BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / The Sign of Three Picture Thread

**Posted by SolarSystem** April 10, 2014 9:19 am

And I couldn't stop laughing when I read one of the first comments on tumblr regarding this exact moment: "That's when John broke Sherlock".
It really seems as if he's incapable of 'functioning' for about a minute. Endearing and tragic at the same time.

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 9:26 am

You are right, Solar. That is a situation when Sherlock completely lost controll. What would you do if something happens that you never thought of to be possible?

**Posted by This Is The Phantom Lady** April 10, 2014 9:31 am

I adore that scene; it was a glimpse of humanity I feel; Sherlock's tough shell of a facade was broken for those 'few' moments and he had no idea what to do!

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 9:35 am

LOL
JOHN: That’s getting a bit scary now.

Last edited by gently69 (April 10, 2014 9:36 am)

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 9:39 am

JOHN: No, it is! It is ...

Last edited by gently69 (April 10, 2014 9:39 am)

**Posted by SusiGo** April 10, 2014 9:40 am

Great moment (yes, it is about Mary, I know, but still).

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 9:46 am

But John couldn't do it without Sherlock.

**Posted by SolarSystem** April 10, 2014 9:53 am

SusiGo wrote:
Great moment (yes, it is about Mary, I know, but still).

Oh, but..... it's not entirely about Mary, is it? Okay, alright, John is marrying her, but he wants Sherlock to be there with him as well so badly...! Asking Sherlock to be his best man feels to me as if John were asking Sherlock to marry him.

**Posted by Be** April 10, 2014 10:14 am

gently69 wrote:
You are right, Solar. That is a situation when Sherlock completely lost controll. What would you do if something happens that you never thought of to be possible?

You would doubt if it is real and try to verify or falsify it by asking questions. Something like " Where are we going?; Some sort of party? Who's the host?" (quotes from The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes where Sherlock is actually invited by Mycroft with customary arrogance but mistaken and fooled by a woman) And I don't think that meta-Holmes was ever Dr. Watson's best man in the history of pastiches. Or was he? So his actual mistrust is certainly understandable.

Last edited by Be (April 10, 2014 10:22 am)

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 10:24 am

I think I would stand there like Sherlock did. Absolutely stunned and not able to do anything...

**Posted by SolarSystem** April 10, 2014 10:25 am

And I don't think it's mistrust. He's unable to comprehend the meaning of it all.

**Posted by SusiGo** April 10, 2014 10:32 am

I think Sherlock is be arrogant and overly sure of his intellectual brilliance while at the same time totally unaware of other people's positive feelings towards him. Most people have been hostile or dismissive towards him (not without reason). Just think of the cab scene in ASiP. Or his "I don't have friends". This was not the drugs speaking. And when John tells him that he is his best friend despite of how much he hurt him Sherlock is simply overwhelmed and does not trust his self-image anymore.

Last edited by SusiGo (April 10, 2014 10:33 am)

**Posted by Be** April 10, 2014 10:36 am

Yes, that's perhaps a better way to describe it. I didn't mean that he doesn't trust John but that he is not sure if he can trust his own interpretation when it comes to "being involved".

**Posted by SusiGo** April 10, 2014 10:39 am

Yes, it is a sign of his insecurity. His self-confidence fails the moment he is forced to recognise his own emotions and cope with them. A thing he has to learn.

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 10:42 am

Isn't it what a sociopath feels or rather not feels? What he can't cope with?

**Posted by SusiGo** April 10, 2014 10:53 am

Sorry, not my division. I do not know the exact definition of sociopathy but I think that Sherlock mainly uses the term to protect himself.

**Posted by Be** April 10, 2014 10:55 am

SusiGo wrote:
Yes, it is a sign of his insecurity. His self-confidence fails the moment he is forced to recognise his own emotions and cope with them. A thing he has to learn.

At the end he tries, goes to the wedding, makes a vow and ends being a murderer alone on a plane to nowhere.

**Posted by SusiGo** April 10, 2014 10:59 am

Was this really necessary, Be?
Seriously, he is still in the process of learning. He let his feelings could his mind and he did not deduce important things about Mary and Magnussen. He will have to find a way to coordinate the emotional and intellectual elements of his character.

**Posted by Be** April 10, 2014 11:22 am

If we look at the "sweet" and bright side of the coin we also have to acknowledge his dark and dangerous side. Series 3 explores the extremes.

**Posted by gently69** April 10, 2014 11:34 am

SusiGo wrote:
Sorry, not my division. I do not know the exact definition of sociopathy but I think that Sherlock mainly uses the term to protect himself.

Yeah, could be. Poor man...