Sherlock Episode reaction Spoilers for 1.03

[mrstotten]

Ok so last night was met with mixed reaction, Glee cos it is new Sherlock and total horror because it is the last episode until god only knows when. I was so upset I emailed my friend Lauren who is a Production Accountant with the BBC Scotland to find out if/when, but haven't heard back.

I am not even going to lie this part of the episode reaction has a HEAVY SLASH BIAS!! because although I don't see them getting together any time soon, even the shows producers must realise it is written to show that Watson has a total fangirl crush on Holmes with the whole "You're brilliant" but what is even more obvious is Holmes very swiftly growing crush on Watson and his is much less fangirly. He stood up to watch John leave, and the look on his face was almost heartbreaking. It bothers him when John is disappointed in him. but the main decider for me was through some of the most horrific moments ever when a group of people, including a traumatised woman and man, a frail older woman and a bloody KID were being held hostage strapped to a BOMB!!! he remained detached and as bad as it sounds enjoying it. It was all about beating the nemesis NEVER the victim, until the victim was John, I mean did anyone think Sherlock enjoyed the last part??? Even though he was getting his wish and finally meeting his nemesis face to face??? Also the whole "I'm going to burn the heart right out of you" Seriously does anyone else believe that WASN'T about John??? So my end conclusion was that Sherlock is most definitely falling for John hard, this may be my slash goggles but even my hubby noticed the gigantic one sided crush and he is slash blind. I don't think John is in the same place at ALL at the moment, but as Moriarty stated, he did most certainly show his hand when he first tried to save Sherlock by jumping on the person controlling the bloody bomb strapped to him, but also when he stepped straight back into the bullets line sight when the it was switched to Sherlock. So yes, I think the slash has taken in whole new meanings of sub text in this show, but would love others opinions?

Now onto the actual episode. I enjoyed it in a slightly horrifying way, it wasn't so much a nail biter as it was a "seriously has anyone noticed that Sherlock is a sociopath?" reaction but I love that John kept calling him on it, that he seems to have taken up the role of Sherlock's moral compass because as much as I love the show, Sherlock had me seriously worried in this ep, the line between him and Moriarty was practically non existent. It was good to see Lestrade back, I missed him last week, really didn't like the other guy as much. The story was predictable enough that both me and Robert guessed a lot of the twists and turns before they happened so not great, but the character development did take a big step forward in my opinion. John finally started voicing his concerns, working on his own away from Sherlock, and Sherlock started to actually look like he may one day consider someone elses viewpoints and his icy veneer definitely cracked a little.

Moriarty I'm mixed on, yes I liked him, found his manners and voice and delicious creepiness very entertaining but also found the Jim from IT guy a stretch too far I mean I just kept saying the IT GUY!!! seriously??? the worlds foremost master criminal is the IT GUY!!!! seriously???

However hubby found it both believable and very clever, he thinks that Moriarty has been obsessed with Sherlock since he first started making waves about that murder all those years ago and that it would be very believable for him to take on a position where he could study his prey first hand. Me I just kept saying cmon :P

As to the end????? I just bloody knew it was going to be a cliffhanger, I KNEW it *kicks the BBC* at least they do now seem to be commissioning more episodes but seriously, they were originally just going to leave us hanging like that!!!! Forever!! I think I would have started some sort of protest outside their offices if new episodes hadn't been commissioned.

What I'd like to see next year? Better woman characters, I mean we have four, one is John's semi love interest, one has a massive dorky crush on Sherlock and is usually the butt of his jokes, one works for Mycroft and does nothing but text and look sultry!!!!! and the last is a bitch who hates him, I expect more from the BBC, give us some really good kick ass villains!!!! and bring in Harry Watson!!! I for one would love to see more of her. some slightly tighter plots, the first three were good don;t get me wrong, but could be a lot more intricate and harder to guess at, I want to marvel at Sherlock's genius the same way John does!!

Ok so over to you guys, thoughts? opinions? Did you love it or hate it?

Comments

[violetjimjams.livejournal.com]

I don't think he was really the IT guy. I think he BECAME the IT guy to mess with Sherlock. To get close to him then go "Ha ha, right in front of your nose."

