Discussion about John's salute at the grave

 (Sherlock Meta by bennyslegs, rebelaachan and Ivy Blossom)

bennyslegs:

At Sherlock’s grave, before finally walking away, John’s quick-turn is how a lower ranking officer would leave the presence of a higher one after being dismissed. The whole time, consciously or unconsciously, John has viewed Sherlock as his superior officer, someone he needs to trust and take orders from in order to make their friendship/crime solving work.

rebelaachan:

And that little nod he gives… its the kind a lower ranking officer would give when being dismissed. Its either a ‘Yes, sir.’ or a short nod. And so he’s being dismissed. He’s being dismissed from whatever life he had before Sherlock died.

Ivy Blossom:

I don’t think John’s behaviour at Sherlock’s grave is indicative of him feeling that he’s literally outranked in their relationship. I don’t think John saw Sherlock as his superior officer in any way. Sherlock and John are (or, at this point, were) friends, they complement each other in very specific and I would argue entirely equal ways. What they have is a perfectly balanced, mutually beneficial partnership.

John might not be the genius Sherlock is, but he is an equal contributor in the context of their lives together, and he knows that he is. They are mutually invested in solving crimes. Granted, it’s easier to see that John is also invested in Sherlock himself, but I think the reverse is true as well. John is Sherlock’s emotional centre, his moral and ethical barometer, and his muse. I think it’s a mistake to see John as merely an assistant in any context. John does not merely take orders from Sherlock, and Sherlock frequently take orders from John when he’s at a loss. Sherlock has his expertise and John respects that; John also has his, and Sherlock will do what John tells him to do, even if he doesn’t entirely understand why.

 Sherlock needs John as much as John needs Sherlock. They take care of each other in exactly the way each of them needs taking care of. They are in perfect balance, their own private harmony. That’s why no one else can come between them. Not girlfriends, not family, not holidays: nothing. They are two halves, and are entirely complete together.

My interpretation of John’s behaviour at Sherlock’s grave is this: he’s using the most meaningful actions he can to demonstrate his utmost and unfailing respect for someone who is not a fake, is not a fraud, and did not do the things he is being accused of. He’s saying goodbye to someone who deserves a flypast and a twenty-one gun salute.