John Watson

[T.o.b.y]

They always say this was a story they were telling from the beginning, do they mean the arc of John and Sherlock's friendship? Or do they mean Eurus?

 

I think they mean Sherlock's "origin story", so to speak. How he became the Great Sherlock Holmes people usually associate with the character. Euros is a part of that. Like all secondary characters, her main function is to give us more information on Sherlock and reveal another aspect of his personality and, in this case, his history.

 

Lots of critics have been complaining about this use of the minor characters but hey, the series is called "Sherlock" not "Sherlock and all his friends, relations and enemies". In the end, it's his story and I had rather they told his story properly than scraped the surface of a lot of other people's stories and left it there.

 

Sorry, this wasn't really about John. How to get back on topic. Um... Of course John and Sherlock's friendship is a most important element in Sherlock's story. John is basically the second main character, and should be. But I still think they meant the "Sherlock begins" arc, so to speak. (The Batman references are completely intentional. Batman is the Sherlock Holmes of the superhero world. I think they even honored that by giving Sherlock his very own Arkham Asylum in the form of Sherrinford. Of course Moriarty is the Joker, not Euros, though. She's decidedly un-fun).

[Carol the Dabbler]

And Mrs. Hudson is Alfred?

 

Of course we saw the in-universe newspaper headlines about "Hatman and Robin," but I'd never noticed there were more parallels.

[T.o.b.y]

And Mrs. Hudson is Alfred?

 

Of course we saw the in-universe newspaper headlines about "Hatman and Robin," but I'd never noticed there were more parallels.

 

:lol: Tons! Remember that scene on the roof in the pilot? There's even a silly gif of that floating around the internet saying "Sherlock, you are not Batman".

 

Irene Adler is Catwoman, btw. I am pretty sure.

 

Of course it's all the other way around, Sherlock Holmes existed way before Batman did. I read somewhere (could it have been the Wikipedia article on DC heroes?) that the guys who invented Batman even explicitly said he was based on Sherlock Holmes.

 

Gaaah, now we've drifted even further away from discussing John in series 4!

 

 

Okay. Focus.

 

I liked what they did with him (except his new hairstyle, that's just blech). I liked that they explicitly acknowledged he isn't the "good guy" he's often made out to be, that he cheated on Mary (if only via text messages), that his violent side was addressed in a way that made it look not cool any more (Sherlock's extreme actions aren't the only ones we "thought were funny" in His Last Vow - remember John storming into the drug den with a tire leaver and Mary indulgently telling him how "sexy" he was? Well, I am pretty sure she would have found less sex appeal in what he did to Sherlock in The Lying Detective).

 

They took his character seriously, is what I'm trying to say, I guess. But they didn't destroy it. After years of ineffective therapy, he finally got the chance to bring some of his issues out into the open and by the time The Final Problem rolls around, I get the feeling that John has really made some progress for the first time in, like, years. For the first time since he forgot his cane at Angelo's.

[Pseudonym]

Um... not John but... I think the 'you're not batman' gif is when pilot Sherlock is on the roof in front of the moon. 

[Surelock]

I hate John's new hairstyle. 

 

It makes him look all formal and professional and these aren't traits I associated with John. 

 

If there is another season, I want John to go back to his old hairstyle. 

[Pseudonym]

I don't mind the hairstyle, though I would say it's more a Martin hairstyle than a John one. I would imagine John always being fairly military with his hair style and grooming. 

 

I like the idea that John isn't a good guy - I know he says something similar when he has his breakdown in the living room but I always took that as him not being a good guy in regards to Mary, but I like the idea that maybe he just isn't a good guy full stop - he certainly hasn't been in regards to Sherlock. I like that Sherlock isn't the only one who has to work towards being good, and that being a doctor and soldier doesn't automatically mean he's a healer and protector, the darker parts of his personality don't just vanish. 

[Arcadia]

Yup, except for the hair I'm pretty content with their portrayal of John this time around. I thought he was rather neglected in S3. I do remember, though, hoping there would be a scene where he does something marvelous for Sherlock, to sort of balance out all that Sherlock has done for him. Didn't quite get it ... but I do like the place their friendship was left in at the end.
 
And @ Toby ....

[T.o.b.y]

Yup, except for the hair I'm pretty content with their portrayal of John this time around. I thought he was rather neglected in S3. I do remember, though, hoping there would be a scene where he does something marvelous for Sherlock, to sort of balance out all that Sherlock has done for him. Didn't quite get it ...

 

Well, he did this:

 

 

It might only be a small gesture, but it's one I have been waiting for like other people have been waiting for a kiss. I am not kidding. I wrote a bit of fan fic that included a scene like this (under much, much less dramatic circumstances; I am incapable of the epic scope of the Moftiss').

 

John did a lot for Sherlock in the beginning, series 1 and 2. Sherlock was a barely socialized pain in the you know what back then, yet John recognized his greatness and became his friend, at a time when Sherlock himself thought he didn't have friends.

 

But aside from that: John doesn't have to do anything. He just has to be John and survive. I don't think Sherlock wants or needs anything else or anything more.

[Pseudonym]

Never kicking the shit out of him again would be a nice gesture too.

 

Not that he'll do it again, but I'm bitter. 

[Arcadia]

I think we can safely assume that's in the past. If it does happen again, though, I will join you in your bitterness.

 

The other thing I was hoping to see was the two of them giggling with each other again. We got a little bit of it in the jellyfish dialog, except John was the only one giggling. But I'd love to see them have a proper guffaw together.

[Pseudonym]

Including the part where Sherlock looks surprised at making John laugh before joining in. :D

[Carol the Dabbler]

I hate John's new hairstyle. 

 

It makes him look all formal and professional and these aren't traits I associated with John. 

 

If there is another season, I want John to go back to his old hairstyle.

 

I don't mind the hairstyle, though I would say it's more a Martin hairstyle than a John one. I would imagine John always being fairly military with his hair style and grooming. 

 

Yup, except for the hair I'm pretty content with their portrayal of John this time around. I thought he was rather neglected in S3.

 

Maybe if they do a fancy edition of the S4 DVDs (like I believe they did for S3), they could CGI John's hair.

[Pseudonym]

Maybe a 'pick your hairstyle' like you can for some games ;) Maybe another character's? John with Irene's hair?  :lol:

[Pseudonym]

Army John anyone?

 

[Arcadia]

I'm not sure why, but I've never found combat uniforms sexy. Too much padding, perhaps? And the color scheme ... drains you.

[Pseudonym]

I don't think I find it sexy, I just like how capable he looks. 

[Arcadia]

True, true. And I find capable quite sexy. :D

[Pseudonym]

So, uh, full circle then?

[Arcadia]

Apparently. Normal state for me; running in circles.

[Amber§]

Ahaha neither I like uniforms very much. Actually it depends on uniforms, but the one John is wearing....not my tipe. But I agree with you: capability is so attractive!

 

Aaand running in circles is not so bad, Arcadia ;) :P

[bedelia1984]

Noticed on one of the fanfic sites that 'Johnros' is now a thing.

[Arcadia]

[Carol the Dabbler]

Noticed on one of the fanfic sites that 'Johnros' is now a thing.

Not even gonna ask whether the "ros" is for Rosamund or (more likely, I hope!) Euros (even though the DVD credits list her as Eurus-with-a-U).

[bedelia1984]

Yep- Euros.

 

Actually I'd rather if it was Eurus, just because every time I see Euros it feels like some obscure Brexit reference.

[Pseudonym]

Oh thank God it's Euros/us. I thought it was Rosie and felt quite sick.