BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / "I prefer my doctors to be clean shaven."

**Posted by The_Gun_Flip** January 3, 2014 8:16 pm

I apologise profusely if this has already been discussed but a search and a look around didn't uncover any posts about it yet here. If there is one, sorry & please can someone point me in it's direction.

The line where Sherlock says, "I prefer my doctors to be clean shaven." sounds like a quote. Does anyone recognise or understand the reference?

**Posted by kittykat** January 3, 2014 8:48 pm

I don't know, but my headcanon is that John actually IS Sherlock's doctor. Registered and everything ^^

**Posted by The_Gun_Flip** January 3, 2014 9:03 pm

kittykat wrote:
I don't know, but my headcanon is that John actually IS Sherlock's doctor. Registered and everything ^^

Yes :-) No other doctor would put up with Sherlock anyway. Worst patient ever I imagine.

**Posted by kittykat** January 3, 2014 10:42 pm

Oh, definitely!

**Posted by Wholocked** January 4, 2014 2:36 am

I've no idea if it's a quote but from the very moment I heard that line my exact thought was "Oh god, that is going to spawn a whole lot of clean-shaven kink fics" (and I'm not talking about the face)

**Posted by tonnaree** January 4, 2014 3:42 am

You're more than likely right Matt.

**Posted by The_Gun_Flip** January 4, 2014 10:52 am

If he'd said "doctor" rather than "doctors" then it would definitely have had me raising an eyebrow!

But "doctors" seems odd. Maybe a Doctor Who thing? That was my first thought but I'm not enough of a Doctor Who fan to know if facial hair on the Doctors is a thing.

**Posted by SolarSystem** January 4, 2014 11:12 am

Btw, you might wanna have a look at this:

http://www.bbcshop.com/sherlock/sherlock-i-dont-shave-for-sherlock-holmes-official-ladies-t-shirt-bbc-shop-exclusive-large/invt/skap0018

**Posted by The_Gun_Flip** January 4, 2014 11:19 am

SolarSystem wrote:
Btw, you might wanna have a look at this:

http://www.bbcshop.com/sherlock/sherlock-i-dont-shave-for-sherlock-holmes-official-ladies-t-shirt-bbc-shop-exclusive-large/invt/skap0018

I love that they actually made the T-shirt to tie-in with Mary saying, you should get that on a T-shirt. Brilliant! P.s. LOVE Mary in that scene. Anyone else notice she's sitting in a SH pose, knees tucked up? (Off topic I know, soz ;)

**Posted by SolarSystem** January 4, 2014 11:39 am

The_Gun_Flip wrote:
I love that they actually made the T-shirt to tie-in with Mary saying, you should get that on a T-shirt. Brilliant! P.s. LOVE Mary in that scene. Anyone else notice she's sitting in a SH pose, knees tucked up? (Off topic I know, soz ;)

Actually, the moment I saw that scene I just knew that this would be made into a t-shirt faster than you can say "marry me".

**Posted by Jacco111** January 4, 2014 12:12 pm

It's not a quote from the Canon.

**Posted by The_Gun_Flip** January 4, 2014 12:20 pm

My head canon until I know better is that Sherlock's referring to Matt Smith in the Christmas Doctor Who.

**Posted by Be** February 22, 2014 2:18 pm

I think it is just a bit of a meta element. Something that the meta Sherlock Holmes would say if he as a character existed and could actually survive through the ages and form an opinion about all the Wtason incarnations in films and movies. A bit like breaking the fourth wall and telling the writers that he prefers to have a Watson by his side without a moustache.

**Posted by besleybean** February 22, 2014 3:07 pm

I honestly just think Sherlock meant it in the sense of a shaved doctor looking cleaner and more professional.
But they used it to give us all a giggle!

**Posted by KeepersPrice** February 23, 2014 12:05 am

Be wrote:
I think it is just a bit of a meta element. Something that the meta Sherlock Holmes would say if he as a character existed and could actually survive through the ages and form an opinion about all the Wtason incarnations in films and movies. A bit like breaking the fourth wall and telling the writers that he prefers to have a Watson by his side without a moustache.

I like that thought, Be! It's very clever. I wish I'd thought of it. It's going to now become my official interpretation. Thanks.

**Posted by SherlocklivesinOH** February 23, 2014 3:50 am

As a matter of fact, most Watsons throughout the years have had mustaches...and there is much Johnlock fanfic playing with the idea that Holmes likes to feel Watson's mustache tickling him....

But the line is nevertheless a little bit Johnlock-y, because it's like a woman (or gay man) saying, "I prefer my men (insert physical trait)" - talking about what he or she finds attractive in a potential romantic interest.

The very idea of Sherlock having a preference for John to look a certain way...

**Posted by Be** February 25, 2014 10:52 am

On the other hand we get a John being very reluctant (at first) to value Sherlock's opinion. Or is it that he just doesn't want to admit that he values it?
Why can’t John confess that he likes Sherlock, that he adores him and that he values his opinion? Not even when it is just about the silly moustache. I don’t shave for Sherlock Holmes. How very telling. Nobody said that, John. The natural reaction would be to say that Sherlock has a superior way to see things. What looks good, what suits you and what doesn’t. He knows how to dress himself. So if your friend has a good taste in clothes it is perfectly logical and sensible to take advantage of that and follow his advice.
Mrs. H told him that it ages him and he kept the moustache in spite of it.

The same goes with girl-friends. Just imagine you have a "Sherlock" who is a good friend of yours and you are looking for a romantic partner. And you didn't have much success.
It is perfectly sensible to ask the Sherlockian person about his opinion about humans.
Something Janine apparently did at the wedding. A very useful trait.
If I was John I would have asked Sherlock what he can deduce about Mary and whether he likes her and whether he thinks that we'd make a good couple.
Not that I would actually do what "Sherlock" said just because he said it but I would take advantage ot it.

**Posted by besleybean** February 25, 2014 12:07 pm

I think John is still in the : 'Sherlock knows nothing about love and relationships' line of thought.

**Posted by SherlocklivesinOH** February 26, 2014 2:12 am

Be wrote:
On the other hand we get a John being very reluctant (at first) to value Sherlock's opinion. Or is it that he just doesn't want to admit that he values it?

I think the whole point of John shaving so soon after the reunion (was it soon?...always have a bit of a problem with timeline in this series) was that he WAS shaving for Sherlock Holmes!

Saying he didn't was "protesting too much," and it was almost like another denial of them being a couple, in a way. Kind of goes back to the whole, "I'm not gay" thing. Because in this case, it wouldn't be just valuing Sherlock's OPINION, but it's Sherlock's opinion of his looks, in particular.

In other words, "I don't care if Sherlock Holmes finds me attractive."

Last edited by SherlocklivesinOH (February 26, 2014 2:18 am)

**Posted by This Is The Phantom Lady** February 26, 2014 8:16 am

I do see that qoute as two things; firstly I do think Motiss loves to tease the Johnlockers; I bet they laughed their pants off when they wrote that!

Secondly I think it also shows Sherlock's manipulative side. He needs to control the people he is around in order to feel right.

I also think about what John told Lestrade in THoB, that his Asperbergers makes him like to have the 'usual' faces around. the mustache isn't Watson's 'usual' look and what Sherlock is used to...

I have a friend who is mentally ill. Granted she does not have Aspberger's but if I wear bright colours or white around her instead of black like she knows me she can barely look at me...