- Is John jealous when he finds Janine in the flat? (I wouldn't ask this one for real, but I do wonder...)

 

- How does John feel about Magnussen? Does he hate him too, the way Sherlock does?

 

- Why oh why did Mary shoot Sherlock? Is the "surgery explanation" correct?

 

- Did Sherlock really die (briefly)? If so, how does this fit in with the above mentioned surgical concept?

 

- When John saw the bottle of perfume at Baker St, did he already realize what was up with Mary?

 

- Where did Mary get the flash drive? If it really holds all the information on the past life she's been trying to keep secret for five years, why does she carry it around with her? Why didn't she burn it herself long ago?

 

- What does A.G.R.A stand for? Are we ever going to find out?

 

- Does Mary miss being an agent? Is she bored as "the doctor's wife", like Sherlock put it? Or would she really be glad to let bygones be bygones and settle into a quiet life for good?

 

- If the Holmes parents are so nice and loving, then why did this family never celebrate Christmas together until the youngest son got shot? And why are both their boys so messed up?

 

- If Mummy Holmes is a genius too, then why does Sherlock think she "understands very little"?

 

- Was Mycroft in on the plan to drug the family, steal the laptop and make a deal with Magnussen? I.e., did he know there was something in the punch and only pretended to be affected by it?

 

- Why did Magnussen have Sherlock and John searched for weapons at Baker St, but not when they came to Appledore?

 

- At what point exactly did Sherlock decide to shoot Magnussen?

 

- Did Sherlock already suspect where the "vaults" truly were beforehand? Or was it a complete surprise for him?

 

- Was this the first time Sherlock killed someone?

 

- Does Mycroft see Sherlock as a little boy, or does Sherlock see himself that way at the end? Or do they both...? Why is the little boy crying?

 

- Was there really something Sherlock always meant to say and never has? Or was he just joking?

 

- Is John aware that Sherlock is supposedly going to his death?

 

 

Yes, I am fully aware that most of these are not questions anyone involved with the show would or could give a clear answer to, but it was fun summing my bewilderment concerning this episode up like that...

 

[sfmpco]

I am adding your questions to the list, T.O.B.Y.!  Don't be too envious.  I will probably fall asleep during the screening... so tired tired tired... but it's not the screening I am after, although it will be wicked fun to FINALLY experience the show with other Sherlockians!!!!  

[Arcadia]

- If the Holmes parents are so nice and loving, then why did this family never celebrate Christmas together until the youngest son got shot? And why are both their boys so messed up?

 

- If Mummy Holmes is a genius too, then why does Sherlock think she "understands very little"?

If I may be so bold as to guess what some of the answers might be:

 

1. I think Moftiss would argue that the boys aren't messed up; they're just different.

 

2. Presumably in the same way that Sherlock understands very little -- about things which he considers trivial. She did seem a bit clueless about the emotional subcurrents at Christmas, for example. And the way she rattled on in 221B, seemingly oblivious to her son's disinterest.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

Presumably in the same way that Sherlock understands very little -- about things which he considers trivial. She did seem a bit clueless about the emotional subcurrents at Christmas, for example. And the way she rattled on in 221B, seemingly oblivious to her son's disinterest.

 

  Gee, I was going to say that! But yeah, that was my take on Mummy Holmes too.

[jesskayding]

Hmmm. I think the Holmes parents always celebrated Christmas. It was the boys who chose not to celebrate it in their adult lives. Not that I blame them. I can't stand Christmas. Just work in the retail world @ that time of the year, something happens to people... Greed, anger, verbal & physical abuse, materialism, impatience, entitlement...It's brutal!

 

 

I certainly don't celebrate Christmas in the traditional way it's celebrated. No decorations, no tree, no stockings or mistletoe. I may sing Christmas carols @ a nursing home or serve in someway. Other than that, it truly is just another day.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Those are all interesting questions, T.o.b.y -- even though, as you say, there may be no definitive answer to many of them. I've narrowed your post down to just the John and/or Mary questions (omitting the one that no one but Ms. Yummy would actually ask), and it's still quite a list. I've edited my own comments into it:
 

- Does Mary genuinely feel sympathy for Kate? This ties into the much bigger question which probably nobody will answer, but which I wonder about anyway: How much of a psychopath is Mary, really? Is the sweet, compassionate side of her just an act, or is that real? (I vote for real, because it would make her character so much more interesting, but ya never know, do ya...)  I also vote "real," because that's the way the character felt to me, but I'd love to know Ms. Abbington's take!
 
- How does John feel about Magnussen? Does he hate him too, the way Sherlock does?  I'd say he starts out pretty neutral, then judging by his expression during the face-flicking scene, he escalates pretty quickly to loathing.  But again, would love to hear Mr. Freeman's take.
 
- Why oh why did Mary shoot Sherlock? Is the "surgery explanation" correct?  Come to think of it, this is a two-part question:  1) What was the immediate cause for Mary's decision to shoot?  (Our opinions range from "He had seen too much" to "He was threatening to disarm her.")  2) Once that decision was made, why did she aim in that particular way?  Oh, and 3) Did she actually call the ambulance?
 