And yes, burning the heart out scene was ALL ABOUT JOHN.

I thought it was fantastic, though I do agree with you on tighter plots and better female characters. And Harry.

BTW, did you notice the Return of the Sweater? That cozy cream one we all went ga-ga over?

Love that thang.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Hubby agrees with your assessment on him becoming the IT guy to get close to Sherlock and I of course totally agree with the All about John scenario :P and yes, the last three eps have been amazing but would love to see Harry next year :)

I thought the last three eps have been amazing, two slightly less so than 1 and 3 but that may have been Lestrade missage :P yes I DID notice the return of the cream sweater :D it made a good episode even better :P

[readingredhead.livejournal.com]

Seconding the female characters thing. (Though you did forget Mrs. Hudson, glorified mother who protests but never too much.) It's actually really weird for me to like a fandom with this few kickass women in it! Personally, I'm waiting to meet Irene Adler. As soon as Sherlock said "Bohemia" (and the fact that the first caller called him "sexy" and made some other comment I can't quite remember right now but that suggested a female voice to me) I thought there was a chance it'd involve her somehow. Especially because of the pink phone, and how they all kept saying that the bomber was a "he" even before they had proof of that. But, alas, it'll have to wait for next series...

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Oh god I did forget Mrs Husdon!!! slaps self and I love Una Stubbs (have ever since Aunt Sally days :D ) and think she makes a perfect Mrs Hudson.

I would love to see Irene on board, and that is an interesting theory about the pink phone, I have to admit I always assumed it would be Moriarty as the crazy BBC had only made three episodes and had to bring him in after that build up, but it would have been very interesting if she had been working for him

[liz-mo.livejournal.com]

Word! Every one of it!

[entropy-maximum.livejournal.com]

Argh, I was betting on Moriarty being Anthea just because that would've been totally unexpected but in a convo over at sherlockbbc a couple people thought Jim might be Moriarty. (If you follow Molly's blog, she wrote about him and he comments on her blog and stuff) I didn't really read Molly's blog so maybe I missed something suspicious.

This ep definitely had a very slashy undertone, like the way John panicked when he saw the first explosion on the news. There he is, pretty girl to have breakfast with, he could have just texted Sherlock but no, he leaves straight away without much of a goodbye and rushes home to see if Sherlock is okay.

John would have stepped in front of a bullet for Sherlock if the situation had been different and Sherlock was obviously not happy at all when John's life was in danger. Grrrrrr I hope the BBC pick this up for a full season, they can't leave it like that. *cuddles her new favourite boys*

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

The slash despite being far more subtle in the last two eps was EPIC!! which pleases me greatly for two reasons, it was less about writing little slashy undertones to say hey look at this, and more an actual demonstration of their feelings. Seriously the "I will burn the heart out of you" had me reeling because Moriarty (in my mind anyway) was literally declaring Sherlock's feelings for him!!! and he knew enough to know the final way to get him was to threaten John. Now for a man as emotionally cold as sherlock that to me says so damn much.

You realise we need an epic rewatch of all three to catch all the slashy undertones etc yes????

[liz-mo.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the slash goggles, so no argument from me there :)
Sherlock can never fool us - or John, into thinking he doesn't care ever again.
I like your thoughts about John being Sherlock's moral compass. Yes, the line between Sherlock and Moriarty is very thin and it's probably only John keeping him on the good side.
Sherlock would do anything to stave of the boredom.
And yes, I liked John in this ep very much, although hehe, Sherlock has learned, how to keep John from nagging him about letting him in. So, if he needs to do things on his own, he just needs to send John on an all-important errand.

