Canon Discussion Post: The Red-Headed League

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

It's canon discussion time, everybody! What did you think about The Red-Headed League? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts and questions, which are behind the jump. Add your own in the comments!

Note: Granada discussion is available in the Granada discussion post. Thanks!


- “I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of every-day life." - And we know that love is also shared by every single reader of Sherlock Holmes and mystery stories in general. And certainly The Red-Headed League is fully of the bizarre. This case is anything but humdrum. There's a reason it's been a favorite for generations.

- The moment when Holmes and Watson spontaneously burst into laughing over the unceremonious way Jabez Wilson's employment comes to an end is perhaps my favorite in the canon. What other reaction is possible when presented with a man like Wilson and a case like the Red-Headed League? Poor Jabez is offended, of course, and tries to leave, but Holmes physically shoves him back in his seat -- he will NOT be deprived of this case.

- My partner, my helper, my friend. Holmes refers to Watson and their relationship in a variety of ways. All are true, and all understate the situation in their own ways. Their closeness and mutual comfort remains intact and vibrant, even in the face of Watson's marriage and physician duties, which he calls "not very absorbing". How could they be, compared to his exciting and dangerous adventures with Holmes?

- "He is, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third." - Okay, so let's think about this. Now I don't think it's too difficult to guess Mycroft is almost certainly #1, which makes Sherlock Holmes himself #2. And then we have #3: Clay or some other mystery guest. My mind immediately went to Moriarty, of course, but I suspect Moriarty is an unknown to Holmes at this point -- he very specifically said that Clay was the criminal in London he'd most like to have his cuffs on. If he knew Moriarty, the professor would have taken that slot handily. So Holmes has that misfortune still in his future, then. Their future, and ours.

Comments

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

I loved that hint at Holmes's history with Moriarty. Who knows, they might know about each other already (Moriarty for sure), Holmes either just underestimating/in the dark about the dark genius, or still contemplating real danger. Or could it be that he keeps this information hidden, in order not to let Moriarty know that he's on his trace?