^ Anyone who can manipulate their way through a police force like Sherlock has done IS a risk. It's made clear that his involvement is not official and regardless of how much of a genius he is, having access to the information he does have - and revelling in it, enjoying it - is unorthodox and potentially dangerous. And that's alarming and frustrating to someone like Sally, who I think takes pride in doing her job throughly and by the book (indiscretion with Anderson aside - I think she thinks she's kept those areas separate... if Sherlock hadn't announced it to everyone they would've 'got away with it').

I agree with Mnemosyne that an element of her bitterness comes from being manipulated by him in the past. Perhaps he took advantage of her naivety when she was more junior - he needed to work his way into the force; he won't have just strolled up to Lestrade and become best buddies. And that bitterness is compounded by the way he wipes the floor with them ALL intellectually - it undermines the entire police force, which makes most of the lesser ranks uncomfortable. None of the praise for solving a case comes their way - Lestrade gets a pat on the back from his seniors, but the rest just have to put up with Sherlock being unpleasant while they're trying to do their jobs. I think she's worked hard to get where she is, I think she's dedicated to her job, I think she likes her job and the way things are organised, and I think she's really pissed that someone like Sherlock is allowed to just flout it all AND be rude about it.

I know there's a lot of hate for her character, but I like her and they way she's written... I think she adds a lot to our understanding of the other characters (namely Sherlock & Lestrade but as has been mentioned, she's an interesting counterbalance to Molly).

But in answer to the thread title... I don't think Sherlock is above feigning romance for the sake of getting what he wants. He might have seemed interested in her, used her as a way to get closer to people like Lestrade, and then unceremoniously dropped her once he succeeded. And being used like that it enough to leave anyone bitter! But dated with genuine interest and mutual feelings that went wrong.. no.

Last edited by bohemia (July 14, 2013 12:15 am)

What about Sallys first question when she saw John and Sherlock together?
"Did HE follow you home?"
As if it would be a possibility that Sherlock could stalk somebody...
We now know that Sherlock does that.
Does Sally speak from experience? Why would Sherlock follow her home?

Was he at some time professionally interested in her when looking for an assistant or another police officer he could work with? But it ended badly because Sherlock "let her down" and she felt that she wasted her time?

besleybean wrote:

I thought Sally meant as in a stray dog...
When does Sherlock stalk anybody?
I still think the options are:
1. Sally and he met through a drug bust.
2.  Mycroft got Sherlock the work with Lestrade.
Either way, Sally would be resentful and I also think she's a bigot.

 
I don't see her as a bigot. She is on the side of the estabishment; she needs to be there because of her gender and ethnic background. She cannot afford to do things in a sherlockian fashion. I imagine that she can't stand Sherlock because he doesn't play by the rules and he is unpredictable and unconventional. She wants a career in the police force and she fears to lose her career because of Sherlock's way of doing the investiation. I think she is just afraid of Sherlock and jealous of course.

Interesting theories - I don't think though that Donovan's dislike of Sherlock is down to anything other than than the fact that he's different.
I think if there were any other excuse for it, we'd have seen a hint of it by now.
I cringe at her calling him "freak" and it going unchallenged, and I think it's the very fact that she dislikes him for his "differentness" that leads to Sherlock not bothering to show her any respect.

Be wrote:

I don't see her as a bigot. She is on the side of the estabishment; she needs to be there because of her gender and ethnic background. She cannot afford to do things in a sherlockian fashion. I imagine that she can't stand Sherlock because he doesn't play by the rules and he is unpredictable and unconventional. She wants a career in the police force and she fears to lose her career because of Sherlock's way of doing the investiation. I think she is just afraid of Sherlock and jealous of course.

Indeed, she's probably on the receiving end of bigotry (or perceives that she is). She'd probably have to do twice as much as Sherlock to be thought half as good.

I like the idea that Sherlock has his detractors within law enforcement...but I think it's very unfortunate that the meanest, most antagonistic one is also the only non-white and the only female. Especially when you look at the rest of the female characters.

Remember that the Chief Super didn't know the degree of Sherlock's involvement until RF? I don't think Donovan should be villified for not approving of some of the things Sherlock does, or worrying that he might be dangerous.

When I showed my best friend Sherlock she hated Donovan from the very first sight of her; and during our talks about the show we tried to figure out why she has it in for him.

I can't remember who of us mentioned the posibillity of them having dated in the past or maybe her having had the hots for him and she had her heart broken... we just looked at each other and started laughing.

And I'll take a tub of brain bleech now. 



 

Last edited by This Is The Phantom Lady (March 11, 2014 6:49 pm)

When we first see donovan we are meant to automatically hate her, because we see one side of the story. I think that she has a true deep hatred for sherlock, unsure of weather this is because she dated him or what?

Maybe she hates him precisely because they had no date.
Love (futile infatuation) which converts to hatred...

Last edited by TheWomanWoman (March 25, 2014 7:38 pm)

I used to hate Donovan for being down on Sherlock as well, until I read more about police protocol, and can at least sympathize with her in a professional capacity. Though her feelings seem very personal, beyond professional misgiving. We may never know the backstory; she may have just been written to elicit more sympathy for Sherlock, a difficult and prickly character as it is. I wish there could be a little more exposition on her and Lestrade, besides that bank robbery chase in the beginning of SiT, like them arguing about Sherlock and Lestrade defending his trust in him, etc.

Last edited by CuteCumber (March 26, 2014 7:40 am)

I also don't think she was in love with him. It was just an idea.
I agree with the thought her anger seems to be very personal.
Maybe there is something more than the mentioned things like Sherlock always gets the interesting cases and ruins the police (her) credibility and so on.
She is so rude and inappropriate towards him actually calls him a freak also. Invidious in a energetic way. Her behave seems imo exaggerated observe the mentioned reasons, aren't they? 
If she simply doesn't like him and gives him an invidious remark from time to time it would be more understandable. But she hates him much and does a lot to ruin him. She tries to get John off of him in the beginning and says he could be a psychopath who starts to kill some day. And he should look after another hobby like fishing and so on.
She is so full of hate. More than Anderson who must have the same reasons to dislike him. Suspicious. There must be more...not necessarily emotions.