Sherlock/Heartwarming: Difference between revisions

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* Heartwarming and counts as a Crowning Moment of Acting on both sides- at the beginning of A Study in Pink, both Sherlock and John seem absolutely incapable of actually, genuinely smiling. John's been through a lot, is depressed, and hasn't got a lot of reason to even bother ''pretending'' to smile. Sherlock does try to smile on occasion, with hilarious results (he seems to think 'move lips outward at both ends briefly but enthusiastically' is the definition of 'smile.' You can really see it after he tells John "prospective housemates should know the worst about each other" and it crops up in other places where Sherlock evidently feels a smile is in order. It's awkward as hell. You can see John's pathetic attempt at a polite smile when he hands the phone over) In any case, the ice-breaking conversation at the restaurant and the chase after the cab are a watershed of sorts for both of them. They laugh about "welcome to London", and by the time they arrive back at Baker Street they're both giggling like loons, which is hilarious and adorable. (And the most laid-back and amused that we see either of them for an entire series.) In fact, Sherlock is having so much fun that at first he totally misses the ''drugs bust going on upstairs.''

* Mike Stamford, FULL STOP. He is something of a [[One Scene Wonder]], but he still manages to turn every single thing he says into a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]. When he meets John on the street, he is very happy to see him and their interaction suggests that Mike was very fond of John when they were training together at Bart's. He doesn't even seem to mind that John doesn't recognise him right away and acts rather distant and cold during their conversation. Instead, Mike is immediately willing to help him and very eager to introduce him to Sherlock. This is doubly heartwarming, as Mike thinks high enough of Sherlock to consider him a decent flatmate for an old friend. Even more so if you take into consideration that Mike knows both of them well enough to see how well they would fit together, although probably every one else would have expected their personalities to clash. Mike also is one of the few people who seem to honestly get along with Sherlock. They might not consider each other "friends", but Sherlock still talks to Mike about very personal problems, such as his troubles to find a flatmate who can put up with his moods and general wackiness. And Sherlock usually ''does not do that''. Then again, Mike must be the most accepting and tolerant human being the series - or really, ''any'' series has ever seen. Look at his face when he says "Yes, he [Sherlock] is always this way." There is no hint of annoyance or spite. Just affection, even pride. He genuinely appreciates Sherlock for what he is and firmly believes that John will eventually do the same.

* Mike Stamford, FULL STOP. He is something of a [[One-Scene Wonder]], but he still manages to turn every single thing he says into a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]. When he meets John on the street, he is very happy to see him and their interaction suggests that Mike was very fond of John when they were training together at Bart's. He doesn't even seem to mind that John doesn't recognise him right away and acts rather distant and cold during their conversation. Instead, Mike is immediately willing to help him and very eager to introduce him to Sherlock. This is doubly heartwarming, as Mike thinks high enough of Sherlock to consider him a decent flatmate for an old friend. Even more so if you take into consideration that Mike knows both of them well enough to see how well they would fit together, although probably every one else would have expected their personalities to clash. Mike also is one of the few people who seem to honestly get along with Sherlock. They might not consider each other "friends", but Sherlock still talks to Mike about very personal problems, such as his troubles to find a flatmate who can put up with his moods and general wackiness. And Sherlock usually ''does not do that''. Then again, Mike must be the most accepting and tolerant human being the series - or really, ''any'' series has ever seen. Look at his face when he says "Yes, he [Sherlock] is always this way." There is no hint of annoyance or spite. Just affection, even pride. He genuinely appreciates Sherlock for what he is and firmly believes that John will eventually do the same.

** When Sherlock begins with "Afghanistan or Iraq?" there's a shot of Mike beginning to smile. He ''knew'' Sherlock would start on John the minute he saw him, and at least highly suspected that instead of being irritated or creeped out, John would freaking love it. Mike may even have [[Fridge Brilliance|deliberately made Sherlock work for some of his deductions about John.]] He introduces John to him as "an old friend of mine, John Watson." He neglects to mention that John is an old colleague/professional associate of his, and a fellow doctor, either of which would be natural to point out given the circumstances. It's possible that Mike thought it would be extra cool to make Sherlock deduce that as well.

** There's one throwaway line in particular that warms this troper's heart: "Couldn't Harry help?" And John's response of "Yeah, like that's going to happen." Despite it being ''how many years'' since they trained at Bart's together, Mike still remembers off the top of his head that John has a sister named Harry who probably lives in London somewhere and who might be able to help. John's line and Mike's response to it seem to indicate he ''also'' remembers that John and Harry don't get along, and John assumes he'd remember, so he doesn't need to explain ''why'' that's never going to happen. Mike also makes a comment about how he knows John would hate living anywhere other than London and speaks affectionately about "the John Watson I know."

