Spoilery - There's Something about Mary
Warning - I shall be discussing Mary Morstan from Sherlock in this post. In order to do so I shall be revealing aspects of series three. Do NOT read further if you don't want spoilers.Those of us familiar with the Canon know that John Watson's wife Mary Morstan (who he meets in the original story The Sign of Four) dies, off page, between the second and third sets of short stories. So what can we assume will happen with the latest incarnation of Mrs Watson?
Well the first things we have to go on are Sherlock's various deductions about Mary post-Watson head-butt.
The one that obviously leaps out is "liar". So what is she lying about? We also learn that she is a linguist. In The Sign of Three we are told, by her, that she is an orphan and later, at the wedding reception, the dreaded telegram is read out from CAM expressing the notion that it was a shame that Mary's family were not around to see the wedding.
Mary's face during this is a natural concern as it is a face of discomfort rather than sadness. Given that CAM has to be Charles Augustus Magnussen (based on the original Milverton) the natural (perhaps too natural) conclusion is that our resident Master Blackmailer knows something about Mary's past. Perhaps she has some kind of past in espionage - after all she is well acquainted with skip codes and being an orphan means that you don't have to invent much of a back story.
Perhaps she in some way caused the death of her parents? It's all mad speculation but we have to face the simple fact that some Canonical events cannot be easily overruled. The death of Moriarty is one, the death of the first Mrs Watson is, arguably, another. What makes this idea even worse is that if she does perish in the next episode she will be taking her unborn child with her - unless the final episode's events take place post-birth. John Watson does not deserve to end two consecutive series of Sherlock in grief but it's looking all too likely at this point. I do hope I'm wrong.
Written by Alistair Duncan
In contemplating a 4th series (at least), the longer Mary continues as John's wife, the more seriously she will affect the dynamics of Sherlock & John's relationship & adventures. I can't imagine this.
ReplyDeleteYou're both right, of course, and fandom is brimming with theories at this point.
ReplyDeleteFrom Mary gives birth to John's child and Sherlock will be its godfather and we will see babysitting Sherlock (I hope not, although it would be no doubt hilarious to see him conquer the changing of nappies) to the child is not Johns and all will die and the world is about to end, there is everything imaginable.
Some fans are convinced that Sherlock will be forced to choose between Mycroft (who is doomed because his training outfit had a red stripe) and the Watson family because of his vow and the world will end in fire and chaos. Not to mention tragedy and despair.
Whatever they do, there will be backlash. If they continue Mary, the Johnlock shippers will be deeply dissatisfied as will be the canon purists - though for entirely different reasons.
If they kill her and the baby off, I can already hear the enraged feminists howling about the fridged!wife.
I personally cannot imagine that they're going to end CAM already as he has had hardly made an appearance by now, so perhaps the arc will carry over and nothing will be decided by the end of S3/3.
Or perhaps CAM will bring about the end of Mary and then escape making series 4 a pursuit/vengeance series.
Delete