In this thread, I only see three posts that entertain the notion that this scene may not have been referring to a third Holmes sibling.

Swanpride wrote:

"The other one" might not be Mycrofts brother but the last agent they send on the mission. Just saying.

Ivy wrote:

I don't think he talked about a brother at all, he was probably talking about his predecessor or another agent, who couldn't get this job right because of personal feelings. Maybe the agent Anthea (Andrea) mentioned in Empty Hearse, the one who lost his life.

sherlockskitty wrote:

I've been thinking that Mycroft's remark may NOT  have referred to another Holmes brother too.   There's so many possibilities  for mikey's remark.  

Let's look at the actual dialog of that scene (transcript courtesy of Ariane DeVere):

MYCROFT: As my colleague is fond of remarking, this country sometimes needs a blunt instrument. Equally, it sometimes needs a dagger – a scalpel wielded with precision and without remorse.
MYCROFT: There will always come a time when we need Sherlock Holmes.
SIR EDWIN: If this is some expression of familial sentiment ...
MYCROFT: Don’t be absurd. I am not given to outbursts of brotherly compassion.
MYCROFT: You know what happened to the other one.
MYCROFT: In any event, there is no prison in which we could incarcerate Sherlock without causing a riot on a daily basis. The alternative, however ...

In the classic style of the writers, these lines are ambiguously written, allowing several interpretations.  The interpretation that Mycroft is referring to another sibling is the most obvious - which, to me, actually makes this interpretation suspect.

It can also be interpreted as, "You know what happened to the other person who exercised brotherly compassion".

Regardless of which interpretation one believes, anyone who claims absolute certainty of a particular interpetation is wrong in their certainty.  The fact is, we don't know for sure what is actually being said here.

lol I'm trying to imagine an interaction between Mycroft and his twin - I'm finding it hilarious, for some reason!

Makes sense to me!

I also like simple solutions - especially when the authors would not have to explain too much to the "normal" audience in series 4.
Sherlock as "The Other One" - interesting idea, Susi.  Mycroft would have used this expression here as a code for Sherlock used by the government members.
But: If Mycroft wants to keep up appearances of being the Iceman - why would he have "waded in" to save Sherlock in Serbia, a fact his colleagues would certainly know about?
Of course Mycroft could have told them that it was just for the fact that Sherlock could help solve the Underground network case, but there was no reason for him to go to Serbia in person. Some other (maybe even Serbian speaking) secret service member would have done this job maybe even more professionaly.  No, in my opinion, Mycroft, taking on the burden of dealing with "people" does show his brotherly affection for Sherlock quite clearly.

Last edited by tobeornot221b (September 12, 2016 4:42 am)

SusiGo wrote:

We should remember that probably no one but Sherlock and John know about Mycroft's feelings for his brother. 

Apart from Magnussen and Moriarty, of course.


Mycroft being a state within the state - a tempting thought but to me not convincing. If it were so Mycroft would be extremely busy to hide his unofficial actions from the official secret service. And it would not only be him involved but lots of other people working for him. Quite risky and a constant danger to be discovered and prosecuted.

As you mentioned, Susi, Mofftiss placing the phrase "the other one" here would keep the fandom busy with speculating during the hiatus. That's very like them!

But, if your theory "the other one" being Sherlock is right -  isn't it a bit awkward that Mycroft would use "Sherlock Holmes", "Sherlock" AND "the other one" within this short conversation to name his brother?

 

tobeornot221b wrote:

SusiGo wrote:

We should remember that probably no one but Sherlock and John know about Mycroft's feelings for his brother. 

Apart from Magnussen and Moriarty, of course.


Mycroft being a state within the state - a tempting thought but to me not convincing. If it were so Mycroft would be extremely busy to hide his unofficial actions from the official secret service. And it would not only be him involved but lots of other people working for him. Quite risky and a constant danger to be discovered and prosecuted.

As you mentioned, Susi, Mofftiss placing the phrase "the other one" here would keep the fandom busy with speculating during the hiatus. That's very like them!

But, if your theory "the other one" being Sherlock is right -  isn't it a bit awkward that Mycroft would use "Sherlock Holmes", "Sherlock" AND "the other one" within this short conversation to name his brother?

 

I see your point and as I said, it is just a theory. But to me it seems more plausible than digging up a third sibling that is not Canon (whereas all other main characters are, except Molly). We all know that Sherrinford was ACD's original name for Sherlock so according to Canon Sherrinford would not be the third brother but an earlier version of Sherlock himself. And a secret sibling that has never been mentioned but is known to Lady Smallwood and all the others without even mentioning their name?