Holy Cow! His Last Vow!

[rusty_armour]

And I've really got to stop using these lame rhyming titles. I think somewhere along the way Sherlock broke my brain.* As with my "Empty Hearse" post, I'm amazed I can produce sentences because my brain is still trying to process everything I've just seen. I've had to pull both Volume I and Volume II of my beat up Bantam Classics from my Sherlockiana Section in order to check certain references. As usual, I'll just babble about all the things that struck me during the episode.

I should start off by saying that "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton" is one of my absolute favourite Sherlock Holmes stories. I was both excited and anxious about what Moffat might do to it, especially as Charles Augustus Milverton had become Charles Augustus Magnussen. I mean, it couldn't possibly be as bad as Granada's version ("The Master Blackmailer"), but I still had concerns. They were needless. Again, other fans may not agree, but I love what Moffat did with the story. Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen) was genuinely creepy. He really did make my skin crawl, so I can only imagine how Lady Smallwood felt!

As soon as I saw that Sherlock and Janine had become a couple, I assumed that she must work for Magnussen and that Sherlock was using her to get information. In the original story, Sherlock poses as a plumber and becomes engaged to a maid in Milverton's household in order to gain access to the house. It's a great modern twist that the maid has become a PA and gets revenge on Sherlock afterwards. Nice reference to Holmes's canon retirement spot, the Sussex Downs. I love the way Sherlock winces when Janine mentions getting rid of all the bees. *g* I just had to check both these things, but Lady Eva Blackwell becomes Lady Elizabeth Smallwood, while Appledore Towers is now the huge Appledore complex. Saying that, I was impressed by how closely Moffat stuck to the original story. Sherlock and John are still breaking and entering in the hope of retrieving their client's letters, and a lady is holding a gun on Magnussen. However, what completely took me by surprise was seeing Mary standing there with the gun instead of Lady Smallwood. And she shoots Sherlock instead of Magnussen when Lady Blackwell shoots and kills Milverton in canon. And I'm smacking my forehead for not seeing it because John points out that Lady Smallwood isn't the only one who wears Claire de la Lune perfume...

I'm still trying to work out how I feel about this new Mary. On the whole, I think I really like the Sherlock version. While I'm genuinely fond of canon Mary Morstan, she's always struck me as being a bit mousy. It's really cool to see Moffat take Mary Morstan to the opposite extreme and make her a trained killer. I love it when John asks why he ended up with a psychopath, and Sherlock points out that she has to be because John picked her. John really is addicted to danger, so, in the Sherlock universe, it makes sense that he'd fall for a woman who embodies it. I was also thrilled to see another Sign of Four reference with that A.G.R.A. memory stick (in place of the Agra treasure). As in the original novel, John Watson ends up with Mary Morstan alone. The Agra treasure is lost at the bottom of the Thames in The Sign of Four, and John throws the memory stick on the fire in this episode. Lastly, I got a kick out of seeing Mary Morstan's journey being reversed in "His Last Vow". She becomes the client after marrying John Watson rather than the other way round. It's wonderful when Sherlock repeatedly asks John who Mary is at that exact moment, and John realizes that she's their client.

Other than tackling "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," I was happy to see that big shout out to "The Man with the Twisted Lip," with Sherlock going undercover in a crack house instead of an opium den, and John searching for Kate Whitney's son instead of her husband. It was also nice to see another reference to "The Empty House" with those literal empty houses on Leinster Terrace, not to mention the dummy, who is no dummy at all once he wakes up and smells the perfume. Moffat even dips into Baring-Gould when Sherlock gives his full name (William Sherlock Scott Holmes) to John. Of course, it couldn't be "His Last Vow" without a nod to "His Last Bow". That "east wind" was mentioned several times:

There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast.

In "His Last Bow," the east wind is referring to the First World War. Holmes goes undercover as an Irish-American named Altamont, which ties in nicely to that undercover job Sherlock almost pursues in "His Last Vow". I'm not quite sure what the "east wind" means in "His Last Vow". Is it Moriarty returning from the dead? While only Moriarty would be evil enough to interrupt Lestrade's football match, I can't help feeling that it's not actually Moriarty but another villain using his face. Of course, as Moffat and Gatiss are big fans of the Basil Rathbone films (where Moriarty comes back from the dead on a regular basis), I could be wrong. I guess we'll find out in two years' time.





