Sherlock Holmes - Blog Posts
Analysing the Great Game PART 2: The Pool Scene
The pool scene was something that always confused me, but to be fair, I never really paid attention. in this post(all the parts, there will be like 5) I’m going to analyse it chronologically (if you call 10 minutes of tv history) based only on what we know from series 1, with some occasional (extremely rare and brief) references to later episodes. I did this because I haven’t analysed them and because I believe series 1 had the strongest vision and characterisation of Sherlock, Moriarty and John. I also wanted to stay as focused on the scene(and episode) as possible, and not let things that I know influence my analysis too much. so yes, some things might sound crazy in the context of what we know, but if you isolate this episode and series 1 it makes sense.
why does Sherlock choose the pool as a place for meeting? It’s a connection to Carl Powers - first crime, first case, first meeting (first date). Moriarty mentions it as being a nice touch – pretty romantic. Sherlock wanted a private meeting with Moriarty, as we can understand from him hiding the fact that he was texting Jim from John. He was even willing to risk the country’s safety(missile plans). And yet Moriarty uses John for Sherlock’s final test.
let the flirting begin. Sherlock: “Bought you a little getting-to-know-you present”. The way Sherlock so casually offers the plans is almost like he’s proving that “yeah, I don’t think it’s that deep either”. And during the whole conversation the plans only came up again when Sherlock wanted Moriarty to release John. And even then Moriarty dismisses them(“I could have gotten those anywhere”).
Sherlock wrongly assumes that Moriarty created the game (“of 5 pips” if you will) to distract him from dealing with the missile plans case. and I should mention that Mycroft’s role in this episode is interesting as well. throughout the whole episode he’s been nagging John about it, who was lying to Mycroft that Sherlock is working on it. it might’ve been just a red herring for the viewers which I accept wholeheartedly, but it could also be the first hint of Mycroft’s association with Moriarty. But this isn’t about Mycroft as few things are.
Sherlock looks unhappy when he sees John. naturally 1. John is in danger 2. he wanted to meet his rival privately. the distain in his face can be explained by his sudden realisation that he will have to keep up appearances, act in front of John.
now, in the whole scene sherlock doesn’t seem too worried about John’s safety and not at all angry at Moriarty for involving him in this. so he either feels safe or is indifferent about safety.
“I gave you my number, I thought you might call” I find it interesting that Moriarty actually called sherlock multiple times during their game, but he only did so as a criminal mastermind. He had the victims talk for him and all the dialogue meant business. To me this line is a subtle hint at needing an increased level of intimacy. in a way it’s Moriarty’s invitation for Sherlock to see behind his constructed personas. Let’s also take in account that he said this line in a sort of sing-song, which later will be very clear that it’s a way to deflect, avoid vulnerability. now he was talking to Sherlock as Jim, not some puppet master. he was implying that this relationship they share transcends the classic villain-hero dynamic. They share their untreatable boredom and loneliness though being misunderstood. Something so simple – a phone call - is the crumb of tenderness needed to free their connection from the boxes of their roles. now that the game was over they could allow themselves to be less formal about it, less conventional(in their interaction as Hero and Villain).
But then again there’s the issue of John being there. which seems counterintuitive. why would, if not only to raise the stakes, Moriarty involve john in this intimate meeting?
One possibility is that Moriarty simply isn’t ashamed of his eccentricity(which in Moriarty’s and Sherlock’s case is the fact that danger, risks and proving their intelligence turns them on) and wants to encourage Sherlock to also embrace that darker part of him. he put Sherlock in a situation where he has to face his internalized need to conform. But, if that’s the case, then it’s odd that Moriarty doesn’t fight the performance that Sherlock makes for John. He expects Sherlock to be a hero who wants to defeat the villain and save the day and Sherlock acts accordingly. Even if it's obvious later that it is just theatre. Moriarty plays his part perfectly and possibly only because he respects Sherlock more. More than he wants Sherlock to become someone who lives like him, that's selflessness right there. Moriarty understands that Sherlock needs it, he needs to feel right by John and thus - society.
