Mycroft Holmes

[Shadow Dweller]

Not so much on the choice of words and phrases but the whole way of voicing displeasure and to translate what he intend to do to verbal.

 

I also see tendency of fanfic writers to use overly complicated style of talking with Mycroft. They employed that style for 99% situation where he talk. In the series most of his dialogues are straightforward and rarely use 'complicated' words and phrases. Were they got caught in the portrayal of sophisticated man according to period dramas or did they read way too many classic novels with Victorian-Edwardian gentleman in it and it formed their preconceptions of how sophisticated men should sound?

[Shadow Dweller]

He says a few things that could be taken either way, like when he asks John what it's like living with Sherlock and he says he's never bored, Mycroft's response is 'good, that's good, isn't it?' Which I've always wondered if it was meant to be sarcastic or not. I imagine he gets a bit sarky/bitchy if his staff don't do what he wants.

That's straightforward in my eyes, meaning he thought that it is good the two boys (yes boys) were entertaining each other, it would lessen the chance of two separate source of troubles instead of one.

[gerry]

That's how I took it as well.

[Arcadia]

Huh. And I took it as sarcasm ... not the words, but the way he said it. Like he thought they were being cute goldfishies.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Yeah, or something.  Not sure what exactly, but I definitely detected something a bit off-center there.  Ariane Devere describes his tone as "condescending," so she apparently agrees with you on the goldfish angle.

[Arcadia]

I've always detected a bit of a sneer there, much the same way he says "and you go in for friends now" in TEH, when they're playing Operation.

[Shadow Dweller]

Try saying the same line repeatedly but each time with different intention in mind, then give the recording to other people to interpret. We are not even talking about how each interpreter's mindset would perceive the same line with same tone yet, lol.

[Boton]

Yeah, or something.  Not sure what exactly, but I definitely detected something a bit off-center there.  Ariane Devere describes his tone as "condescending," so she apparently agrees with you on the goldfish angle.

 

"Condescending" may be the word.  I don't know if it is so much that Mycroft thinks Sherlock (at least) is a goldfish, but more that he knows he's already figured John's adrenaline addiction out, and he's trying to get John to agree that "never boring" is actually high praise in John-speak.

[Arcadia]

Mmm, I don't think he thought about it that much, tbh. I got the impression it was more of a knee-jerk response to dealing with Sherlock's intransigence; similar to the way Sherlock deals with Mycroft's interference. I.e., my feeling was that they were so used to sniping at each other that they barely realized they're doing it ... to them, it's a normal way of talking. Rather like some married couples. :P

[Van Buren Supernova]

Actually the clear cut sarcasms that I can think of right now, beside Sherlock's, are coming from John and Lestrade :D.

I remember John commenting "And you are above all that" to Sherlock when he complains about Mycroft's tendency to be dramatic or something. Something like that. I am rusty.

[Arcadia]

It's the other way around, I'm afraid ... it's Mycroft to whom John says that. But I get your point.

 

So of course that means I have to go and check the transcript .... Let's see, when John and Mycroft first meet, Mycroft is snarky no less than 4 times in the first half of the scene alone ....

 

MYCROFT: Ah, yes. The bravery of the soldier. Bravery is by far the kindest word for stupidity, don’t you think?

MYCROFT: Mmm, and since yesterday you’ve moved in with him and now you’re solving crimes together. Might we expect a happy announcement by the end of the week?
 

MYCROFT: You’ve met him. How many ‘friends’ do you imagine he has?

 

MYCROFT: He does love to be dramatic.
JOHN: Well, thank God you’re above all that.

 

 

Shall I go on? :d

 

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

To my defense, I almost want to say it was Mycroft :p, but again, I am rusty.

While you are on that, can you check also :p similar thing with John and Sherlock? I remember there is one more similar scenario with the other brother, but John was just speechless instead of making sarcastic comment.

[Arcadia]

Do you mean the scene in HLV when Mary finds Sherlock in the fake house, and he projects her picture on the wall? And he says "I never could resist a touch of drama."

 

That's the only one I can think of at the moment.

[Van Buren Supernova]

No I think there is one time Sherlock commented about Mycroft being dramatic, weird or something like that, and John was speechless because he thinks Sherlock doesn't realize that he describes himself.

 

But for the life of me, I don't remember which scene it is.

[Arcadia]

Maybe the scene (same episode) where Sherlock spots the door knocker being straight, and says Mycroft is OCD? Then he makes it crooked again without thinking?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Why do people say things like "He's OCD," in other words (presumably) "He is OCD," when OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- and therefore what they should have meant was "He has OCD."  Or possibly "He is OC" (though I can't think that I've ever heard anyone say that).

 

Note:  I am not OCD.  Merely observant (and just a bit picky).

[Arcadia]

Dunno, I was just quoting Sherlock. :p

[Carol the Dabbler]

Yes, I know. Amazing how picky he can be when it suits him, and how sloppy he can be at other times. Guess it just depends on which particular items he's chosen to delete from his hard drive. :P

[Pseudonym]

Probably not right, but if someone says 'he has OCD' I'd take it as meaning the person has an official diagnosis, where as 'he is OCD' I take as just a throwaway remark. I get your point about it not making sense though. 

[Arcadia]

Huh. Now that you point that out, I realize I make the same distinction.

 

Funny old thing, language.....

[Van Buren Supernova]

Maybe the OCD scene, yes.

Although I absentmindedly remember the scene involves Sherlock and John walking. Maybe I am mistaken. Gah!

:(

 

 

Anyway, Mycroft.

say something about Mycroft, say something!

 

He seemed very fixated with the old movie he was watching, about two people flirting (in quite horrible and cheesy way imho!)

Is he... a romantic?

I don't see it! And I'd imagine that he would criticize the dialogues. And do you guys think Sherlock and John would pass any opportunity to mention it everytime he acts all elegant and superior? :p

[J.P.]

We all do silly things. And have our guilty plesures. Even the icebergs melt sometimes. :D

[Arcadia]

What I thought he was enjoying was the hero's ability to resist the "charms" of the femme fatale. Or, at least, that's what I thought until Lady Smallwood gave him her card. Now I'm not sure what to think.....

[Pseudonym]

I don't know, I think he likes the old-style romanticism of it but he's not a romantic in real life.

[bedelia1984]

I think of Mycroft as a bit of a voyeur. Probably all those cameras he's controlling.