* And here's proof! I almost forgot about Billy Wiggins! What a fantastic gift for the fans with this combination of both the Billy and Wiggins characters into one! And both Billy and Wiggins were Holmes's protégés, so combining the characters in this modern version makes sense.

Comments

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

For right now, all I can say is...

OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod!

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

Just posting again to try out my new icon...

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Ooooooooooh! I like it! :-D I haven't made any series 3 icons yet, though I have an idea for one...

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

LOL! Not at all surprised! *g*

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

OK, what I liked about this episode and season, in no particular order:

Mary. Yes, even after everything we learn. Actually, even more so. It makes perfect sense that the adrenaline junky would subconsciously be drawn to the secret-agent-assassin-in-hiding woman. Poor John, surrounded by insanely perceptive loved ones. And, she had wrinkles!! She looked like she was the same age as John. In the US, they'd have cast someone twenty years younger than him. (I know she's Martin's real life partner -- only makes it better).

John as the adrenaline junky. No, he doesn't really want a quiet life in the suburbs. And, he is most definitely not just a tag-along to Sherlock -- he able to go into dangerous situations and protect himself and save others. No, he is not as fast on the uptake as Sherlock and Mary, but I like that not everyone is a super genius.

The relationship between the brothers. We see that they know each other very, very well. It's fun that Mycroft had Sherlock convinced he was stupid, just because they had no other children to compare themselves to. And, they do care about each other, as much as they're able.

Mum and Dad. I'd imagined that they were aristocratic and distant geniuses, to create Mycroft and Sherlock. Now, geniuses, they might be (I like that Dad is the sane one). It appears that the boys were home schooled for the first part of their lives, and it looks like there's some money there, but they seemed such down-to-earth normal people.

Sherlock staying true to character, with some growth. He is a high functioning sociopath. He will call Greg for help when it's not really an emergency (emergency for Sherlock), he will use the bridesmaid, he does not understand why parts of his best man's speech were inappropriate, and why other parts of it moved the room to tears.

But, he also discovered that there were people in the world he cared deeply about. He made a vow to John and Mary that he would be there for the three of them. When he found out Mary was lying, he reverted to mostly protecting John, but still feeling that Mary wasn't horrible. Except for lying to John. With John and Mary reconciled, the vow comes back into full effect. He will do anything to protect them, even if it means hurting his brother and putting himself in jeopardy. And, in the end, he will kill to stop the danger to J&M. It was the only logical thing to do.

Not that John should be too judgmental about shooting someone who endangering someone he loves. Granted, Magnussen wasn't going to directly pull a trigger or force someone to drink poison; as he says, *he* doesn't kill anyone. So, the police wouldn't call it justifiable, but I know that John knows it was.

Sherlock taking Billy in as a protege. Tom Brooke was so funny!

Final Vow had me literally on the edge of my seat, with my hands covering my mouth through much of it. I did not see the surprises coming.

What else this year.... Greg giving Sherlock a huge hug. Sherlock consistently messing up his first name (well, can't let people guess their secret !). That, though Sherlock was playing lovey-dovey with Janine, he didn't go all the way. It just feels so true to character.

But we needed more Lestrade, overall. That's the one thing I would fix :-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

This comment is so long that I'll have to break it into two parts.


OK, what I liked about this episode and season, in no particular order:

Mary. Yes, even after everything we learn. Actually, even more so. It makes perfect sense that the adrenaline junky would subconsciously be drawn to the secret-agent-assassin-in-hiding woman. Poor John, surrounded by insanely perceptive loved ones.

Like you, I actually liked Mary even more after learning that she was a "secret-agent-assassin-in-hiding woman". As you say, she's the perfect match for an adrenaline junky like John. I also think it's wonderful that John loves Mary enough to ignore her past and accept her as she is now. I love it when John asks her if she'd be happy as "Mary Watson". Perfect moment. :-)

And, she had wrinkles!! She looked like she was the same age as John. In the US, they'd have cast someone twenty years younger than him. (I know she's Martin's real life partner -- only makes it better).