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{{quote| '''Sherlock:''' Don't make people into heroes, John. Heroes don't exist and if they did I wouldn't be one of them.}}

*** While it's delivered to sound quite brutal, there is an underlying heart-warming factor to it in that, just like with letting Molly know Jim was gay, Sherlock believes he has to be cruel to be kind. He seems genuinely put off that John is disappointed in him. Instead of trying to regain John's approval or impress him again, Sherlock simply lays it out flat - this is who he is and John is only going to be upset if he expects him to be something more. For someone with such a huge ego, it really is an impressive display of how humble he can be when he tells John that he's NOT a hero and also shows how [[Tear Jerker|even Sherlock]] is aware of the type of [[Anti Hero|potentially twisted person]] he is.

*** While it's delivered to sound quite brutal, there is an underlying heart-warming factor to it in that, just like with letting Molly know Jim was gay, Sherlock believes he has to be cruel to be kind. He seems genuinely put off that John is disappointed in him. Instead of trying to regain John's approval or impress him again, Sherlock simply lays it out flat - this is who he is and John is only going to be upset if he expects him to be something more. For someone with such a huge ego, it really is an impressive display of how humble he can be when he tells John that he's NOT a hero and also shows how [[Tear Jerker|even Sherlock]] is aware of the type of [[Anti-Hero|potentially twisted person]] he is.

* During the fight in the Planetarium, the Golem grabs Sherlock in a headlock in an attempt to strangle him or snap his neck. John, in a moment that can only be described as [[Badass Adorable|heart-warmingly badass]], aims his gun and utters this line with such quiet menace:

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* John is visibly, though briefly, upset by Mycroft's news of Irene's death. He and Irene were hostile and jealous of each other, met only three times, and Irene never even got around to calling him by his first name. He's no doubt partly upset for Sherlock, but part of John still thinks Sherlock "despised her." (And evidently part of him doesn't, because he chooses to lie to Sherlock about her being in witness protection rather than tell him she's dead.) It seems that at least part of John's reaction is simple, basic empathy: the woman was apparently ''beheaded by terrorists.'' That's pretty damn grim.

* When asked by John why he doesn't trust the Secret Service to handle Irene Adler's photographs, Mycroft dryly explains that "they all spy on people for money." Mycroft trusts John because he remembers [[Screw the Money I Have Rules|what happened when John was given the opportunity to do the same]].

* When asked by John why he doesn't trust the Secret Service to handle Irene Adler's photographs, Mycroft dryly explains that "they all spy on people for money." Mycroft trusts John because he remembers [[Screw the Money, I Have Rules|what happened when John was given the opportunity to do the same]].

* Despite their being well into adulthood, Mrs Hudson still addresses John and Sherlock collectively as "boys."

** ''John'' calls Mycroft and Sherlock "boys" when they're squabbling at Buckingham Palace. Because they're behaving like children, showing that Mycroft "The Iceman" Holmes can act out as well as Sherlock can... even after scolding Sherlock and John and asking why they can't "behave like grown ups." John might be giggling at Buckingham Palace, but it apparently takes a Holmes to think stripping someone half-naked in the main gallery is socially acceptable behaviour.

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** Later, with the kidnapped little girl, we see Sherlock make a ''truly'' concerted effort to be kind to a victim/witness... adjusting his clothes (to look [[Fridge Brilliance|more like the much more approachable John]]), speaking kindly and telling the little girl he understands that talking must be difficult for her just now. Which makes it all the more sad that those efforts of kindness and empathy were responded to by the child ''screaming.''

*** When he speaks to her, Sherlock starts with "Claudette..." This is from the man who didn't know Lestrade's first name for five years and who absent-mindedly calls Molly "John." Not to mention that others in this episode refer to Max and Claudette as "the boy" and "the girl"- even Sherlock himself does it when they were actually at the school investigating. He used the little girl's name. He was trying to be kind and empathise with her.

* Although he never did it a lot in the past, in this episode John refuses to criticise Sherlock in front of other people, particularly the police, even when he completely [[What the Hell Hero|deserves a lecture.]] Most heartwarmingly, when they're at the school after the children are kidnapped, John gets down beside Sherlock on the floor and asks "having fun?" in gentle tones. When Sherlock, missing the point entirely, says he's starting to, all John says is "maybe don't do the smiling... kidnapped children...?" It's a far cry from how aggressive he got over Sherlock's treatment of the hostages in ''The Great Game.'' (Remembering that, although they were keeping their voices down somewhat, he and Sherlock got into it over the old woman at the ''police station.)'' The only sort of criticism John will give Sherlock in front of other people now is simply to say his name as a reminder to behave himself, and that's only if it's important that Sherlock ''shuts up right about now'' (for example, when they're trying to find the kidnapped children in the disused factory.) We see John taking Sherlock to task ''privately'' a few times, but in front of others? United front.