For a moment the red-herring with John worked for me and I can't describe my feelings there. Until I saw the wires and despite the gravitiy of the situation I was relived. Though it would have been really, really interesting :)

I did not like Moriarty. That it was the guy he was, had been discussed before ( in the comm) so it wasn't that much of a surprise, but I just didn't like him.
On the one hand, he is so similar to Sherlock, which is only logical in a way, he's just as crazy as Sherlock, so there's this really cool chemistry relationshipwise and I would LOVE to see Enemy!Slash.
On the other hand, I found him too over the top. Of course, he isn't supposed to be a sympathic guy, but he really creeped my out with his craziness. Which lends to good writing and acting, but that way I can't see the Enemy!Slash happening which is a shame :(

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Sherlock can never fool us - or John, into thinking he doesn't care ever again.

NEVER EVER EVER again :P

god do you know I never even saw that Red Herring I just thought John knew him swell enough to second guess him, but yes that would have been very very very interesting and would have made for EPIC enemy slash!!!!

[runawayroadkill.livejournal.com]

*RUNS PAST SCREAMING*
Im so slow I missed the discussion party ;-;

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Jump in here :)

There is SQUEEEEEEEE :)

[goodtoast.livejournal.com]

*comes over from sherlockbbc*

Word on everything you've said. This is definitely the most slashiest version of Sherlock Holmes I've ever seen. I don't quite see it from Watson's side yet, but totally from Sherlock's. His face at the end scene, where for one brief moment he thought John was Moriarty, and then the worry? Ohmygod break my heart, why don't you? He really thought feelings weren't a part of him, but as soon as John became involved, he became a broken puppy. And yeah, Moriarty's line was definitely about John.

What did you make of Moriarty's voice? I couldn't figure out where in the world he was supposed to be from. He started out with the standard London accent, and then it did crazy things. I started wondering if he was American, pretending to be British. Or did Moriarty alter his voice because he's batshitcrazy and wanted to freak out Sherlock?

I want better female characters, but ugh. I don't want Irene to show up. I've never liked her. Not in the book. Not in any television or film version. She's just....obnoxious in my mind (*deep breath* Keep an open mind....) But I would LOVELOVELOVE for Harry to show up. I'm going to really miss the updates on the blogs because the comments everyone left were so good. Harry on the blog is a perfect balance to John's now unstable life.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

His face at the end scene, where for one brief moment he thought John was Moriarty, and then the worry? Ohmygod break my heart

YES!!! and the part where he ripped the bomb off him demanding to know if he was alright!!! Even John was trying to get him calmed down and he was the one who just had a bomb strapped to him!!!

I agree though that Watson isn't there yet though, he does care for Sherlock far more than even he is aware of I think. I mean he stepped back into the line of a bullet for him, this may be down to his military background though, but I think the feelings are just below the surface and he does fangirl him like crazy :)

I think Moriarty's voice was supposed to add to the sense of unease he brings, and of course the crazy, in the beginning it was American, then English, then Irish then a hybrid of them all, perhaps he has multiple personalities, it would make sense, or it might just be part of his ingrained act of blending in whenever and wherever he wants.

Harry would be AWESOME!!! I have to admit I was more partial to Film Irene than book Irene but that might be because I like Rachel McAdams more than anything else

some sort of protest outside their offices if new episodes hadn't been commissioned

[ender24]

jesus hell, I would have fly from Germany to join you in camping in front of their offices XD

//the line between him and Moriarty was practically non existent. //

well for me, the line was, sherlock doesnt strap bombs on people to escape his boredome. He just shots randomly on walls XD
(i mean, really, he just should have lots of sex with john , and the enemysex with moriarty, then they wouldnt all be so bored....)

Re: some sort of protest outside their offices if new episodes hadn't been commissioned

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I agree with that boredom reliever completely!!!!

Up a thread we were discussing just how awesome the enemy sex would be if John HAD turned out to be Moriarty :P

[rattsu.livejournal.com]

You don't need slash goggles for this, seriously, the subtext has left the basement and is flaunting itself in the street by now.

When I was watching I got the same impression about Moriarty being female as you did. Looking back, I suppose it was a clue to point towards Jim the IT guy, and I wonder if the phonenumber that Sherlock got from him will come in later. You never know.

I was actually hoping that they had fused Moriarty and Irene Adler into a single character, because that would be awesome.

