Moriarty's Mistake: There's always *something*.
Over this past weekend, I re-watched from S1:Ep2 to S2:E3, and it has occurred to me that the writers have been planning The Reichanbach Fall since the beginning. There are hints of it all the way in the first episode!
In the scene on the roof of St. Bart's, during the confrontation, Moriarty tells Sherlock "Your friends will die if you don't." And Sherlock immediately says "John" (which of course made me go HA! - shipper moment lol), and Moriarty goads him further: "Not just John. Everyone!"
"Mrs. Hudson."
"Everyone."
"Lestrade."
"3 gunmen. 3 bullets."
Sherlock was using Moriarty's gloating to find out how many gunmen were involved. To ensure that Sherlock hadn't misjudged Moriarty ... to make sure that Moriarty had overlooked that one detail he had almost overlooked: Molly Hooper.
Moriarty even said it himself "your only three friends in the world". Even though he himself had used Molly in a scheme to taunt Sherlock by pretending to be her boyfriend (aka gay Jim from IT), Moriarty had obviously forgotten, or had not sensed her devotion to Sherlock. In fact, perhaps he did, but he had also observed Sherlock's treatment of her during that brief meeting.
Fortunately for Sherlock, Moriarty was not witness to Sherlock's apology to Molly at the Christmas party in "A Scandal in Belgravia" or perhaps Molly might been ended up on the hitlist as well.
Why am I going on and on about Molly being excluded as a friend to Sherlock? Two reasons:
1. The scene in the lab, Molly accurately and astutely observed Sherlock's sadness. Sherlock, perhaps at that juncture in his plans, had not yet figured out a counter move to Moriarty's in the deadly game their were playing. Until Molly's comments, Sherlock had not realized that he had another friend. Someone who had been flying not only under his radar, but hopefully Moriarty's as well.
2. I think Molly was essential to Sherlock faking his own death. Who better to convince the world you're dead than a coroner. Who better to convince John, the man who wears his heart on his sleeve. If John had known his plan, he would not have been able to reliably grieve. But Molly. Dear sweet Molly. No one was looking at Molly. No one ever pays attention to Molly. She "doesn't count."
And that takes us back to "A Study in Pink" when Sherlock correctly deduces everything about John and Harry's familial relationship ... except that Harry was a woman. "There's always something." Sherlock, in his effort to prove ... whatever it is he's trying to prove, will often overlook a small detail. Usually it's personal, something sentimental.
Another example in "A Study in Pink" was his inability to comprehend the use of "Rachel" as a password. "It happened ages ago."
And in "The Hounds of Baskerville" Sherlock makes a comment about Lestrade calling himself "Greg" as a means of endearing himself to Sherlock and John, all the while not realizing that it is actually Lestrade's name. (I had to laugh during this scene. So delightfully Sherlock.)
It's these little things that Sherlock often overlooks, that keeps him separate from others. It's the same for Moriarty. Except, as Moriarty pointed out, he doesn't have a John. Over nearly two years in John's company, Sherlock has learned a bit of friendship, consideration, and sensitivity. And I don't necessarily interpret that as what they mean personally to him, but rather in a more intellectual light. He has a better understanding now of how they should be meted out, what they mean to others. Moriarty, on the other hand, has no such person in his life. As he put it, he doesn't have a "live-in normal person" with whom he is amused by - or from which he could be learning such valuable lessons.
That is Moriarty's "something" that he overlooked. The sentimental clue that he can't figure out on his own, and therefore overlooked: dear sweet Molly who would do anything for Sherlock.
So when Sherlock laughs on the ledge, and Moriarty screams "What?! What did I miss?!" Sherlock is both taunting and manipulating Moriarty. First he is taunting Moriarty ("You overlooked her! Just as I did!"), and manipulating him into killing himself. His plan will only really, really work, and he'll only really, really win if he can get Moriarty to kill himself before he offs himself.
Make sense? I don't know. I just had to get it out of my system. I probably should have done my database homework, but it's late already, so ... meh. Also, there was a water line break just outside my trailer and my water pressure is shot ... and my driveway is flooded. *sigh* I needed the distraction. Bleh.
So ... any Sherlock recs? (Preferably John/Sherlock, but I'll take Anthea/Adler) Theories? (feel free to blow mine out of the water ... it's probably nonsense anyway haha) Plotbunnies? (I may be tempted to write something.)