Another reason for John being there could also be that Moriarty wanted to create the contrast between someone who is doomed to misunderstand Sherlock - John and someone who gets him perfectly - himself. which considering the emotional subtextual subtlety of the whole scene feels more likely. although they’re not mutually exclusive.
on a more surface level note I do think the line was supposed to just be a hint that he was Jim from IT. but at the same time, he was behind a door, and we, and only we as viewers could see his face. which in film usually means that the emotion is genuine, because there’s no one to perform to. and in that moment, he was doing his detached, creepy thing, which for me always read as very raw and desperate. Pretending to be scary, especially in privacy, is a coping mechanism. maybe there was a part of Moriarty that wanted a more “normal” relationship with Sherlock. Moriarty is conflicted about how much freedom he can create for himself and someone just like him, how far can he break the system and defy what's "meant" for him (being treated like a psychopath and nothing else). that's what this moment means. Sherlock and Moriarty share a unique bond that is often seen as wrong or sick, by people like John. perhaps here Moriarty was willing to be Sherlock's true friend or partner, even if it was just the residue of what’s expected of him by society. Something that’s understood by others, something rooted in proximity and mundanity, something more proper than their intellectual game. because doesn’t every outcast dream of being normal, even if just for a moment of weakness?
Dear Irene Adler,
I am writing to inform you of your duck nails, it hurts my eyes every time I watch A Scandal In Belgravia. Please seek professional help.
I am looking forward to skipping that part of the episode.
Regards,
Chesie
guys… that’s just the pool scene. a. ten. minute. scene. i am very serious about my gays 😿
guess who’s back. after a lengthy 2 or so months of static in my brain i decided to be of service and to post the full analysis of TGG. BUT i need someone to help me (although i now realise i could just google) with video clips. there is a limit of how many i can add and i think they’re important to illustrate my points. if anyone knows anything i would be extremely grateful, because i’m not going to be half-assing this one (i’m very proud of my yap :3 ) thank you!!
TGG analysis Part 1
Hi, this is part one of my analysis of the great game. In this post i’ll be highlighting moments which display Sherlock’s growing fascination with Moriarty and Moriarty’s undeniable obsession with Sherlock. I aim to (at some point) explain their dynamic beyond the romantic undertones already present in a lot of their lines. This is only an intro into my big theory - the analysis of pool scene.
*low k might be my fav ep
Sherlock’s obsession with Moriarty
Moriarty’s obsession with Sherlock
these may or may not be just shameless (intellectual) flirting
Here is what i wrote down while watching, might be a little sparse, but the important bits are all there. Also disclaimer: my formatting skills suck and i’ll be editing the post a lot post posting (now that’s a trippy sentence), because i can’t sleep at night knowing i don’t make any sense 💀
p.s. - every quote that's numbered is also provided at the end of the post (Moriarty's words said by the victims), they’re important as i think it’s Moriarty’s way of avoiding vulnerability.
There’s an explosion at Baker street. Sherlock is unharmed but gets a package. A pink phone replica. 5 pips = 5 bombs = five tests. On said phone a picture of 221C that Moriarty knew Sherlock’s seen before. in there Carl Powers’ shoes.
Sherlock gets a call (1): “Hello, sexy. I’ve sent you a little puzzle just to say hi.” Sherlock: “the curtain rises. i’ve been expecting this for some time”. He’s excited, and he’s been waiting for Moriarty to act ever since A Study In Pink.
In the lab, right before Jim comes in. “Why is Mycroft trying to bore me, when someone else is being so delightfully interesting” ((ok not to be biased but that is literally sherlockese for “i have a crush on a boy 🤭” ))
Jim walks in, Sherlock looks at him(reads him in a fraction of a second). Jim looks Sherlock up and down. No but literally how did no one notice his weird fan behaviour around Sherlock?? Molly was invisible to him and he was speaking to John while staring at Sherlock.
