Episode 3.3, "His Last Vow"

[Loekie]

Moriarty told Sherlock that John was in danger. It is still possible that Mary is a compagnon of Magnussen and that she really wanted to kill Sherlock.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Or this could just mean a continuity thread running through the whole series. In The Sign of Three, Sherlock, while interviewing Mary's ex-boyfriend that he is a high functioning sociopath. He also smokes in "ASIB". I think the mind palace may be similar in some ways to the school where the cabbie takes him but it is not exactly the same. I see what you are getting at, but with two more seasons in the works, I don't think we have come full circle and I am prepared to be surprised and just as entertained in the upcoming seasons. They aren't done yet.

[Ally.C]

Oh, there are certainly parallels everywhere between nearly all the episodes, there were just a lot of them here between ASiP and HLV that I noticed. I know they aren't done, but it might relieve some of us at the idea of getting back toward the way the show was originally without the loud bangs and whistles.

 

As for the ASiP and Mind Palace

 

ASiP

HLV

ASiP

HLV

 

I for one would be very, very disappointed if these shots weren't intentionally meant to show a parallel.

[T.o.b.y]

Hey, that's an interesting observation! Well, in the original timeline, "A Study in Scarlet" was the beginning and "His Last Vow" the end. So maybe they did want to convey a sense of coming full circle. Even if it wasn't intentional, it's still a nice touch.

[Slithytove]

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I would like to ask a question about CAM's "magic glasses."

 

Sherlock thought he was reading detailed personal information via these glasses. (Hands up all those who suspected he had magic glasses. Yeah, Sherlock, just you. Surely most of us thought he was using a memory system, just as Sherlock himself does.) However, Sherlock knows CAM doesn't store any information on computers. So what does he think he is reading it from?

 

For CAM to have a device in his glasses which allowed him to read information, wouldn't that information have to be stored online?

 

Maybe someone with a better grasp of technology can explain.

I thought they wee 'Google Glass' from the moment he originally put them on while talking at his summoning. It's a new technology and I thought it would be an interesting thing for them to play with. They aren't 'magic' glasses, they are a real product.

 

While Sherlock does mention a '4G' connection, which would mean net access, he also mentions a USB device and things like that. Something where the information might be stored directly to the glasses themselves.

I do know they are not magic. Didn't think Sherlock had turned in Harry Potter!

 

My point is, one of the first things Sherlock tells John is that CAM stores nothing on computers. At this point, he thinks all the blackmail material is stored in the vaults under Appledore. So how does he think CAM can access this physical information by his "google glasses"? Wouldn't it have to be held on a computer in some form or other? For instance, if your info was stored in a box file, you couldn't look at it from a distance through an electronic device, could you? Surely it would have to be in digital form.

 

We are obviously meant to think they are special glasses, hence the deliberate polishing, but why would Sherlock think that, if he believes all the info is in physical form? He uses a memory system himself all the time, so it seems logical that he would guess that CAM was doing the same. It would not necessarily mean the material did not physically exist in the vaults, it would just mean CAM could recall it accurately at will. At least it would work, which is more than the glasses would unless CAM had suddenly decided to computerise his information.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Or at least some of it. Like a tiny thumb drive depending on what kind of meeting or questions CAM might be anticipating at the time. And CAM does mislead Sherlock by flashing envelopes at the interview at 221b. And it's clear, especially at the end, that Sherlock doesn't  want CAM to have been depending fully on a "mind vault". He wants there to be a paper trial. He did not want to have to kill the man.

 

  Sherlock has a mind palace and can access it easily but he also has a computer and books. He seemingly was hoping CAM had at least real paper.

[T.o.b.y]

My point is, one of the first things Sherlock tells John is that CAM stores nothing on computers. At this point, he thinks all the blackmail material is stored in the vaults under Appledore. So how does he think CAM can access this physical information by his "google glasses"? Wouldn't it have to be held on a computer in some form or other? For instance, if your info was stored in a box file, you couldn't look at it from a distance through an electronic device, could you? Surely it would have to be in digital form.

 

We are obviously meant to think they are special glasses, hence the deliberate polishing, but why would Sherlock think that, if he believes all the info is in physical form? He uses a memory system himself all the time, so it seems logical that he would guess that CAM was doing the same. It would not necessarily mean the material did not physically exist in the vaults, it would just mean CAM could recall it accurately at will. At least it would work, which is more than the glasses would unless CAM had suddenly decided to computerise his information.