I hadn't even consideed the age question, but you're right. It's very refreshing to see an actress who isn't 20 years younger than Freeman playing the role of Mary. I'm not sure what the age gap would have been in canon. I know Mary Morstan was 27, but I'm guessing Watson would have been only ten years older at most. And I agree that knowing Amanda Abbington is Martin Freeman's real life partner doesn't add an extra layer of enjoyment. :-)

John as the adrenaline junky. No, he doesn't really want a quiet life in the suburbs. And, he is most definitely not just a tag-along to Sherlock -- he able to go into dangerous situations and protect himself and save others. No, he is not as fast on the uptake as Sherlock and Mary, but I like that not everyone is a super genius.

It's great that John isn't just a Sherlock add-on. He moved on with his life when he thought Sherlock was dead. It was a huge struggle, but he did it -- and found love in the process. I loved seeing John kick ass in the crack house. He's obviously more than capable of taking care of himself. And it doesn't matter that he isn't a super genius because he has important qualities those super geniuses lack, such as kindness and compassion. He definitely makes Sherlock and Mary better people.

The relationship between the brothers. We see that they know each other very, very well. It's fun that Mycroft had Sherlock convinced he was stupid, just because they had no other children to compare themselves to. And, they do care about each other, as much as they're able.

I love that conversation. Both the dialogue and performances are brilliant. Take away the fact that they're super geniuses and it's very much the way two siblings might interact. I thought it was very sweet and funny when Mycroft talks about how his heart would be broken if anything ever happened to Sherlock, and Sherlock asks, "How the hell am I supposed to respond to that?" Such declarations are obviously completely foreign to both brothers. *g*

Mum and Dad. I'd imagined that they were aristocratic and distant geniuses, to create Mycroft and Sherlock. Now, geniuses, they might be (I like that Dad is the sane one). It appears that the boys were home schooled for the first part of their lives, and it looks like there's some money there, but they seemed such down-to-earth normal people.

I was wondering about the Holmes's financial status. I mean, the house isn't a bad size, but it seems fairly modest if the Holmeses are aristocrats. Of course, it's possible that it's where Mum and Dad decided to retire. Just because someone is upper class (or possible upper middle class) doesn't mean they're necessarily going to flaunt it. I still think it's great that they are both down-to-earth normal people. I'm guessing Sherlock and Mycroft are the way they are because they started to rebel against all that at a very early age. *g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Sherlock staying true to character, with some growth. He is a high functioning sociopath.

I'm glad they showed some growth because I can't see someone going through what Sherlock went through without changing to some degree. I get the sense that Sherlock really missed the people in his life -- not just John but Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, Molly, and even Mycroft.

He will call Greg for help when it's not really an emergency (emergency for Sherlock), he will use the bridesmaid, he does not understand why parts of his best man's speech were inappropriate, and why other parts of it moved the room to tears.

I do think it's wonderful that Sherlock still doesn't understand the moral implications of some of his actions and continues to be confused by social boundaries and etiquette. As much as I've bitched about the best man's speech, I did find it sweet when Sherlock thought he'd done something wrong because the room had been moved to tears.

But, he also discovered that there were people in the world he cared deeply about. He made a vow to John and Mary that he would be there for the three of them. When he found out Mary was lying, he reverted to mostly protecting John, but still feeling that Mary wasn't horrible. Except for lying to John. With John and Mary reconciled, the vow comes back into full effect. He will do anything to protect them, even if it means hurting his brother and putting himself in jeopardy. And, in the end, he will kill to stop the danger to J&M. It was the only logical thing to do.

I think you've described Sherlock's emotional journey perfectly. And I think Sherlock did a remarkable job of protecting both John and Mary under the circumstances. It's interesting that he ended up understanding John and Mary better than they understood themselves. He obviously cares about them deeply if he was able to understand their emotional motivations on top of everything else.

Not that John should be too judgmental about shooting someone who endangering someone he loves. Granted, Magnussen wasn't going to directly pull a trigger or force someone to drink poison; as he says, *he* doesn't kill anyone. So, the police wouldn't call it justifiable, but I know that John knows it was.

