Special episode, plus 3 episode series shooting in 2015!

[Shadow Dweller]

We will see what happen in the future. As far as being a plot device, anything can happen. Whether the producers choose the fairy tale-ish way or not, it remains that Sherlock and John are the main characters.

[sfmpco]

Well, there's nothing to say that the Watsons ever have a child.  She's pregnant, yes, but any number of things could go wrong with the pregnancy/birth, and they could get rid of the baby  story right away with plenty of drama for Mary and John and perhaps even a bit for Sherlock.

[Arcadia]

Having known military, fire department and police personnel (both men and women) who had small children, I don't really think it is that much of an issue if John and Mary have a child. John by himself would be a bigger problem, which is why I don't think they'll go there. Or maybe I just hope not.

[T.o.b.y]

Having known military, fire department and police personnel (both men and women) who had small children, I don't really think it is that much of an issue if John and Mary have a child. John by himself would be a bigger problem, which is why I don't think they'll go there. Or maybe I just hope not.

 

Exactly. Just because you have a dangerous job that does not mean you can't have kids. And John doesn't even go into war zones any more (at least not outside England...). Having a baby won't stop John from running around doing crazy things with Sherlock either, because as series 3 was very eager to let us know, he can't help himself, he'll always seek out dangerous people and situations, even when he thinks he isn't doing so.

 

Mary is another issue. Personally, I think the assassin thing and the fact that there are probably loads of people out there who would be eager to kill her and her family if they knew where she was alive aside, she'd probably be a wonderful mother. She just strikes me as that kind of woman.

 

I still cannot imagine them killing Mary off any time soon. Some day, maybe, when the actress gets tired of the part or needs to free up her schedule, but now? Nope. One of my predictions for series 4 is that Mary survives at least until the last episode.

 

[Arcadia]

Plus killing her off in S4 just seems so ... predictable.

 

It occurs to me that I don't think I've ever seen another version of Sherlock Holmes that explores what it's like to be John Watson, separate from Holmes. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that, I think.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Having a baby won't stop John from running around doing crazy things with Sherlock either, because as series 3 was very eager to let us know, he can't help himself, he'll always seek out dangerous people and situations, even when he thinks he isn't doing so.

I realize that's what Moftiss think, and they have the Holmes brothers and even Martin Freeman saying it as well -- but does S3 actually come even close to proving that John is an adrenaline junky or a danger addict or anything of that sort? While he obviously does not avoid danger, I don't recall any evidence that he seeks it out for its own sake. If he did, we'd see him engaging in meaningless thrill seeking such as bungee jumping, sky diving, and playing poison-chess with deranged cabbies. The dangerous activities that we do see him engaging in are both meaningful and inherently dangerous, such as rescuing Isaac Whitney from the drug den. Even then, John does not seek it out -- Isaac's mother (presumably aware of John's medical and military experience) comes to him in tears and begs him to help.  John is a doctor -- he helps people -- and John is a soldier -- he knows how to deal with danger.  So he steps up and rescues Isaac.

 

While none of what I've said proves that John is not an adrenaline junkie, I do think the willing-to-help interpretation is just as tenable as the Moftiss party line.

 

Plus killing her off in S4 just seems so ... predictable.

 

True.  And they've even hinted that she'll die.  When / if Mary does exit the show, I hope and expect that it'll be totally out of left field.

 

It occurs to me that I don't think I've ever seen another version of Sherlock Holmes that explores what it's like to be John Watson, separate from Holmes. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that, I think.

Me too.  That's not what the show's about, of course, but they've already done a bit in S3, and I would like to keep seeing occasional scenes of what the regulars do when they're not dealing with Sherlock.  Especially John.

 

[Arcadia]

While none of what I've said proves that John is not an adrenaline junkie, I do think the willing-to-help interpretation is just as tenable as the Moftiss party line.

 

I admit I pay almost no attention to the "John is an adrenaline junky" tripe, because no, they haven't provided any believable evidence for it, imo. Heck, my brother would storm into a drug den for a neighbor's kid, and he's not remotely addicted to excitement. He's just a good guy who helps out where he can. I'm not even sure why they're claiming John is that; it's not like it's the only possible reason he could be attracted to Mary, or Sherlock.

