BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Mary – the subject of discussion

**Posted by gently69** February 26, 2015 2:57 pm

Yeah, different kinds of humour.

**Posted by Schmiezi** February 26, 2015 3:21 pm

That is true, Swanpride. It doesn't change the fact though that the writers showed us how many people dislike Mary. I find this strange, given how lovable Mary is portrayed in TEH and TSOT.

I wonder what exactly it is that makes people in that fictional reality dislike her. Any ideas?

**Posted by tonnaree** February 26, 2015 3:28 pm

I had two friends at my wedding that could not stand my husband. It does happen in real life. But I do think that we need to remember that John and Mary's wedding is fictional. Every single aspect of it that we see or don't see represents a choice made by the creators. It doesn't matter that in real life you can have people at your wedding that dislike you or your spouse. What matters is that the makers CHOOSE to show us that happening at John and Mary's wedding.

**Posted by SolarSystem** February 26, 2015 5:54 pm

I think it was added in order to tell us something about Mary and what kind of an impression she tends to make on other people. If we argee with this or not is up to every single one of us.

**Posted by Schmiezi** February 26, 2015 7:19 pm

Talking about the impression she made on people ...

There is one thing she did that made me like her a lot less (besides shooting Sherlock, I mean). When confronted in Leinster Garden, she shoots the coin and then lets Sherlock pick it up. Sherlock who just had an operation in his chest (because she shot him there). Picking up that coin must have been extremely painful. Why didn't she just pick it up herself instead of kicking it in his direction?

**Posted by tonnaree** February 26, 2015 7:36 pm

Schmiezi wrote:
Talking about the impression she made on people ...

There is one thing she did that made me like her a lot less (besides shooting Sherlock, I mean). When confronted in Leinster Garden, she shoots the coin and then lets Sherlock pick it up. Sherlock who just had an operation in his chest (because she shot him there). Picking up that coin must have been extremely painful. Why didn't she just pick it up herself instead of kicking it in his direction?

I agree. That was such a nasty petty thing to do.

**Posted by lil** February 26, 2015 9:51 pm

Think the scene with Mary and the ..people who hate you list...was about showing how different Marys reaction to Sherlock being....Sherlock was to Johns usual girlfriends.
Most brides would....idk... cause a scene..get angry....go off in a huff....etc etc
Mary doesn't care about the hate list and even seems amused..
Sherlock isn't going to scare her off.

**Posted by Lola Red** February 26, 2015 11:11 pm

People keep bringing up that there is a list of people who don’t like Mary, but there also is an essay about the fact that John is hated by all of his friends (MHR), both written by the same master observer. So if the list tells us something about Mary’s character, what does the essay tell us about John's? And what does it tell us about what those two hated people found in each other?

**Posted by mrshouse** March 1, 2015 6:12 pm

I had almost forgot about this little detail in MHR, thank you reminding me.
I thought about this and had some thoughts:
Firstly it's safe to say that neither John nor Mary are surrounded by haters in a literal sense. I thought that Sherlock's words in the video tape are recorded somewhere at the beginning of their relationship, nobody but Sherlock could make feel John alive and useful after Afghanistan. So maybe it could refer to people who knew John before but didn't understand him, least of all be helpful in his state at the beginning if ASIP.
Now onto Mary. I wonder if it's the makers showing the fans their faces in the mirror, well those fans who are not too fond of Mary that is to say. Amanda mentioned in an interview before that her character might not be too popular, but asks for a fair chance.
Just as an aside: I have no idea whatsoever how popular amongst fans Mary really is. I think I can say for a handful of users around here but that's about it. I would love a poll, but I'm afraid that would explode.
Sorry for the waffling.

**Posted by Harriet** March 1, 2015 6:53 pm

There is a survey, actually. Read through the chapters, she is mentioned several times

http://multifandom-madnesss.tumblr.com/post/98740690929/sherlock-fandom-survey-the-results-open-the

**Posted by Vhanja** March 1, 2015 6:58 pm

My impression is that Mary is in general well-liked and well-received. Not by everyone, of course, and it seems she is less liked among Johnlockers as she's viewed as a distraction or threat to their pairing.

Last edited by Vhanja (March 1, 2015 6:58 pm)

**Posted by Harriet** March 1, 2015 7:02 pm

Vhanja wrote:
... and it seems she is less liked among Johnlockers as she's viewed as a distraction or threat to their pairing.

If you say so, it must be true, no matter what we Johnlockers said for how many times.

Last edited by Harriet (March 1, 2015 7:03 pm)

**Posted by Vhanja** March 1, 2015 7:04 pm

Harriet wrote:
If you say so, it must be true, no matter what us Johnlockers said for how many times.

Johnlockers aren't one group with one singular opinion. My impression is that what I said goes for many of them - and equally many Johnlockers will have a different view on the matter. I am a Johnlocker, but I do not dislike Mary.

**Posted by Harriet** March 1, 2015 7:12 pm

You can have a look around this board. This issue has been discussed a lot, and you will probably be surprised.

**Posted by SusiGo** March 1, 2015 7:13 pm

Well, I do not dislike Mary because I am a Johnlocker. I dislike her
for reasons I have explained more than once.

**Posted by Harriet** March 1, 2015 7:15 pm

And I as a Johnlocker think that Mary is a perfect catalyst for Johnlock.

**Posted by Schmiezi** March 1, 2015 7:44 pm

Can we please please stop going through the "Johnlockers hate Mary" prejudice again?

**Posted by SusiGo** March 1, 2015 7:45 pm

Where can I sign this?

**Posted by Vhanja** March 1, 2015 7:49 pm

So again being bashed down for daring to voice an opinion not shared with all of the board? Is it only allowed to have the same opinion as the majority on this board without being shut down?

**Posted by SusiGo** March 1, 2015 7:58 pm

This is not about bashing anyone, Vhanja, but we have been over this more than once. So far the discussion in this thread has been very stimulating and fair on all sides.
But I get the feeling that my arguments against Mary are not taken seriously when they are again and again countered by the fact that I support Johnlock. Can I not dislike her for other reasons than just viewing her as a distraction from my OTP?

Last edited by SusiGo (March 1, 2015 8:01 pm)