After finishing The Sign of Three I just needed to get all my thoughts and feelings about Sherlock Holmes written out! Not based entirely on the episode but more focused on everything that took place in the last 5 mins and on the titular character himself. Just my opinion of things, whether they’re right or wrong isn’t what I’m aiming for and I hope this doesn’t get too many negative criticisms because honestly, I don’t have a point to all this, I just wanted to share my thoughts of why I believe that this was the episode which truly gave us all an idea of just how lonely Sherlock is and he is aware of this fact too as he says so in his Best Man speech and it is quite heartbreaking to know that even after all these years of reading books, seeing tv shows, watching movies, Sherlock Holmes as he was shown here was really one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever witnessed come to life through the marvelous Benedict Cumberbatch. Also you might want to stop reading if you haven't seen it yet because here will be spoilers from this episode!
Personally from my side as a fangirl, the idea that season 3 is showing a different Sherlock Holmes than we’ve grown accustomed to in the previous seasons is a bit OOC isn’t what I believe to be true because to me it shows character development. From what little interviews I did read before this season began, a lot of people were talking about Sherlock will appear to have regressed as a person to a certain extent. That doesn’t necessarily mean regressed to the earlier version of him in the first 2 seasons because he has changed since John has come into his life and it isn’t that easy to just go back to that cold and seemingly heartless or careless version of himself. And yes, I am aware that using the word ‘development’ while talking about regression at the same time is contradictory but i only mean to use that as a way of saying that even if Sherlock seems a little OOC, its not a bad thing per se.
First we see a completely different Sherlock Holmes during the Stag Party with John where the two of them end up getting drunk and still manage to enjoy themselves. It is so unlike Sherlock to be so carefree and funny and doing silly things like playing 20 questions with John when he could be doing more important scientific things with his time. But he doesn’t. He makes it a point to give John a Bachelor’s Night that the two of them can share and indulges himself in the entire experience of it all. Its a new side to Sherlock Holmes and I think allowing the fans to see this version was a good move because its another example of showing just how deep and true his friendship runs with John. Also, it doesn’t hurt to see this Sherlock even if it was only in this episode
The final scenes of Sherlock at the wedding reception is where the impact of how lonely he is hits home because for someone to have opened himself up so much at a celebration that was about his best friend John’s wedding and not even something to do with him, only to be rejected and then left alone without anyone to dance with… leaving there as quietly and as discreetly as he could was the logical thing to do. One may say that Sherlock leaves because he isn’t used to being in crowds for long periods of time as we have seen in the Minisode Many Happy Returns too where Sherlock doesn’t even attend John’s birthday party which would have had less people in attendance than this wedding and yet because he was the Best Man and John’s best friend, he was duty bound to stay there for as long as he could… until he decided that his work was done for the night.
But there’s also the flip side that I think is also very likely to a certain extent that in spite of doing his best to be more ‘social’ around other people and quite possibly had entertained the idea that he would have to dance with someone but eventually realized that it wouldn’t happen and John & Mary needed their ‘alone time’ together to dance and talk about the news, Sherlock couldn’t stick around longer and have the appearances stay up because sooner or later either John or even Mary would have noticed it and all Sherlock wanted was for them to be happy and not worry about him. And so we see him leave the music he composed and played for the first dance as his gift to John & Mary before slipping away…
Earlier on in the episode, we had even seen Mrs. Hudson talking to Sherlock about her friend Margaret and making the statement to him, “I mean why would anyone leave a wedding early?” and Mycroft talking to his brother about getting involved and mentioning that an era will be ending, Sherlock realizes all of this as soon as he understands that even though he tried to ask Jeanine for a dance, she was busy with someone else; it just further helps him to make the decision of leaving. In that scene, you can see just about all the thoughts going on in his mind and for Sherlock Holmes, emotions have never been anything more than ‘sentiment’ all along and even now the concepts are quite alien to him but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel things, he does and he experiences things that we all go through and is aware of how he is as a person but yet doesn’t try to isolate himself in his apartment. He will keep the feelings hidden from everyone but they’re very much there.