[T.o.b.y]

 

While none of what I've said proves that John is not an adrenaline junkie, I do think the willing-to-help interpretation is just as tenable as the Moftiss party line.

 

I admit I pay almost no attention to the "John is an adrenaline junky" tripe, because no, they haven't provided any believable evidence for it, imo. Heck, my brother would storm into a drug den for a neighbor's kid, and he's not remotely addicted to excitement. He's just a good guy who helps out where he can. I'm not even sure why they're claiming John is that; it's not like it's the only possible reason he could be attracted to Mary, or Sherlock.

 

I think it is their main explanation for why he hangs around Sherlock and puts up with all his airs and graces, though. I mean, why did John approach Sherlock again in The Empty Hearse. Not because of any sentimental yearnings for their friendship or anything. He was through with that after two years of mourning. His job was boring him out of his wits and Sherlock provided a way out of that - plus he owed him answers. John never got the answers, but he did get a good "we almost died" bomb thrill. 

 

The problem with this approach is that after His Last Vow, John wouldn't really need Sherlock any more. He's got Mary, hasn't he. "I'll keep him in danger". John's wife, it turns out, should be able to provide all the excitement John could ask for (and if she won't, her enemies will, I warrant), so if being "a junkie in need for a fix" is really John's main motivation in tagging along after Sherlock, then they'll have some explaining to do why in series 4 it's still Sherlock and John solving crimes together. Which it will be, because that's the show.

 

[Arcadia]

 

I admit I pay almost no attention to the "John is an adrenaline junky" tripe, because no, they haven't provided any believable evidence for it, imo....

 

I think it is their main explanation for why he hangs around Sherlock and puts up with all his airs and graces, though. I mean, why did John approach Sherlock again in The Empty Hearse. Not because of any sentimental yearnings for their friendship or anything. He was through with that after two years of mourning. His job was boring him out of his wits and Sherlock provided a way out of that - plus he owed him answers. John never got the answers, but he did get a good "we almost died" bomb thrill.

 

I agree it's their explanation; I just don't find it to be a very convincing one. (Or a necessary one.) I find it more believable that he came back to Sherlock precisely because of sentimental yearning for their friendship. I think if Sherlock gave up detecting tomorrow and went to raise bees, John would still hang out with him; to me, that's what a real friendship is like.

 

There's a quote: I've long since forgotten who wrote it, or exactly how it goes, but it's something like this: "I'd rather spend time doing nothing with you, than doing something with anyone else." To me, that's the kind of friendship John and Sherlock have. It's not because of what they do, it's because of what they are like.

[Carol the Dabbler]

In my opinion, John likes Sherlock because he's interesting.  Unfortunately (if you will), Sherlock actually is an adrenaline junkie, so hanging out with him necessarily entails the occasional danger.  But I don't think that's the attraction -- and here's some evidence that John thinks Sherlock's danger fetish is foolish (from Ariane DeVere's transcript of "Study in Pink"):
 

JOHN: It’s how you get your kicks, isn’t it? You risk your life to prove you’re clever.
SHERLOCK: Why would I do that?
JOHN: Because you’re an idiot.

[Arcadia]

Yup. And he stays interesting, it doesn't wear off with familiarity.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I've just had an idea regarding the Hat Photo:

 

 

Sherlock is solving another Bow Street Runners case, only this time we see what's going on in his Mind Palace!  Or, to be more in keeping with that traditional Holmesian garb, he's solving a Scotland Yard cold case from the late 1800's -- maybe even Jack the Ripper (which would fit well with the recent statement by, I think, Mark Gatiss that the Special would not be based on any of Conan Doyle's stories).

 

[sittything]

I've just had an idea regarding the Hat Photo:

 

 

Sherlock is solving another Bow Street Runners case, only this time we see what's going on in his Mind Palace!  Or, to be more in keeping with that traditional Holmesian garb, he's solving a Scotland Yard cold case from the late 1800's -- maybe even Jack the Ripper (which would fit well with the recent statement by, I think, Mark Gatiss that the Special would not be based on any of Conan Doyle's stories).

 

I really like this idea, but the whole gang in his Mind Palace?

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Aren't they always?

 

[sittything]

Aren't they always?

 

Crowded mind palace.  ;)

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

Aren't they always?

 

Crowded mind palace.  ;)

 

 

Indeed it is

[sfmpco]

I have to delete something!!!

