There are quite a few fans who loved Mary as a character and liked her big part. I don't think we should assume that the fanbase is of a single mind - or single opinion - on this.

This idea just occured to me regarding Inner Mary and DVD-Mary. Seeing as John became part of the deveopment narrative in S4, and strayed to such extremes, he was no longer the "voice of the viewers" as he was before. Could Inner Mary and DVD Mary have taken on that role? Perhaps that was their intention?

I just got the feeling from how it was phrased, that what "people loved" etc. Quite a few also loved the direction it took with Mary. But, yes, of course, many didn't. I personally wouldn't have preferred it, but it is what it is. I enjoy the show for what it is, even if they don't always go the road I would've gone.

And, yes, Inner Mary isn't really Mary. She's just a symbol or device. And it's actually a valuable insight into John's inner thoughts and conflicts. I also liked the little "What?"-thought I got when I first saw her in TLD, and for a second wondered if she was alive after all. 

 

Yeah, I don't think John ever came completely to terms with that.

I think so, too.

Liberty wrote:

I'll come back to this, I think, as I'm rushing off, but I wanted to add that actually I think Mary was integral to the plot, especially in HLV and TST.  Much more than I would have expected her to be, in fact.   I agree that she was added because she's in the stories, but I also think she was added to give more of an emotional kick to those episodes (and to TLD as well).   It makes it more personal (to Sherlock and John). 

And do you think it worked out?

I have never said much on the overall subject of Mary even though I have a lot of opinions.  Need to try and gather my thoughts.

Bottom line though.  I will always be disappointed in how they dealt with Mary in S4.

besleybean wrote:

You mean killing her?

No, that's the one part they got right.
 

besleybean wrote:

I was about to reply 'charming'.
But I assume you mean in keeping canonical.

I am glad she left the show and don't mind that they chose to kill her off and that is purely because I dislike the character. :-)

besleybean wrote:

I liked her and so did Sherlock!

Guess I was happier after TST than the two of you then. ;-)

Schmiezi wrote:

Liberty wrote:

I'll come back to this, I think, as I'm rushing off, but I wanted to add that actually I think Mary was integral to the plot, especially in HLV and TST.  Much more than I would have expected her to be, in fact.   I agree that she was added because she's in the stories, but I also think she was added to give more of an emotional kick to those episodes (and to TLD as well).   It makes it more personal (to Sherlock and John). 

And do you think it worked out?

In retrospect, yes.   I bought into Sherlock killing Magnussen because the people he'd vowed to protect were threatened.   I don't think I'd have felt the same about it if he'd killed him for Lady Smallwood.   TST feels much more pertinent because it involves Mary, rather than some new character.   We start off with what seems to be a crime-solving trio, but actually it's a diversion and Mary becomes part of the plot in a much bigger way.  When Sherlock's almost loses his life, it's much more shocking and dramatic because it's Mary who has shot him rather than an unknown assailant (or a hitman, or whatever).   Mary's death at the end of TST is more moving than if it was a newly introduced client, and much more pertinent because of how it affects Sherlock and John, both individually and in their relationship with each other.  Mary in TLD isn't so much part of the plot as in TST, but she shows us another aspect of John, and I think really helps to illustrate how he deals with grief and what he has lost.  And so on.

I was keen for Mary to go after S3, but I actually think what they did worked very well, and I warmed to Mary more and more in S4.