The other thing with John Watson in both the series and the canon is that he is not only a doctor but an ex-army doctor. As someone who has served in the armed forces he is used to living and working with others in closer proximity than is usual in civilian life..

I think you're right. John just came in handy, at least at first. I think the moment he showed his admiration something changed for Sherlock. His deductions in the lab were just what he usually does but not to hear a "piss off" but an "amazing" was new. And I'm still fascinated by how John shot the cabbie after knowing Sherlock for more or less 24 hours. I suppose that gave Sherlock food for thought as well.

Harriet wrote:

QuiteExtraordinary wrote:

I think, in the beginning, the start of ASiP, Sherlock is really looking for a friend or at least a colleague. It's not as if John is imposing himself on him. To the contrary, Sherlock is making an effort to keep him as a flatmate.

Interesting question - how did it all begin? I think he doesn't even look for a friend or at least a colleague, perhaps.
Just for someone who will bear with him for a while. Then things develop surprisingly well.
Or do you think he checked for an army doctor for colleague reasons right away? 
I don't know, wasn't it Mike's idea to find a flatmate for him? This "Who would want me for a flatmate" made me think so.

Yes, I think he was looking for a flatmate (he had to, I suppose, for financial reasons). But he would have chased most other people away immediately, I gues. Perhaps he was also wishing for something more, someone who would work with him (and replace the skull ). I would say, the moment he saw John and deduced he was an army doctor, he thought it would be possible to make him his assistant. And Sherlock knows how to manipulate people, so he does everything he thinks is necessary to make John stay. But it works far better and in a different way than he expected.

It possibly depends on our interpretation of Sherlock coming back for John...I tend to think it was a genuine moment of inspiration, realising John would do very well as an assistant.

Davina wrote:

It is possible, I suppose, that Sherlock may have already had an unsuccessful attempt at flat-sharing. Perhaps this is why he asks whether John would have a problem with him not speaking for days at a time and playing the violin at anti-social hours. Unless these had been pointed out by someone as being irritations to 'normal' people I doubt that Sherlock would have considered them as such.

That would be the most hilarious montage. Just watching several flatmates cracking up over time and storming off for various reasons related to Sherlock's habits and lifestyle. One with a pillow over his head as Sherlock plays the violin at 3am. Another accidentally spreading mould on their toast in the morning (as it was being kept in the same tub.) A third one trying to instigate conversation to be met with total silence...the whole thing escalating into a one sided rant before all three get up, slamming the door as they leave.

Ending, of course, with a rather confused (but otherwise non-committal) glance from Sherlock to the closed door.

SusiGo wrote:

This is great. Would love to see it as a short film. 

DVD extras for Series 3? 

But only if the writers are mind-readers... or we can convince Martin to show them this post (We know he's out there... somewhere... probably in a state of shock in front of Tumblr to be honest.  )

Good idea. Now we only have to get Martin over here.

To be honest, sometimes I'm a bit shocked in front of Tumblr, too. Especially when someone's standing behind me and there appear certain "works of art". 

Last edited by SusiGo (December 29, 2012 9:17 am)

Should know better than looking at Tumblr when other people are standing behind you.

Davina wrote:

It is possible, I suppose, that Sherlock may have already had an unsuccessful attempt at flat-sharing. Perhaps this is why he asks whether John would have a problem with him not speaking for days at a time and playing the violin at anti-social hours. Unless these had been pointed out by someone as being irritations to 'normal' people I doubt that Sherlock would have considered them as such.

But of course those aren't the worst things Sherlock does, and he surely knows that. He could tell John everything right from the beginning, but he doesn't. Even with his deduction skills, he is rather reluctant and reveals only what is necessary to answer John's questions at first. He gives him the full explanation only much later when they are in the taxi where John has no chance to run away immediately (unless he jumped out of the cab, which is unlikely for a man with a psychosomatic limp). Looks like a plan to me: Impress him as much as possible without saying too much, figure out what he likes and give him that, and when he has already developed an intention to stay, show him bit by bit how weird you really are.

Mnemosyne wrote:

Davina wrote:

It is possible, I suppose, that Sherlock may have already had an unsuccessful attempt at flat-sharing. Perhaps this is why he asks whether John would have a problem with him not speaking for days at a time and playing the violin at anti-social hours. Unless these had been pointed out by someone as being irritations to 'normal' people I doubt that Sherlock would have considered them as such.

That would be the most hilarious montage. Just watching several flatmates cracking up over time and storming off for various reasons related to Sherlock's habits and lifestyle. One with a pillow over his head as Sherlock plays the violin at 3am. Another accidentally spreading mould on their toast in the morning (as it was being kept in the same tub.) A third one trying to instigate conversation to be met with total silence...the whole thing escalating into a one sided rant before all three get up, slamming the door as they leave.

Ending, of course, with a rather confused (but otherwise non-committal) glance from Sherlock to the closed door.

Great plot idea for an interesting fan fic. Write it! I would read it, for sure.

Ok so this is basically how I see it, from what we are shown/told.
1.  Sherlock needs digs.
2. He recalls Mrs Hudson from a  previous case, hopes she'll cut him a deal.
3.  In passing, mentions to Mike about moving to new digs, worried about affording rent.
4(ok this is my bit)Possibly Mike suggests getting a flat mate...I imagine Sherlock is sceptical from the start.
5.  Mike happens to bump into old mate John.
6.  John needs digs AND a flat mate.
7.  Mike offers the obvious solution!
I think when Sherlock 1st meets John, he decides he is a trustworthy character and he could possibly tolerate him as a flat mate.
I do think it's a genuine bit of Sherlock inspiration when he comes back for John at the flat, to offer him post of assistant. Do we think at this stage Sherlock already thought he may also be helping John out?
Only later, does the friendship thing kick in and only MUCH later, does Sherlock's emotional attachment to John kick in.