You mean he found it difficult to control himself with Irene?
I think he was wrong footed because of her initial appearance to him and how smart she was.

We've certainly only ever seen Sherlock linked with women...
So if they would go any way, it would seem to be that way.

Last edited by besleybean (August 5, 2016 6:06 pm)

The latter is something I have always thought of for the Sherlock team, JP!

Oh and thanks for the link, that site is a brilliant source.

Last edited by besleybean (August 5, 2016 6:22 pm)

Quite possibly that's an influence, JP.  I mean, I'm sure they could imagine not having those feelings if they wanted to write it, but they don't.  I remember that quote by Steven about realising at a young age that Holmes fancied Irene - now, that's just one interpretation of the canon, I think. It's very ambiguous and although Irene is very special to Holmes, and some of that is "about" her being a woman, it's not clear that there's actually sexual attraction involved, I don't think.    So I do think there might be something a little personal about Steven writing about Sherlock's sexual feelings and particularly about Irene - she comes across as very much a (straight!) male fantasy.  I don't mean that as disparaging of him at all.  There's nothing wrong with writing what you know, and seeing a bit of yourself in your characters or vice versa.  But I think it does mean that the whole view we're given of Sherlock as probably-straight, fancying Irene, but suppressing sexual feelings, comes from the very young Steven Moffat reading Scandal as "he keeps her picture because he fancies her".   (Which is actually a pretty reasonable explanation, of course!).   

I would actually have like to see an asexual Sherlock.  He's a perfect character to make asexual and it would fit with canon.  But I maybe prefer the "volcano" idea.  It's sexier. 

My take on Sherlock's reaction to naked Irene:
First: I would probably react the same way seeing a naked person appearing without warning.
Second: He was baffled because Irene knew who he is and was in charge of the situation - it was something he wasn't prepared for. Imagine how new and surprising it was for him after a life spent in a goldfish pond.
I think I remember a remark about their intellectual sparring (wasn't it in the comments on the dvd?) was Sherlock's idea of sex (or something like that)

Such intellectual exchange can be extreme satisfying. Brain sex if you like.

Yes, I think the big thing about her nudity is that it hides clues from Sherlock, and that he knows she's done it deliberately - a very clever disguise, and playing him at his own game.   So I think he's very impressed with her from the beginning.   I think he's attracted from very early on, as he stumbles over his words when she starts to pay attention to John instead of him.  I think his initial reaction is more "She's clever" rather than "she's hot", but, I think the combination of her being clever as well as hot doesn't pass him by.   He notices her measurements after all.   I think that underneath it all, he's capable of visual attraction too - after all in the same scene it's suggested that he looks at John's porn on his laptop, and later Magnussen thinks his porn preference is "normal". 

And of course, there's the conversation with Molly at Christmas where he's clearly thinking about Irene (talking about red lipstick and small mouths, and small breasts, all features of Irene's looks). 

Might seem pro-Johnlock, I still don't think it will happen.

That IS an interesting quote. It seems to confirm two things:

1. Sherlock and John truly love each other
2. It's not a sexual/romantic type of love/relationship

And I am very curious about what he means by "Season four! Season four!" What is it, between Sherlock and John, that we will see? If it's about love, but not sexual/romantic? Sounds very intriguing.

Why?

Because glitter makes everything better and it makes me happy.   Just like Sherlock.