Baby Watson

[Arcadia]

That's the thing ... I don't feel like I do know Mary's past. There's a lot of suggestive but very evasive language about her past, but nothing really concrete. I can think of a number of interpretations of almost everything that's said about her ... each one more improbable than the last. (The most improbable thing she could be, imo, is the one she came closest to admitting to: "People like Magnussen is why there's people like me." Oh, really? There's people out there whose job it is to take down scuzzballs like CAM? Ha ha, but I don't think so. If there are, they're sure doing a helluva poor job!)

 

I don't feel like I know much about her at all. There's Sherlock's description of her in TAB: "impish sense of humor", which I will take to be true ... but everything else we know about her could be completely faked. I don't think it is ... I think we're meant to believe she really is warm and friendly ... but I can't reconcile that personality with someone who would shoot an unarmed man. I sure hope there's something more to be learned about her; otherwise her personality makes no sense. Unless she's got multiple personality disorder. :p

[Pseudonym]

Whatever she is, I don't think she's the happy 'stay-at-home-mummy' type...

[Arcadia]

No, that's not very believable either, is it?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Well, if they want to keep her alive and 'normal' she would have time to take care of the baby by herself for 270 minutes, 3 episodes. :p

 

My mind is scattered everywhere, but I'm guessing two main ideas for season 4, out of nowhere, without clues or actual series 4 knowledge:

 

- Sherlock will experience emotional turmoil, someone important will sacrifice him/herself for him and he will face tragic lost. Eventhough John and Mary try to be there for him, it's not the same now they have a family.

 

Sherlock will distance himself, trapped in his personal prison, building more walls and get back to his cold heartless self even more than SIP, at least for a while. He will still be there, and looks fine, working day and night to surpress his emotional needs, trying to catch the enemy and ventures really close to very dangerous situation.

 

John and Mary could play important role trying to break his exoskeleton, and maybe, maybe Mary knows something everyone else doesn't know to help cracking the enemy but John would be the one beside Sherlock, regardless his rejection or trying to push John away. I can see this works with Mary in the background but still have believable role.

 

- John will experience emotional turmoil, and this time Sherlock would be the one who steps up and stands by John. Big reveal and confrontation with Mary's past that includes both Mary and baby gone. It doesn't always mean Mary would be baddies, it could be because something has caught up with her from the past.

 

However, I can see Sherlock fighting tooth and nail trying to protect people he cares about and would be devastated if he failed, so it shouldn't be easy, unless the 'enemy' is someone close, used to be close, very powerful or in control of his every pressure points.

 

I thought I consolidate them but my mind is still running wild and I am not sure if what I typed makes any sense.

 

 

 

 

It's Shadow..!

It takes two to tango, VBS. (wo)Man up, would you. :p

Okay, it's both of us.

But Shadow started it and it's all her fault. :p

[Arcadia]

I'm still keeping an eye on both of you. :p

 

I'm afraid I think you might be right ... I'm prepared for Sherlock to turn colder, harder and more remote. Killing someone can do that to people. I don't want it to happen, which is probably why I think it will..... :(

[Van Buren Supernova]

Are you also one of those reverse-wisher or reverse-fans?

Means things you don't want normally will happen. Stores you like close, products you like discontinue?

 

Then I can blame you starting now, if series 4 is crappy, it IS your fault. Obviously. You had agreed to it.:p

[Arcadia]

Yes I am. I am precisely one of those people. If I like a business, it is guaranteed to close in three years. Guar-an-teed.
 
I also kill TV shows. If I really like a show, it's usually gone before the season's out. Sherlock seems immune to me so far, though, so don't give up all hope yet.

[Van Buren Supernova]

:blanket:

To your defense, it also happens to me. I hope Sherlock is indeed extraordinary.

 

Still your fault.

[Shadow Dweller]

Now... now... Don't make Arcadia become upset, VBS.

[Arcadia]

Yes, it is my fault. I know. I'm a horrible person.

[Shadow Dweller]

[Arcadia]

 

Strange ... somehow I am not comforted by this..... :p

 

[Pseudonym]

I'd actually like him to become a bit colder and harder again. I'm also surprised he's never shown any repercussions from what happened to him in Serbia, you think he'd have some ongoing issues from being chained up and tortured. 

