Discussion Post: The Adventure of the Crooked Man

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts about The Adventure of the Crooked Man! Here are a few questions to get you started and feel free to add your own!

- What did you think of the midnight meeting of Holmes and Watson? How did that come about exactly? It seems beyond reason to think that Holmes merely happened to be in the neighborhood or had no way to make it back to Baker Street that night. And what did Watson really think of it? It's a quarter to midnight and Holmes shows up at his door, makes a couple deductions, then abruptly asks to stay the night.

- Holmes describes this case as "one of the strangest cases which ever perplexed a man's brain". Would you agree with him? Or do you think that he's merely exaggerating to encourage Watson to accompany him?

- What exactly is brain fever? Is this a real illness, a temporary form of insanity, or is it purely fiction?

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Presumably Holmes felt he had a much better chance of ensuring that Watson came with him if he remained at the house.

And taking someone with him who will record all his brilliant deductions has to be good for the ego.

[flawedamythyst.livejournal.com]

What exactly is brain fever? Is this a real illness, a temporary form of insanity, or is it purely fiction?

It's a plot device that ACD uses whenever he can't think of a good excuse for a key witness not to just explain wtf is going on.

As for Holmes staying at Watson's - do you think he's done something horrific at 221B, and be temporarily thrown out by Mrs. Hudson while she sets it right? Chemical explosion or something? (Or, obviously, he just wants an excuse to be close to Watson.) I love that Watson raises no questions about it, or bothers asking why it's necessary.

[lucybun.livejournal.com]

I don't know what brain fever is, but the next time I try to wiggle out of doing something, I know what my excuse is going to be.

Even without my slash goggles, I've always read Holmes wanting to stay with Watson that night as a sign of his loneliness. I read Watson being so eager for him to stay the same way. They miss each other, and talking about their adventures, before and after, was always a big part of their relationship. I think it's sweet and more than a little sad.

Re: Brain Fever

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

I think we might call it either a nervous breakdown or possibly menegitis, depending on the circumstances. Certainly any illness following a period of worry/ uneasing stress would qualify.