I think the writers did what they, not the viewers, wanted to see. They said several times they've been wondering how Sherlock's speech would be like when they realised he must have been Watson's best man and that they didn't like John's reaction to Sherlock's return in canon... I believe it was in their heads even before the series started. And apparently some fans' expectations and wishes were the same. It's not hard to deduce there must have been a stag night before the wedding and that BBC John wouldn't have fainted after seeing Sherlock etc.
Personally, I had different expectations for season 3 than the ones you mentioned; I wanted a brilliant explanation of the fall, three big cases and more Sherlock and Mycroft scenes. I got only the last one (not that I'm unhappy, I just wanted to point out that we as fans don't want the same things). Were they influenced? I think the Sheriarty kiss scene came out from fanfiction and Sherlock ruffling his hair was a pure fanservice but that's all. I don't think it's too much. 

I agree with Marta. Some things were of course in the heads of Mofftiss AND the fandom.
Just think of all those scenes in S1 which we truly love - and they had no idea then what we might expect from them.
Although in Season 3 I don't think many of the fans wanted to see Sherlock "die" again or fail.
The stag night, the speech and a lot of other things showed Sherlock's emotional development, which was the aim of the authors.
And somewhere I read that they claimed not to read on tumblr and twitter or any kind of fanfiction. One can believe it or not.
But of course some things must have come through to them and they could have been affected unconsciously. Everything else would be not very professional - what I believe they are.

Last edited by Mattlocked (June 26, 2014 5:26 pm)

I personally think they are aware what's out there. I don't doubt their professionalism and i highly admire their writing. They have surprised me so many times by creating an arc as SusiGo has said. Maybe it boils down to "everyone's a critic" ;) have to point out again that i really love that show and even when i wasn't (yet) entirely comfortable with season 3 (will re-watch) it is still a fact that i am really totally captivated by that show, otherwise i wouldn't wreck my brain about this and that. It is a good sign. I was just wondering. 

I agree with Marta that probably the only one "fandom" scene was scene with Moriarty and Sherlock on the roof (but I think it was not to satisfy fans who wanted to see Sheriarty but rather it was mocking with them like "You wanted to see Johnlock, we give you Sheriarty" ). And I agree with Mattlocked too, Moffat and Gattis many times in their interviews said that they weren't looking for ideas on the Internet but what we see in the show is their own concept. I know that they are the biggest trolls ever but I trust them in that matter (but only in that xD ). But I have to say, after I've watched series 3 and got familiar with all fandom's ideas I have similar concerns as you Lilith. But after watching few interviews with producers I quickly got rid of those thoughts

Lilith wrote:

Hmm, there must have been a stag night ? Says who? (says the man at the door, haha). Yeah, but really? Cause our Sherlock is ever so conventional? No wait, is he? 

Sherlock isn't. John is. John wanted a stag night, Sherlock organised one.

SusiGo wrote:

I think it is all part of the storytelling arc. We meet a young Sherlock Holmes who is intellectually brilliant but suppresses his feelings. In series 2 this is slowly changing and in series 3 he finally gives in to his emotions. Because he is not accustomed to dealing with feelings he is sometimes overwhelmed and distracted and therefore makes mistakes. I think they will go on to show how he finally manages to reconcile both sides of his personality without comprising one or the other. 

I agree absolutely. It's all part of his journey as a character.

Let me just say that I am 100% for character development and I believe season 3 would be much worse if it was like I imagined it to be. Moftiss clearly know what they are doing and I trust them like I never trusted any other writers. But it's hard not to speculate when you have to wait two years. How did you manage to do it, Lilith?

It was a stag night with just the two of them. Which is different to a bucks party with a lot of guests and stuff.

Mattlocked, that is interesting trivia (i also didn't know there is a difference), yet it was not quite my point. I didn't actually say i missed more guests to that night out  Having said that, i did enjoy that scene to a degree, it was well played and it was funny. It is just not really "my" Sherlock! *lament lament* Even though i loved the notion how he thought he can actually conduct the state of drunkeness but even the best laid plans can (and usually do!) fail. 

Well, basically only because of John, no? That human factor, you can always rely that this is what makes things go horribly wrong! The human factor. Or .. make things really splendid, depends on perspective 

Yes, i know. He had a shot at the bar and spiked the beer with some hard liquor (is spiked the correct word??) 

Very much so. And sure enough it ended in superduper-hangover disaster complete with being really sick. He tried to spice things up a bit, i guess. But the message can only be ~ stay with one beverage! or something like that. (sorry for being hilariously off topic!)