[Arcadia]

But I want to cuddle him!!! :cry:

 

I don't know -- for some reason I've never taken the torture scene very seriously. Perhaps because I grew up in a time when men weren't supposed to admit to "weaknesses" such as psychological trauma? I mean, it's the kind of thing my childhood TV heroes would have shrugged off. I seem to remember various torture scenes in Star Trek, for example, but I don't recall any of the characters being affected by them.

 

I know in real life it would be different, of course, but I've always had the feeling that "indestructible" Sherlock simply shrugs off some things as being all part of the game. Steven Moffat's close to my age ... maybe it's a generational thing?

[J.P.]

I think he had a "13 possible outcomes" plan already. Probably the torture was a part of it. Then - he most probably recognized Mycroft as soon as he appeared. So the torture scene was showing off - to show Mycroft how much he can take. :P

[Pseudonym]

If that was the case I would have thought he'd have pointedly stayed silent rather than screaming

[Boton]

But I want to cuddle him!!! :cry:

 

I don't know -- for some reason I've never taken the torture scene very seriously. Perhaps because I grew up in a time when men weren't supposed to admit to "weaknesses" such as psychological trauma? I mean, it's the kind of thing my childhood TV heroes would have shrugged off. I seem to remember various torture scenes in Star Trek, for example, but I don't recall any of the characters being affected by them.

 

I know in real life it would be different, of course, but I've always had the feeling that "indestructible" Sherlock simply shrugs off some things as being all part of the game. Steven Moffat's close to my age ... maybe it's a generational thing?

 

Same.

 

I don't know what generation you are (although, I guess you just said around Moffat's age....), but that's what I expect from the "hero" of a show too.  It literally never occurred to me that Sherlock would have any psychological repercussions until I started reading fan commentary and fan fiction.

 

Part of it, though, is that I think the torture scene that we saw on screen is it.  That intro bumper where we see the infrared cameras tracking Sherlock as he gets taken down and captured by the Serbians tells me that Mycroft was keeping a pretty close eye on things while Sherlock was acting as an "agent," and he did, indeed, swoop in when Sherlock was in trouble.  So I personally think there were two years where Sherlock might have been in danger and sleeping rough and not necessarily enjoying himself, but he was safe.  And then there were a couple of days where he was captured and tortured until Mycroft showed up.  

 

So, I think there's a lot less there that would actually be traumatic for him.  As Arcadia pointed out elsewhere, he's Sherlock F'n Holmes. He's tough.  He can take it.

[Pseudonym]

They gave John PTSD and it hasn't made him any weaker as a character, though yea, he's not the 'star of the show' and it not as, uh, Sherlocky as Sherlock

[Arcadia]

I think he had a "13 possible outcomes" plan already. Probably the torture was a part of it. Then - he most probably recognized Mycroft as soon as he appeared. So the torture scene was showing off - to show Mycroft how much he can take. :P

I thought of that as well. Of course, then he later accuses Mycroft of "enjoying it", so maybe not. Those two; their mother really should knock their heads together. :D

 

If that was the case I would have thought he'd have pointedly stayed silent rather than screaming

Wait ... screaming? The only thing I remember is a grunt when the guy struck him?

 

 

Part of it, though, is that I think the torture scene that we saw on screen is it.  That intro bumper where we see the infrared cameras tracking Sherlock as he gets taken down and captured by the Serbians tells me that Mycroft was keeping a pretty close eye on things while Sherlock was acting as an "agent," and he did, indeed, swoop in when Sherlock was in trouble.  So I personally think there were two years where Sherlock might have been in danger and sleeping rough and not necessarily enjoying himself, but he was safe.  And then there were a couple of days where he was captured and tortured until Mycroft showed up.  

 

So, I think there's a lot less there that would actually be traumatic for him.  As Arcadia pointed out elsewhere, he's Sherlock F'n Holmes. He's tough.  He can take it.

 

I have always thought the same thing ... he's captured, and Mycroft rides to the rescue a day or two later. I mean, he still looked pretty dang healthy, just a bit battered. But not like he'd been suffering for weeks or something.

 

It hadn't occurred to me before that Mycroft must have been surveilling Sherlock all along, but that does make sense, doesn't it? In this case I'm glad, but I have to admit ... I still think it diminishes Sherlock to have Big Brother always on the lookout for him. I guess it says something about their relationship, but it also robs Sherlock of a certain amount of ... maturity, I guess. Maybe that's the point? But it still bugs me.

