Meanwhile, Molly 

(Or: More Things That People Think Make Sherlock Canonically Straight But They Really Really Don’t)

 (Sherlock meta by moffat-rocks)

Allow me to address one more incredibly beautiful part of Sherlock (and then I’ll stop overusing the word “beautiful”, sorry, I just loved series four): Let’s talk about what is the point of Molly Hooper. 

I’ve always sympathised with Molly, but I admit that from a literary point of view, I didn’t quite get her. If she was a love interest for Sherlock, why would the story not revolve more around her? But if she wasn’t a love interest, where was her character going? Why was she there in the first place? It didn’t feel Moffat-y sound. (And yes, I just made that expression up.)

But looking back on all four series, the intention of Molly’s character actually becomes pretty clear. In a nutshell: At any given moment of the show, Molly is an indicator of John Watson’s feelings towards Sherlock. (No really, let me show you.)

THE LOVE OF JOHN WATSON 

It seems that every supporting character in the show is the embodiment of some part of Sherlock’s psyche. Not necessarily in an it’s-all-in-Sherlock’s-head kind of way, but definitely in a literary, metaphorical reading. Irene Adler, for instance, embodies Sherlock’s emotions and desires, and this is further underlined by the fact that she is dressed and styled a lot like Sherlock himself (see coat, hairstyle, and cheekbones).

Molly’s style, however, is nothing like Sherlock’s. Her shortness, the blond-ish hair, the striped cardigans, not to mention the fact that she works in the medical field - Molly is all about John. And with Molly’s ongoing soft spot for Sherlock, it is really not hard to guess which part of John she represents: “Hooper”, the one who binds everything together - Molly embodies John’s love for Sherlock.

“I FIND IT DIFFICULT… THIS KIND OF STUFF…” 

While you’re still pondering if that might be too much of a stretch, let us talk about John for a moment: John is portrayed as the emotionally capable one, highly empathetic, calling Sherlock out on his insensitivity, and quick to make friends.

But actually, when it comes to showing or even admitting his own feelings, John is struggling. John is an army doctor, a man of military ranks and medical degrees, and he is trying very hard to keep up appearances, no matter what. He cannot talk to his therapist about the loss of Sherlock, he cannot watch Mary’s video message while there are strangers in the room, he cannot be vulnerable in front of other people - John is finding it difficult to dig deep.

If Molly represents John’s love, it makes sense that she is portrayed as timid and insecure. If John really does have feelings for Sherlock, they too would be having a hard time getting noticed. Not just by Sherlock, but first and foremost by John. John is too busy proving his non-gayness through lots and lots of fruitless dates with women he is barely interested in.

Meanwhile, Molly is falling for a gay man. 

MEANWHILE, MOLLY 

When Sherlock pretends to be dead for two years, John “moves on” by rushing head-first into an engagement with a woman. He even grows a super-manly moustache, almost to prove to himself that he is most definitely not gay. John Watson is trying very hard to be his straight, moustache-wearing, canonical self. The one that does not live between the lines. 

Meanwhile, Molly is engaged to a walking, talking Sherlock copy. 

But when it all goes horribly wrong and Mary suddenly dies, John has to live with the guilt of not having loved her the way he wanted to. I am not the man you thought I was. John let Mary down. How can he face Sherlock now? How can he ever feel even the least bit of affection toward that man without also feeling horribly guilty?

Meanwhile, Molly is answering the door in John’s name. And sends Sherlock away at the doorstep. 

I LOVE YOU 

I said in the beginning of this post that at any given time, Molly tells us something about John’s state of heart. This holds true in The Final Problem, too. Because Molly is not at all pleased to hear from Sherlock, which has never been the case before. We have seen her furious with him when he is toying with his own health, yes. But never have we seen Molly this down. 

Because John is still grieving. Yes, he has forgiven Sherlock, but he has not forgiven himself, and it is going to be a long time before John will allow himself to be happy with somebody again. Especially with Sherlock. John's love is still having a really bad day. 

Nevertheless, Sherlock is forced to make Molly play Eurus’ game. And this scene in Sherrinford is entirely a scene about the internal conflict of every person who has ever been prone to over-thinking: If love is not proclaimed out loud, it is dead. This is exactly how Sherlock’s mind works. He needs people to state their love out loud, or else, that love must not exist. Which is why he is utterly shocked in The Sign of Three when John calls him his best friend. (”Well of course you are.”)

And Sherlock actually has manipulated people in the past to say something meaningful to him. I always thought the scene in The Empty Hearse, where Sherlock fake-panics in the tube, seemed a bit heartless, even for him. But I get it now, because it is the same thing as in The Final Problem: Make John say he forgives you, make it all seem like a joke, and do not make him see that you are currently terrified that you might lose him for good.

But this time, Sherlock learns something else: After he allows logic and rationale to manipulate him into hurting Molly, after he has humiliated love itself, Sherlock is informed that there was never any danger. Even if the words had remained unspoken, Molly would not have died. 

Even if John cannot say it out loud at the moment, even if his love is bruised and battered - it is and has always been indestructible. The one thing that mattered the most. 

I can’t help but read this as a message to the fandom as well. Even if it is not always spelled out - Sherlock and John’s love was never in any danger.

[...]  EDIT: I love that half the of the readers have responded to the post with “you’re preaching to the choir”, the other half with “what the hell is this nonsense”. To both of you: my apologies. ;-)