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sherlock60Welcome back, everyone! Let's have some canon Sherlock Holmes discussion, shall we? What did you all think of The Blanched Soldier? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts and questions, which are behind the jump. Please add your own in the comments!
There is no Granada episode to discuss this week.
- After years of needling Watson about the quality of his writing, we've finally reached the point where Sherlock Holmes has conceded to try his hand at authorship himself. Can he do better than his revered biographer? I think he would agree, the answer is no. What's fascinating is that we actually see him come to this realization as he writes the story. At each important plot point, he sees how hard it is to artistically render a true event into an exciting reading experience that both explains enough yet leaves enough hidden for further revelations. But for its flaws, Holmes' first attempt has interest too: his first person descriptions of the machinations he uses to manipulate the world around him, from the initial set of inferences he deliberately uses to impress new client with his powers to staging a clumsy "accident" dropping his hat so he can smell Old Ralph's gloves, are fascinating in their way. Never before have we seen directly into Sherlock Holmes' mind as he works. For all that John Watson offers as a narrator, this is one thing he cannot give his readers.
- There are two cases of missing persons at the heart of this case, two people desperately missing dear friends lost to them. James Dodd is valiant in his efforts to uncover the fate of his beloved Godfrey, and Holmes is embittered about Watson leaving him for a wife. Both feel their lack deeply, and speak of the pain of it often. James is open about the strength of his feelings for Godfrey, and the lengths he is willing to go to find him. Holmes, on the other hand, tries to cover his hurt over being left behind by his friend with snide comments and compliments that are more like insults. But he never stops talking about Watson. For a case that does not involve the doctor at all, Watson is everywhere in this story, and clearly weighing heavily in Holmes' mind, not to mention his heart, no matter how much he would likely deny that.
- There are three truly great love stories in Sherlock Holmes canon, romantic or otherwise, depending on your view and persuasion. The first is the most obvious, and central to all but one of these cases: the powerful, decades-long relationship between Holmes and Watson. Their care for each other was real love. What kind of love it was is almost irrelevant, given the strength of their connection. The second great love story is a tragedy, the beautiful, doomed affair between Elsie and Hilton Cubitt in The Dancing Men. Never have two people deserved happiness together more, and when they are forbidden it, it is devastating. And the last great tale of true love is here, the unstoppable friendship (or more?) between James Dodd and Godfrey Emsworth. After forging an unbreakable bond in the fires of war, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will prevent James from discovering Godfrey's fate. He will not be deterred, not by distance, not by time, and not by Godfrey's domineering, physically threatening father. His passion and drive are absolutely exquisite. James and Godfrey get a happy ending when their case winds down, surprising for a story about leprosy. What happened to them afterward? We can only imagine.
- "The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association. I was alone." - If Watson has been married twice before this (a very debatable point, but one we are going with for this reading with Baring-Gould's chronology), then those previous actions were not considered selfish by Holmes. Only this last one was. Why? Did Holmes think he deserved to be abandoned those other times? Did he like Watson's previous wives but not this one? Any other ideas?
Comment away, and join us next week for The Mazarin Stone, for real this time!
There is no Granada episode to discuss this week.
- After years of needling Watson about the quality of his writing, we've finally reached the point where Sherlock Holmes has conceded to try his hand at authorship himself. Can he do better than his revered biographer? I think he would agree, the answer is no. What's fascinating is that we actually see him come to this realization as he writes the story. At each important plot point, he sees how hard it is to artistically render a true event into an exciting reading experience that both explains enough yet leaves enough hidden for further revelations. But for its flaws, Holmes' first attempt has interest too: his first person descriptions of the machinations he uses to manipulate the world around him, from the initial set of inferences he deliberately uses to impress new client with his powers to staging a clumsy "accident" dropping his hat so he can smell Old Ralph's gloves, are fascinating in their way. Never before have we seen directly into Sherlock Holmes' mind as he works. For all that John Watson offers as a narrator, this is one thing he cannot give his readers.
- There are two cases of missing persons at the heart of this case, two people desperately missing dear friends lost to them. James Dodd is valiant in his efforts to uncover the fate of his beloved Godfrey, and Holmes is embittered about Watson leaving him for a wife. Both feel their lack deeply, and speak of the pain of it often. James is open about the strength of his feelings for Godfrey, and the lengths he is willing to go to find him. Holmes, on the other hand, tries to cover his hurt over being left behind by his friend with snide comments and compliments that are more like insults. But he never stops talking about Watson. For a case that does not involve the doctor at all, Watson is everywhere in this story, and clearly weighing heavily in Holmes' mind, not to mention his heart, no matter how much he would likely deny that.
- There are three truly great love stories in Sherlock Holmes canon, romantic or otherwise, depending on your view and persuasion. The first is the most obvious, and central to all but one of these cases: the powerful, decades-long relationship between Holmes and Watson. Their care for each other was real love. What kind of love it was is almost irrelevant, given the strength of their connection. The second great love story is a tragedy, the beautiful, doomed affair between Elsie and Hilton Cubitt in The Dancing Men. Never have two people deserved happiness together more, and when they are forbidden it, it is devastating. And the last great tale of true love is here, the unstoppable friendship (or more?) between James Dodd and Godfrey Emsworth. After forging an unbreakable bond in the fires of war, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will prevent James from discovering Godfrey's fate. He will not be deterred, not by distance, not by time, and not by Godfrey's domineering, physically threatening father. His passion and drive are absolutely exquisite. James and Godfrey get a happy ending when their case winds down, surprising for a story about leprosy. What happened to them afterward? We can only imagine.
- "The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association. I was alone." - If Watson has been married twice before this (a very debatable point, but one we are going with for this reading with Baring-Gould's chronology), then those previous actions were not considered selfish by Holmes. Only this last one was. Why? Did Holmes think he deserved to be abandoned those other times? Did he like Watson's previous wives but not this one? Any other ideas?
Comment away, and join us next week for The Mazarin Stone, for real this time!
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