Moriarty’s role in Sherlock’s Mind Palace

 (Sherlock meta by Loudest Subtext in Television)

Anonymous said: I just found your blog today, and I gotta say, your meta is absolutely fascinating (and incredibly comforting). I was just wondering if you had any thoughts about the appearance of Moriarty in Sherlock's mind palace and his connection to Sherlock's emotions?

Loudest Subtext in Television: 

It’s been my reading since the pool scene that Sherlock is terrified of Moriarty not because Sherlock is terrified of his own death — he isn’t, as is made clear from the first episode and confirmed over and over for the rest of the show — but because Moriarty could have killed John.  Sherlock is never scared to meet Moriarty alone, and he never lets John come along.

This reading was confirmed in The Hounds of Baskerville when the gas, which we’re told makes people see their worst fear and what they expect to see, makes Sherlock see Moriarty instead of Frankland.

Moriarty not only represents fear to Sherlock, but fear that something will happen to John.  And what’s sweet is that for Sherlock, those are the same thing.  Aww.  And sure enough, it’s Moriarty that says John Watson is in danger, jolting Sherlock back to life.  John is literally Sherlock’s reason for living.

Moriarty also tells Sherlock that pain and loss are going to happen, but Sherlock doesn’t have to fear those things.  Ironically, it’s Moriarty that gives Sherlock the incredible courage to sacrifice everything for John in His Last Vow and endure the consequences.

Dear Jim, please will you fix it for me so I’m not afraid to love?