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Re: Sherlock Holmes // BBC's Sherlock // Reserved. 3/??

[identity profile] puzzlinglogics.livejournal.com 2011-01-05 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
This event is life-changing for Sherlock. Whilst he's been in close living quarters with others (having shared a dormitory in university), it can be assumed that this is the first time he has ever had to actually live with someone other than his immediate family members in the same personal space as him. Even then, he was awkward with social interaction and he hasn't really changed or broken away from that: he sees emotion, he understands it on a basic level, but he doesn't perceive it like we might, through emotional recognition and a natural response to whatever emotion's been shown. He's always been like that - which is why he's always so observant. It could be seen as a coping mechanism, as all sociopaths are very observant (which is why they have their own brand of stare, where they blink less than those around them just so that they can see more).

It doesn't take long after Sherlock and John have moved in together to see just how odd Sherlock is. He has his own particular sorts of mannerisms, and the things he keeps are strange (chemicals, skulls and the occasional riding crop). Soon after moving in, Sherlock is offered the chance to take a case. Naturally, he seizes it with both hands, and this case, later dubbed 'A Study in Pink', becomes the first case with this electric duo. John offers Sherlock a sense of normal stability, and that's very important considering how unconventional Sherlock is. The two are completely different, with John holding a steady grip on what's considered ordinary, and Sherlock catapulting into anything considered unfathomable.

John: Do you think he's stupid enough to go there?
Sherlock: No, I think he's brilliant enough. And I love the brilliant ones, they're all so desperate to get caught.
John: Why?
Sherlock: Appreciation, applause, at long last, the spotlight. That's the frailty of genius, John, it needs an audience.
- Sherlock talking to John about serial killers and their motives (as well as geniuses) whilst they're walking to the restaurant in 'A Study In Pink'.

Sherlock actually goes through the first episode using John for ways to get himself ahead, such as bringing him to the crime scene just to hear his opinion and to bounce ideas off of him. When his use has run out, Sherlock leaves him behind to search out something he considers more important. It's near the end, where he realises that John's killed a man without hesitation, that Sherlock actually makes a point of reconsidering his opinion on John. Before, he was just an ex-soldier suffering from PTSD and his horribly normal flatmate. Now he's seen as interesting to Sherlock, and he acknowledges that he underestimated John.

The Blind Banker gives us a momentary glimpse into Sherlock's past, with the mention of university and 'friends'** before he ultimately dropped them in pursuit of something more interesting. Whilst it's not necessarily stated in canon, I personally don't think it would be too much of a stretch to assume that Sherlock dropped out, due to hating the convention of it all and being bored by the standard structure catering to the 'normal'. He likely went to university searching for the thrill he wasn't getting anywhere else, for someone to intrigue him. When he didn't find anything, he left, and set up life in central London. On the subject of speculation and The Blind Banker, it might just be worth mentioning that by reading the conversation had between Sherlock and Sebastian, it can be assumed that there's some sort of history there. Whether they were simply very good friends or lovers is up for interpretation (and I suppose it doesn't make a difference either way), though it should be noted that where Sebastian is concerned, Sherlock is almost uncertain of himself, either being overzealous (making a point to call John a 'friend') or being detachedly rude (the part where he states that he'd been talking to his secretary). It could also be worth mentioning that when Sherlock is trying to get Sebastian to listen during his dinner meeting, he says a sort of panicked "Seb!".