Mary's Attitude in The Christmas Forgiveness Scene 

 (Sherlock meta by incurablylazydevil, theoklahomos and theleftpill)

incurablylazydevil:

 How do people watch that ‘oooh we’re doing conversation today it really is christmas’ scene and go ‘look how sweet and snarky Mary is, what a nice character’ while i’m sitting here trying to calm down my gag reflex?

theoklahomos:

SAME it’s like bitch you killed literally the most important person in your husband’s life and that was just the cherry atop the massive shit sundae you’ve served him up and now - now! - you have the nerve to act like HE’S being unreasonable for not having spoken to your bitch ass for a few months what the actual fuck Mary is horrible!

theleftpill:

I hold the opinion that people who react this way to the Christmas/Forgiveness scene have never been in a mature, respectful relationship. Those who have understand that 1. she’s not sweet and snarky - she’s scared and frustrated, and 2. because she might very well have reason to “act like HE’S being unreasonable”. The way they interact with each other tells us a great deal about what’s happened in the last few months without actually seeing it. “We’re doing conversation today?”: how many times has Mary tried to talk to John, to make things right, to correct the mistakes she’s made, and John has completely shut her down? “Months of silence, and we’re gonna do this now?” Her frustration and anger radiate off the screen; this is something she’s tried to work out before and has been completely rejected, but instead gets ambushed at a strangers’ home by her silent husband. Wouldn’t you be a little pissed off?

We have no idea what John has put Mary through for the last few months. We do know John has a nasty temper and we know he’s a complete dickhead sometimes. So maybe Mary has a reason to be snarky and angry and in pain and flat-out terrified when her husband finally approaches her. Yes she shot Sherlock but this moment isn’t about him; it’s about their relationship. About her secrets and his forgiveness. And yes, in a healthy relationship, it is possible to forgive.

Things aren’t so fanfic-black-and-white when you’re dealing with another real-life person. Sometimes you don’t like the person you’re in love with. Your partner can get angry, can get sad, can get frustrated with you and in a healthy relationship, you realize that maybe they have a reason to feel that way. John & Mary embody this dynamic beautifully in this scene, and it’s one of the reasons I love it so much, how utterly real their relationship is, and how much is revealed about their relationship in their exchanges. In this moment, I don’t see Mary as “nice”; I see her terrified. I see her protecting her heart by being defensive and sharp. And in a real relationship, that’s allowed.

And that complexity makes me curious to see what happens next.