It was a no-win situation. It's not as if they could destroy Magnussen's files on people because there aren't any outside of Magnussen's mind palace. Even arresting Magnussen would prove dangerous because I'm sure he'd leak all kinds of information to the press. Hell, he probably wouldn't even see a jail cell as I'm sure he's got dirt on various high-ranking Scotland officials, judges, etc. I think if John didn't know it at the time, he would have come to realize that Sherlock didn't have any other choice.

Sherlock taking Billy in as a protege. Tom Brooke was so funny!

Tom Brooke is fabulous as Billy! I hope we'll see him again!

Final Vow had me literally on the edge of my seat, with my hands covering my mouth through much of it. I did not see the surprises coming.

Same here. I think my mouth was hanging open for a lot of the episode because there was just surprise after surprise after surprise.

What else this year.... Greg giving Sherlock a huge hug.

Quite possibly my favourite moment in the third series. ♥

Sherlock consistently messing up his first name (well, can't let people guess their secret !).

There has actually been quite a few stories dealing with the first name issue. In at least a couple, you find out that Sherlock only does it to piss off Lestrade. *g*

That, though Sherlock was playing lovey-dovey with Janine, he didn't go all the way. It just feels so true to character.

Sherlock basically went as far as he needed to go for the case, though I can't help feeling that he was messing with John a little with those PDAs in the living room. *g*

But we needed more Lestrade, overall. That's the one thing I would fix :-)

You and everyone on gravesdiggers. *g* Seriously, though, I wish we could see just a little bit more of him. I know the show is Sherlock not Lestrade, but it would be wonderful if Rupert had more screen time.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Re. Moriarty - possibly either Sherlock or Mycroft used his face, to prevent Sherlock having to go on what we know was a high-risk mission?

Agree about His Last Vow. In my opinion it was the pick of the crop in this (all to short, alas) series. And Yay for Billy Wiggins. I hope he gets to be a regular (and not an 'irregular') in the series.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Re. Moriarty - possibly either Sherlock or Mycroft used his face, to prevent Sherlock having to go on what we know was a high-risk mission?

Oooooooooh! BRILLIANT theory! That would prevent Sherlock from having to go on that high-risk mission! :-) I was initially thinking that not being able to produce Moriarty might be a problem, but they would really just have to hint at his existence from time to time. Just make Moriarty seem threatening to justify Sherlock's presence in London.

Agree about His Last Vow. In my opinion it was the pick of the crop in this (all to short, alas) series.

Yeah, despite the lack of Lestrade, I think it was the best one of the three. It was the most solid in terms of plot -- and what a plot it was! I think it was also the most true to Sherlock and John in terms of their characters. I thought things got a little too sappy in "The Sign of Three" -- and I'm talking about John as well as Sherlock!

And Yay for Billy Wiggins. I hope he gets to be a regular (and not an 'irregular') in the series.

Hee, hee, hee! Yes, in this instance, it would be much better if Billy Wiggins became a regular. *g* I hope we see more of him too.

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Having read your post, I realize I really need to brush up on my Sherlock - I missed many of the canon references you mention. CAM made me shudder and at times I was very tempted to switch channels for a sec because he was becoming too creepy to my taste.*g* I had completely forgotten about Sherlock's "engagement" so my reaction was similar to John Watson's, "Humanizing Sherlock, ok... but a girlfriend?!" I have to wait till Saturday for the Belgian tv to air the episode with subtitles (which is pretty fast) and then I'll make more sense of some of the dialog. The episode was one heck of a rollercoaster ride for me: being creeped out by Magnussen, feeling very sad for Watson, being worried over Sherlock, laughing out loud ("I'm undercover." "No, you're not." "Not noooow!") and being angry at Moffat at pulling a Doctor Who in Sherlock (read: resurrecting the dead). Still, like you, I think Moriarty is a red herring.
But I guess that the next audiobook I'll be listening to whilst doing the dishes is going to be "The case of Charles Augustus Milverton". :)

PS: Any idea who the third Holmes brother is?

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Having read your post, I realize I really need to brush up on my Sherlock - I missed many of the canon references you mention.

Well, I've had several years to familiarize myself with the subject. I started reading the canon when I was 13, which is more years ago than I'd like to admit! *g* And I know I missed certain allusions. In fact, I really need to re-watch that scene between Mary and Mrs. Holmes because I think the title of that book was one credited to Moriarty in canon, unless I was imagining it at the time. Oh, and I didn't even notice what Mrs. Holmes's first name was. If it's Violet then that's another nod to Baring-Gould.

