sherlock60 | Canon Discussion Post: The Copper Beeches (Reply)

It's canon discussion time! After such a long stretch of novels, we finally have a short story again, and in fact, it's all stories from here on out. So what did you think about The Copper Beeches? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts, which are behind the jump. Add your own in the comments!

You can comment about the Granada adaptation of COPP in this week's Granada discussion post.

I don't remember enjoying The Copper Beeches quite as much the last time we read it. It didn't seem to leave a strong impression in my mind. This time through, though, I loved it. The case itself is wonderfully bizarre, and the characters match for weirdness and interest. There is an abundance of creepiness, mystery, excitement, and action, all the good stuff.

Violet Hunter is one of the best heroines in canon. She is capable and clever, observant and brave. Her natural investigator's instincts are obvious from the start, and she does the majority of the investigation involved here. Holmes is left to the deductions, but she even attempts some of that herself too.

She's immediately impressive to him, and having been testy all morning to Watson, Holmes is suddenly all eager ears for a case he previously determined to be his "zero-point". Afterwards, and for two weeks to follow, when thinking of Violet and her predicament, he analogizes her to his sister, rather an intimate assessment from Sherlock Holmes.

In the last lines of the story, Watson takes this interest by Holmes as potential love interest and expresses his disappointment that it isn't. That seems like a misread of the situation to me. Holmes repeatedly uses "sister" in regards to her. That's an odd word to fixate upon if you were speaking of a woman you were attracted to romantically/sexually. To me, the connection he implies is more likely an interest as a comrade, a colleague of sorts. Not an equal, obviously, but an intelligent person deserving his loyalty and more importantly, his respect. Few people ever achieve this status with Holmes, and far fewer are women.

Having said that... this time reading through, I confess I shipped it a little. And I'll tell you the moment that kicked me over.

Sherlock Holmes: "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not think you a quite exceptional woman."

Violet Hunter: "I will try. What is it?"

Holmes expresses his respect for her, complimenting her on her bravery, her common sense. He calls her exceptional. And on Violet's side, she agrees instantly, without hesitation, to the unnamed "feat" he proposes. Only after does she ask what it might entail. ♥ ♥ ♥ (Probably not coincidentally, the characteristics of bravery, common sense, and a trusting nature are why I ship Watson with Holmes too.)

Comment away, and join us next week for The Boscombe Valley Mystery!