 

You do have a very good point there (how did I not notice this? Exactly how dim are my wits getting these days? And you say you are "old" - that makes me really not want to think about what my brain will be like in years to come )

 

I really don't have a good in-universe explanation; I suspect it's simply a glitch in the episode's logic. There are quite a lot of those on "Sherlock". It doesn't really bother me at all, but I do see why it does other people.

 

(Speaking of realism, I find the scene in the OR kind of ridiculous. They tried CPR for what, 3 seconds? And then when they gave up, they just left the "corpse" there on the table, still hooked up to the monitor and probably the respirator, too - don't they need that space and equipment for other patients soon? I just think it's worth a smile, it doesn't bother me either. This is "Sherlock", not "Dr House" or a medical education video.)

[leanne_maybe]

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Everytime Magnussen did a 'reading', he put on his glasses. Maybe he was lying about his exceptional memory. Why would he tell the truth? Also Moriarty had an unbelievable story about a computercode, remember?

 

I don't understand why Mary had a exceptional memory too. Anyone?

It's interesting,because if there are truly no vaults,he has no evidence,as John points out. He says he doesn't need evidence because he prints it in the papers, and certainly that is enough to destroy someone's reputation whether there is evidence or not. But according to Sherlock at the beginning, Magnusson does do deals with people when he's ready,so what does he give them in the exchange? The promise of his silence wouldn't be particularly reassuring for me....! The thing is he doesn't need to remember that much information, just enough to convince people he has more, surely? - he doesn't seem to be tested on it very often. He said he could call up people who hated Mary, but he doesn't do so because John isn't going to risk it. So how do we know? It is very clever!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

And it's a proven fact that people with an inordinate amount of power tend to lie.....a lot even if it's only omission.

[leanne_maybe]

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What I didn't get about Janine though was that she was being blackmailed by Magnusson, yes? He mentions how she reacts to having her face flicked when he is flicking John's face. But she is able to sell her story to his rivals and leave him 'spitting', and swan off to Sussex. How is it possible ....

Well, all we know for sure is that she was his assistant. Maybe he was just practicing his "flicking" technique on her? Or maybe that's how he keeps his employees in line? Magnussen (unlike the original Milverton) apparently extorts power rather than money, so he doesn't seem to bother blackmailing "unimportant" people like Janine. There would be no power for him to gain.

Hmm, that makes sense - power not money. But I got the impression he had been blackmailing Mary for a while - I wonder what power she had? Of course,she is leverage to Mycroft via John and Sherlock,but before Sherlock returned,she wouldn't have that.

 

Also it has actually just occurred to me that Magnusson's comments about Janine don't actually prove she was having it done to her - she could be making 'the funniest noises' while doing it to someone else! Would fit in if she was 'Janine Moriarty' as a theory has suggested. I don't think so, though, I like her - but then, I liked Mary,so what do I know....!And if everyone John knows is a psychopath,he knows Janine a bit more now,so....

[Slithytove]

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My point is, one of the first things Sherlock tells John is that CAM stores nothing on computers. At this point, he thinks all the blackmail material is stored in the vaults under Appledore. So how does he think CAM can access this physical information by his "google glasses"? Wouldn't it have to be held on a computer in some form or other? For instance, if your info was stored in a box file, you couldn't look at it from a distance through an electronic device, could you? Surely it would have to be in digital form.

 

We are obviously meant to think they are special glasses, hence the deliberate polishing, but why would Sherlock think that, if he believes all the info is in physical form? He uses a memory system himself all the time, so it seems logical that he would guess that CAM was doing the same. It would not necessarily mean the material did not physically exist in the vaults, it would just mean CAM could recall it accurately at will. At least it would work, which is more than the glasses would unless CAM had suddenly decided to computerise his information.

You do have a very good point there (how did I not notice this? Exactly how dim are my wits getting these days? And you say you are "old" - that makes me really not want to think about what my brain will be like in years to come )

 

I really don't have a good in-universe explanation; I suspect it's simply a glitch in the episode's logic. There are quite a lot of those on "Sherlock". It doesn't really bother me at all, but I do see why it does other people.