CAM made me shudder and at times I was very tempted to switch channels for a sec because he was becoming too creepy to my taste.*g*

Yes, Lars Mikkelsen was a little too good. I don't blame you for being creeped out enough to want to change the channel!

I had completely forgotten about Sherlock's "engagement" so my reaction was similar to John Watson's, "Humanizing Sherlock, ok... but a girlfriend?!"

Well, if you're anything like me, you've tried to block out as much of "The Master Blackmailer" as possible -- assuming it was your first taste of the original story. As I knew this was a version of "Charles Augustus Milverton," I assumed that Sherlock was pretending to be interested in Janine. I wanted to give Moffat the benefit of the doubt and believe that he hadn't lost his mind. *g*

I have to wait till Saturday for the Belgian tv to air the episode with subtitles (which is pretty fast) and then I'll make more sense of some of the dialog.

There was a heck of a lot going on, so I'm guessing that most of us could benefit from subtitles. *g* I hope the subtitles help with the dialogue, etc.

The episode was one heck of a rollercoaster ride for me: being creeped out by Magnussen, feeling very sad for Watson, being worried over Sherlock, laughing out loud ("I'm undercover." "No, you're not." "Not noooow!") and being angry at Moffat at pulling a Doctor Who in Sherlock (read: resurrecting the dead). Still, like you, I think Moriarty is a red herring.

I think "rollercoaster" is definitely the right word for it! There was so much going on in terms of plot and the emotional arc of the characters. And I'm going to give Moffat the benefit of the doubt again and assume that Moriarty is a red herring. Here's hoping we're not proved wrong! *g*

But I guess that the next audiobook I'll be listening to whilst doing the dishes is going to be "The case of Charles Augustus Milverton". :)

Oooooh! I'm sure you won't regret it! This really is a great story with an exciting and humourous ending. :-)

Must be a very small world. I often listen to audiobooks, podfic or movie commentaries when I'm washing my dishes.

PS: Any idea who the third Holmes brother is?

I haven't been able to decide whether Mycroft was being serious or not. It's so hard to say with him. *g* If there was a third brother, it could be Sigerson Holmes:



Or maybe not. *g*

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Must be a very small world. I often listen to audiobooks, podfic or movie commentaries when I'm washing my dishes.
It's not always a good thing though. I've become a sucker for Richard Armitage's voice so the other day I did the dishes listening to an audiobook he did, turning a 30-minute chore into a 2 hour one. *g*
Speaking of which, he makes a brilliant Gisburne - will post on that later this week. :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's one of the drawbacks of an audiobook. It does stretch out chores. If I have a longer story, I'll often save it for when I have other chores to do as well. If it's something on my computer (like a Big Finish production) then I can stop it more easily and return to it later if need be.

Richard Armitage was the only thing that made BBC Robin Hood even remotely tempting, but, sadly, even he wasn't enough to make me watch the series. However, I've happily watched him in other things. I highly recommend North & South (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_%26_South_(TV_serial)) if you haven't seen it already.

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend North & South if you haven't seen it already.

It was the holidays *and* I'm still unemployed. Spooks, North and South, Robin Hood and The Desolation of Smaug kept me occupied though. (yes, I really have it THAT bad *g*). Will do my Gisburne post now. ;-)

[dubghall.livejournal.com]

I thought this was an interesting article: http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/01/sherlock-and-adventure-overzealous-fanbase

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this article! :-D It's very interesting! In fact, it's so interesting that I shared the link with some people at the RoS chat. We're discussing it right now! *g*

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

I know you've seen through the magic of the Internet, but if you had been watching on TV, it would be on Buffalo's WNED. And they've decided to show it a month after the other PBS stations. Would you mind complaining to them? It seems every time I want to watch a PBS show, I have to see a month after my friends who live in other cities.

http://www.wned.org/component/k2/item/285-contact-us?highlight=WyJjb250YWN0IiwidXMiLCJjb250YWN0IHVzIl0=

Their station master is nuts.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I checked the schedule earlier in the week and couldn't believe it when I saw the February broadcast date. And from what I read, they justified this later date by saying they felt it was only fair to show the previous episodes again before broadcasting the new ones. Uh, okay. Fine. But couldn't you have scheduled the episodes so that they would be wrapped up in time for the official PBS launch date? *rolls eyes*

I already have issues with PBS because I know they edit scenes out of episodes. I'm also sick of them bleeping out expletives, which is so much fun when you're trying to watch something like Scott & Bailey or George Gently. I'm tempted to write in and ask them to grow up.