Hopefully the next series will have Adler as one of the main protagonists, so we can see her and Sherlock playing off each other, and some more text/subtext with the fact that it's Watson they want.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I'd love some strong females next year, Irene and Harry being at the top of my list.

You don't need slash goggles for this, seriously, the subtext has left the basement and is flaunting itself in the street by now.

So so so yes!!!!!! it is probably the most obvious I have seen EVER, and it is not the hit you over the head slash it is so subtle and actually emotionally driven which makes it that much more richer!!!

and on another subject OMG how close is the LJ Idol final!!!!!

and it is my two partners WooHoo :D:D:D:D

[starflower135.livejournal.com]

Agreed with everything you've said, and the subtext makes me so giddy. Btw, do you know where I could possibly find english subtitles for these three episodes? the characters talk so fast and in such a heavy accent, I sometimes have trouble hearing their snarky conversation.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I don;t but I can find out for you, I am pretty good at sniffing these things out :D

[idyllsoflife.livejournal.com]

Okay, I've started an essay here...

They mentioned that if they did do more eps, the creators wouldn't be as involved....which for me, I'd rather have at least as good as the first and second eps or no episodes at all. I hate it when a series just goes downhill. I much prefer ending strong even if it's not resolved. Because then you can always speculate on the awesomeness.

I strongly agree with the female characters thing (although you forgot Mrs. Hudson). Maybe they could have Donovan do something bamf? Sarah seemed like she was going to be awesome when she took out that Chinese dude they were fighting, but then they had to have the whole crying, helpless woman hostage scene...

I feel like the Harry problem and the good woman characters problem can be solved in one. Make HARRY awesome even though she's an alcoholic. Although that might makes suggestions about the strength of het and/or lesbians if the only good female character is a lesbian. IDK...

Also, I LOVE the slash and it is epic, but can anyone explain how they're able to get away with it? The 2009 movie's sequel was in trouble because the rights' holder for the last book threatened to take away the rights if they kept portraying H&W as gay. And this is much more blatant than the 2009 movie (really, I didn't see any slash in it. Holmes being mean to his fiance just came off as his usual jerkiness).

See this article here: http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2010/01/03/will-gay-subtext-sink-holmes-sequel/

There are those articles about angry fans, but she hasn't threatened to take the rights away again. Are they no longer an issue? I know she only had rights for the last book because the rest have gone under public domain (at least in the US) Can an UKers help me out with how this works?
I hope this doesn't become and issue. The show without the slash would have less heart....also, the UK seems cooler about the gay this anyway. Especially since this is on mainstream TV and everything.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

This is the first I have ever heard of this and it is surprising, like the article writer states this person doesn't seem to be as bothered about Holmes being a bare-knuckle boxer.

Maybe her rights have now run out? but that is an interesting one, as even though there was some slashy undertones in the film, it is much much more blatent in the series, I mean the discussion in the coffee shop in the first episode, to me was Sherlock admitting that he was gay, but that may just be the way I viewed it, funnily enough I have read all the books and I always got the slashy undertone from Watson, but thought that Sherlock was if anything asexual so I really don't get the 'keeping in the spirit of the books' argument she has.

[urchinmoppet.livejournal.com]

(coming in off sherlockbbc, hello!)

Well, I think everyone has said what I was thinking at the end. I really was amazed at the slashy undertones in this episode, but they weren't hit-you-over-the-head kind of undertones, but the kind that you can see between real people, versus the kind that a lot of writers employ to try and get the point out to a dense audience. Which is nice, because if someone chose to ignore it or didn't see it, then they can still appreciate the friendship. Don't get me wrong, I completely ship it, but I have friends who can't get into series that are overly pushy with their shippings, and I think this one can be appreciated by just about anyone.

I was reading all the blogs, including Mollys, but while I felt that Jim would eventually make an appearance (as well as the woman from the telly, she had a blog too), I didn't think he'd be Moriarty. But then, I was REALLY REALLY hoping Moriarty would be a woman. I feel like it would have made a stronger impact storywise. Plus, still have no idea what he was doing with his voice. I hope that's explained....someday.... I will say that he was DEFINITELY CREEPY OMFG. He did that "burn you" line so fucking well, I seriously expected his face to change ala Bilbo-over-the-ring Lord of the Rings style. That actors got Deep-Seated-Hatred-and-Seething-Rage down pat.