(Also can i just mention how Sherlock says “tinted eyelashes” when proving why he thinks Jim is gay and the picture is of his eyebrows)
Carl Powers, “it’s where i began” Sherlock’s first case - Moriarty’s first crime it's pink this time cuz this is so gay at the age of 14 (20 years ago). Tbh we don’t know if it’s Moriarty’s first crime but i just find it romantic to think so. Of course he could’ve committed that one just to get Sherlock’s attention OR his obsession with Sherlock started after that, because maybe Sherlock's involvement in that case led him to believe that they were “meant to be” rivals. Perfect opposites (i mean they’re like 80% similar but sure dude). Basically he felt personally seen by someone who had the incentive to dig deeper, beyond the standard practices of police work, someone who believes that there is more to see.
Sherlock solves the case, blogs about his findings, communicating with moriarty and making him stop the clock 3:“well done you, come and get me”. When alone Sherlock says to himself: “Elegant”. “No, i can’t be the only person in the world that gets bored.” As one wise person has said: any emotion that is experienced by a character in private is real. (SHOUTOUT TO @asherlockstudy) This of course applies to truths as well, and here Sherlock is being as honest as possible. This line proves how much Sherlock truly needs Moriarty, someone who understands that inexplicable pain of being bored. Just by knowing that someone like that exists, Sherlock feels understood, freed from the loneliness of being estranged, from the discomfort of being a “freak”. This game is the highest form of entertainment, something that allows him to be himself and to be valued for it. But more on that in the pool scene.
Another puzzle, 8 hours. (5): “We were made for eachother Sherlock”*Sherlock smiles* and softly says “Then talk to me in your own voice”bro is cheezing after the call bro…
“Our friendly bomber. I am on fire!”(he’s having fun ☺️)
(6):“you can come and fetch me” Sherlock is smiling like crazy again.
John: “It’s all meant for you”. Sherlock: “Yes, i know 😏” !!!!! (video 1 below for the face expressions) (btw I was literally just filming my laptop so sorry for the shit quality, I just want to have proof for my yapp :DD)
Like how special one must feel to have someone be willing to kill tens or even hundreds of people just to entertain you? It’s not even about the lives to be honest, just the fact that someone is creating these personalised little puzzles. Like, isn’t that hot? This is also one of the MANY moments when John expresses his disapproval for Sherlock’s involvement in this game, mostly the giddiness about it. This will be important later on (i’m edging y’all so hard with this hinting :Ddd but i’m writing this after everything else so oops).
Sherlock is kinda defends(?) Moriarty, when Lestrade asks why is the bomber doing this. Sherlock answers *shrug* “good samaritan”, Greg is all like ‘he’s a bomber, hello?’ Sherlock: “bad samaritan 🤟😗” (Idk what's with the emojis but I just wanted to show how relaxed and goofy he was about it all). Basically, Sherlock interprets Moriarty’s “game” as a personal service, despite it being morally questionable.(ok but bro can’t stay serious, like he’s smiling all the time “[we’re dealing with] something new 😁” )
Ok now that i’m going over everything for the millionth time i noticed that this moment here was one of the worst attempts of hiding his “intellectual crush”. Sherlock isn’t big for conventional morality, and i’ll touch on that later, but this was so unserious it almost seemed like he became more comfortable in himself. He began to see that saying out of pocket or perhaps cynical stuff like that is fine, however much of a crime against “preserving the social peace of normies” it seems to be. I made that shit up, hopefully y’all get what this means :D Having someone like Moriarty allowed him to question his own role in society and how he, despite often being against succumbing to what's normal(and boring), conforms to it, to society, which further strengthens his feelings of estrangement. We're getting kafkaesque in here, boys! (sorry)
“Novel” Sherlock realised Moriarty is a consultant criminal(he organises crimes but no one has direct contact to him). When John asks (again) why Moriarty’s doing this, Sherlock can’t help but smile. “i think he wants to be distracted” *says in a breathy tone(intrigued/touched)* (WAIT I didn't know I could only put 1 video omg I literally feel 80 years old, how does Tumblr work!? *crying*) So Sherlock was staring into space, his face lit up upon realizing that him and Jim are the same, that they experience the same things and blah blah blah he looks horny in this scene I legit don't know what to even say bruh. (I'm mad that I couldn't put the video in lmaoo)
No but fr John noticed Sherlock has an intellectual crush on Moriarty and was annoyed at how entertained (and fulfilled) Sherlock was by this morally grey game.
