Very interesting, Liberty. And I agree with your analysis of the two. We see that Mycroft has always tried to protect and help his little brother, but he's also done that in a very condecending way. I think Sherlock has always rebelled against that (as you say - as a teenager would against a parent). 

Also, I think part of the resentment comes from, as you mention, being "the stupid one". Trying to follow Mycroft's advice about "caring isn't an advantage", but always failing to live up to it. Not smart enough and not "cold" enough. 

Even as grown men, they both return to childish bickering when they meet. Sherlock has some of the same with others (as you mentioned with his jealousy, amongst others) and Mycroft also acts like a child towards his mother at Christmas. So it seems they are both a bit stunted emotionally, having stopped developing at a young age on certain parts - at least in their relationship with each other and when someone triggers that part of themselves.

Also, as part of this discussion, I find these metas about the Holmes Brothers very interesting:

http://wellingtongoose.tumblr.com/holmesfamily

I've wondered about that too.  Outside of TFP, Mycroft does seem more "adult", especially as it seems to be agreed that he has tended to take a more parental role with him.  But perhaps he can be just as childish as Sherlock at times, but keep it better hidden?  There's a similar sort of one-upmanship, arrogance, petulance, etc., but maybe not as overt.  But yes, even in TFP, Mycroft calmly and maturely tries to get himself killed for Sherlock's sake ... I do think the comment seems a bit unfair!   Especially as Mycroft is the one who takes his parents to the theatre (even though he hates it!), while Sherlock is the one who childishly throws them out of the house when his friend comes round.   But maybe that's it - there's a bit of a prodigal son thing going on with Sherlock, who can do no wrong despite his failings, whereas Mycroft panders to the parents and they think less of him?

Maybe it's a little bit deeper, with their parents intuiting that Sherlock is actually the one who can deal better with emotions, whereas Mycroft just refuses to let them affect him (or tries to!)?  But again ... I don't know if that's exactly what we've been shown over time. 

Maybe it's just a little twist, for fun, but it is interesting to look at why it might have been said. 

Well, if it's childish is it worth explaining? I'm of the mind to think it's more interesting that it's not explained, because you can fill in the blanks for yourself. Explaining the whole story almost diminishes its value, especially if it's some childish thing that they've carried into adulthood. I think the fact that they bicker is evidence enough for what its function in the story has been.

Last edited by Yitzock (December 12, 2017 12:05 am)

For me Sherlock's feelings as shown in the HLV mind palace have not been sufficiently explained. Or if they have - Mycroft simply having humiliated him even as a boy and telling Sherlock that his parents are disappointed in him - there has not been a solution. Every time we see Mycroft in Sherlock's mind he is much more than an annoying older brother with a control habit - Sherlock sees him as a judge towering over him, as someone who humiliates a little boy and sides with the parents against him, as someone grotesquely fat and claiming all space and using even Sherlock's best friend's wife to spy on him. These are no small issues and what is more, they have nothing to do with a lost sister. This is between the brothers and to me it has not been solved at all. 
 

I did read something about that last part (Sherlock deducing that his father had an affair). 

It makes sense to me that Mycroft has mixed feelings.  He does care for Sherlock a great deal.  That doesn't stop him resenting Sherlock being the favourite.  I think the mixed sibling feelings are mirrored a little with Eurus, who adores Sherlock but also resents him for preferring another companion. 

Sherlock resents Mycroft becauses he thinks he's the clever one.   (And in a way, that little bit is resolved - it turns out that Eurus was the clever one all along).   His mind palace images of Mycroft are exaggerated of course, but I think there is truth in them, or truth as Sherlock sees it.  He does feel belittled by him, and at the same time he wants his approval, without ever admitting that he kind of aspires to be like him!  And even mind palace Mycroft has a caring, protective side. 

I do think sibling rivalry/jealousy is a theme here, rather than a mystery to be solved.   It's such an old and familiar story isn't it?  Cain and Abel being a classic example!

The first ever murder, according to the Bible, although it wouldn't have taken a Sherlock to work out whodunnit!

Vhanja wrote:

...

Sherlock was the one who spent his teenage years off his tits on drugs, with his grown-up brother helping him. 

....

What makes you think so? Was that shown in TAB (the only episode I haven't seen)? For in none of the others do we see or hear anything about Sherlock's teenage years. And we don't really know a lot about his childhood either - most of what we think we know is in reality only what Mycroft tells us.

As for Mycroft's supposed grown-up behaviour: Do reasonable, law-abiding citizens coerce people into their cars with mysterious threats and then call themselves their brother's enemy? Tell government secrets to their brother and his friend (remember North Korea)? Don't take no for an answer when people don't wish to work for them (TGG)? Have their brother abducted to force him to work for them (ASiB)? And of course recent history has shown that being (in) the British Government is no guarantee for anything...

So I consider it perfectly possible that Mummy Holmes simply tells the truth (as she sees it).

Not exactly a secret but since it is this time of year:

So the Christmas Sherlock called his brother (although he prefers to text) because he needed his help …

the Christmas of danger nights and caring not being an advantage …

the Christmas of telling John not to leave Sherlock because Mycroft was afraid his brother would relapse …

is the same Christmas Mycroft gave his brother’s worst enemy as a Christmas present to their dangerous sister who wanted Sherlock dead and killed his best friend.


No words.

Or a perfect psychopath. Yes, we do see Mycroft differently...

I have no doubt in my mind that Mycroft cares deeply about Sherlock. At the same time, he IS "The Ice Man", who belives that the end justifies the means. That is the two aspects of him that I find extremely interesting.