 

(Speaking of realism, I find the scene in the OR kind of ridiculous. They tried CPR for what, 3 seconds? And then when they gave up, they just left the "corpse" there on the table, still hooked up to the monitor and probably the respirator, too - don't they need that space and equipment for other patients soon? I just think it's worth a smile, it doesn't bother me either. This is "Sherlock", not "Dr House" or a medical education video.)

Thank you!

 

And I agree with you about Sherlock's death. In fact, I don't quite understand, medically, how he comes back to life. I know he fights back when he realises John is in danger, but how does that work in medical terms? His heart starts beating through sheer willpower? I am not saying people don't recover after flat-lining but I would have thought they usually need a bit of help.

 

Actually, I don't mind that Sherlock has plot holes you could drive a bus through. The ACD stories were pretty far-fetched too. ( Cause of death - frightened by large glowing dog.). I just like to ponder these things.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I found this article on cardiac arrest:

 

    

How To Save a Life

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), often misunderstood as a massive heart attack, is a treatable condition that does not have to lead to sudden death. When someone suffers SCA, he or she may be fine one minute and then collapse without warning the next. Without immediate intervention, the victim almost always dies. SCA is the leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, AIDS, traffic accidents, house fires and gunshot wounds combined. Only 11% survive nationally--but 38% or more could survive.

You can make the difference between life and death for someone you care about by knowing what to do and doing it quickly. SCA victims need immediate help--waiting for emergency personnel to arrive at the scene can lead to delays in care and reduce the chances for survival. That is why you must learn how to act quickly and effectively. Here is how you can save a life:

Steps

Learn how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). When someone is in SCA, he or she suddenly loses consciousness, normal breathing stops, and there are no signs of life.

1. Decide to help. Victims of SCA can only be saved if bystanders intervene immediately. There may not be enough time to wait for professional rescuers to arrive at the scene. The chances for survival decrease 10% with each passing minute after collapse. You may be the victim's only hope for survival.
2. Call 9-1-1 or better yet have someone else nearby to call 9-1-1 to get professional help on the way so you can start treatment. Be sure to communicate with a specific person, such as "Bob, call 9-1-1," otherwise bystanders in a crowd may hesitate and wait for someone else to help.
3. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is immediately available, grab it or send someone to retrieve it and bring it to you. Apply the AED electrode pads to the person's chest as shown on diagrams that accompany the AED. Follow the voice and visual prompts. If a person is in a heart rhythm that needs to be shocked, the AED will automatically shock the heart. This electrical therapy can restore a normal heart rhythm if it is used quickly enough. Do not be concerned about harming the victim. AEDs are safe and effective and can only help. AEDs will not shock someone who does not need to be shocked. 9-1-1 medical dispatchers can provide additional guidance.
4. If an AED is not immediately available and you are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), push down hard and fast in center of chest (2” depth, 100 pumps/minute) 30 times. Give two breaths. Repeat.

5. If an AED is not immediately available, and you are not trained in CPR, push down hard and fast in the center of the chest (2” depth, 100 pumps/minute.) Continue. Think “Stayin’ Alive" by the BeeGees

6. Remember saving victims from sudden death due to SCA depends on immediate bystander intervention. 

Tips

It’s important for laypersons to undergo training in CPR and AED use because emergency personnel cannot always get to the victim’s side quickly enough. If you haven't taken a CPR-AED course it's a good idea to spend some time learning these fundamental lifesaving skills.

Warnings

One of the most common reasons SCA victims do not survive is that bystanders hesitate to call 9-1-1, start CPR and use AEDs right away. If you want to save a life, get involved. Your actions can only help. Doing nothing is the worst option.

 

 Don't know if it actually answers the question above, but it can and does happen that person can survive.

[T.o.b.y]

...I don't quite understand, medically, how he comes back to life. I know he fights back when he realises John is in danger, but how does that work in medical terms? His heart starts beating through sheer willpower? I am not saying people don't recover after flat-lining but I would have thought they usually need a bit of help.

Actually, I don't mind that Sherlock has plot holes you could drive a bus through. The ACD stories were pretty far-fetched too. ( Cause of death - frightened by large glowing dog.). I just like to ponder these things.

 

I don't think there is a medical explanation that would work in real life. He's Sherlock Holmes and he's extraordinary and that is it, I guess. I love that part from the shot to him waking up. I just love it. For me, this is the whole point of fiction - if I want the real stuff, I can just go out my front door.

 

Cause of death - frightened by large glowing dog.

