besleybean wrote:

I think some writers do write innuendo, but I personally don't see it in ACD.
I think the reacton to his works is just part of the oversexualised world we inhabit.
And some of us continually try and stem the tidal wave.

Our world is no more sexualised than it was in ACD′s time. I′m afraid, that′s just a myth.
 
In ACD′s London (or in any big city and town of that era) it was nothing unusual to have whole streets and quarters full of prostitutes. Their houses were open and they publicly displayed themselves to any random passer-by. Many of them were youngsters or even children.
 
Fully naked women dancing with sharply dressed men was a daily occurence in many dancing clubs and pubs.
 
It was absolutely normal for men to be married and at the same time to spend days and nights in the brothels. Respectable wives were supposed to have no sexual cravings, so men generally slept around with shady streetwalkers when they wanted to spice up their lives. It was some kind of rite-of-passage for unmarried young men to sleep with as many prostitutes as possible.
 
Siphylis and other sexually transmitted diseases spred among people like a plague.
 
(I recommend Stefan Zweig and his „World of Yesterday“ for further information.)
 
In comparison to our ancestors, I would say we are actually much more wary about unprotected sexual contact. The media image about some sexual orgies of our era is entirely false.
 
And to Johnlock in canon: ACD would not be able to openly write about homosexuality in his time. His collegue Oscar Wilde was almost burned at the stake when ousted as a homosexual (or invert, as they were called at that time). So Johnlock in canon is always a possibility - it′s just hidden between the lines for the safety of the author and his characters.

But I dont argue, it is just my opinion.
 

Don′t be afraid – you see the light eventually!
(Just joking. )

Johnlock.  I will sail this ship to the gates of hell. 

I haven't shipped anyone this hard since Mulder and Scully.

Ulimately I don't argue about it's exsistance in canon, it's in my head and it's much fun.

Continuation of my semi-crazy theory of canon Johnlock.   This time featuring „The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes“ with Jeremy Brett as SH.
 
This version of ACD′s stories was incredibly faithful to the original. Huge parts of dialog were taken directly from the books. Many scenes even mirrored canonical Sidney Paget ilustrations.
 
And it still had plenty of Johnlock.
 
Like, Holmes was in Watson′s bedroom all the time.
This was how it was in the morning:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo5bdJxNK6M
 
This was how it was at night:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcDhwAGMN80
 
And sometimes Holmes just admired Watson in a creepy-cute manner while Watson was sleeping in his bed peacefully:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSgk1MbeleU
 
Watson was not even surprised to find Holmes in his room like that. It was probably a frequent occurence.
 
„The Empty House“ was like a „Johnlock – The Episode“. Just watch those caresses at 2:28 and subsequent dialog:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fMHCA8vpoI
 
Aw, sweet!
This ship sails itself.

Last edited by nakahara (February 27, 2014 10:27 pm)

Thank you for your appreciation, SherlocklivesinOH! 
 
I can′t believe somebody dared to cut out those sweet caresses. I thought we live in a less bigoted society. It was not some improperly sexual scene after all, just a little fluff.
 
That line was quite meaningful, wasn′t it? I also noticed some cheeky little fun with lines like “my bedroom is at your disposal, Holmes.”  The authors of the series were certainly naughty!
 
When I look at Jeremy Brett′s Sherlock I see the man who maintains a facade of coldness and aloofness but who is very emotional and compassionate in his heart of hearts. The way he treats Watson is quite gentle and cute and yes, I really do see Brett′s bisexuality peaking through in such scenes.
 
(By the way, Sherlock portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch also softened a lot in S3 of BBC “Sherlock” and started to reveal a soft heart under his icy exterior which brought him close to Brett′s portrayal. No surprise then, that S3 was thus far the most Johnlocky one.)
 
Yep, no Mary in this version, that′s true. When I watched EMPT as a little child, observing Holmes and Watson′s mutual closeness, it even occurred to me “if they tried to place a female character between those two, she would stick out like a sore thumb”. Mary Morstan in BBC version quite magnificently proves my case, I′m afraid – she had awoken a lot of animosity amid some fanatical Johnlock-supporters before she even appeared. Poor Amanda Abbington! 
 
Still, this is just a further proof that Johnlock is based on canon.
 