The golem was hired to kill the astronomer guy and his friend professor because they would’ve been able to expose that the painting was a fake based on the stars. Sherlock figures it all out: “Oh that is brilliant, that is gorgeous. this is beautiful. Love this!”. The gallery woman admits to the fraud. Sherlock learns that this is in fact Moriarty behind this. *smiles*.
our baby boy solved everything and now is curled up, watching shit telly :(
Sherlock was waiting for John to leave to write to (more like at) Moriarty *smiles*. He lied to John about having given the missile plans to Mycroft. Sherlock actively wants to keep John out of this, because of his disapproval, John finds Sherlock’s fascination with Moriarty repulsive.
So to summarize the absolute randomness I spew out in this thing: the connection between Sherlock and Moriarty is quite vague, but ultimately based on their eccentricity(and in this case it doesn't really matter if(more like "how") it's romantic). I'll talk about it all in the big post I PROMISE, this is just the intro so you can follow my impossible thought process. Another important thing: John as the symbol of conventionality and morality. That's it, I'll post again in like a month because the feeling of responsibility paralyzes me LMAO. ok bye ;)
+
Moriarty’s words said by the victims:
“hello, sexy. i’ve sent you a little puzzle just to say hi.”
“12 hours to solve the puzzle, sherlock, or i’m going to be so naughty”
“well done you, come and get me.”
“clever you, guessing about carl powers. i never liked him. carl laughed at me, so i stopped him laughing. This is about you and me.”
“the clue is in the name “janus cars”[s:why’d you be giving me a clue] why does anyone do anything? because i’m bored. we were made for eachother sherlock”
“you can come and fetch me”
“i like to watch you dance”
“you’re enjoying this, aren’t you? joining the dots.”
“nice touch this, the pool, where little carl died. i stopped him. i can stop john watson too, stop his heart”
i’ve been obsessing over sheriarty as a unique twist on the traditional hero-villain dynamic and felt like “inflicting my opinions onto the world” (sherlock in TGG). so if anyone cares about this 10 years later let me know cuz i wrote a 4k word analysis of the pool scene 💀 also i’m new so feel free to throw rocks at me when i do something wrong 🥰
updates:
Part 1: https://www.tumblr.com/chesie-blog2/766523763704659968/tgg-analysis-part-1
Part 2: https://www.tumblr.com/chesie-blog2/772319748326342656/analysing-the-great-game-part-2-the-pool?source=share
Part 3: https://www.tumblr.com/chesie-blog2/772467761119117312/analysing-tgg-the-pool-scene-part-3-is-that-a?source=share
I don’t care what people say this hottie is my ideal as a trans man
Sherlock Holmes
Irene Adler
Madame Simza
John Watson
Mary Morstan/Watson
Sherlock Holmes (2009) dir. Guy Ritchie
Domestically zesty Sherliam are the reason I get up in the morning.
Redrew this old banger with three years worth of art improvement, oof. Three years and they’re still my favourite ship of all time. Don’t even mention them near me, I will go rabid.
Original:
Had a really weird dream where I was making a steampunk Sherlock Holmes au, where both Holmes and Watson are like in their twenties???? And Watson gets into an accident which causes him to be really badly wounded and to get prosthetic like almost everything so he basically is a steampunk cyborg now and he is very sad because of that and his family doesn't support him and there's a scene where Holmes has to comfort him but it's really hard to do for him in a traditional way because well he is Sherlock Holmes (who may be autistic btw it's just an observation) but he does his best. I also remember I was writing a post about how I want Sherlock to be ace representation in my au??? Which IS my headcannon btw
So uh yeah... I can't stop thinking about this dream
Doesn’t fit aesthetic but 😍😍
Holy Trinity of Brits
GQ Magazine Edition
Prompt #1 - Sherlock wants to cuddle, but Jim is busy, doing something else. Sherlock gets annoyed, but in the end it turns out that Jim has been organizing a case for him this whole time.