 

 

Hey, wait a minute - I just managed to multiquote! Hurray! So there is hope for my brain yet!

[Slithytove]

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Everytime Magnussen did a 'reading', he put on his glasses. Maybe he was lying about his exceptional memory. Why would he tell the truth? Also Moriarty had an unbelievable story about a computercode, remember?

 

I don't understand why Mary had a exceptional memory too. Anyone?

It's interesting,because if there are truly no vaults,he has no evidence,as John points out. He says he doesn't need evidence because he prints it in the papers, and certainly that is enough to destroy someone's reputation whether there is evidence or not. But according to Sherlock at the beginning, Magnusson does do deals with people when he's ready,so what does he give them in the exchange? The promise of his silence wouldn't be particularly reassuring for me....! The thing is he doesn't need to remember that much information, just enough to convince people he has more, surely? - he doesn't seem to be tested on it very often. He said he could call up people who hated Mary, but he doesn't do so because John isn't going to risk it. So how do we know? It is very clever!

I would have thought that knowledge and memory were not the most efficient tools for a blackmailer. People are far more frightened by physical evidence. For instance, Lady Smallwood doesn't want CAM to expunge the knowledge of her husband's behaviour from his memory, she wants the letters back.

 

In the confrontation at Appledore, the writers have three goes at getting round this problem.

 

When John points out that no vaults mean no proof, CAM replies that he doesn't deal in proof, he deals in news. Of course, newspapers can blacken people's reputations up to a point (particularly with kiss and tell stories by "tabloid whores".). However, unsubstantiated allegations of serious crimes - e.g. murder (Mary) or under age sex (Lord Smallwood) - are very risky and would very probably lead to libel actions, as they have done in real life.

 

CAM also says he sometimes sends for things when necessary. So there is, at least, some physical evidence somewhere. A mini-vault at least, but not at his house. As you said, he must give people something when he does deals with them. If he doesn't, then they are idiots to trust him.

 

Finally, he says he knows people who want to kill Mary, thus doing away with the need to prove his allegations.

[Karie]

 

To bring up something I don't think has been discussed yet...

 

Did anyone else notice John channeling Sherlock in that first scene with Isaac's mom? He didn't think to let her in the door until Mary told him, he couldn't be arsed to remember who, exactly, Isaac was (he thought it was her husband), he cut right to the point of "no, WHERE is he, what's the address?" when she was trying to explain the situation. I thought this was very interesting that John, when Sherlock is not around and he's been missing that lifestyle, becomes more like Sherlock himself. 

 

Part of that is probably the doctor thing. When you're a doctor, you only get so long to speak to each patient and you don't have time to let them talk all around the houses when you need to find out what the specific problem is with them so John will be used to having to get to the point of something, cutting a potentially long ramble down to the essential and relevant factors.

 

He's probably more polite about it usually, though.

 

 

That's certainly true. I work with doctors and I see a lot of them behaving that way (and worse) on a daily basis. It's just that John has never come off that way before. He was always the one to give Sherlock the "Are you kidding me??" looks whenever he would be particularly blunt with a client. 

 

I suppose it could just be age and the experience of the last couple of years that have hardened him. Or he could have been channeling Sherlock subconsciously because he missed him. I found it particularly telling when he said,"I haven't seen him in ages!" and Mary pointed out that it had only been a month. Clearly, in John's mind, that's about 25 days too long.  

[aely]

The only thing that would have kept Sherlock going was CPR, until they'd managed to stop the bleeding. He would have gone into cardiac arrest because of haemorrhage/hypovolaemic shock and that does not always produce a shockable cardiac arrest rhythm, which means a defibrillator (manual or AED) could have been next to useless.

 

When someone's heart stops due to a non-shockable rhythm, they are dead and will stay dead unless you can treat the cause. There are generally 8 causes of non-shockable cardiac arrest so you have to maintain CPR to have a chance of resuscitating someone in that situation as you can't treat the cause until you know what it is! Generally the only exception to this is if someone has a cardiac arrest due to having a problem with their heart electrics, usually requiring a pacemaker to keep their heart up to speed. I've had a couple of people coming round under my hands after 1-2 cycles of CPR in this sort of situation - they have then gone on to have emergency temporary pacemakers fitted immediately to keep them going until the proper one can be fitted.

 

The Sherlock thing involved a lot of hand waving for me. They did a good job in showing him having the signs of shock before the paramedics arrived at Baker Street but the hospital scenes were a bit implausible so I basically ignored them from the medical pov.