- When John saw the bottle of perfume at Baker St, did he already realize what was up with Mary?  ... or at least have an inkling?  Also, do either of them know why or by whom the bottle was left there?
 
- Where did Mary get the flash drive? If it really holds all the information on the past life she's been trying to keep secret for five years, why does she carry it around with her? Why didn't she burn it herself long ago?  Good one!
 
- What does A.G.R.A stand for? Are we ever going to find out?  This may be a Series 4 question.
 
- Does Mary miss being an agent? Is she bored as "the doctor's wife", like Sherlock put it? Or would she really be glad to let bygones be bygones and settle into a quiet life for good?  Again, would love to hear Ms. Abbington's take.
 
- Is John aware that Sherlock is supposedly going to his death?  Mr. Freeman's answer would hopefully shed some light on our fruitless hearthearted / heartbroken John debate!

There are so many open puzzles in "Last Vow" that I certainly don't envy you, sfmpco -- trying to come up with just a handful of questions!

 

Do you (or anyone?) happen to know if this event will be aired live in the UK and/or recorded for later airing or internet availability?  Though I'm eagerly awaiting your first-hand report, I'm also hoping to (eventually) see / hear all their answers for myself.

 

[sfmpco]

I may be a Christian, but I don't celebrate the day with the trappings.  I am far too lazy to decorate and then heaven forbid have to undecorate.  Ugh!  I rarely even buy a gift for anyone, except my parents.  That's a given.  I do appreciate the work others go to in decorating, however.  Just not my thing.  A nice Christmas meal is good, though.  I hope I get one this year.

 

My suspicion is that there is far too much sentiment involved with Christmas trappings to interest either of the Holmes boys.  Just not their cuppa, although I'm certain they give their parents gifts.  I don't think the boys give anything to each other, however.  Even a phone call is unusual.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Well, Mycroft and Sherlock are both sassmasters. When a sassmaster and a sassmaster meet, they take the time for idle chat that disintegrates into a sass-off which eventually ends up with both loathing each other afterwards. Although Mycroft did explicitly say that he does care about Sherlock. But does Sherlock care about Mycroft as well?

[jesskayding]

Of course Sherlock cares about Mycroft. They just have a genius sibling rivalry vs. an ordinary one. When he faked his death, he saught Mycroft's help & he always helps Mycroft out, even when he tells him that he won't or can't.

[Zain]

 Although Mycroft did explicitly say that he does care about Sherlock. But does Sherlock care about Mycroft as well?

 

A very good question, indeed. Though I'd amend: Does Sherlock care as much about Mycroft as Mycroft cares about him?

That's something they could explore in the next season. I'd really love it if Mycroft was in trouble for once, and he needed his brother's help. Not asking him to do legwork.

[sfmpco]

Well, i suspect there's a little bit of an enabler relationship between them - Mycroft being the enabler in that he's got his eye on Sherlock's well-being even from episode 1 (okay, the beating scene in TEH  notwithstanding).  Still, I think that somehow Mycroft is able to smooth over whatever trouble Sherlock gets into, whether it's drugs or run-ins with the law, and I suspect that on Sherlock's part that he may lack a little gratitude for his brother's interventions.  He is definitely always on the defensive around Mycroft, but then Mycroft exactly knows Sherlock's pressure points.   Seriously, is there any trouble Sherlock can get into that Mycroft can't get him out of?

[sfmpco]

 

There are so many open puzzles in "Last Vow" that I certainly don't envy you, sfmpco -- trying to come up with just a handful of questions!

 

Do you (or anyone?) happen to know if this event will be aired live in the UK and/or recorded for later airing or internet availability?  Though I'm eagerly awaiting your first-hand report, I'm also hoping to (eventually) see / hear all their answers for myself.

 

I hope they will at least record the Q&A.  That would be lovely.  I will query the Hertford folks and see what's going on.  If they're not planning on recording, I will see what I can do to change their plans!  because my shorthand is lousy!

[Zain]

Mycroft didn't get him off unscathed when Sherlock killed Magnussen.

 

Mh, I wonder if that would not make it more likely for Sherlock to hold a grudge against Mycroft: Because whatever he does, there's dear brother to clean up behind him. It takes a part of Sherlock's freedom away. Some of his behaviour could be motivated by the wish to provoke Mycroft into dealing with Sherlock as a person, instead of dealing with Sherlock's "mess."

It seems to imply a certain attitude of Mycroft's to take responsibility for his brother's actions. Wherever that may have stemmed from. If there really is a third brother, and that one did suffer some horrible fate as implied, I wonder what makes Sherlock different from that one. Because apparently Mycroft did not care much for the "other one."  But that's diving too much into "if's."

[jesskayding]

Mycroft didn't get him off unscathed when Sherlock killed Magnussen.

