Holmesian Derivations

[4] John H. Watson

Arachne Jericho — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:49:58 +0000

… wonders why Holmes keeps showing up only after Mary is in bed or has gone away for a trip to her mother’s house.

Context: After The Sign of Four, Holmes doesn’t appear to suffer the presence of Mary Watson ever again on willing terms in the stories.

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[6] Sherlock Holmes

Arachne Jericho — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:43:58 +0000

… cares not for your privacy, Victorian Age or no.
Nor about the fact that right here would be a good point for someone to take a head shot.

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[5] Sherlock Holmes

Arachne Jericho — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:14:39 +0000

… and his friend Dr. Watson are totally not laughing at you.

Context: “The Red-Headed League.” Which is all kinds of hilarious.

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[3] John H. Watson

Arachne Jericho — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 07:43:42 +0000

… observes that, while Sherlock Holmes’ chemistry experiments may cause explosions, unpleasant smells, and possible eviction from their lodgings, at least while Holmes is so engaged he is not shooting himself up with cocaine.

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[2] John H. Watson

Arachne Jericho — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:41:43 +0000

… does not foresee the complications that this relationship will cause.

Context: The Sign of Four, which is part mystery, part romance, and very likely one of the reasons why Holmes faked his death years later. Here, Mary Morstan has discovered that all the treasure is gone. But that’s okay! Because now Watson can declare his love for her.

I’ve always wondered what the rivalry was like between Holmes and Mary. (And this was why I was quite amused by House and Amber fighting over Wilson.)

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[4] Sherlock Holmes

Arachne Jericho — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:52:31 +0000

… can convince three otherwise canine-amiable men to watch him poison a dog in the name of ~~science!~~ detection.

Context: A Study in Scarlet, and it has more than a character development point to it. Also, the dog is old. Watson made sure that we knew that before the scene in question.

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[1] John H. Watson

Arachne Jericho — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:14:12 +0000

… does not leave the front in a particularly dignified manner.

Context: ~~The Scarlet Letter~~ A Study in Scarlet¹, in the first chapter where Watson introduces himself to the reader as a recovering veteran from the colonial wars being fought in India (they did not go well). He had to be carried off the field.

Poor Watson.

Although it does recall to me some of Watson’s temper. Illustrated here, after Holmes is in bed with stitches in his head from being beaten by hired thugs in “The Illustrious Client.”

“What can I do, Holmes? Of course, it was that damned fellow who set them on. I’ll go and thrash the hide off him if you give the word.”

You might end up like that again, Watson. Sigh.

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Yes, it was late and I am embarrassed.

[3] Sherlock Holmes

Arachne Jericho — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:59:41 +0000

… chemistry nerd.

Context: A Study in Scarlet, when Stamford introduces Dr. Watson to Mr. Sherlock Holmes. And it never occurs to Watson, “Hmm! I wonder why he hasn’t found a roommate yet.” Of course, Stamford did tell Watson that Holmes goes about beating on corpses (to observe how bruising occurs after death), and Watson seems fine with this, or at least so bored out of his skull after abject failure in the army that a crazy roommate is preferable to running down his finances in a lonely hotel room.

By the by, based on Holmes’ somewhat Cloud Cuckoo Lander personality in A Study in Scarlet, some people have “diagnosed” him with some form or other of ADD. That cocaine apparently calms him down and allows him to concentrate in later years, as opposed to making him hyperactive¹, would seem to support such a theory.

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Which is actually a rather provably non-canon depiction in the usually canon-sticking Granada TV series adaptation.

How’s This for a Crackpot Sherlock Holmes 2 Plot Idea?

Arachne Jericho — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:02:15 +0000

Downey!Holmes and Law!Watson get involved in Moriarty’s machinations.
Reichenbach happens.¹
Except… Downey!Holmes dies and Moriarty survives.
Law!Watson is “promoted” to Law!Holmes by Mycroft.
Law!Holmes deals with Moriarty. Choose your favorite version of “deals with.”
Sherlock Holmes 3.

It’s never happening, obviously, because you know, ~~Richard~~ Robert Downey.

But hey, it’s not any worse than some of the other crackpot ideas about What Really Happened After Reichenbach. (Including Doyle’s, to be frank. High Dali Llama-with-two-L’s indeed….)

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Sherlock Holmes going to Switzerland NEVER WORKS OUT WELL.

[2] Sherlock Holmes

Arachne Jericho — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:22:22 +0000

… dresses down well.

Context: “A Scandal in Bohemia,” wherein Sherlock Holmes shows up in three forms: his usual gentlemanly self, a rake, and a pastor, who has to be seen to be believed. Apparently he’s an actor, and they do more than just disguises and funny voices.

By the by, in Holmes & Watson, a play by Lee Eric Shackleford, Watson asks Holmes to play out one of Hamlet’s monologues. Which he does extraordinarily well, and leaves himself wide open for Watson to take a shot.

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