The single file links have probably expired, but I'll send you the mult-part links for the episodes in a PM.

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I was trying not to do the "fell off of the back of the truck" option as I promised someone I wouldn't resort to such methods. I did get a special "WNED are dumb" exemption in this case, but I'm waiting to see if they change their minds about scheduling for the later episodes. I'm also considering just paying for the Seattle PBS station as WNED consistently reschedules from the PBS norm. This Sherlock thing isn't the first time, and it's not likely to be their last. Ron Santora seems to be very upset that his programming suggestions are not being folded by any other PBS stations and is determined to make his viewers suffer.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't feel one scrap of guilt or remorse when PBS disrespects its viewers by cutting scenes and censoring programs. Okay, I'll put up with it for the most part because it's not like I have a choice, but I won't accept it when it comes to Sherlock. They're not screwing me there. I will also buy the DVD and I've recommended the show to anyone I think might be interested. Maybe that doesn't make what I'm doing any less wrong, but at least I'm giving a little bit back.

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

Do you know what changes they've made? Is it censorship or editing for adding the "And viewers like you" crap on. I think Doctor Who gets slightly edited for commercials, rather than content. That said, I saw that Masterpiece (formed from the marriage of Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery - which broadcast British shows on PBS, for those not reading this who don't know) said on their FAQ that they sometimes redub lines if the actors sound too British. That is troubling. I'll likely get the BluRay, although I'm souring on Moffat's writing in general. The 50th Anniversary special seemed like a fluke rather than a return to form.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't be absolutely sure whether they do this anymore, but I caught "The Blind Banker" when WNED first broadcast it and a whole scene was removed. When I refer to censorship, I'm referring to the habit PBS has of bleeping out profanity. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit extreme in labelling it "censorship," but I still resent it.

I think Moffat's writing goes up and down. I really enjoyed the 50th Anniversary special, but wasn't as wild about the last Christmas special. Saying that, I think Moffat's episode might have been the best one in this latest series of Sherlock.

[karen9.livejournal.com]

Excellent episode. Moffat and Gatiss are so good with their versions of the Sherlock stories, full of allusions.

I agree that Magnussen is genuinely creepy. I think Sherlock describing him as a shark was spot-on. He gave me the horrors.

I was taken aback by the new Mary, but I like her because she's interesting.

Sherlock as one of a couple was amusing.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Excellent episode. Moffat and Gatiss are so good with their versions of the Sherlock stories, full of allusions.

I'm happy you enjoyed the episode, karen9! :-) It's so refreshing to have writers/creators who are not only familiar with original canon but other Sherlock Holmes reincarnations. I've listened to commentary or interviews for other Sherlock Holmes productions in which the people involved only seem to be familiar with the Basil Rathbone films and have no knowledge of what has come before or after this period. Then, you get someone like Guy Ritchie who will claim he's creating a better Sherlock Holmes than your "grandfather's Sherlock Holmes" and he'll lift elements from films that were around in your grandfather's time. He lifted something straight out of the Rathbone film, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and I don't remember him providing any credit for it. When Moffat and Gatiss borrow material, it's a homage and they happily give credit where credit is due (e.g. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes).

Wow. Sorry. It must be rant day today. Stupid hormones. *g*

I agree that Magnussen is genuinely creepy. I think Sherlock describing him as a shark was spot-on. He gave me the horrors.

I think the Lars Mikkelsen version is actually creepier than the original. Not only that but scary as well! You actually see Sherlock at a loss, which isn't even something that really happened with Moriarty. Of course, Sherlock was able to team up with Mycroft against Moriarty when he couldn't do that with Magnussen.

