#modern holmes would absolutely enter into watson's Nerd Interests--if he doesn't share them already

[incomingalbatross]

I’ve been thinking about Sherlock lately, and about Sherlock Holmes in general, and I’m going to rant a little bit about one of my two biggest problems with Sherlock’s characterization.

(Disclaimer: I never watched the fourth season. I did watch the first three and the “Abominable Bride” special—which gave lots of ammo to my old reincarnation headcanons!—but I was never deeply in the fandom.)

My objection: John Watson ought to be a romantic.

And I don’t mean chasing after women, which is the closest the writers seemed to get! I mean he should be, in the old-fashioned sense, romantic—idealistic, keenly sensitive to atmosphere, engrossed by ideas and the arts.

Instead, though I’m extremely glad they liked and respected the character of Watson, and that they steered away from “comedically bungling sidekick”... it seems as though they were trying too hard to make John cool?

He’s the hard-headed action-hero representative. He’s the practical one who’s constantly aggrieved by Sherlock’s poor domestic habits. He’s the veteran who assesses situations as “fun” or “threat” but doesn’t seem to have any interests outside of cases. John Watson, 21st-century sidekick, is almost aggressively mundane—very hobbitish, in a way, but almost all Baggins and almost no Took.

Our original Watson, on the other hand... well, he’s a writer. He’s an excellent writer, clearly devoted to his craft, and the story-loving temperament shows all through him. Like, I understand why John wouldn’t seem to need that trait on the surface, as he’s not needed for narration... But reducing him from “lifelong dedicated writer” to “does chatty blog posts for therapy” is a fundamental change.

Our Watson falls into philosophical musings at the drop of a hat. He loves beauty, and quite often the reason he misses the truth is because he’s too sensitive to atmosphere. (On the other hand, he has high emotional intelligence—even if he’s wrong about why someone feels something, he’s usually right about what they’re feeling.) Never forget his first letter to Holmes in Hound of the Baskervilles, where he spent the first page or so describing the autumn landscape and how it made him feel... and then wrapped up with “However, this is all beside the point, and probably severely uninteresting to you” and went on to his actual report. (But LEFT IN the useless description, which I’m sure Holmes appreciated just for being so characteristically him.)

Give me a modern Watson who carries around notebooks at all times, and scribbles down snatches of descriptive writing or notes for future pieces whenever the case is slow. Give me an idealistic Watson who still expects the world to be fair and just, even after all he’s seen, and is outraged every time it’s not. Give me a modern Watson who’s a nerd—because he would be—who has a subscription to the Doctor Who Magazine and will openly fight with anyone who says Dickens is overrated and has Opinions on the new Narnia movies because C. S. Lewis is Important, okay?? Give me a modern Watson who gets distracted from whatever he and Holmes are supposed to be doing by a lovely landscape, or by going inside an old majestic building, or by any live music. Give me a Watson with wonder in his eyes.

#sherlock holmes #watson #john h. watson #rambling #analysis #bbc sherlock #my other problem is sherlock's people skills #because holmes is FULLY-equipped with manners and social skills #and if he doesn't employ them it means he KNOWS he's being rude and doesn't feel like being polite #but he's also GENUINELY GOOD WITH PEOPLE! #and not just when the other person needs him to be (though certainly then. if dealing with a victim) #but he's ALSO just nice sometimes #if he's in A) a good mood B) feels the need to be friendly OR C) is around a person he likes #(any of these conditions will do) #then he's just FUN TO BE AROUND #and not as a spectacle #as a social companion #modern holmes would absolutely enter into watson's Nerd Interests--if he doesn't share them already #(because holmes is ALSO a renaissance man with a ridiculous variety of interests) #but that's a tangent #LET HOLMES BE CHARMING #AND ENGAGING #AND HAVE FUN TALKING TO PEOPLE #that's a whole nother post but writing it as a post felt too draining #so it's in the tags instead