I think it's a good example of how Sherlock is often "human"-- when John is not going to see it. 

I had to watch the scene again, because I had never found it remarkable in any way - why wouldn't Sherlock say a few comforting words to Sarah while untying her? It's the normal thing to do...

As for his voice - I think he's whispering because he was just getting strangled and has trouble speaking.

The opportunity doesn't present itself all that often (and not all all until TBB) - the victims are dead in most cases. But Sherlock was perfectly nice to Soo Yin, and btw it was also Sherlock who pointed out that it would have cost the lady in pink a lot of effort and pain to scratch "Rache" into the floorboards. Sherlock is not without empathy! If he were, he could never do his job.

The truth is Sherlock is a big softie and capable of tenderness and affection (have you noticed how many times he kisses people spontaneously - ok, on cheeks and foreheads, but that's possible even more on point because those kisses are platonic and therefore hold no further motive like a kiss on the mouth would) whereas for all his screaming about caring and being tactful, in this instance I think John acted a bit 'douchy' with that silly joke - I know he wanted to make Sarah laugh but honestly if I had been her I'd have thought 'what the hell, I nearly died and the first thing you think about is how to make sure you get a second date!?!'

lol

maryagrawatson wrote:

That makes more sense than John's behaviour in the previous fight: Sherlock's on the ground, hurt, and badly winded. A bad guy takes a swing at him and John takes a swing at the bad guy, then runs off. Another bad guy goes to deal Sherlock a fatal blow and enter Sarah! Where did John go?!

Mary

John didn't 'run off' - he was kicked quite firmly in the delicate area by the bad guy and that pushed him away from the immediate scene of the fight.  He was presumably still stumbling around clutching his injured groin when the baddie took a swing at Sherlock, and so wasn't in any fit state to protect him.  He was probably still seeing stars in front of his eyes!

Are you The One? 

Welcome to the forum, ArianeDeVere. 

Ariane DeVere wrote:

And I love the way that Sherlock not only speaks gently to Sarah but puts a comforting hand on her shoulder while she's crying.  It's made even more poignant by the fact that he's staring down the tunnel wishing that he could chase after Shan, but appears to realise that both Sarah and John need him and so he has to stay with them.

Sociopath?  I don't think so!

Absolutely agree. Sherlock, much like Mycroft I'd like to add, is actually an incredibly sensitive person at heart imho. After years of bullying and abuse he's decided to be always the first to strike out. Fight or flight, that's the question, and he's conditioned himself into continuous fight mode. Just look at his reaction earlier in the ep in Sebastian's office and later in the posh restaurant loo. A whole history of always being the odd one out is revealed there, and the choice was either between either turning himself into an apparently insensitive cad or a permanent underdog position. Given his intelligence, the question was easily resolved.