Mycroft Holmes

[Van Buren Supernova]

For those who still think Mikey is heartless.

 

 

He keeps potrait of his parents.

 

 

Cakes really make him happy.

 

 

And he smiled when he saw little Sherlock hugged him.

[Pseudonym]

Aw, I do like that scene of mini Sherlock clambering all over him. :D

[Arcadia]

Aww, there's a man who misses his childhood. That means he had a good one, right? Right? (For some reason it's important to me to think that Mummy & Daddy Holmes were good parents, just bewildered by Eurus.)

[Shadow Dweller]

Misses his childhood or the idea of idyllic period where the world seems much simpler and kinder? Parents not necessarily in the equation.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Aww, there's a man who misses his childhood. That means he had a good one, right? Right? (For some reason it's important to me to think that Mummy & Daddy Holmes were good parents, just bewildered by Eurus.)

Aren't all parents bewildered by their children? Or was it just mine?

 

My father used to explain very patiently to me that the reason we didn't see eye to eye was that I lacked experience, and once I was older, I'd understand his point of view. I suppose I do literally understand his point of view now, but then I think I always did -- I simply didn't agree with it, and I still don't, even though I'm older now than Daddy was then.

 

I think what he failed to take into account was that he and I were two different people. My being his daughter meant that I looked quite a bit like him, but apparently opinions are not genetic.

 

Misses his childhood or the idea of idyllic period where the world seems much simpler and kinder? Parents not necessarily in the equation.

If his childhood world was simpler and kinder, that was largely due to his parents' protection and support -- whether he realized that or not.

[Arcadia]

 

Aww, there's a man who misses his childhood. That means he had a good one, right? Right? (For some reason it's important to me to think that Mummy & Daddy Holmes were good parents, just bewildered by Eurus.)

Aren't all parents bewildered by their children? Or was it just mine?

 

Not mine, that I was ever aware of, but perhaps they just never admitted it to me. I could (and still do) get pretty bewildered by them, though!

[SherlockedCAMPer]

My parents were definitely bewildered by my sister. There are moments that I'm bewildered by my mom, but part of that is trying to understand her Alzheimer's affected thinking.

[Carol the Dabbler]

There are moments that I'm bewildered by my mom, but part of that is trying to understand her Alzheimer's affected thinking.

I know what you're talking about, for sure!

[Van Buren Supernova]

My parents and siblings are bewildered by me, but they are starting to understand now. I think.

 

Alzheimer is very hard for loved ones I suppose? I think it's one of the saddest disease, because after all, memory is what makes a human. I'm sure they had gathered enough to be remembered, but I'm looking at the side of those who are forgotten.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I've been through it once before with my paternal grandfather when I was a kid. A large chunk of my elementary school years was him battling it. Lost him right before my final year of elementary school started.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Then there's Mycroft. He would be puzzled but would barely show it & all but the very keen eye would miss any of his bewilderment depending on when/where the situation happened.

[Shadow Dweller]

Parental support and protection as long as he fulfilled their ideal of how he should behave. As soon as he was not, gone the idyllic period and say hello to the reality that for them he was the blacksheep of the family.

[Pseudonym]

I'm pretty sure my parents and siblings are bewildered by me. 

[Arcadia]

I know I am. (Okay, you just handed me that one! :p)

[Pseudonym]

Hmph.

[J.P.]

I think Mycroft's childhood ended with Victor's death.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Do you think he felt responsible somehow?

 

I know one fellow who still feels responsible for his younger siblings' failings, even though they're all middle-aged by now.  Apparently his parents had told him once too often that as the eldest, he needed to take care of them.

 

Mycroft certainly looks happy and carefree in those old home movies, nothing like the control freak that we all know and love.  So yeah, something happened, and Victor's death was presumably the most significant event of his childhood.  Not saying it therefore has to be the cause -- kids can be traumatized by seemingly insignificant events that happen at just the wrong time -- but that would just about have to be the prime suspect, wouldn't it?

[Pseudonym]

And the fire, if they were all home at the time she essentially tried to kill her whole family.

[J.P.]

And don't forget, that he, being "remarkable", still haven't found Victor either

[Van Buren Supernova]

I think Mycroft's childhood ended with Victor's death.

I think the same can be said for Sherlock's.

When do you guys think is the point after that when mummy started to push them to have other friends?

And why would she? If Sherlock deleted Victor, didn't she worry the memory might come back and break him?

I know, it's probably important for kids to have friends, but I suppose it's wiser if she let it happen naturally, instead of nagging them.

 

 

Do you think he felt responsible somehow?

