I've grown extremely fond of Mycroft myself, so I might also be showing a bit of bias. However, I think the episode was very much about Mycroft as well as Sherlock, especially as he plays such a huge role in the plot. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Gatiss was sort of the heart of the episode.
I could be wrong, but I think Sherlock spent a lot of the episode deliberately shutting John out. In fact, he literally did shut John out when he closed his bedroom door on him. *g* Seriously, though, Sherlock withheld a lot of information from John. When he thought Irene Adler was dead, he turned to Mycroft -- and I don't think it was just because it was Mycroft who drew Sherlock's attention to her in the first place. I think he closed himself off from John completely when it came to Irene Adler, which might be why the friendship seemed weaker. And with all that emphasis on the Sherlock/Irene relationship, and even Mycroft, John was basically forced to take the backseat in this episode.
I don't think you're on the wrong track about Mrs. Hudson and Molly. Unfortunately, they did seem a bit cartoonish in that Christmas party scene. And I know they were trying to emphasize Molly's awkwardness, but I would have thought that her Sherlock crush would have cooled down a bit after what happened with Jim. It would have been better if they had toned down her look (though I have to admit that I found Lestrade's reaction to her pretty funny) and just had her dressed up a little bit. Sherlock could have still delivered that cruel line about her lipstick and the present. As for Mrs. H, I would have liked to see her scold Sherlock for the mean things he was saying, unless she was supposed to be so shocked by his behaviour that she couldn't form words. I didlove seeing how fiercely protective Sherlock became of Mrs. Hudson when Mycroft told her to shut up and when those men hurt her.
BTW, I have to admit that I liked Sherlock's apology to Molly, especially as John looked so surprised to see it. At the time, I couldn't figure out why it worked for me, but, just now, as I sat and thought about it, I realized why this might be. I think Sherlock could actually empathize with Molly for once. For months, he's been receiving texts from a woman who has beaten him. She also intimidates him and is actually capable of getting under his skin. Maybe Sherlock was sorry for what he said because he could finally understand how Molly feels as he feels much the same way when it comes to Irene Adler.
That "gotcha" moment was completely inspired by The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Sherlock_Holmes). There were too many parallels for it not to have been. The same goes for the execution scene, actually. At the risk of spoiling The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (in case you haven't seen it), Gabrielle Valladon (the woman who betrays Holmes, who has fallen in love with her) ends up being executed in Japan. I'm guessing Moffat was trying to find somewhere in the world where Irene's activities might lead to capital punishment. However, I can see why you had issues with the black garb and Moorish sword. I'm not sure what that was all about, other than to give Sherlock the opportunity to disguise himself and sneak into the execution.
I wonder if Irene was supposed to seem weaker because Sherlock ended up defeating her and her connection with him had been severed. Again, I could be reading more out of this than I should, but I think Irene drew strength and confidence from the game she was playing. She's a dominatrix after all. She likes to be in control. As for the whole love thing, I think it was pretty much cerebral rather than physical - on both sides. Well...it might have been a bit physical on Sherlock's side. However, I think Irene was really only turned on by Sherlock's mind. I think she did all that flirting to get a reaction out of him and see how he would respond. He obviously did excite her, but, once again, it was in terms of the game they were playing.
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I could be wrong, but I think Sherlock spent a lot of the episode deliberately shutting John out. In fact, he literally did shut John out when he closed his bedroom door on him. *g* Seriously, though, Sherlock withheld a lot of information from John. When he thought Irene Adler was dead, he turned to Mycroft -- and I don't think it was just because it was Mycroft who drew Sherlock's attention to her in the first place. I think he closed himself off from John completely when it came to Irene Adler, which might be why the friendship seemed weaker. And with all that emphasis on the Sherlock/Irene relationship, and even Mycroft, John was basically forced to take the backseat in this episode.
I don't think you're on the wrong track about Mrs. Hudson and Molly. Unfortunately, they did seem a bit cartoonish in that Christmas party scene. And I know they were trying to emphasize Molly's awkwardness, but I would have thought that her Sherlock crush would have cooled down a bit after what happened with Jim. It would have been better if they had toned down her look (though I have to admit that I found Lestrade's reaction to her pretty funny) and just had her dressed up a little bit. Sherlock could have still delivered that cruel line about her lipstick and the present. As for Mrs. H, I would have liked to see her scold Sherlock for the mean things he was saying, unless she was supposed to be so shocked by his behaviour that she couldn't form words. I did love seeing how fiercely protective Sherlock became of Mrs. Hudson when Mycroft told her to shut up and when those men hurt her.
BTW, I have to admit that I liked Sherlock's apology to Molly, especially as John looked so surprised to see it. At the time, I couldn't figure out why it worked for me, but, just now, as I sat and thought about it, I realized why this might be. I think Sherlock could actually empathize with Molly for once. For months, he's been receiving texts from a woman who has beaten him. She also intimidates him and is actually capable of getting under his skin. Maybe Sherlock was sorry for what he said because he could finally understand how Molly feels as he feels much the same way when it comes to Irene Adler.
That "gotcha" moment was completely inspired by The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Sherlock_Holmes). There were too many parallels for it not to have been. The same goes for the execution scene, actually. At the risk of spoiling The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (in case you haven't seen it), Gabrielle Valladon
(the woman who betrays Holmes, who has fallen in love with her) ends up being executed in Japan. I'm guessing Moffat was trying to find somewhere in the world where Irene's activities might lead to capital punishment. However, I can see why you had issues with the black garb and Moorish sword. I'm not sure what that was all about, other than to give Sherlock the opportunity to disguise himself and sneak into the execution.
I wonder if Irene was supposed to seem weaker because Sherlock ended up defeating her and her connection with him had been severed. Again, I could be reading more out of this than I should, but I think Irene drew strength and confidence from the game she was playing. She's a dominatrix after all. She likes to be in control. As for the whole love thing, I think it was pretty much cerebral rather than physical - on both sides. Well...it might have been a bit physical on Sherlock's side. However, I think Irene was really only turned on by Sherlock's mind. I think she did all that flirting to get a reaction out of him and see how he would respond. He obviously did excite her, but, once again, it was in terms of the game they were playing.