The fact that Sherlock knows just how he is makes for another point of how heartbreaking his character is because after everything that he’s been through in the last few years, not only does he see himself as being capable of friendship with someone like John but also as a ‘baby’ or a ‘child’ which he references to himself twice in this episode! During the Best Man speech he goes on to actually say in public in front of John, Mary, Lestrade, Molly, Mrs. Hudson and a ton of people he doesn’t even really know -
“I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous, unaware of the beautiful and uncomprehending in the face of the happy. So if I didn’t understand I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be somebody’s best friend. Certainly not the best friend of the bravest, and kindest, and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing. John, I am a ridiculous man, redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship…”
He has always been alone and he knows that. Even in The Empty Hearse when he and Mycroft are talking, they mention the kids who tried to be their friends at that time was quite appalling a concept to them and back in season 1, The Blind Banker when they go to meet Sebastian you get another example of just how different and alone Sherlock has been for the longest period of his life. And now, John, the one person who has considered him to be his Best Friend and worthy of being his Best Man is moving on with his life with Mary and its not something Sherlock is used to; he tries his best but its hard to comprehend everything that’s happening around him. Letting go of John is the hardest thing he has ever had to do in his entire life… no matter the reassurances that Mary and John gave him earlier on, once the wedding is over and all the speeches and dancing is done with, combined with the news of Mary’s pregnancy, Sherlock knows that things are going to be different from now on and he has to find a way to come to terms with that.
I think that one of the reasons why its not as painful as it could have been if there was anyone else but Mary for John is because of Sherlock’s relationship with her. Whatever we get to see from the first episode and the new one, it is obvious that they both have developed a fondness for each other, the respect is equal, the love and care for John is mutual and there is an understanding between them too. I truly loved the two scenes with Sherlock & Mary at the wedding which showed how they are around each other, he does appreciate her presence in John’s life and his own!
Not to mention in the beginning of the episode when she tells Sherlock that she knows when he’s fibbing and talks to him at the reception as well, worrying a little bit about him, she’s part of the family now and its because of how he’s gotten to know Mary and seeing her with John does he acknowledge her role in their lives and maybe feel like he isn’t going to be alone. Not to mention Sherlock actually standing up to make his First and Last Vow to the two people in his life he truly cares about and says “Mary and John. Whatever it takes, whatever happens, from now on I swear I will be there. Always.” It just goes to show just how selfless he has become!
Another point I’m adding in here is his seemingly child-like behavior which, given all that has happened to him as recently as being tortured by the Serbians and the fact that he’s always seen himself as an outsider even among his own peers isn’t something that would be completely out-of-character for himself but the amount of pain and struggles and isolation that he has gone through in his life is obviously going to leave an impact on him, whether its mentally or emotionally isn’t the case; his intelligence is very much intact but he is also susceptible to believing that he can see himself not as an adult sometimes but rather someone who needs a John and Mary in his life. And hearing him reassure them that by taking care of him all this time, it is proof enough that they’ll be good parents to their own child is a truly powerful, meaningful and heartfelt scene that was beautifully played out! They both can understand him in ways that no one else can and he is thankful for their place in his life.
Sherlock has changed and is becoming more human with each episode and I don’t really see that as OOC. I could probably go on and on about this but my thoughts are still pretty scattered and sad over this episode, not to mention the finale next week is probably going to leave me in a worse state… I’ll just end this post here and on a happier note that no matter what they’ve been through, Sherlock and John will always be Best Friends!
Personally from my side as a fangirl, the idea that season 3 is showing a different Sherlock Holmes than we’ve grown accustomed to in the previous seasons is a bit OOC isn’t what I believe to be true because to me it shows character development. From what little interviews I did read before this season began, a lot of people were talking about Sherlock will appear to have regressed as a person to a certain extent. That doesn’t necessarily mean regressed to the earlier version of him in the first 2 seasons because he has changed since John has come into his life and it isn’t that easy to just go back to that cold and seemingly heartless or careless version of himself. And yes, I am aware that using the word ‘development’ while talking about regression at the same time is contradictory but i only mean to use that as a way of saying that even if Sherlock seems a little OOC, its not a bad thing per se.
First we see a completely different Sherlock Holmes during the Stag Party with John where the two of them end up getting drunk and still manage to enjoy themselves. It is so unlike Sherlock to be so carefree and funny and doing silly things like playing 20 questions with John when he could be doing more important scientific things with his time. But he doesn’t. He makes it a point to give John a Bachelor’s Night that the two of them can share and indulges himself in the entire experience of it all. Its a new side to Sherlock Holmes and I think allowing the fans to see this version was a good move because its another example of showing just how deep and true his friendship runs with John. Also, it doesn’t hurt to see this Sherlock even if it was only in this episode
The final scenes of Sherlock at the wedding reception is where the impact of how lonely he is hits home because for someone to have opened himself up so much at a celebration that was about his best friend John’s wedding and not even something to do with him, only to be rejected and then left alone without anyone to dance with… leaving there as quietly and as discreetly as he could was the logical thing to do. One may say that Sherlock leaves because he isn’t used to being in crowds for long periods of time as we have seen in the Minisode Many Happy Returns too where Sherlock doesn’t even attend John’s birthday party which would have had less people in attendance than this wedding and yet because he was the Best Man and John’s best friend, he was duty bound to stay there for as long as he could… until he decided that his work was done for the night.
