ACD thought gay people were sick.

Which was a big progress compared to people thinking they were criminals. 

I don't know if you guys have wathed Twin Peaks. (One of the best TV shows ever aired, in my opinion). It's in the wind again due to season 3 being out now, 25 years after season 2 ended (beat that, Moftiss!)

In that regards, I'm watching a fan channel on YouTube, who is doing character analysis of a lot of the major characters in the show. For those not familiar, the show is - to simplify it enormously - about the investigation of the murder of high-school prom queen Laura Palmer. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives in Twin Peaks and works together with Sheriff Truman to solve the mystery - amongst other things.

The relationship between Cooper and Truman is quite similar to the traditional Holmes and Watson relationship in many ways. Cooper is the more experienced and intelligent of the two, being somewhat eccentric with original ideas on how to solve crimes. (One of the writers have said that Sherlock Holmes was one of the inspirations for the character). However, in contrast to Sherlock, Cooper is kind, friendly, tolerant and patient - a very easy-to-like character.

Sheriff Truman is the more down-to-earth, practical of the two. Somewhat baffled by Cooper's eccentries, but more than willing to follow and help him out. The similariy between their relationship and the Holmes/Watson is even referenced in the series - Truman saying that he "feels almost like Watson".

In the character analysis video I'm watching now, the guy narrating says that he usually dislikes fan shipping, but that he himself sees a possibility of romantic feelings between the two. Which baffled me, because I don't see it at all. (Although while rewatching the show the last month, the thought crossed my mind that I am sure there are tons of Cooper/Truman fanfics, but that's just because that's how fandom works).

I am not even sure why I am writing this post or what my point is. It was just a bit interesting to be on the other side of the table - in BBC Sherlock I can easily see that their relationship can be interpreted two ways. In Twin Peaks, I see nothing but friendship. I am curious as to why the narrator of the video drew that conclusion, what he based it on.

Is it more or less founded than Johnlock? Does is mostly say something about the show and the writers, or about the viewers? Are we unable to see close friendship on TV without shipping it?

I don't know, it just raised a lot of interesting thoughts and questions in my mind. How subjective are these interpretations? What one person sees so clearly, other people don't see at all. 

Last edited by Vhanja (May 23, 2017 10:53 am)

Showing my age, but I loved Twin Peaks all those years ago, and would refuse any social engagements when it aired!   I was already a David Lynch fan at the time, so was so excited about it.   I'm just as excited about the new one, hearing the music again.  Anyway, OT, sorry. 

But yes, I don't know what it is, but we've talked before about romance being sold to us as the ultimate, the "right" ending, etc.  So where a show/film/book doesn't have a central romance, but a friendship, there seems to be a tendency to fix it and put one in there. 

I don't know if it's more so for same sex pairings because we had so many years of their romances being underground, coded and hinted at.  So there's a tendency to continue that and see the coding and hints in modern shows too.   For instance, in Star Trek, we're shown what's clearly a friendship, but there was no way that was ever going to be shown as an overt romance ... and because it couldn't be shown, I think fans are free to see it as implied, or even intended, possibly.   But in Sherlock, we know that it could be shown, but the makers chose not to, so it really is "just" a friendship.  The way I see it, anyway. 

As for seeing it - it feels a bit like those optical illusions that can be seen both ways.  I feel I can squint and see both options, but I tend to default to one or the other.   (I'm talking in general, not Sherlock).  For instance, there's a particular thing that I wrote some fanfic for and spent a long time analysing it and looking for (imagined) subtext, and I always think of that as a pairing now, even though I know it was never intended! 

Vhanja wrote:

It's in the wind again due to season 3 being out now, 25 years after season 2 ended (beat that, Moftiss!)

*strangled yelp*
Don't encourage them!

I would love, love, love to have a Sherlock series with the same team in 25 years time!  Even if they missed out the middle bit and went straight to older, partially retired John and Sherlock.  (It would be kind of sweet if Johnlock happened then!). 
 

Liberty wrote:

I would love, love, love to have a Sherlock series with the same team in 25 years time!  Even if they missed out the middle bit and went straight to older, partially retired John and Sherlock.  (It would be kind of sweet if Johnlock happened then!). 
 

I love this thought! S8 or something. ;-)

You can say! What about us, old bats? We cannot hibernate (yet)!

That second article is really interesting.

I think the BBC Sherlock team deal with attraction, romance and relationships quite well. It's just he first two don't involve Sherlock and John.