BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / The new baddie at the end and why he did it *SPOILERS?*

**Posted by Mrs. Watson** January 2, 2014 1:11 am

It is Magnussen. Isn't he?

Why did he had John kidnapped?
Well, I think it's all about Mary. When he was watching the bonfire at the end he kept on repeating Mary's cry ("John!"). And he sent HER the text messages. Didn't he?

What do you think?

**Posted by kete** January 2, 2014 2:30 am

As for why John was attacked, I don't think it has to do with Sherlock, I think it's about Mary. Perhaps they're really going for a CAM/Gruner cross with Mary being his ex-mistress who got away with his little black book and he doesn't want her to marry John?

**Posted by kuma** January 2, 2014 8:14 am

He wouldn't repeat it if he didn't plan the attack. He was watching. And remember his pupillary when he saw Sherlock's face.
And here comes another confusion. Why did he act like a cave man like that, I mean people tweeted about Sherlock, news full on papers... But I can strainedly think he was unsure about humors until saw it himself. Not quite good explanation though.

**Posted by SilverMoonDragonB** January 2, 2014 2:02 pm

I don't think it has entirely to do with Mary, if you watch closely you can see him re-watching the exact moment of the bonfire scene in which Sherlock pulls John out over and over again, and each time the "baddie" watches it the zoom gets closer and closer on Sherlock's face.
However, the texts were sent to Mary first though soon afterwards they were addressing Sherlock. So in a way, I think what happened had to do with both Mary and Sherlock and why...because he's a blackmailer right? His "profession" is to exploit and use the weaknesses of others, he may have set up the bonfire to test a theory that John is Sherlock's (and maybe Mary's) biggest weakness and to see if he could exploit it.
Of course we only got a little bit of the story, there's probably more to it.

**Posted by LoveIsAViciousMotivator** January 2, 2014 2:12 pm

SilverMoonDragonB wrote:
I don't think it has entirely to do with Mary, if you watch closely you can see him re-watching the exact moment of the bonfire scene in which Sherlock pulls John out over and over again, and each time the "baddie" watches it the zoom gets closer and closer on Sherlock's face. However, the texts were sent to Mary first though soon afterwards they were addressing Sherlock. So in a way, I think what happened had to do with both Mary and Sherlock and why...because he's a blackmailer right? His "profession" is to exploit and use the weaknesses of others, he may have set up the bonfire to test a theory that John is Sherlock's (and maybe Mary's) biggest weakness and to see if he could exploit it.

I was thinking that too when I saw the last scene.

**Posted by SilverMoonDragonB** January 2, 2014 2:15 pm

Swanpride wrote:
Let's recap what we know:
- We are dealing with someone who is similar omnipotent as Mycroft. After all, he was not only able to record the rescue, the messages also suggested that he was watching Sherlock and/or Mary the whole time.
- So whoever send the messages was most likely the same person who was watching
- That doesn't mean though, that he was also the one responsible for John's kidnapping. It is possible that he initiated it himself, but is is also possible that he was just watching it and decided to inform Sherlock.
- The first messages were send to Mary, the later ones to Sherlock, though.

I have the feeling that the same way Moriaty was designed to be a negative foil of Sherlock, Magnussen will be designed to be a negative foil of Mycroft.

I'm getting that feeling too.
We only saw a little bit of him, but I am intrigued by Magnussen already...of course, no one hurts the boys (potentially, because as you said he might not have been so directly involved with John's kidnapping, but I think he was) and gets away with it! *prepares pitchfork*

Last edited by SilverMoonDragonB (January 2, 2014 2:15 pm)

**Posted by kete** January 2, 2014 2:24 pm

SilverMoonDragonB wrote:
I don't think it has entirely to do with Mary, if you watch closely you can see him re-watching the exact moment of the bonfire scene in which Sherlock pulls John out over and over again, and each time the "baddie" watches it the zoom gets closer and closer on Sherlock's face.

Yes, I noticed that. But he seems to have listened to *Mary's* anguished screams with relish, so I think he wanted to torture *her* by burning the man she intnded to marry. Then he zooms in on Sherlock, because *he* was the one to avert this, like "Aha! Who's this guy then? Perhaps I should pay him some attention...."

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** January 2, 2014 3:01 pm

It definitely has something to do with Mary.

**Posted by SusiGo** January 2, 2014 3:39 pm

If you take a look at Sherlock's deductions about Mary you will see the word "liar" popping up more than once. So lovely as she is, there might be something about Mary's past that could make her a possible target for Magnussen.

**Posted by SusiGo** January 2, 2014 4:03 pm

Yes, but it is quite a strong word in this context.

**Posted by Regina Alexandra** January 3, 2014 2:07 am

I think CAM is interested in Sherlock as someone he wiill have to reckon with if he attempts to blackmail Mary. I think she is his true target.