I really need to re-read the original story because I can't remember if the shark analogy was based off of what Conan Doyle wrote. It sounds like something Conan Doyle might have written, but I honestly can't remember...Yes, I think I'll have to force myself to re-read that story. *g*

I was taken aback by the new Mary, but I like her because she's interesting.

I did not see that coming at all and wasn't sure if I liked this new Mary at first. However, I really do feel that she's the perfect match for this universe's John Watson, which makes sense because she's like Sherlock in a lot of ways. Is it any wonder that John fell head over heels for her? *g*

Sherlock as one of a couple was amusing.

I totally agree! What I love about it is that Sherlock is obviously imitating some of the more annoying habits he's observed from couples. It's great the way he instantly turns it off as soon as Janine leaves Baker Street. It reminds me of the fake tears from "The Great Game".

[funkyinfishnet.livejournal.com]

Only just watched 'His Last Vow' today as we haven't had time since coming back from holiday until today. Anthony and I both loved it and feel like series 3 as a whole was stronger than series 2. I actually really like the twist on Mary, that she's a dangerous person, a clever deadly person, and though John feels like he should yearn for a normal life and a normal wife, of course he's ended up with entirely the opposite - he'd be bored otherwise LOL. I was so sure she'd die in this finale after all the build-up of how awesome she and John are together, thankfully they've stayed away from that idea for now! Long may that continue, I love Mary, especially her friendship with Sherlock.

I have to admit, I really don't want Moriarty to be back - I like the fact that he stays dead in the books and Sherlock survives. I like the idea of another villain using Moriarty's face though, using it to torture Sherlock maybe and to make an impact. Anthony reckons it could be Sebastian Moran - I know they've used to the Moran surname already this series but I think it makes a lot of sense. Plus the army connection with John could produce a very tasty story.

Thanks as always for a great review of the episode :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Only just watched 'His Last Vow' today as we haven't had time since coming back from holiday until today. Anthony and I both loved it and feel like series 3 as a whole was stronger than series 2.

I'm glad you and Anthony both loved "His Last Vow". I think you might be right about series 3 being stronger than series 2 in a lot of respects. I don't know if I'd say I liked it more as there are wonderful moments in both series. However, it's been a while since I've watched either of the first two series, so it's hard to say.

I actually really like the twist on Mary, that she's a dangerous person, a clever deadly person, and though John feels like he should yearn for a normal life and a normal wife, of course he's ended up with entirely the opposite - he'd be bored otherwise LOL.

It was a great twist. I think Moffat set it up well. Although Mary was obviously clever, she seemed fairly ordinary. Of course, she would have been trying to appear ordinary so as not to give the game away. I hadn't realized how she had slipped up by revealing such things as her knowledge of skip codes until Sherlock pointed it out. Anywaaaaaay, I also like the idea that John completely fails at wanting or even obtaining a normal life...or wife. As you pointed out, he would be bored if he actually did have a normal life. I mean, he happily walked into a crack house to escape his dull routine.

I was so sure she'd die in this finale after all the build-up of how awesome she and John are together, thankfully they've stayed away from that idea for now! Long may that continue, I love Mary, especially her friendship with Sherlock.

I thought they were going to kill her off too. I'm sure Mark Gatiss was hinting that a major character was going to get killed off, unless he was referring to the old Mary Morstan. It was either her or Magnussen. In any case, I thought she would be a goner because she was happily married to John and pregnant by the end of "The Sign of Three". And Mary doesn't live terribly long in canon, so I thought that would be even more reason to kill her. Then, when the real Mary is revealed in Magnussen's office, I figured she would be killed off as a villain. Yes, very clever plotting. I actually spent all of "The Sign of Three" and "His Last Vow" waiting for her to get it. *g*

I also love Mary's friendship with Sherlock. I think he honestly admires her wit and intelligence and knows that she has encouraged John to continue working with him on cases. Actually, I think Sherlock just likes Mary. Period. In canon, Holmes is polite and respectful to Mary, but I don't think there was really much warmth there. Saying that, I'm sure he was grateful to her because she brought him such an interesting case. Then, of course, she allowed Watson to accompany him on even more cases. *g*

I have to admit, I really don't want Moriarty to be back - I like the fact that he stays dead in the books and Sherlock survives. I like the idea of another villain using Moriarty's face though, using it to torture Sherlock maybe and to make an impact. Anthony reckons it could be Sebastian Moran - I know they've used to the Moran surname already this series but I think it makes a lot of sense. Plus the army connection with John could produce a very tasty story.