Dear BBC: I need more Sherlock. I will pay you, in blood if need be. Might not be my blood, but I'm sure no one will miss a goat here or there. Also, more slash, and Sherlock tearing off Johns clothes. That was good. Keep doing that....

♥

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I really was amazed at the slashy undertones in this episode, but they weren't hit-you-over-the-head kind of undertones, but the kind that you can see between real people, versus the kind that a lot of writers employ to try and get the point out to a dense audience.

this to me is the true beauty of them and why I have fallen so much in love with them!!!

and hello there :) thanks for popping over, and I TOTALLY endorse that letter to the BBC!!!!

[soophelia.livejournal.com]

I love your assessment and I agree.

I LOVED the slashiness of the episode.

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Thank you :P

and ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrs-rochester11.livejournal.com]

I totally agree! No slash goggles required, it was there and it was epic! And I immediatly thought of Watson when moriarty said he would 'burn the heart' out of Sherlock!! Not only the slash but just the genuine chemistry between these two makes me so happy. I have completely fallen in love with them<3 I know someone mentioned about John sort of being Sherlocks moral compass throughout the episode, and i really enjoyed that dynamic. I think it's good that he has somone there to challenge him in that way. I agree that there is a very very thin line between him and Moriarty, but again, as someone else said, Sherlock wasn't blowing people up for the heck of it; and when it was John being threatened you could so tell he cared<3

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

Not only the slash but just the genuine chemistry between these two makes me so happy. I have completely fallen in love with them<3

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!! and yes the difference in Sherlock's reactions once John was the victim was amazing!!! and the "burn the heart out of you" line OWNS me

[jayfray18.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it good? Hubby called it being the 'IT guy' quite early on, but not him being Moriarty. And wasn't he creepy as Moriarty?

I cannot believe that they're making us wait for more episodes *pouts*

My hubby kept commenting on the 'slashy' bits - so it must have been obvious lol!

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

it was soooooooo sooooooo SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO obvious :P

how is the hubbys crutches doing? and did he like the series, Robert did, i'm posting some glencoe pics soon so hopefully your hubby will like :D

[ekbatana.livejournal.com]

The characters of Holmes and Watson are public domain, that woman is talking bollocks.

Moffatt and Gatiss could write Sherlock and John naked in bed, smearing each other with marmalade (I hope they do!) and there's nothing that odious woman could do about it!

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I would so watch the hell out of that :D

and also, very glad woman is crazy!!!!!!

[the-last-shadow.livejournal.com]

Just watched it. I'm like *OMG SLASH* *OMG THEY CAN'T END IT THERE!!* *OMG I WANT MOREEEEE*

Seriously, they can't leave it there can they? We should make a massive petition and spam them with lots of signatures asking for more episodes! Damn!

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

no it would be way too cruel and of course now thanks to you I know they won;t and I can stop my plans for staging a protest outside the BBc :P

[franzinera-68.livejournal.com]

Totally right about the slásh parts. I was thinking in that burn you part in John too.

I don't have much to say, because every sentence I think starts with a squee. It's really sad that we will have to wait for no one knows. If you get any info, please post it! I really think they should hurry the things up.

And I can't see a way of getting out of that damn pool.

About Sherlock, I like the way he's pictured here. The Watson of the books was always saying that he has no feelings, and here I finally see that. Of course, John is his dear exception. And the ripping clothes scene made me think so har in the books!

Anyway. I just wanted to say to the lady of the museum: Where I can find that man? He and me can start a cheating DVDs here in Argentina... xD!

[mrstotten.livejournal.com]

I don't have much to say, because every sentence I think starts with a squee

This show really really brings the squee doesn't it!!!!!

in regards to the pool, hubby thinks maybe he would shoot the bomb as watson head dives them into the pool??

but as to how feasible that may be I don't actually know

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

Second the wanting to see Harry Watson! From the comments on John's blog she seems epicly awesome and funny!