The Only Acceptable Casting For A Remake Of “The Birdcage”

For those of you who’ve read my analysis and theories about the pool scene and the overall dynamic between Sherlock and Moriarty, you may have noticed how heavily i’m implying that each and every moment is a sign of a connection built on pure emotion and that they themselves are aware of it.

In reality i’m trying to make sure my points are clear and so there’s a lot of repetition and connections in places (that frankly probably don’t have that much meaning on their own) that are just tiny pieces of the whole narrative.

Personally i think their unique relationship is something that we know is there but as viewers won’t be able to see and understand all the internal mechanisms of. Which of course parallels how much the characters know about themselves as well.

That complexity is also why not every moment is equally saturated in one meaning or the other. Sometimes their dynamic is just a rivalry, an aggressive intellectual game. Sometimes there’s “a crack in the glass” from which the emotions flood. But the chaos of it all is exactly what that connection is. A paradoxical mix of total appreciation and, to some degree, love and that sickness, addiction to danger, intensity, gambling with life just to feel something. They long to destroy each other… and honestly that’s as romantic as it gets.

So it’s hard to analyse these things, to see what overlaps and what lines are not to be crossed, but i hope you understand now better that i’m mainly only analysing that one level of the iceberg that is Sheriarty (whether romantic or not).

I think Sherlock died in series 2 and so series 3 & 4 are his own personal hell. (and mine too)

And The Abominable Bride was the “handshaking in hell” or more like goofing around with Moriarty.

idk just felt like being angry at the finale today, it’s the weather…

That would probably explain it best. I think considering how good of an actor he is and that no one did anything to change it means that the moment was real enough to be kept in. they probably saw the value in his real emotion while being so connected to the character.

Remember when Mary died (r.i.p. 🕊️) and then John did some weird angry grunts instead of crying like a normal person? Yeah, that’s my 13th reason (the 12th being Irene’s duck nails), i fucking hate that sound.

No cuz explain to me - why? Who was like “she dies in your arms, now act that you’re a dog who’s chew toy is being taken from it”

me when i watched the matrix and was fooled by the very niche indie-film-looking opening scene of a green lit rave and a sad guy in an ugly apartment. AND IT BECOMES A FUCKING SUPERHERO MOVIE. 10/10 would eat again

Kind of awesome being raised under a rock because I hear about a movie and go yeah I’ll check that out. Never heard of it before. Watch it. Get my DICK blown off. And then am like. Wow…… has anyone else heard about this critically acclaimed film with a 96% on rotten tomatoes that great filmmakers cite an inspiration for THEIR critically acclaimed films……..

anyone else found the “i’m a high functioning sociopath, MERRY CHRISTMAS *bang*” cringy as hell?

like i imagined Sherlock having a bit more class when it comes to murder :/

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?

ok but can we talk about how did moriarty and sherlock arrange their tea date?

like, i bet it was just like “i’m coming for tea” and that’s it, but it’s also so interesting that that just happens. i know it’s common for heroes and villains to be friendly and have good manners, but picturing them just texting(like they always do) about it is so funny.

maybe i’m forgetting something, haven’t watched that ep in a while.

Remember when Mary died (r.i.p. 🕊️) and then John did some weird angry grunts instead of crying like a normal person? Yeah, that’s my 13th reason (the 12th being Irene’s duck nails), i fucking hate that sound.

No cuz explain to me - why? Who was like “she dies in your arms, now act that you’re a dog who’s chew toy is being taken from it”

John literally has no personality after series 2

honestly, no one does (except for Mary, thank god)

also making him an alcoholic just because Harry was, was cheap as shit

like at this point let my boy do Sherlock’s coke, maybe it’ll wake him from his lowkey-giving-bigot-homophobia-fight-club slumber

series 1 John is my roman empire(later he becomes the embodiment of the wing-cutting society, which John and Sherlock’s friendship was supposed to defy. like he was supposed to be the one who got Sherlock, but instead he was just shoving his own morals down Sherlock’s throat)

and they do it so well

The interview that goes with that GQ fashion shoot!