 

Having said that, I still haven't made up my mind whether the ECG monitor was supposed to show an agonal rhythm (aka dying heart pattern) or an irregular and tachycardic p-wave asystole... it wasn't a 'proper' asystole (flatlining), that's for certain and it sure as hell wasn't a VF or VT (which would have been shockable).

 

Umm. Yeah. I need to pay no attention to these things in drama/fiction, but I don't always manage it well... 

 

As for the whole thing of people bringing themselves back by sheer force of will, that can happen and I have actually seen it happen, though not in the sort of situation that Sherlock was in. It's kind of freaky to say the least.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I work with doctors and I see a lot of them behaving that way (and worse) on a daily basis. It's just that John has never come off that way before. He was always the one to give Sherlock the "Are you kidding me??" looks whenever he would be particularly blunt with a client.

 

Maybe one reason that John doesn't generally behave that way is that Sherlock does it for him -- though to such excess that John has the "Are you kidding me?" reaction.

 

Then too, we don't often see John awakened at the crack of dawn -- and come to think of it, that's a bit odd, because in the original stories, Holmes was forever waking Watson at all hours.

 

[T.o.b.y]

The Sherlock thing involved a lot of hand waving for me. They did a good job in showing him having the signs of shock before the paramedics arrived at Baker Street but the hospital scenes were a bit implausible so I basically ignored them from the medical pov.

 

...

 

Umm. Yeah. I need to pay no attention to these things in drama/fiction, but I don't always manage it well...

 

Well, I guess everybody has their "specialty" in matters like this, be it medical accuracy or military protocol or whatever a viewer's background provides. I fully understand how it might detract from a person's enjoyment of fiction, but for me, strangely enough, it kind of heightens it. I turn to things like "Sherlock" to escape from reality for a few hours or so and I am not only willing but eager to suspend my disbelief, provided it's in the cause of what I consider a really good story and consistent character development. The more fantastic a work of fiction is, of course, and the more the limitations of the real world are ignored, the better writing and acting and so on have to be. I think "Sherlock" is especially good at this. Most of the stuff that happens is so improbable (at times impossible) and most of the characters are not at all life-like, but still, it all feels so incredibly real to me.

 

[aely]

Some thoughts on a couple of things I have seen mentioned around various places (not just here).

 

a.) John should have shown some sign of wanting to protect Sherlock at CAM's house, when Mycroft and the others arrived with their guns and stuff - possibly to the extent of blocking their shots, especially after Sherlock makes his move.

 

Ummm - Sherlock told him to stay back. John is shattered by the turn of events, you only have to look at his face, but he's doing what Sherlock asked him to do (again).

 

 

 

 

 

b.) the handshake at the end was a cold and unemotional goodbye

 

I don't think so. It's subtle, but John has what I would describe as a WTF! reaction to Sherlock's proffered hand, before going with it - possibly because he realises that anything more will probably have them both breaking down which isn't something you want to do when you're sending someone off to war, which in effect is what they're doing with Sherlock.

 

Not sure I'll be able to upload all the visual evidence in one post...

 

Sherlock offers his hand. John's is relaxed and open at his side but he is giving Sherlock a look

 

 

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

And how many times can you lose one person. John has had to go through this man three times. He's probably feeling kind of numb.....I know I would be. And he did give the coming East Wind a name....Sherlock.

[aely]

Not sure I'll be able to upload all the visual evidence in one post... (well, I couldn't, so here's the rest)

 

Then his hand clenches. It doesn't open again until he decides to shake Sherlock's hand

 

 

 

Just before he goes with the handshake he looks up at Sherlock, and then away... as if he can't bear to look at him any more.

 

 

 

Add to this all the throat clearing and stumbling over words and I think it's a very emotional scene and not cold in the slightest.

[Karie]

The only thing that would have kept Sherlock going was CPR, until they'd managed to stop the bleeding. He would have gone into cardiac arrest because of haemorrhage/hypovolaemic shock and that does not always produce a shockable cardiac arrest rhythm, which means a defibrillator (manual or AED) could have been next to useless.