**Posted by sj4iy** January 3, 2014 5:32 am

Mary recognized the skip code immediately and that John was in trouble. The messages were sent to her first and addressed to Sherlock only after she had sought his help. We know nothing about her other than she's a nurse working for John. Is this a coincidence? She immediately liked Sherlock and even started guessing that Mycroft would be his confidant. Maybe she is a mole...we know that is blackmailed later in HLV, but I don't know why yet or the extent of her involvement.

**Posted by Schmiezi** January 3, 2014 9:41 am

kete wrote:
... so I think he wanted to torture *her* by burning the man she intnded to marry.

I don't think CAM really wanted to burn John. Why would he give a warning if he really wanted John dead? I think he only wanted to observe something about Mary and Sherlock rescuing John. Whatever that may be.

**Posted by kuma** January 3, 2014 6:16 pm

I don't want her to be a mole. I like her.

Swanpride wrote:
Let's recap what we know:
- We are dealing with someone who is similar omnipotent as Mycroft. After all, he was not only able to record the rescue, the messages also suggested that he was watching Sherlock and/or Mary the whole time.
- So whoever send the messages was most likely the same person who was watching
- That doesn't mean though, that he was also the one responsible for John's kidnapping. It is possible that he initiated it himself, but is is also possible that he was just watching it and decided to inform Sherlock.
- The first messages were send to Mary, the later ones to Sherlock, though.

I have the feeling that the same way Moriaty was designed to be a negative foil of Sherlock, Magnussen will be designed to be a negative foil of Mycroft.

And you make my question mark even bigger. If he had known that Sherlock was still alive before, why did his PUPILLARY shrink like surprised when he captured Sherlock's face on screen?

**Posted by tonnaree** January 3, 2014 8:20 pm

" The first messages were send to Mary, the later ones to Sherlock, though."

They were? I thought Mary was reading them to Sherlock as they rode on the bike.

I do not believe Mary is a mole. I believe she's going to be a victim. The reason CAM gave them the chance to save John was because he wanted to show her what he can do if she doesn't decide to cooperate with him.

**Posted by tonnaree** January 3, 2014 9:28 pm

Ah, forgot about that part.

**Posted by John Smythe Watson** January 3, 2014 11:55 pm

My money is on CAM - he was a colleague of Jim's and wants revenge.

Sebastian was only a hitman for Jim. (he is not a Master Criminal he is an employee in the large network of criminals, many who are specialists, it would have taken to organise the train bomb)

Blowing up 'The Houses of Parliament' is a Master Plan and is planned to coincide with Guy Fawkes Night. Master Plans are carried out by Master Criminals...

The Mastermind behind it (Who now that Jim has gone has to be CAM - if we are to stay loyal and faithful to the Canon).

Killing those close to be Sherlock would be revenge for killing CAMS's close colleague (Jim). (That's what the Mafiosa do as standard form.)

Killing John in a bonfire is ironic because Jim made enough 'threats to burn' also it was unfinished business for Jim to blow up John in the swimming pool scene.

Having a false body in a coffin (e.g. as Sherlock) relates to a short story in The Canon 'The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax' where her body is placed in a larger coffin with and old woman: she survives because Sherlock rescues her (albeit with some brain damage)

You may also have observed if you had read the concluding two pages of 'The Dying Detective' that Holmes had to convince Watson that he was a dying man by the use of three days fasting, belladonna drops in his eyes and beeswax around his mouth as a sort of deathly makeup. He also had to keep Watson away from taking his pulse and temperature. He also tells Watson that he could decieve him (a medical man) at four yards into thinking he was dying.

The gold glasses in the end scene, [of episode one of the new series] on the observer relates to (classical) CAM's description [A perpetual Frozen Smile and two keen grey eyes which gleemed brightly behind broad, 'gold rimmed glasses'.]

I thought that episode one was absolutely brilliant as always, and the fact that the intrepid writers made use of a popular fan-girl theory was a fitting tribute to the most dedicated fans in the world.

All hail The Moff and The Gatt!

It means that they are being observed and are important!!!

John S Watson.

**Posted by sj4iy** January 4, 2014 1:37 pm

Swanpride wrote:
I don't think so...one of the main character points of Milverton is that he doesn't see himself as a criminal. Just a business man so to speak. I'm sure the writers kept that part.

My guess is that he looks to be a media mogul who is used to getting his way by exerting his influence over people.

**Posted by Mary Me** January 4, 2014 1:45 pm

I think it's confusing that the mails were adressing Sherlock.
I agree that it's also about Mary and to be honest, I find the theory that she has some sort of a past with Magnussen that makes her the target very intriguing though I wouldn't bare the thought that she was nothing more than a spy.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** January 4, 2014 1:58 pm

sj4iy wrote:
Swanpride wrote:
I don't think so...one of the main character points of Milverton is that he doesn't see himself as a criminal. Just a business man so to speak. I'm sure the writers kept that part.

My guess is that he looks to be a media mogul who is used to getting his way by exerting his influence over people.

^^