But there’s also the flip side that I think is also very likely to a certain extent that in spite of doing his best to be more ‘social’ around other people and quite possibly had entertained the idea that he would have to dance with someone but eventually realized that it wouldn’t happen and John & Mary needed their ‘alone time’ together to dance and talk about the news, Sherlock couldn’t stick around longer and have the appearances stay up because sooner or later either John or even Mary would have noticed it and all Sherlock wanted was for them to be happy and not worry about him. And so we see him leave the music he composed and played for the first dance as his gift to John & Mary before slipping away…
Earlier on in the episode, we had even seen Mrs. Hudson talking to Sherlock about her friend Margaret and making the statement to him, “I mean why would anyone leave a wedding early?” and Mycroft talking to his brother about getting involved and mentioning that an era will be ending, Sherlock realizes all of this as soon as he understands that even though he tried to ask Jeanine for a dance, she was busy with someone else; it just further helps him to make the decision of leaving. In that scene, you can see just about all the thoughts going on in his mind and for Sherlock Holmes, emotions have never been anything more than ‘sentiment’ all along and even now the concepts are quite alien to him but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel things, he does and he experiences things that we all go through and is aware of how he is as a person but yet doesn’t try to isolate himself in his apartment. He will keep the feelings hidden from everyone but they’re very much there.
The fact that Sherlock knows just how he is makes for another point of how heartbreaking his character is because after everything that he’s been through in the last few years, not only does he see himself as being capable of friendship with someone like John but also as a ‘baby’ or a ‘child’ which he references to himself twice in this episode! During the Best Man speech he goes on to actually say in public in front of John, Mary, Lestrade, Molly, Mrs. Hudson and a ton of people he doesn’t even really know -
“I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous, unaware of the beautiful and uncomprehending in the face of the happy. So if I didn’t understand I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be somebody’s best friend. Certainly not the best friend of the bravest, and kindest, and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing. John, I am a ridiculous man, redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship…”
He has always been alone and he knows that. Even in The Empty Hearse when he and Mycroft are talking, they mention the kids who tried to be their friends at that time was quite appalling a concept to them and back in season 1, The Blind Banker when they go to meet Sebastian you get another example of just how different and alone Sherlock has been for the longest period of his life. And now, John, the one person who has considered him to be his Best Friend and worthy of being his Best Man is moving on with his life with Mary and its not something Sherlock is used to; he tries his best but its hard to comprehend everything that’s happening around him. Letting go of John is the hardest thing he has ever had to do in his entire life… no matter the reassurances that Mary and John gave him earlier on, once the wedding is over and all the speeches and dancing is done with, combined with the news of Mary’s pregnancy, Sherlock knows that things are going to be different from now on and he has to find a way to come to terms with that.
I think that one of the reasons why its not as painful as it could have been if there was anyone else but Mary for John is because of Sherlock’s relationship with her. Whatever we get to see from the first episode and the new one, it is obvious that they both have developed a fondness for each other, the respect is equal, the love and care for John is mutual and there is an understanding between them too. I truly loved the two scenes with Sherlock & Mary at the wedding which showed how they are around each other, he does appreciate her presence in John’s life and his own!
Not to mention in the beginning of the episode when she tells Sherlock that she knows when he’s fibbing and talks to him at the reception as well, worrying a little bit about him, she’s part of the family now and its because of how he’s gotten to know Mary and seeing her with John does he acknowledge her role in their lives and maybe feel like he isn’t going to be alone. Not to mention Sherlock actually standing up to make his First and Last Vow to the two people in his life he truly cares about and says “Mary and John. Whatever it takes, whatever happens, from now on I swear I will be there. Always.” It just goes to show just how selfless he has become!
Another point I’m adding in here is his seemingly child-like behavior which, given all that has happened to him as recently as being tortured by the Serbians and the fact that he’s always seen himself as an outsider even among his own peers isn’t something that would be completely out-of-character for himself but the amount of pain and struggles and isolation that he has gone through in his life is obviously going to leave an impact on him, whether its mentally or emotionally isn’t the case; his intelligence is very much intact but he is also susceptible to believing that he can see himself not as an adult sometimes but rather someone who needs a John and Mary in his life. And hearing him reassure them that by taking care of him all this time, it is proof enough that they’ll be good parents to their own child is a truly powerful, meaningful and heartfelt scene that was beautifully played out! They both can understand him in ways that no one else can and he is thankful for their place in his life.
Sherlock has changed and is becoming more human with each episode and I don’t really see that as OOC. I could probably go on and on about this but my thoughts are still pretty scattered and sad over this episode, not to mention the finale next week is probably going to leave me in a worse state… I’ll just end this post here and on a happier note that no matter what they’ve been through, Sherlock and John will always be Best Friends!