Hello! Here it is..my first (real) post, and it's about the beauty of my favorite series.. Sherlock Holmes ! :
And with that there is 10 reasons to watch the series if you haven't yet :
the music is fantastic
The characters are endearing
the beauty of Sherlock played by Benedict
all the funny scenes
The johnlock
The Bromance about Sherlock and John
The fabulous johnlock
My favorite bromance the johnlock
Oh..i forget the johnlock
And finally the johnlock and and all the joy the series brings with 4 seasons!
I get that it's an aesthetic
The last time I checked this was Sherlock Holmes and not the count💀
me: enters the fandom in 2022 and looks for fanfics of the characters watching the show for hours
also me: finds one and really enjoys it but then realises its from 2019 and probably not getting updates :(((
he writes sweet symphonies:) 🎻 ❤
“‘You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!’ It was worth a wound -- it was worth many wounds -- to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.”
Narrative of John Watson
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs, Arthur Conan Doyle
“Watson. Come at once if convenient. If inconvenient, come all the same.” - Sherlock Holmes (Adventure of the Creeping Man, Arthur Conan Doyle)
i don't know why but this quote just hits me in the feels. "if inconvenient, come all the same."
maybe love is about finding your way to each other even when it's inconvenient.
Mystery Inc. meet Holmes and Watson!
I am having a lot of fun with this Victorian Scooby Doo au!!
Strolling towards a case🍂🍁
Another practice/pose study of the 1984 series with an autumn vibe as it is summerween.
I don't remember the episode because I forgot to organize my screenshots for practice, but this is one of the beginning scenes where Holmes forgot his cane. Thankfully Dr. Watson is there for the rescue by lending his arm.
All for the Game crossed over with sherlock holmes
Who is who???
so im watching sherlock for the first time and i need someone to tell me how they managed to make the episode set mostly at John and Mary’s WEDDING the gayest episode of the show
I downloaded tumblr because of all the posts i saw on Pinterest from like 2013
is superwholock still a thing
Startup and Guidelines
Startup:
Here’s a list of the type of content that I’m allowing to be requested for time being (until my no thoughts head empty lookin brain gets its crap together lmao). I’ve listed a few fandoms and the characters in them that I’ll be willing to write for at the moment. I’ll be adding more soon, so keep an eye out for when I do! Even request a few and I’ll say if I can do them or not! (It’ll be based on if I’ve seen or read any of the media suggested, but if i haven’t seen or read it yet I’ll add it to the list!)
Types of Content:
Full fics
Playlists Maybe?
Headcannons
Drabbles (If I can handle writing so little)
Imagines
Etc.
Fandoms: (bolded means I write best for those***)
(Will do almost any character and any type of reader! Just give me ideas and a detailed description of what you’d like and I’ll try to get to it :) I may have to do research if I don’t understand a topic, but I’ll try to do my best!)
Buzfeed Unsolved: Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara
Conan O’Brien [cause honestly, why not?]
Ghost [the band]: Cardinal Copia, Papa Nihil, Papa Emeritus II, and Tobias Forge
Good Omens [book and movie]: Crowley, Aziraphale, Gabriel, Anathema Device, Newton Pulsifer, Hastur, War, Death, Famine, Pollution, and Beelzebub
Harry Potter [books and movie]: Severus Snape, Cho Chang, Barty Crouch Sr. and Jr., Cedric Diggory, Amos Diggory, Albus Dumbledore, Argus Filch, Hermione Granger, Rubeus Hagrid, Viktor Krum, Tom Riddle, Silvanus Kettleburn, Neville Longbottom, Golderoy Lockhart, Luna Lovegood, Xenophilius Lovegood, Remus Lupin, Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Alastor Moody, Garrick Ollivander, Poppy Pomfrey, Harry Potter, Quirinus Quirrell, Newt Scamander, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Aurora Sinistra, Sybil Trelawney, Blaise Zabini, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley, Bill Weasley, Percy Weasley, and Ginny Weasley
Joker: Arthur Fleck and Sophie Dumond
Law and Order SVU: John Much, Olivia Benson, George Huang, Odafin Tutuola, Melinda Warner, Sonny Carisi, Rafael Barba, Ed Tucker, William Dodds, Mike Dodds, Carl Rudnick, and Greg Yates.