* Although he never did it a lot in the past, in this episode John refuses to criticise Sherlock in front of other people, particularly the police, even when he completely [[What the Hell, Hero?|deserves a lecture.]] Most heartwarmingly, when they're at the school after the children are kidnapped, John gets down beside Sherlock on the floor and asks "having fun?" in gentle tones. When Sherlock, missing the point entirely, says he's starting to, all John says is "maybe don't do the smiling... kidnapped children...?" It's a far cry from how aggressive he got over Sherlock's treatment of the hostages in ''The Great Game.'' (Remembering that, although they were keeping their voices down somewhat, he and Sherlock got into it over the old woman at the ''police station.)'' The only sort of criticism John will give Sherlock in front of other people now is simply to say his name as a reminder to behave himself, and that's only if it's important that Sherlock ''shuts up right about now'' (for example, when they're trying to find the kidnapped children in the disused factory.) We see John taking Sherlock to task ''privately'' a few times, but in front of others? United front.

** You can particularly see this in the scenes where Sherlock is arrested. Lestrade comes to the flat the first time; John says not one word until he leaves, then tells Sherlock he should have gone with him. They get into an argument about whether John is or isn't loyal to Sherlock. Lestrade calls John to let them know he's on his way with a few cops and an arrest warrant. John's response is to get angry; he gives Sherlock a lecture about "every police officer you've made to feel like a tit, which is a ''lot of people."'' He's not so much blaming Sherlock for his imminent arrest, but pointing out with some justification that things mightn't be THAT awful if he hadn't alienated most of Scotland Yard, who no doubt were going to ''love'' the subsequent arrest. Once the police arrive, John is back to being "100%" on Sherlock's side- so much so that he's threatened, by a friend, with an arrest for interfering with Sherlock's own arrest, and subsequently ends up punching someone for criticising Sherlock.

* When Sherlock comes up with the location of the kidnapped children, Lestrade jumps up and immediately orders everyone to get moving- it takes him about half a second. Donovan looks reluctant. Lestrade believes in Sherlock so much that he instantly believes everything he says and was prepared to rush a whole bunch of cops out to the scene, knowing it wouldn't be an embarrassing false alarm.

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{{quote| '''Mycroft:''' John... I'm sorry. Tell him, would you?}}

** Even if you believe that Mycroft didn't simply [[Idiot Ball|accidentally sell his brother down the river]] over a computer code that Moriarty never divulged to him and which ''never existed,'' and that he and Sherlock had about six aces up each sleeve the whole time, the line is still heartwarming. Who hates apologising? Sherlock. Who hates apologising ''even more?'' Mycroft. Mycroft has also spent the past five or so episodes in constant [[Passive Aggressive Kombat|conflict]] with John, who he's consistently tried to one-up. Here, he's not just asking John to pass along apologies to Sherlock. He's also apologising ''to John.'' Even if he doesn't actually mean it and it's part of an act, it would still absolutely gall him to have to say something like that to John- who responds with complete contempt.

** Even if you believe that Mycroft didn't simply [[Idiot Ball|accidentally sell his brother down the river]] over a computer code that Moriarty never divulged to him and which ''never existed,'' and that he and Sherlock had about six aces up each sleeve the whole time, the line is still heartwarming. Who hates apologising? Sherlock. Who hates apologising ''even more?'' Mycroft. Mycroft has also spent the past five or so episodes in constant [[Passive-Aggressive Kombat|conflict]] with John, who he's consistently tried to one-up. Here, he's not just asking John to pass along apologies to Sherlock. He's also apologising ''to John.'' Even if he doesn't actually mean it and it's part of an act, it would still absolutely gall him to have to say something like that to John- who responds with complete contempt.

* The scene in which Lestrade presents the deerstalker gag gift to Sherlock. John helpfully points out that Lestrade's public remark about Sherlock's "customary diplomacy and tact" was sarcasm, which Sherlock already understands- even though he's not been all that great at picking up sarcasm previously. So he's learning. Even more, though, even though he ''really hates that hat,'' he wholeheartedly takes John's suggestion and just smiles and puts it on, instead of making a scene and cutting Lestrade or the other cops down with some devastating personal remarks (as he has done previously and is prone to do.) Even though he's aware that Donovan and Anderson are laughing at him.