 

When someone's heart stops due to a non-shockable rhythm, they are dead and will stay dead unless you can treat the cause. There are generally 8 causes of non-shockable cardiac arrest so you have to maintain CPR to have a chance of resuscitating someone in that situation as you can't treat the cause until you know what it is! Generally the only exception to this is if someone has a cardiac arrest due to having a problem with their heart electrics, usually requiring a pacemaker to keep their heart up to speed. I've had a couple of people coming round under my hands after 1-2 cycles of CPR in this sort of situation - they have then gone on to have emergency temporary pacemakers fitted immediately to keep them going until the proper one can be fitted.

 

The Sherlock thing involved a lot of hand waving for me. They did a good job in showing him having the signs of shock before the paramedics arrived at Baker Street but the hospital scenes were a bit implausible so I basically ignored them from the medical pov.

 

Having said that, I still haven't made up my mind whether the ECG monitor was supposed to show an agonal rhythm (aka dying heart pattern) or an irregular and tachycardic p-wave asystole... it wasn't a 'proper' asystole (flatlining), that's for certain and it sure as hell wasn't a VF or VT (which would have been shockable).

 

Umm. Yeah. I need to pay no attention to these things in drama/fiction, but I don't always manage it well... 

 

As for the whole thing of people bringing themselves back by sheer force of will, that can happen and I have actually seen it happen, though not in the sort of situation that Sherlock was in. It's kind of freaky to say the least.

 

 

Yeah, I basically have to not pay any attention to the medical failures in television shows. I work in the OR, so it's especially difficult for me to watch OR-themed shows and see how horribly wrong they get it. Grey's Anatomy is the closest I've seen to doing it right, and even they do things that make me want to throw a shoe at the screen. I've learned to just look the other way on that stuff most of the time. Sometimes it's harder than others, though. I recently started re-watching Nip/Tuck on Netflix, which I watched originally as it was airing and before I got into health care. Every single time they scrub and then walk into the OR with their masks down, only to reach up and tie them on after they've been gowned and gloved... let's just say it's an effort not to write a strongly worded letter to someone. 

 

Like you said, it's best to just put all that aside and suspend disbelief.  

 

 

I work with doctors and I see a lot of them behaving that way (and worse) on a daily basis. It's just that John has never come off that way before. He was always the one to give Sherlock the "Are you kidding me??" looks whenever he would be particularly blunt with a client.

 

Maybe one reason that John doesn't generally behave that way is that Sherlock does it for him -- though to such excess that John has the "Are you kidding me?" reaction.

 

Then too, we don't often see John awakened at the crack of dawn -- and come to think of it, that's a bit odd, because in the original stories, Holmes was forever waking Watson at all hours.

 

 

Speaking of which, I always assumed Sherlock slept little and was probably up hours before John, but when Mrs. Hudson brings him his morning tea in TSoT, she mentions that he's usually not up yet whenever she brings it in, indicating that he often sleeps in. Perhaps he's up at all hours when he's working a case, and then in the between-times he crashes and sleeps like a teenager. 

 

And how many times can you lose one person. John has had to go through this man three times. He's probably feeling kind of numb.....I know I would be. And he did give the coming East Wind a name....Sherlock.

 

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head for the reasoning behind John's seeming distance in that scene, and it's pretty much what I was thinking as I was watching it. When it comes to Sherlock Holmes, I think John has probably reached his lifetime limit on heartbreak and has just had to shut a part of himself down in order to say goodbye again. 

 

Speaking of which, what do you guys think will happen in regards to Sherlock's exile in season 4? Do you think he will get an immediate pardon when the plane lands and he agrees to help deal with Moriarty, or do you think they'll keep the threat of exile hanging over his head all season if he doesn't solve the problem (or maybe even the threat of "You still have a plane waiting for you, this is just a stay of execution")? 

 

I think Sherlock needs to have a heart to heart with Mycroft and tell him straight up,"You know what, if you want to keep coming to me to help you stop these super genius villains, you're going to have to accept whatever methods I use to do it. If you are going to hold me to the every-man's set of laws, then don't come to me for help anymore." 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

At the very last of "His Last Vow" you hear Mycroft saying that "England needs Sherlock Holmes", so I could see a full pardon.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Or I'm sure that a genius like Mycroft could come up with such a list of "extenuating circumstances" that Sherlock would never even be charged with a crime in the death of Magnussen.

 

At least, I assume Magnussen is dead.  And planning to stay that way.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Even Mycroft called Sherlock a murderer, so I think Mr. Magnussen is good and gone and unlamented.