Excellent perspective.

That is an interesting interpretation. I also feel there is something not quite right about the third explanation. Did you see the tumblr comment below the meta by melmey-fanfics? "Makes me think about the setlock pictures that show Mycroft and Moriarty on the pavement in front of St. Bart. If I remember correctly they were taken the day they shot the fall and Andrew Scott wore the Belstaff coat. Might be a scene they will use in the future to show how Mycroft plotted something withe Moriarty."

This thought gives me chills...

I've heard the scene was a red herring.

Of course it could be a double red hering.

tonnaree wrote:

Or a triple red herring!

(sorry, I couldn't help myself) 

OMG, my head just exploded! :D

But back to topic, as I still am not satisfied with the third explanation being the one that actually happened I am always glad to hear about new theories and I quite like this one because it's not unlikely. Actually, it's an interesting idea regarding the relationship between the two Holmes-brothers and the character of Sherlock who, despite acting otherwise, wishes a closer working relationship, as equals. And just imagine how good they would be, if you think about the little deductional fight they had about the hat..
I like that idea it just being a dream version of his. But I doubt they actually made it up as being like that.
 

Good read - the psychological approach to analyzing Sherlock's version of the story, with respect to his relationship with Mycroft, is quite interesting.

I am personally not satisfied with Sherlock's explanation of the fall.  I've described why in another thread (basically, the version he begins to tell John implies a solution found by quick-thinking, whereas the version he tells Anderson is that everything was forseen and planned for ahead of time).

However, I feel fairly sure that we will not hear any more about this in the story.  It seems like that's what TEH was all about - they offer some theories, and even the one told from the horse's mouth, and it's up to us to either accept or reject it.  It was left ambiguous on purpose.

--------------------------------

I don't really watch television, except when I hear about an exceptional show that gets people thinking.  The last such show I got enthralled with was Lost.  I learned a lot about theorizing, and the reality of a scripted show (and how it's always much less clever than all the theories the fanatics come up with).

I feel like Sherlock follows a similar "mystery" approach to Lost.  You get a massive "lego set" of ideas, which can be used to construct hundreds of theories.  However, there is never a way to use every single piece to make a grand theory - there are just too many conflicting pieces.  And most importantly, we the viewers are never told the actual answer.

But that's okay.  While we might like to get a solid answer from the writers, it's way more fun connecting all the pieces in different ways and discussing the possibilies (hence why most of us come to places like this).

In fact, I always found this "mystery" approach to be a gift.  If we are told "this is how it happened...", then we are done with it.  But if all we're given is a rich set of tantalizing clues, we get to think, ponder, and theorize - we exercise our minds and imaginations.

And the grandest ideas now come from our own imaginations.  By filling in the blanks ourselves, we create in our minds a much greater interpretation of the story than the writers could provide us with themselves.

At least, that's how I've always seen it.

Interesting idea.  The only thing about this I don't understand is how Sherlock could be telling Anderson about John's theory.

If this script (thanks, Ariane, you're the best as always, I omitted parts for better overview) is correct, it can be very well be John's imagination after him closing his eyes. Then also Anderson's hysteria would be John's imagination.

(Sherlock looks at him, his eyes wide and tear-filled. John sighs, lowering his head again before raising it once more.)
JOHN: Yes, of course I forgive you.
(Sherlock gazes at him. John meets his eyes for a moment, then he takes in a deep breath through his nose, closes his eyes, raises his head and braces himself for death.)

The scene whites out.

From the point of view of a video camera, Sherlock is sitting on a sofa in front of a window and looking directly into the camera.
SHERLOCK: The criminal network Moriarty headed was vast.
(Cutaway shot of Sherlock standing beside Mycroft as he sits in his office in the Diogenes Club. Mycroft appears to be reading a report; Sherlock is looking at his phone.)

(Narration Sherlock omitted)

In front of the video camera, Sherlock looks dispassionately into the lens. Anderson is sitting on a chair on the other side of the camera.
SHERLOCK: Everything was anticipated; every eventuality allowed for. It worked ... (he smiles slightly) ... perfectly.

(Narration Sherlock omitted, ends with)

ANDERSON (even softer, with a combination of amusement and exasperation): Sherlock!
(His chuckle slowly develops into laughter, and then into hysterical laughter as he tears at the papers on the wall, ripping them off and whooping and giggling. Eventually he collapses in the corner, rising up onto his knees to continue clawing at the papers and still laughing hysterically until he slumps back down again.)

The whited-out scene fades back in again and John is standing in the Tube carriage with his eyes closed and his head raised. He grips the handrail and lowers his head, blowing out a long breath.
(...)

Last edited by Harriet (October 21, 2015 5:08 pm)

Harriet wrote:

If this script (thanks, Ariane, you're the best as always, I omitted parts for better overview) is correct, it can be very well be John's imagination after him closing his eyes. Then also Anderson's hysteria would be John's imagination.

This is actually a very compelling idea.

I've heard some criticisms of TEH, how Sherlock's explanation seemed jammed into the episode at a seemingly random or arbitrary point.

But this interpetation would make the placement of that scene make complete sense.