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* The development of Sherlock and John's friendship. What starts simply as two lonely men wanting cheap accommodation quickly becomes the both of them giving the other purpose in life. Sherlock gives John the excitement and danger he's been missing from the war while John gives Sherlock the admiration and praise for his talents that he seems to so rarely get. By the end of the first episode alone they've affected each others lives tremendously. Sherlock has cured John's limp and John has saved Sherlock's life. Over the next two episodes, the initial spark seems to have faded as both have become used to each other and so the 'infatuation' stage if you will has worn off. Sherlock takes advantage of John's loyalty and treats him like a dogsbody that he expects to follow him everywhere and do anything for him regardless of whether John may have his own plans (''The Blind Banker''). John, in turn, is exasperated with Sherlock's coldness and things almost reach breaking point (''The Great Game'') when he's forced to accept that Sherlock isn't a perfect hero. Had their friendship been any weaker then the two would have probably parted ways at that point. The pair don't seem to realise how strongly they really do care for each other until Sherlock sees John strapped to a bomb and John witnesses Sherlock's panicked reaction that shows he really does care. While series 1 was all about establishing their friendship, series 2 revolves around how domestic their situation has become. As Irene points out (in ''Scandal''), they are a ''couple'' in whatever sense of the word. However they're still discovering new things about each other and the series focuses on how they'll stick by each other through the good and the bad. John still becomes annoyed at Sherlock's behaviour at times but it's no longer a surprise for him. That's just how Sherlock is. And John no longer defends him simply out of some fanboy 'crush'; he genuinely adores him and will do anything to protect him. He knows now, more so than he did by the end of ''The Great Game'', that Sherlock's bad points often appear to outweigh the good. But John simply doesn't ''care''. If anything John's devotion is strengthened because he recognises how ''human'' his friend is. Sherlock, in turn, is so used to John's company that he feels he can ignore him or experiment on him but the thought of John either being killed or losing faith in him for good causes him to [[Not So Stoic|panic]]. For all the crap he pulls, by the end of the series he appreciates everything John has given him and, in return, Sherlock willingly sacrifices his life (more or less) to save John and his other friends.

* [[Passive Aggressive Kombat|Mycroft vs John]] never gets old. Mycroft tells John the first time he meets him that he (Mycroft) is the closest thing to a friend that Sherlock is capable of having- an enemy. When he realises that he's wrong and that John is actually Sherlock's ''friend,'' he's not particularly happy about it. From the conversation in the morgue in ''Belgravia'' it's clear that Mycroft is very controlling and manipulative, and influences Sherlock more than Sherlock would be happy to admit to- but as John's influence over Sherlock grows, Mycroft's dwindles. It seems that overall Mycroft is even more messed up than Sherlock and he honestly believes that developing human emotions is ''bad for Sherlock'' and that therefore John is a bad influence on his brother. John, of course, feels the same way about Mycroft- even before their last conversation in ''Reichenbach'' it's clear how much John resents Mycroft and the way he influences Sherlock. Mycroft might be wrong in how he's brought up Sherlock and the sort of behaviour he encourages in his little brother, but it's heartwarming because he honestly seems to not know he's wrong- he's simply doing the best he can with the only person in the world he seems to care for besides himself.

* [[Passive-Aggressive Kombat|Mycroft vs John]] never gets old. Mycroft tells John the first time he meets him that he (Mycroft) is the closest thing to a friend that Sherlock is capable of having- an enemy. When he realises that he's wrong and that John is actually Sherlock's ''friend,'' he's not particularly happy about it. From the conversation in the morgue in ''Belgravia'' it's clear that Mycroft is very controlling and manipulative, and influences Sherlock more than Sherlock would be happy to admit to- but as John's influence over Sherlock grows, Mycroft's dwindles. It seems that overall Mycroft is even more messed up than Sherlock and he honestly believes that developing human emotions is ''bad for Sherlock'' and that therefore John is a bad influence on his brother. John, of course, feels the same way about Mycroft- even before their last conversation in ''Reichenbach'' it's clear how much John resents Mycroft and the way he influences Sherlock. Mycroft might be wrong in how he's brought up Sherlock and the sort of behaviour he encourages in his little brother, but it's heartwarming because he honestly seems to not know he's wrong- he's simply doing the best he can with the only person in the world he seems to care for besides himself.

** Equally as heartwarming is the number of times when Mycroft and John get into it in front of Sherlock and Sherlock reacts by being unashamedly delighted. We first see this in ''The Great Game'' when John points out to Mycroft that having secret missile plans on a memory stick given to a minor MOD worker is pretty stupid, and it shows up in other places as well. We know Mycroft is just as clever and witty as Sherlock and, as the older brother and with a lot of implied history between them, is domineering and knows how to push Sherlock's buttons. It's fairly obvious that Sherlock loves the fact that he now has John to stick up for him, and not only that, but John is at times snarkier than both Holmes brothers ''put together'' and is able to push ''Mycroft's'' buttons. See Mycroft's reaction in ''Belgravia'' when John gets the punchline "though... not how ''she'' treats royalty."