Well I guess it's just John "three continents" Watson.
Call me sheltered but I can't picture a man having time and energy for an affair right after having a new baby.

I thought it actually seemed quite natural.  He's struggling a bit with the demands of a baby, there probably isn't a lot of sex going on, he's tired and fed up, and then a pretty, well-rested, fresh-faced woman shows interest.  I think he's just flattered at first.  And I think you can see his internal workings when she gives him the phone number.  Of course, he's going to throw it away!  But then, things like that don't happen every day.  And what's the harm in keeping a phone number?  And later, adding the number of somebody you've met to your phone?  Sending a non-committal text? 

I thought it was quite realistic, the way it gradually escalates.  I think that as well as plain, old sexual attraction, John maybe enjoys having somebody interested in him, and having something just for himself - not shared with Mary, Sherlock, Rosie. 

I don't think he's trying to get back at Mary or Sherlock for anything, but there might be a little rationalisation of "Well, she lied to me ...".   He does equate his own lies with her lies later. 

I think there's more to this story from bus stop lady's side, but I think that from John's side it's pretty straightforward and believable.
 

I think he simply did not love Mary enough to be faithful.

Vhanja wrote:

I do find it interesting that he doesn't talk about it with Sherlock. I would've thoughts that this is what you would share with a "mate". Perhaps he thinks Sherlock is too close to Mary? Perhaps he does want this to be just for him? As it is, he has to share Mary with Sherlock, and Sherlock with Mary. 

I think he can´t speak about this with Sherlock. Sherlock sacrificed too much, he even forgave his own shooting, apparently, to get him back together with Mary. To say to him that his sacrifice was for naught would feel too much like a betrayal, IMHO.

Do we know he really physically cheated? Or was he just playing with the idea? The second meeting at the bus stop does not feel like two people meeting who had sex together or even met for dinner. To me it seems as if he flirted with the idea of cheating and gave up before taking it further. 

Which, however, still leaves Vhanja's question of why John even considered it. What does he have?

- Cases with his friend Sherlock
- A family with his wife

So it seems this still is not enough. This is not the right thing for him. We know that other relationships with women did not work either. What are they telling us?  

The text message John received said . Miss you?
Implies they had been seeing each other frequently in the near past ?
If it was just flirtation then what was John need to discuss with Mary.

It is all a bit confusing. Temptation and guilt though. 

Right, thank you.

Which still leaves the above question - what is it John Watson wants? Not the boring teacher. Not Sarah Sawyer. Not the one with the nose. Not Mary. Probably not the bus stop lady either. 

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" 
 

SusiGo wrote:

Right, thank you.

Which still leaves the above question - what is it John Watson wants? Not the boring teacher. Not Sarah Sawyer. Not the one with the nose. Not Mary. Probably not the bus stop lady either. 

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" 
 

 
exactly.

We just need John to see it now . 
I think Sherlock is on the case now at least.

Told Mary he was what though?
Cheating or just a serial flirt?

I think what matters is that he finally decided to end it and to have a talk with his wife. He wanted to be a better husband and father. Maybe such an internal crisis is the little push John needed to settle into his new role.

Last edited by ewige (January 2, 2017 7:31 pm)