Last edited by nakahara (March 1, 2014 11:20 pm)

Oh yes, canonical Watson is suspiciously silent about the time they spent at his Kensington ambulance before they headed out for some Moran-hunting. Hmmm…
 
I understood why BBC′s John reaction was so strong and why he was written that way - but indeed, when I rewatched Granada′s EMPT later, I was so sorry that at least some of Hardwicke′s sweetness and heartfelt joy wasn′t included in that new version of the story. It just squeezes your heart how happy he is that Holmes returned.
 
It certainly has some traits of an engagement when they are raising their glasses at the end.  And I guess, Mrs. Hudson ships them hard in Granada′s series either – I wouldn′t await any other thing from her. She must know the secrets of her tenants as their landlady.
 
It has saddened me greatly to read about Brett′s illness and the events leading to his death. I never knew that he suffered so much at the end – he didn′t deserve it. Such talent cut off so prematurely, what a shame! I was always wondering why they filmed some episodes with Mycroft instead of Sherlock but it just never occured to me that such tragic occurences were involved.    
 
The way Hardwicke′s Watson held Holmes after he interrupted his scary experiment in Devil′s Foot was quite tender, still. He looked as if he was scared out of his wits almost loosing Holmes for a second time. (And that episode included some nice moments of Holmes and Watson sitting together at the top of the cliff, looking at some beautiful scenery – like a pair of doves, if you ask me... )
 

Watson over romanticises, as John does.

nakahara wrote:

When we are reading canon, one thing is immediately clear to us: Dr. John Watson is an unreliable narrator. He edits the facts of Sherlock′s cases and embellishes them to make them more suitable for the Victorian audience. He sometimes omits certain facts or downright censores some events to avoid unnecessary scandal.
 
So, what if he keeps quiet about some thing which would be unpalatable for the prudish Victorians? Like his relationship with Holmes, for example? What if their adventures took place in a different manner than we think? Hmmm....
 
This canon-fanfiction by Katie Forsythe shows us how it could all happen if SH and JW were in a relationship together. It′s incredibly faithfull to canon and yet it nicely plays with an idea of Johnlock.
 
This story was build on canonical case of „Naval Treaty“:
 
http://liquidfic.org/thatwhichgives.html
 
This was based on „The Dying Detective“:
 
http://liquidfic.org/undiscovered.html
 
But all her stories are really good – I recommend them to all the heretics who refuse to accept the possibility of canon Johnlock :
 
http://liquidfic.org/katie.html
 

I LOVE Katie Forsythe. I read all of them. They are so beautifully written and her characterisation is amazing. By the way, she is also wordstrings on AO3. 
 

nakahara wrote:

When we are reading canon, one thing is immediately clear to us: Dr. John Watson is an unreliable narrator. He edits the facts of Sherlock′s cases and embellishes them to make them more suitable for the Victorian audience. He sometimes omits certain facts or downright censores some events to avoid unnecessary scandal.
 
So, what if he keeps quiet about some thing which would be unpalatable for the prudish Victorians? Like his relationship with Holmes, for example? What if their adventures took place in a different manner than we think? Hmmm....  

No doubt the mores of the times were part of it, but he also wants to glofiy Holmes! And how about his descriptions of Holmes' physical attributes and physical...prowess?

Doesn't he seem excited in Solitary Cyclist by the fact that Holmes has been involved in a boxing match? 

Read the blog called "With Love S.H." by Nekosmuse: she "decodes" all of the stories for "subtext."

And for still more Johnlock in the Brett series: at the beginning of EMPT, Watson says that "every corner of London" reminded him of Holmes. And he's now a police surgeon! The man is CLINGING to his life with Holmes...there is NO "moving on" here.

Realistic or not, I did NOT like how John's reaction to Sherlock's return in the BBC series was so dominated by anger. Especially since I felt like, at least up until he got together with Mary, John almost behaved liked he was waiting for Sherlock to come back.

Oh, and remember the infamous Stag Night knee grab? There is a knee grab in canon...they are on a train (alone in the train car) on the way to the case, and Holmes has his hands on Watson's knees as he explains how Watson's revolver is going to play an important role in the case. (Thor Bridge.)

However, the circumstances are different enough that I almost doubt that Moftiss was intending to reference that story with the Stag Night knee grab.