I  think this is very much an aspect of both the original Strand stories and the show, but especially the show.

John is Sherlock's first real, honest friend (I don't count Trevor). Sherlock knew people before, but he never had a friend. This is because friendship is a mutual love. It requires two-sided dedication and appreciation. Before John, Sherlock made it his modus operandi to avoid/abjure all these things, hence no actual friends.


John was an honest good person who was too stubborn to let Sherlock carry on pretending to be a machine/dickwad. He forced Sherlock to confront his personal demons (drug abuse, cynicism, disregard for other humans, thrill-addiction, self-absoption) vis-a-vis. You can see this particularly in The Abominable Bride.
John constantly functions as Sherlock's conscience, questioning Sherlock's drug habits ("You will hold yourself to a higher standard.") and denial of emotion ("Why do you need to be alone?"). If in Sherlock's mind Moriarty represents Sherlock's weakness and fear, then John represents his humanity and morality. In the end of TAB, John kicks Moriarty over the water fall, showing that Sherly is ready to give up his former weakness and let himself be good.
S3E1 Sherlock even hears John's voice in his head when he goes on that case with Molly ("Show-off").

So, yeah I agree.

Liberty wrote:

How do we know she was in school (medical school?) for most of her twenties?   Most courses are five years, so she'd be qualified at age 23 if she went straight from high school.  Do we have some other background on her that I've missed?  (Or do you mean her specialist training?)

I think what I'd change about your list is that she is more Sherlock focused.  She doesn't steal bodies for any friends, I don't think, but does it because it's Sherlock.   She's not just looking for a man in her life, but secretly wants it to be Sherlock, so looks for a Sherlock substitute and is disappointed (although I think she's coming to terms).  Although she appears very sweet, we have seen her be violent a couple of times, which was unexpected. 

This isn't a spoiler thread, so I won't say much, but it will be interesting to see where they go with the character in S4.  I don't think we've had the full story yet. 
 

Oh, haha
I totally didn't look up how med school is in Britain. Specialist training is separate from a complete medical degree for the Brits?

You're right. Sherlock is definitely her exception-to-many-many-rules.

The violence is kind of fun when it's there because it's generally justified. Though, slapping a drugged-up man much bigger than her was a bit rash/brave.

I like how she's progressed to the point where she is still a good friend to Sherlock and still very generous and kind, but no longer takes his bullshit.

No, we have definitely not had the full story yet. Gatiss and Moffat need to do justice to their first original character.
And by justice, I don't mean get her a solid romance (I mean, possibly). They need to give her a complete arc, no matter how small.

Schmiezi wrote:

I must admit that I read this post thrice and still don't quite know how to comment on it. Somehow it doesn't sit right with me. Let me just point out a few thoughts. I am sure that there will be more profound comments soon.

Thouturdofperdition wrote:

We all know that Sherlock is mentally ill. He has self-esteem so low his soul-blood is hypo-tonic. He has clinical Depression up the wazoo. He's an addict to a life-threatening degree. He's a dick-and-a-half to everyone, including his BFF 5-ever, John. The man is damn loony.

Sorry, "we all" don't know that. I mean: Seriously? Do you really watch the show thinking Sherlock is a clinically depressed man? Where exactly do you see the symptoms?

Well, yeah, he seems like it: drastic mood swings, deep self-absorption, thrill-addiction, little regard for his own life (S1E1, Cabbie-psycho: "you'll do anything to stop being bored"), very deceptive behavior (TAB Mycroft-"No one deceives like an addict") etc.
TAB: Mycroft-"Because in your case Sherlock, solitary confinement is locking you up with your own worst enemy"

Or maybe I tend to see it in people even it's not there. I myself have been diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety (voices, panic attacks, insomnia, compulsions, paranoia, the whole shebang), and have dealt with it on and off for a little more than a decade now. Sherlock looks like he has many of the subtle symptoms. His personality is strong enough to eclipse the disease, if it is there.

Low self-esteem is not an illness, and let's not forget that Sherlock's low self-esteem is only about human relationship. He is very sure about his abilities to solve crimes, for example.

Being addicted does not mean you are "a damn loony".

You're right that low self-esteem isn't an official mental illness itself, but it perpetuates and exacerbates most of them. It's kind of like weight-gain. Being overweight is not exactly an illness itself, but it can greatly predispose o

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