Let´s not forget that in Victorian version Sherlock first encountered Irene during her wedding to a guy named Norton.... people seem prone to forget this poor guy a lot. Face it - it´s almost impossible to pass Sherlock as straight if Irene disappears from his life... maybe that´s the reason why Norton is almost always eliminated from SH adaptations (the sole exception being Granada)?

ukaunz wrote:

Just want to jump in and remind that in ACD canon, Holmes kept Irene's photo as his only payment for the case, a memento of the woman who beat him - in BBC Sherlock this was cleverly transformed into a phone, but in TAB it makes sense to revert to the original form of a photo. I like that they did this

In A Scandal in Bohemia, Watson is there when Holmes asks for and keeps the photograph. Watson states clearly that Holmes did not feel any emotion akin to love for Irene, but says that when Holmes talked of her, he always referred to her as the woman. It was an honourable title. In ASiB, John is there when Sherlock asks for and keeps the phone, but he doesn't seem to understand why Sherlock wants it. Throughout the whole episode he's not sure what Sherlock, if anything, feels for Irene. I think in TAB the scene shows us again that John doesn't understand the reason behind Sherlock keeping Irene's photo. Sherlock imagines John prying into his personal belongings - his pocket watch - and prying into his feelings, trying to understand him. His imaginary John assumes Sherlock must have feelings akin to love or attraction to her, but Sherlock tells him that he keeps the photograph to remind himself of the remarkable adventure with a formidable opponent. I believe this is why Sherlock keeps Irene's phone, too.

I think that's what Sherlock has been trying to tell himself.   Watson sees through it.   Sherlock tries to claim to have been objective about Lady Carmichael, Watson has noticed that it's more than that - he thinks she's too good for her husband.  Sherlock claims Irene's picture is a reminder of a formidable opponent.  Watson points out that it also looks very good!  Sherlock claims that he avoids romantic entanglement because emotion is the crack in the lens, etc.  Watson points out that that's his public persona, not the real him.  Watson does seem to know what Sherlock feels - and prompts him to explain why he denies himself this aspect of life, why he chooses to be alone. 
 

besleybean wrote:

It's just as easy to argue that no Irene means Sherlock is asexual.
Since when did not having a woman instantly make a man gay?

Asexuality doesn´t automatically equal straightness. So having no woman can be an indicator of Sherlock´s gayness in this case too.
 

I thought he fell truly madly deeply for Irene and Janine?

Victor Trevor. :-)

For BBC Sherlock?

I think we can rule out asexual as the inside of Sherlocks head was at times quite sexual ?
And if Moriarty was the repressed side of Sherlock , I think his gun action was more than a tad gay.
 

He doesn't present himself as sexual, either in or out of the Mind Palace.
He's still allowed to see other people that way.

I beg to differ!
It's all other people and their sexuality...
Though I may have to concede he does privately used porn...as CAM seemed to suggest.

besleybean wrote:

I beg to differ!
It's all other people and their sexuality...
Though I may have to concede he does privately used porn...as CAM seemed to suggest.

But why does he imagine that talk at all? If he is completely asexual why does he imagine Watson talking to him about his sex life? It is his own mind, after all. Even if his subconsciousness came up with it against his will, he could have ended the discussion right away but he didn't.

Last edited by Schmiezi (January 19, 2016 5:22 am)