This entry was originally posted at http://groovekittie.dreamwidth.org/699491.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
In the scene on the roof of St. Bart's, during the confrontation, Moriarty tells Sherlock "Your friends will die if you don't." And Sherlock immediately says "John" (which of course made me go HA! - shipper moment lol), and Moriarty goads him further: "Not just John. Everyone!"
"Mrs. Hudson."
"Everyone."
"Lestrade."
"3 gunmen. 3 bullets."
Sherlock was using Moriarty's gloating to find out how many gunmen were involved. To ensure that Sherlock hadn't misjudged Moriarty ... to make sure that Moriarty had overlooked that one detail he had almost overlooked: Molly Hooper.
Moriarty even said it himself "your only three friends in the world". Even though he himself had used Molly in a scheme to taunt Sherlock by pretending to be her boyfriend (aka gay Jim from IT), Moriarty had obviously forgotten, or had not sensed her devotion to Sherlock. In fact, perhaps he did, but he had also observed Sherlock's treatment of her during that brief meeting.
Fortunately for Sherlock, Moriarty was not witness to Sherlock's apology to Molly at the Christmas party in "A Scandal in Belgravia" or perhaps Molly might been ended up on the hitlist as well.
Why am I going on and on about Molly being excluded as a friend to Sherlock? Two reasons:
1. The scene in the lab, Molly accurately and astutely observed Sherlock's sadness. Sherlock, perhaps at that juncture in his plans, had not yet figured out a counter move to Moriarty's in the deadly game their were playing. Until Molly's comments, Sherlock had not realized that he had another friend. Someone who had been flying not only under his radar, but hopefully Moriarty's as well.
2. I think Molly was essential to Sherlock faking his own death. Who better to convince the world you're dead than a coroner. Who better to convince John, the man who wears his heart on his sleeve. If John had known his plan, he would not have been able to reliably grieve. But Molly. Dear sweet Molly. No one was looking at Molly. No one ever pays attention to Molly. She "doesn't count."
And that takes us back to "A Study in Pink" when Sherlock correctly deduces everything about John and Harry's familial relationship ... except that Harry was a woman. "There's always something." Sherlock, in his effort to prove ... whatever it is he's trying to prove, will often overlook a small detail. Usually it's personal, something sentimental.
Another example in "A Study in Pink" was his inability to comprehend the use of "Rachel" as a password. "It happened ages ago."
And in "The Hounds of Baskerville" Sherlock makes a comment about Lestrade calling himself "Greg" as a means of endearing himself to Sherlock and John, all the while not realizing that it is actually Lestrade's name. (I had to laugh during this scene. So delightfully Sherlock.)
It's these little things that Sherlock often overlooks, that keeps him separate from others. It's the same for Moriarty. Except, as Moriarty pointed out, he doesn't have a John. Over nearly two years in John's company, Sherlock has learned a bit of friendship, consideration, and sensitivity. And I don't necessarily interpret that as what they mean personally to him, but rather in a more intellectual light. He has a better understanding now of how they should be meted out, what they mean to others. Moriarty, on the other hand, has no such person in his life. As he put it, he doesn't have a "live-in normal person" with whom he is amused by - or from which he could be learning such valuable lessons.
That is Moriarty's "something" that he overlooked. The sentimental clue that he can't figure out on his own, and therefore overlooked: dear sweet Molly who would do anything for Sherlock.
So when Sherlock laughs on the ledge, and Moriarty screams "What?! What did I miss?!" Sherlock is both taunting and manipulating Moriarty. First he is taunting Moriarty ("You overlooked her! Just as I did!"), and manipulating him into killing himself. His plan will only really, really work, and he'll only really, really win if he can get Moriarty to kill himself before he offs himself.
Make sense? I don't know. I just had to get it out of my system. I probably should have done my database homework, but it's late already, so ... meh. Also, there was a water line break just outside my trailer and my water pressure is shot ... and my driveway is flooded. *sigh* I needed the distraction. Bleh.
So ... any Sherlock recs? (Preferably John/Sherlock, but I'll take Anthea/Adler) Theories? (feel free to blow mine out of the water ... it's probably nonsense anyway haha) Plotbunnies? (I may be tempted to write something.)
This entry was originally posted at http://groovekittie.dreamwidth.org/699491.html. Please comment there using OpenID.