Oooooh! I really like Anthony's theory about it being Moran! I actually thought about that too. Although Moran was arrested in "The Empty Hearse," he could have escaped from prison or had friends who got him out. I think Moran would be capable of what we saw in "His Last Vow" given his whole Guy Fawkes routine. I'm ashamed to say that I can't remember if Moran is supposed to be a close friend of Moriarty's in this universe, whether it was mentioned in that first episode. If he is a close friend, he'd have a motive for wanting revenge and going after Sherlock. Hell, he'd have a motive for the simple reason that Sherlock foiled his plans in "The Empty Hearse".

Thanks as always for a great review of the episode :)

Oh, thank you! I'm flattered you think so and happy that you enjoyed it! :-D

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your post setting out all the canon references you spotted! Very interesting and enjoyable.

I'm still undecided about how much I enjoyed this episode. I didn't like Moriarty turning up at the end and I'm uncomfortable with Sherlock shooting someome in more or less cold blood. I also couldn't believe that John would not have been searched and the gun discovered, considering the precautions CAM took when visiting Baker Street. But there were some great moments and I'm sorry the series is over. :-(

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your post setting out all the canon references you spotted! Very interesting and enjoyable.

Oh, thank you! I'm glad the post was helpful and enjoyable! :-) I keep waiting for someone to tell me I'm a pedantic old bore who needs to get a life. *g*

I'm still undecided about how much I enjoyed this episode. I didn't like Moriarty turning up at the end and I'm uncomfortable with Sherlock shooting someome in more or less cold blood.

I know at least a few people (myself included) who don't believe it's Moriarty. You only see his face on TV sets and video screens. It could have been done with computers by some other criminal genius. A friend's husband theorized that it could be Moran, which is a theory I like because it fits nicely with canon. Moran already put in an appearance in "The Empty Hearse" and, in canon, Moran goes after Holmes after Moriarty is killed.

Sherlock shooting someone in cold blood may seem extreme, but I can buy into it. He knew there was no other way to stop Magnussen. Everything was in Magnussen's head, so there were no physical files to destroy. The government was powerless to do anything to stop Magnussen, so he would have got away with ruining even more lives if he wasn't killed. Now, I'll admit that Sherlock did what he did primarily for John and Mary, but I'd like to believe that he was also thinking of the safety of the public when he made his decision to take Magnussen out.

Sherlock Holmes killing villains is nothing new. In "The Final Problem," Holmes kills Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Okay, not in cold blood as they were in a death struggle, but he went to meet Moriarty with the intention of killing him and, if need be, dying in the process. In "The Speckled Band," Holmes kills Roylott (indirectly) in cold blood when he provokes the swamp adder and sends it back up the bell cord to attack and kill its master. In fact, Holmes often acts outside the law, seeking moral justice over legal justice. I think in the Sherlock universe, Sherlock is starting to follow this path. He's showing signs of becoming a "good man" rather than a "great man," as Lestrade hoped he would.

I also couldn't believe that John would not have been searched and the gun discovered, considering the precautions CAM took when visiting Baker Street.

I didn't actually think of that at the time, but I have a theory about why John wasn't searched. I think Magnussen probably knew (or guessed) that John was armed and simply didn't care. He knew John was powerless to do anything and he had nothing to fear. John stands there and lets Magnussen flick his face without protest because he knows he has to protect Mary. Of course, it does seem like a very stupid and arrogant move on Magnussen's part considering that he is ultimately killed by John's weapon, if not John's hand. However, as Magnussen himself points out, everyone has weaknesses. Maybe his own weakness was his high opinion of himself. *g*

But there were some great moments and I'm sorry the series is over. :-(

I'm glad you thought there were some great moments, even if you weren't entirely happy with the end. I felt much the same way about "The Sign of Three". There were things I didn't like about the episode, but the great moments made up for it. :-) And, as you've probably guessed, I'm also sorry to see another series end. I'll have to rely on fanfic and other Holmesian material to get me through the next two years. *g*