We are being toyed with! In the very best way.

 (Sherlock Meta by professorfangirl)

As I said elsewhere, this mini-ep [Many Happy Returns] is all about dramatic irony, about fans knowing more than the characters, which sets up a whole series of moments we give double meanings to. It’s a bunch of clever winks-and-nods, a series of lil’ teases to the Fandom That Waits.

It starts with Anderson, who stands in for us a bit, oh most faithful of fans. Lestrade doesn’t believe his theories, but we do, because we hope, and once Anderson tells us what Sherlock’s been up to, we know.

The scene in the bar uses some visual tricks to hint that we’re looking for the truth. There are the lens-flarish out-of-focus lights (bokeh) from Hounds, which indicated confused perceptions of events that needed figuring out. Here they show us Anderson’s effortful thinking (he’s never been the sharpest scalpel in the tray).



There’s also some nice framing of the two men in shots like this, where we peer past the glasses and post as if we’re eavesdropping on their conversation (which is what you do when you’re searching out hidden truths).



Finally, notice when Anderson says, “Look at the map, though. He’s getting closer. It’s like he’s coming back.” We do look at the map, and the cities are joined with a red dotted line. But Anderson didn’t make that line—it happens as we watch. Just like the white letters that tell us Sherlock’s deductions, this is a bit of truth drawn on the screen for us.



And Lestrade looks thoughtful for just a moment, and he nods at Anderson, as if he might just be seeing the dots connecting.



The most humorously obvious ironies are in Sherlock’s video for John, which we’re pretty clearly meant to read figuratively, as if it comes from Sherlock during the hiatus, a coded message made before he left. “Only lies have detail,” he says, and John gives a wry press of the lips. Oh, John, if you only knew how we’ve been waiting for the details of the Big Lie. Then, in an instant of hesitation that seems touched with suppressed emotion, Sherlock says, “I need a moment to figure out what I’m going to do.” Figuring out, maybe, how the Lie will work.

Perhaps the most poignant and piercingly ironic line is the new fan favorite, “You can stop being dead”—“Okay.” Fangirl’s gotta wiggle in her seat at that one. (I did.) Now the video’s a series of inside jokes: “I’m sorry I’m not there at the moment, I’m very busy” (as he would be in pursuit of Moriarty’s web); “And don’t worry, I’m going to be with you again—very soon” (well, we’re damn sure of that, aren’t we?).

After that the little pokes pile up. Anderson says with growing conviction, “He’s coming back,” and the Daily Express blares the headline: “The Game is Back On!”



Lestrade takes quite a look at that, as if he sees the double meaning there too, reminded of Sherlock’s catchphrase, and gives his own little rueful half-smile.



Finally there’s the wink, that goddamn wink.



I’ll see you again soon, it says—just as it did in ASiP, at the end of their first meeting.




A cheeky little promise not just of Sherlock’s return, but of all the dangerous fun they’ll have when they see each other again.

Oh, dramatic irony, how I love you. And oh, Sherlock, you tease, how I love you too, though got-DAMN aren’t you stringing me along.