Ahem, yes. This. 

I eat subtext for breakfast! 

Sherlock's facing all of his demons?

Liberty wrote:

I can think of lots of things that are subtext!   I don't understand why only Johnlock could be subtext.  (So no other show could have subtext?  Or only romances can be subtext?). 

Not at all. Subtext means that there are messages that are not directly verbalized, right? Like when I tell Hubby  "There are dirty dishes in the kitchen." what I really mean is "Go and clear them. Now."

I think there are many examples listed in several threads for subtext that could have a Johnlock-y meaning.

I just woder what other messages you can find in the shows subtext. It must be something important or Moffat would not stress it that vehemently.

That is possible of course. We don't know. That's exactly why I always insist on interpreting the show instead of what is said about it.

So, how can subtext in Sherlock be interpreted if not in a Johnlock way?

besleybean wrote:

I gave my answer!

Sherlock facing his demons? Interesting. In which scenes is it subtext, what do you think?

besleybean wrote:

Okay I will attempt to expand a bit.
I actually see two possible subtexts: one, Sherlock slowly becoming more human.
Two: Sherlock gradually unravelling.

Yes, but which scenes are you talking about???

besleybean wrote:

Several candidates: but on the former, being nice to Molly when complimenting her on her engagement.
On the latter, possibly his insistence that his drugs are controlled usage.
But also possibly that he took the overdose at all, in that he cannot face his exile.
 

Well, maybe in German subtext means something different that in English.

In German, subtext means that you say something that has an obvious meaning and a hidden one. So subtext can be found in dialogue.

To pick up your own example from the other thread: in TAB Mary calls Sherlock "stupid". You say she means it as affectionate teasing. That would be your subtext reading.

besleybean wrote:

So images cannot be subtext?

EDIT: I've just looked up the definition and yes, images can be subtext.

Like rainbow lights in scenes with John and Sherlock?

besleybean wrote:

Or romantic music in scenes with Sherlock and Irene, yes.

EDIT: sorry, I know that's not an image, but you know what I mean!

Yes, surely music also counts. The elegance of Johnlock  (once more) is that you can take loads of dialogue and pictures and music that can be interpreted as Johnlock. It would be the leitmotif of the entire show.