 

Mh, I wonder if that would not make it more likely for Sherlock to hold a grudge against Mycroft: Because whatever he does, there's dear brother to clean up behind him. It takes a part of Sherlock's freedom away. Some of his behaviour could be motivated by the wish to provoke Mycroft into dealing with Sherlock as a person, instead of dealing with Sherlock's "mess."

It seems to imply a certain attitude of Mycroft's to take responsibility for his brother's actions. Wherever that may have stemmed from. If there really is a third brother, and that one did suffer some horrible fate as implied, I wonder what makes Sherlock different from that one. Because apparently Mycroft did not care much for the "other one."  But that's diving too much into "if's."

 

 

Fox n I had a bit of a sassy exchange concerning the responsibility that an older sibling could feel for the younger. We had a nice exchange per I am the eldest of my siblings & apparently Fox is the youngest of hers. We have severely different perspectives about the depths of which the elder sibling should be involved in their younger siblings lives. Carol was an awesome mediator.

 

 

 

 

So  could relate to  "where they ( Mycrofts urge to be responsible for Sherlock) stemmed from", being an elder sister myself. As the oldest you get in trouble for the younger persons behavior, because you should have somehow kept them from doing whatever. Your possessions are no longer your own they now belong to your youngest sibling if they want them (however that never works the other way around), ect..ect. Also as the oldest I have a favorite, I favor my brother WAAAAYYYY over my little sister, it's just how it is. I've never told her though, but it's probably obvious. So could relate to Mycroft maybe not feeling as obligated to care for the other one as much as Sherlock.

 

So my stance was that Mycroft earned the right to be all up in Sherlock's business, younger siblings, mostly represented by Fox, didn't agree. But we could agree that that was/is most likely Mycrofts mindset. 

[T.o.b.y]

 If there really is a third brother, and that one did suffer some horrible fate as implied, I wonder what makes Sherlock different from that one. Because apparently Mycroft did not care much for the "other one." 

 

We don't know that. All Mycroft says to his colleague is that he is not given to outbursts of brotherly compassion, "look at what happened to the other one". Besides, Mycroft would not admit to loving anybody in front of his fellow government officials. Who knows, perhaps "the other one" was as dear to him as Sherlock is, and for some reason, he was not able to save him / her from whatever fate or duty forbade him to step in. That might in part explain why Mycroft is so obsessive about keeping tabs on Sherlock and tries to prevent him from coming to harm as well. He might even have some regrets concerning "the other one".

 

[Arcadia]

Shoot, I agree with everybody. Where's the fun in that?

 

In one of their interviews Moftiss said something like "Mycroft is somehow the key to Sherlock", so I expect speculate we'll learn more about whatever's going on between them. Hope so.

[sfmpco]

I think he also keeps tabs on Sherlock because of the past drug abuse...which I think at some point may have been substantial.  I think there is a little self-destructive mechanism in Sherlock, and perhaps Mycroft is keeping very close tabs on him to hopefully prevent that from happening, but some of Sherlock's fearlessness and need for excitement is part of that self-destruction.  And of course, making the choice to shoot Magnussen was very self-destructive.

 

I'm a middle child in a large family, so the dymanics of older/younger child weren't played out with me.  However, I will say that my youngest sibling is EXTREMELY private.  She doesn't like anyone in her business.  

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I am the middle girl of five I am also the middle according to the age spread of all of us. I am exactly ten years younger then the oldest of us and exactly 10 years older then the youngest. And I still get this attitude from friends that I need to be mothered....I don't. My oldest sister is bad enough.

[sfmpco]

Another potential question:  how much MI6 is Sherlock?

[Arcadia]

None, I hope!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I think Mycroft uses Sherlock for his special skills and talents....but Sherlock being deep in black-ops? It doesn't seem to be up his street. He sounds pretty disgusted that Mycroft plays footsie with them and he doesn't consider himself to be on Mycroft's side....so I don't think he's big into it even though he's not above working for the Home Office.

 

But Sherlock can take assignments....or not....Mycroft can't order him.

[jesskayding]

Another potential question:  how much MI6 is Sherlock?

 

I think he's a Consulting MI6.

 

None, I hope!

 

I wouldn't mind if he were. I just don't think that he is.

 

I think Mycroft uses Sherlock for his special skills and talents....but Sherlock being deep in black-ops? It doesn't seem to be up his street. He sounds pretty disgusted that Mycroft plays footsie with them and he doesn't consider himself to be on Mycroft's side....so I don't think he's big into it even though he's not above working for the Home Office.

 

But Sherlock can take assignments....or not....Mycroft can't order him.

 

I'm about 80% with you. I'm quite sure Mycroft could order him. Mycroft is the British Government. I would hate to see what the result would be if Sherlock didn't comply to his brothers commands. Which makes me wonder if that's why Sherlock always concedes to Mycroft's requests. Like the whole memory stick/ Wesley case, he followed the John the entire time, to see if he was on the right track.

[sfmpco]

If I asked the MI6 question and they chose not to answer it, there is an answer there in S4.