[Carol the Dabbler]

In case anyone's still confused, I should clarify to say that I'm not talking about Sherlock's mental encyclopedia as shown in "Hounds," I'm talking about the far more elaborate mind palace shown in Series 3 -- more like what lesser individuals like you and me might call our imagination.  So far in there, we've seen John, Mycroft, five of Sholto's employees, Mary, Molly, Anderson, Moriarty -- am I omitting anyone?

 

[T.o.b.y]

I've just had an idea regarding the Hat Photo:

Sherlock is solving another Bow Street Runners case, only this time we see what's going on in his Mind Palace!  Or, to be more in keeping with that traditional Holmesian garb, he's solving a Scotland Yard cold case from the late 1800's -- maybe even Jack the Ripper (which would fit well with the recent statement by, I think, Mark Gatiss that the Special would not be based on any of Conan Doyle's stories).

 

Yes, Mind Palace is certainly one of the possible explanations for this getup. If it was to do with a historic case, that case might be linked to a recent one that Sherlock is working on, and he could be trying to solve the old mystery to get a handle on the new. Something like that. I like the idea a lot, I must say.

 

Other possibilities I can think of are some kind of a fancy dress occasion where Sherlock and his "gang" are working (more or less) under cover, and finally time travel. Now, I do sincerely hope with all my heart that it's not time travel or a crossover with some other fictional universe or something outrageous like that. Sherlock Holmes was never really involved with the supernatural. He encountered many supposed ghosts and vampires and things like that, but his mission was always to unmask them for the perfectly natural phenomena they really were, like the shining light of reason he was. Change that and the whole concept goes right out of the window, if you ask me.

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Other possibilities I can think of are some kind of a fancy dress occasion where Sherlock and his "gang" are working (more or less) under cover, and finally time travel. Now, I do sincerely hope with all my heart that it's not time travel or a crossover with some other fictional universe or something outrageous like that....

 

Heaven help us if there are sandworms!  :D

 

[Arcadia]

I have to delete something!!!

Ooops, there goes Anderson!

[sfmpco]

Honestly, if the show ever did some sort of time travel or crossover, it would lose my interest because that's just so far out of the box for them.  I think it has to be some sort of costumed event.  But why SH would ever do an event like that would be the question, because he's really not a person comfortable in a crowd.  However, we do know from setlock that Anderson and Lestrade were there for day 1 of shooting, and supposedly Lestrade had big, bushy sideburns that looked horrendous, so I'm guessing yes, it's a costumed event.  No one has yet seen Mary or Moriarty, but Sophie Hunter came to set.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Honestly, if the show ever did some sort of time travel or crossover, it would lose my interest because that's just so far out of the box for them.

 

I can't say categorically that I'd lose interest -- that would depend on how they went about it.  The original Holmes stories dealt with all sort of fantastical concepts, but they always came down to a logical explanation.

 

But yes, I'd say it's more likely either a costumed event or else is occurring in Sherlock's mind palace.  Either way, it's presumably for a case -- yay!

[sfmpco]

 

Honestly, if the show ever did some sort of time travel or crossover, it would lose my interest because that's just so far out of the box for them.

 

I can't say categorically that I'd lose interest -- that would depend on how they went about it.  The original Holmes stories dealt with all sort of fantastical concepts, but they always came down to a logical explanation.

 

But yes, I'd say it's more likely either a costumed event or else is occurring in Sherlock's mind palace.  Either way, it's presumably for a case -- yay!

 

 

Well, the show is rooted in its own reality, but true time travel would not be reality at all.  My feeling is that a case occurs at the themed event.  Maybe a Christmas caroler was bumped off.  Believe me, I went to a Scottish restaurant/pub for Christmas dinner and there were carolers in Victorian garb going table to table, and I kept thinking, please don't come over here... because one of them was quite off-key.  But they came over.

[T.o.b.y]

I like the Mind Palace idea so much. I doubt it's the right answer, but now I wish someone would write a story where Sherlock solves two cases at once, and spends half of his time in his mind palace, where the goings-on mirror what happens in the outside world, and of course he has to end up solving everything and being as brilliant as he can be. Oooooh, too bad I'm not intelligent enough to write cases myself. It must be really, really hard, creating a character who is a genius and smarter than oneself.