 

I know one fellow who still feels responsible for his younger siblings' failings, even though they're all middle-aged by now.  Apparently his parents had told him once too often that as the eldest, he needed to take care of them.

Personally, yes, I even believe he feel responsible in quite an extreme way. It changes him completely.

I used to think my big brother as a jerk. He made my life quite miserable, he tried to blackmail me to do chores for him when ONE time he found out I get 4/10 mark in History subject (yah, I remember every detail brother dear!). He used to tease me everyday and since he is bigger and stronger I couldn't fight him, so what I did when I reached my boiling point I would run to his desk and threw his books to the floor. 

Then in third grade, I was hospitalized to get my tonsil removed, after some health problems caused by it. As far as I remember, he was not allowed to visit me, I guess it's because my parents already had difficulty juggling between keeping four kids alive, school schedules, and at the same time hospital was seen as unhealthy environment for kids. After a couple of days, when I finally home, I found my bed neatly arranged with my one and only dolls, his one and only robot, and plethora of handmade toys that he created for me. The one I remember the most was a deck of miniature card that he handmade himself, I love it! (Too bad it was lost when we moved) And he gave me his robot, that I was not allowed to touch at all before that. I remember we were all surprised, then my mom said maybe he thought he made me sick and he missed me. Anyway, we always have problem expressing emotions even when we were kid. He wasn't around at that moment, he hid, I suppose so that he didn't have to face the nice thing he did. (we all do that, when we do something nice, we hide, that's the only way!) I'm sure I didn't give proper normal appreciation either, eventhough it touches me until now. But yah, it's big burden to be big brother. And he continues to try to take care of us in his messy way. I remember him looming at my suitors even when I was in uni. :D

 

Mycroft certainly looks happy and carefree in those old home movies, nothing like the control freak that we all know and love.  So yeah, something happened, and Victor's death was presumably the most significant event of his childhood.  Not saying it therefore has to be the cause -- kids can be traumatized by seemingly insignificant events that happen at just the wrong time -- but that would just about have to be the prime suspect, wouldn't it?

I think that really affected him, and you are right, he wouldn't be like the control freak he is now.

He actually seems very shy and mild mannered. And cute.

In the video I suppose he was almost a teenager, but yet, he hung out with his siblings and parents, hoarding cakes and seems happy.

Poor Mycroft. 

 

One thing I wonder, why Mycroft always emphasizes that he is the smart one? We know he is not, and by keep saying so, he took the risk of exposing the memory of Eurus back then.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Maybe he means the smart one compared to Sherlock.

[Arcadia]

 

I think Mycroft's childhood ended with Victor's death.

I think the same can be said for Sherlock's.

When do you guys think is the point after that when mummy started to push them to have other friends?

And why would she? If Sherlock deleted Victor, didn't she worry the memory might come back and break him?

I know, it's probably important for kids to have friends, but I suppose it's wiser if she let it happen naturally, instead of nagging them.

 

Did she nag them? Mycroft just says they met other children, it sounds pretty casual.

 

Anyway, maybe they were hoping a new friend would restore Sherlock to the way he was before Victor died? Or maybe Victor is the result of being introduced to other children?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Maybe he means the smart one compared to Sherlock.

I guess so. But I think he is pushing it, who knows that could trigger Sherlock's memory to remember there is someone else smarter.

Mycroft did say he constantly tests Sherlock's memory by saying trigger words, maybe he actually wanted Sherlock to remember, one day? Nah.. he would keep the secret to his grave.

 

Did she nag them? Mycroft just says they met other children, it sounds pretty casual.

 

Anyway, maybe they were hoping a new friend would restore Sherlock to the way he was before Victor died? Or maybe Victor is the result of being introduced to other children?

Maybe. I imagine how hard it is to see an emotional child turns stone cold.

And... how meaningless they are to Sherlock because they failed to turn him back.

[Janyss]

Hello, first post here (after my présentation, but I don't know if it's been approved yet), dedicated to my favorite <3! What a good idea to have developed this character, with the dynamic of the rivalry between the two brothers! And what a paradoxical character! Sometimes frightening (in spite of Watson's reaction in the pilot), sometimes childish, sometimes protective...and what an actor for him! I haven't seen all the épisodes yet, and I think there is much to discover about him (I'd like to see him attracted in someone -man or woman, writers' choice, I don't mind).

[Carol the Dabbler]

Which episodes have you seen so far, Janyss?  Sounds like you haven't seen all of Series 4, in which case there's one little scene that I think you'll find encouraging (and/or puzzling).