 

They gave John PTSD and it hasn't made him any weaker as a character, though yea, he's not the 'star of the show' and it not as, uh, Sherlocky as Sherlock

But I think that's meant to illustrate how different Sherlock is. An "ordinary" guy, like John, openly suffers from betrayal and abuse and trauma; the otherworldly Sherlock, not so much. Or so he wants us to believe.

 

It occurs to me (again) what a gift Mr. Cumberbatch is to this show. The way Sherlock is written, he's cold, ruthless, hard, even a bit cruel. The way we see him -- vulnerable, conflicted, sometimes tender -- I suppose there could be directions in the script, but in lesser hands I think those nuances could be easily lost. I doubt if I would even like Sherlock without those softer edges he sometimes reveals.

[Pseudonym]

Isn't he screaming in the beginning before we see him, when the guard puts his earbuds in? Or am I remembering wrong? (Entirely possible!)

 

 

[Arcadia]

All I remember hearing is thuds and grunts. Anyone else?

[Pseudonym]

Just checked it, yea, you're right it is thuds and grunts

[Arcadia]

Whew. If he'd been screaming, I'd be feeling pretty guilty right now!  Not that, y'know, being hit by a pipe is a walk in the park....

[Pseudonym]

The perils of too much fic, all starts to merge together in my head  :blush2:

As for Mycroft keeping an eye on him, I'm hoping he only kept a close eye when Sherlock missed a check in or something, because otherwise you're right it does diminish Sherlock 

[Van Buren Supernova]

I also take the torture scene just what it is, without any serious impact for Sherlock, based on multiple reasons:

 

1. I would put John's army experience as different category with Sherlock's. It is true, somewhat, that you feel more psychological pain and trauma when you see people you care about being hurt than being hurt yourself. John must have seen a lot of that in the battlefield, with his fellow soldiers who could be his friends or at least people he wants to protect. I would say it is less scary to face danger alone than having people you care about on your side facing the same danger. A lousy example is, when I am flying alone, I don't really care about any whatever bloody turbulence and stay relax. But if I am flying with loved ones, I hardly able to sleep properly when the journey is not smooth and worried constantly about the well being of them. It also applies when facing other dangerous situation like going to unsafe places or getting your way out of undesirable situations.

 

So Sherlock's experience is less traumatic imho. He is by himself, he knows what he is capable of and doesn't need to worry or pressured by other's safety.

 

 

2. Sherlock treats everything else as 'transport'. He can handle physical pains and punches. He probably doesn't care at all. All the while his mind is running, deducing the torturer accurately and of course, the guy in the corner.

 

Sherlock also spends time studying human body. He knows exactly what he was facing. Alright, a couple of skin breakage probably up to dermis layer, type of bruises that would form and how long it would heal, how his brain and body would react by sending pain signal or releasing certain hormone, or maybe, grunting helps with pain management and also position and angle that minimize the blow and pressure. It's the calculated risk he takes.

*And I believe he prevents himself from being hit with the metal pipe, at that moment he starts deducing the torturer stops, and he had just picked up that pipe.

 

 

3. This could be part of his plan. He says this is the last of Moriarty's network, probably a layer that is very difficult to get in, unless it's a decoy, allowing capture to really get into the real center faster. Pretend to be deceived to deceive.

 

He doesn't really run like Sherlock, and he runs in what appears to be straight line that is not very good for avoiding trailing and Sherlock would find a way to resist capture or at least a fight even at gunpoint instead of just giving up. I like to think that he could also have couple of tricks to get him out of that situation later; something hidden in his hair, cargo pants or hidden in his weird standing position. Maybe he gets more credit from me, well, he is my hero too.

 

 

As for Mycroft, I think Mycroft has set up a couple of safe houses and check points for Sherlock to replenish resources or as aid points during his 'death', but I can see Sherlock doesn't give a rat a** and ignores it, well, because, it's Sherlock and Mycroft.

 

Mycroft also has to meddle in at the last point because, yes, I believe he wants to make sure his brother is okay, this could be the most dangerous point, but also, he has to get Sherlock back to London. Sending someone else to persuade Sherlock will ensure it doesn't happen. Because, they are Sherlock and Mycroft.

 

So yah, to me, the scene goes as far as that. Of course I don't want to see Sherlock being hurt, but from reasons above, I think it's just some moments of inconvenience for him.

 

Yes, it is my fault. I know. I'm a horrible person.

Gosh.. she is shedding wings. Are you going to the other side? You sure? Okay then.. I just hope you are sure because take a look again,

 

this is your new side:

 

This is the side you want to leave behind: