In defense of Sherlolly

 (Sherlock meta by chemically-defected, ppcit and luneaire)

I noticed something. I was thinking about the series 4 trailer, and how a large portion of fans (especially TJLCers) thought the “I love you” was meant for John.

Then I thought about the series 3 trailer, and how, again, when Sherlock says “The one person he thought didn’t matter at all to me was the one person who mattered the most ”, anyone would assume he meant John, given the way the clips are put together.

No.

In both cases, those words are directed at Molly.

I am not against any ships (besides incestuous ones), but the relationship between Sherlock and Molly would be one-sided, manipulative, and abusive, as are the majority of interactions between them. I am not saying Sherlock does not appreciate her help, but besides her contributions, I don’t see why he would maintain a (relatively) close relationship with her. He knows she loves him, he doesn’t, so why lead her on? It seems out of character, even if he did fancy someone he hurt and used time and time again. Also, why has Molly taken such a huge role in the show? She was not in the books, and it wasn’t planned for her to be in the show after the first episode. What are they trying to create? What are they implying?

I don’t know yet why they have done this. I am sure they were aware of TJLC by the time series 3 was being made, and the proof of canon Johnlock was everywhere before and during series 4. I’d say either queerbaiting, or they love to see their audience fight over ships, whilst in the end they simply said it was “open for interpretation”. That’s still not what both parties want and will continue to fight until a fifth series, if there even is one. Maybe not entirely up to interpretation after Moffat’s response as to what Molly did after her call with Sherlock. Pathetic of him.

ppcit: 

“Sherlolly is abusive.” “Sherlock doesn’t have any feelings toward Molly and always use her for his personal gain.” Did I miss something like another Sherlock show that you’re watching instead of BBC's Sherlock?

luneaire: 

So that people wouldn’t know who the “I love you” was for. But in essence, when the ILY dropped, the people who followed this growth felt validated. It felt like this is the logical conclusion, you know. It validates the observation “Sherlock and Molly have this weird thing going on. It isn’t platonic because they’re never really shown as platonic. It’s always been romantic framing, but never blatant. So they have this ambiguous thing. Molly will never say it out loud. Sherlock won't either. Sherlock won’t say it because he’s a literal manchild and no experience with romance. And fuck if Molly is going to ask to address this weird thing. I mean, that’s too much. Sherlock should do that. Curiously, Sherlock saying it under threat of death is so fitting for his character. Anyway those are my thoughts if you are honestly looking for them. Otherwise, you’re just trolling.

It would make sense if you watch the show without the TJLC or the JohnLock lens, and see that they have been building up the Molly-Sherlock dynamic for a while. S1 clearly establishes Molly’s crush on him and that Sherlock is aware of it, maybe even uses it and basks in it, like how he basks in John’s awe of him. S2 deepens their relationship. It’s not a simple crush but two friends who will do everything for each other. S3 drops romance hints everywhere. The kiss. The fiance, Molly looking jealous when Sherlock is taking a pic with Janine, Molly and Sherlock solving a case together, Molly and Janine in the same frame when Sherlock threw that flower, the bolthole comment where we found out that Sherlock sleeps in Molly’s room. It’s never blatant, and they are all subtext, but it’s undeniably romantic and not platonic. S4 didn’t show much Molly-Sherlock, but I get the feeling they did that to prepare for the finale.

You say Molly-Sherlock is one-sided and yet, after s2, Molly is shown to control every interaction. Even in the ILY scene, she wasn’t bullied. She threatened to put the phone down if Sherlock was going to be a doofus, even throws him off balance by challenging him to say ILY first. I don’t see anything one-sided with that. You honestly just see Molly as a pathetic character so that’s your read. Sherlolly sees Molly as Sherlock’s equal, if not more.