BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Red Beard Clue

**Posted by NotYourHousekeeperDear** January 7, 2014 7:44 am

I think the Red Beard discussion with Mycroft might be worth it's own thread for discussion: There is this found by Wholocked

Plus the fact he got Sherlock back on the phone just to mention it. I think it is some sort of code from Mycroft letting Sherlock know that he needs to not let his emotions cloud his judgement. Other ideas?

**Posted by SusiGo** January 7, 2014 8:03 am

I just found this on tumblr. Quite intriguing:

http://221books.tumblr.com/post/72491438657/conspiracy-theory-of-the-day

**Posted by NotYourHousekeeperDear** January 7, 2014 8:17 am

Great theory! Thanks SusiGo

**Posted by SolarSystem** January 7, 2014 8:27 am

Interesting theory.
And Redbeard definitely has to mean something, I guess we all can agree on that.
I just wonder: If Mary is really hiding something, if she has taken on a false identity... why does Sherlock not deduce this? Maybe because he's already too involved, maybe because he has been too involved the first moment he met her? And that in combination with the fact that he doesn't seem to be his old self when it comes to his ability to deduce things... hm. Interesting.

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 8:34 am

yes, interesting. And Redbeard does have to mean something - especially after Gatiss's tweet!

But I keep thinking that, if the whole thing was so dangerous, and also so clear and known to Mycroft and Sherlock, why the heck would they not do anything about it?

To me, it seems Sherlock has overlooked things, and this is weird. Yes, he is involved, but he is Sherlock...and ultimately, he wants to make sure John is safe, and by overlooking things he is instead ensuring pain for him... weird.

**Posted by beekeeper** January 7, 2014 9:55 am

my hunch is that sherlock knows a lot more about mary than he is letting on. its not that he is failing to deduce its that he is either refusing to deduce or has deduced and is keeping stuff from John.

**Posted by b2s** January 7, 2014 10:01 am

beekeeper wrote:
my hunch is that sherlock knows a lot more about mary than he is letting on. its not that he is failing to deduce its that he is either refusing to deduce or has deduced and is keeping stuff from John.

This... Are there any screenshots from the first ep. when he deduces her? Maybe some hidden clues in there...

**Posted by SolarSystem** January 7, 2014 10:24 am

b2s wrote:
beekeeper wrote:
my hunch is that sherlock knows a lot more about mary than he is letting on. its not that he is failing to deduce its that he is either refusing to deduce or has deduced and is keeping stuff from John.

This... Are there any screenshots from the first ep. when he deduces her? Maybe some hidden clues in there...

I would say that there is nothing that indicates Sherlock has deduced more about Mary and keeps this from John. Why would he do that? Why would he allow his best friend to marry a woman who has secrets? Or... might that be part of a plan?

**Posted by SusiGo** January 7, 2014 10:33 am

Well, there is the word "liar" popping up in his deductions about her. But to me his fondness of her seems quite convincing.

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 10:35 am

SolarSystem wrote:
b2s wrote:
beekeeper wrote:
my hunch is that sherlock knows a lot more about mary than he is letting on. its not that he is failing to deduce its that he is either refusing to deduce or has deduced and is keeping stuff from John.

This... Are there any screenshots from the first ep. when he deduces her? Maybe some hidden clues in there...
I would say that there is nothing that indicates Sherlock has deduced more about Mary and keeps this from John. Why would he do that? Why would he allow his best friend to marry a woman who has secrets? Or... might that be part of a plan?

I agree that if he knew, he wouldn't just not tell him. John would perhaps get upset, perhaps even not want to listen to him, but he would try.

No. Sherlock has made a mistake...

**Posted by silverblaze** January 7, 2014 11:18 am

Redbeard. That's the only thing Mark tweeted? TROLOLOL.

I know that name though. In the 15th century or so, there was a famous pirate in the Midterranian sea called Barba Rossa, or Redbeard. That's where Pirates got the name Barbossa from.

It's a pirate reference!

Never believed that knowledge would ever become useful.

I don't have twitter, but if you do, can you tweet back Barba Rossa?

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 11:22 am

I'll tweet it now. And I am Italian, and Barbarossa is an Italian word. TROLOLOL indeed

edit: tweeted

Last edited by Ozma (January 7, 2014 11:23 am)

**Posted by sherlocked** January 7, 2014 11:36 am

Red Beard is a Lego minifigure of a pirat. Since Mycroft talks about Sherlock's childhood, and we know, that Sherlock's original professional choice was the buccaneering business, I propose the bold theory, that something terrible happened to that minifigure

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 11:38 am

sherlocked wrote:
Red Beard is a Lego minifigure of a pirat. Since Mycroft talks about Sherlock's childhood, and we know, that Sherlock's original professional choice was the buccaneering business, I propose the bold theory, that something terrible happened to that minifigure

Maybe Cam stole it from him and threw it into a lake, and Sherlock never forgave himself for not having been able to save it. And then he cried all the way through his teens.

Mycroft, rolling his eyes, resigned himself to having to look after and protect his little brother forever as he is now forever traumatised.

Last edited by Ozma (January 7, 2014 11:40 am)

**Posted by silverblaze** January 7, 2014 11:40 am

As to why Mycroft says that to Sherlock, no idea. Sherlock says something along the lines of 'I'm not a child anymore'. Maybe he got attached to a toy with that name and it was taken away from him and Mycroft warns him that the same is gonna happen, but now for real? I don't think it's a plot clue.

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 11:41 am

oh, I think it very much is, otherwise Gatiss wouldn't have tweeted it.

**Posted by sherlocked** January 7, 2014 11:43 am

ozma. lol! Maybe CAM holds that minifigure hostage and blackmails Sherlock. He sure had a lot of creepy toys in his room... and a clown mask to boot...

**Posted by Ozma** January 7, 2014 11:52 am

yes. And this explains why Sherlock is so mad at him.

When Sherlock gets into one of his moods, it's because he thinks of his toy.

trollooolol

**Posted by Umbrella** January 7, 2014 12:00 pm

Barbarossa is also the code name for germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during WWII.

**Posted by Mrs. Watson** January 7, 2014 12:01 pm

What intrigues me is that when Mycroft mentions Redbeard Sherlock doesn't get annoyed, he gets visibly upset. It might be something small-ish like a toy but it certainly left a mark on him.