Network: Max Schumacher, Howard Beale, Diana Christensen, and anyone else you want
Sherlock Holmes [books, movie, or tv show versions! I love them all!]: Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty, Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Philip Anderson, Molly Hooper, Irene Adler, and Charles Magnussen
Sofia the First [kinda cringe, but let ya boi live man]: Cedric, Greylock, Baileywick, and maybe Roland
Stephen Colbert [Because, again, why not?]
Supernatural [sort of? I haven’t seen it fully yet, but I got a feel for the characters!]: will list later (way too many characters; gotta love them tho)
The Lord of the Rings/ The Hobbit [book or movies. I write pretty decently for all of these and maybe a few more]: Boromir, Pippin, Gil-Galad, Bilbo, Gandalf, Aragorn, Arwen, Elrond, Lindir, Galadriel, Eowyn, Faramir, Grima Wormtongue, Haldir, Saruman, Denethor, Thranduil, Radagast, Ori, Bofur, Thorin, Nori, Tauriel, Beorn, etc.
The Matrix [currently watching, so hopefully I’ll get a good grasp of the characters: Agent Smith, Morpheus, Neo, and anyone else I suppose
The Office [U.S. version, although I may do the U.K. one if I watch enough of it]: Toby Flenderson, Dwight Schrute, Andy Bernard, Darryl Philbin, Gabe Lewis, and Michael Scott
The Thick of It: Glenn Cullen, Hugh Abbot, Malcolm Tucker, Peter Mannion, Phil Smith, Emma Messinger, Jamie, Cliff Lawton, and anyone else I suppose
Top Gear [UK]: James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond
Twin Peaks: Dale Cooper, Audrey Horne, Jocelyn Packard, Andy Brennan, Lucy Moran, Laura Palmer, Leland Palmer, Tommy “Hawk” Hill, Lawrence Jacoby, Albert Rosenfield, and Gordon Cole
Watchmen [movie and comic for now until I finish the new series!: Walter Kovacs, Jonathan Osterman, Daniel Dreiberg, Nelson Gardner, Byron Lewis, Hollis Mason, Ursula Zandt, Adrian Veidt, and Moloch
To Be Continued....
Will do:
The best that I can with what is asked! I’ll even write for super old or niche media as well if I know it; asking would probably be the best option though :)
Will not do:
To sum up: anything offensive or that is morally wrong. If you aren’t sure about something, just ask! I’m down to answer questions! :)
oh to live in a victorian styled home with orange tinted lamps that flicker in the evening as paintings of obscure aesthetic origins line the walls of the hallway where i can pretend to be sherlock holmes pacing before the bookshelves and scattered papers trying to uncover the truth behind the age old murder of the old owner…
Holmes: Because I will never be able to eat lava…
Holmes: *looks pleadingly at Watson*
Watson: *sternly, subtly shakes his head no*
Holmes: My prevailing theory is it has a texture of very thick honey.
source
APPARENTLY JOHNLOCK DOESN’T ROCK ON JUST EARTH NOW
‼️⚠️this is NOT an au⚠️‼️
Our babies are on Mars.
Freaking MARS.
Okay backtrack. So basically both SHERLOC and WATSON are cameras attached to a robotic arm in search of life on Mars. SHERLOC detects organic molecules and minerals on Mars, and WATSON captures detailed images of the Martian surface to support SHERLOC's analysis.
(Apparently this program was launched a while ago on July 30, 2020. In 13 days our babies are gonna have their fourth Mars anniversary. I’m going to cry.)
In my mind:
SHERLOC: *bossily points at something*
WATSON: *heaves sigh and takes photos*
More information can be found at:
When you're overstimulated and want to go home but the game is STILL afoot.