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elementarycbsOriginally posted over on my Tumblr. There are spoilers for 1x13 if you've not seen the episode yet.
(Mods, can we have a fanworks: meta tag, and can the character: gregson lestrade tag be renamed to character: tobias (or toby) gregson? Thank you!)
* * *
I want to go back to 1x04 and Sherlock’s confession to Gregson about his addiction, to set this up.
So we’ve established that, at this point, Gregson trusts Sherlock and is confident in his work. So much so that he’s not even going to broach the subject of Sherlock’s addiction and recovery to anyone else.
Fast-forward to 1x13. Sherlock is now facing reprecussions of the incident with Moran, and the fact Sherlock was using police resources to seek revenge on him.
Here is the crux of the problem, as Gregson explains it to Joan. Emphasis added.
Point #1: Sherlock was planning to torture and murder Moran while acting as a consultant for the NYPD — especially the Homicide division! To Gregson, this is Not A Good Thing. If Sherlock did torture and murder Moran, it would spell doom not only for Sherlock, but also for Gregson because it happened on his watch, and he’s already barely treading water by letting someone who is not part of the force visit crime scenes and help them investigate. If Sherlock became a murderer? That would lead to serious professional reprecussions for Gregson. He’d become disgraced, and his team would look bad as well.
Point #2: Gregson understands that, by Sherlock!logic, he was doing what he thought was best (he even acknowledged that wanting revenge was a natural instinct!), and will likely not show remorse for it. In fact, I argue that Sherlock doesn’t show remorse, as evidenced by his dialogue in the pub scene later (see below).
Point #3: Gregson also gets that Sherlock’s problems are much bigger, and deeper, than getting high or not. From Gregson’s POV, Sherlock doesn’t think things through before he does them; he’s too prone to act on impulse. I also wonder if Gregson thinks Sherlock’s consulting work is a way to fill another type of void, whether it’s the loss of Irene, or as a way to work through his Daddy Issues (see even further below).
And then there’s what happened when they confronted each other at Gregson’s local. Emphasis added, yet again.
I don’t see Gregson reducing Sherlock’s humanity at all. I also don’t see him flashing his drink around him. I see Gregson putting Sherlock in a position where Sherlock isn’t allowed to call the shots. The pub is Gregson’s territory, where he feels at home. By summoning Sherlock there instead of meeting somewhere more neutral or at the brownstone, he’s saying, “You’ve severed my trust in you, and if you’re going to earn it back, it’s going to be on MY terms, and I’m going to say what I need to on MY territory.”
I also direct you to this bit of Gregson’s speech, which I think is very important: “You don’t let anyone into your life that’s not constantly concerned with you…”.
And yet? The person who supposedly put Sherlock into rehab? Who has paid for Joan to be his sober companion? Who contacts her solely by email? Daddy Holmes? Is not an active part of Sherlock’s life. I think he’s been replaced, in Sherlock’s mind, by Captain Gregson. He’s, essentially, “dad”. The dad Sherlock probably wished he had but never really got. A dad who actually gives a shit, who takes an interest in what he does, WHO PUTS BOUNDARIES IN PLACE BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT GOOD PARENTS (let alone fathers!) ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I like what jamilalikemanila said in their meta (yep. emphasis added)…
In relation to this, I’m also a massive fan of what skydark said…
Gregson is saying it’s time for Holmes to step up and take responsibility. Gregson is, in essence, his BOSS. This was Gregson saying, “I’m done coddling you. Act like an adult. Take responsiblity for yourself and your actions.”
On the flip side, Gregson has admitted that he can’t say no to Sherlock’s want to help on cases. He’s come to depend on him. He knows he’s good. He knows Sherlock’s been good at solving cases since the Counter-Terrorism Unit days at Scotland Yard when they first worked together. Could Sherlock’s intellect be Gregson’s addiction? Perhaps. All I know is, from where I’m sitting, Sherlock and Gregson need each other, too, just like the former needs Joan and vice versa.
(Mods, can we have a fanworks: meta tag, and can the character: gregson lestrade tag be renamed to character: tobias (or toby) gregson? Thank you!)
* * *
I want to go back to 1x04 and Sherlock’s confession to Gregson about his addiction, to set this up.
(Sherlock approaches Captain Gregson’s office and knocks on the open door.)
Gregson (looking up from his reading glasses): Come in.
(Sherlock enters and takes a seat.)
Sherlock: (deep breath) Uh… You were busy at Jim Falkson’s (sp?) house, and I didn’t get a chance to pull you aside, but I didn’t want to let more time pass by without having a word.
Gregson (removing his reading glasses): Do we have something to talk about?
(Pause.)
Sherlock: There are any number of reasons why I didn’t tell you about my history. I told myself dozens. All of them specious. (Pause.) And yet, in the end (?), it is simple. I was embarassed. (Pause.) Since we first collaborated, you’ve always held me and my work in a certain esteem. I guess I’m… more vain about that than I would care to admit. (Pause.) So now I’m sorry, ‘cause you, you deserve to know.
Gregson: I did know.
Sherlock: I beg your pardon?
Gregson: Did you honestly think I would let you consult for the NYPD without doing my homework? (Sherlock gives him a look, like, “Ohhhh.”) You told me Joan was your “personal valet”. Do you think I’m an idiot?
Sherlock: No. You are above average in intelligence for a policeman; I’d say, top tier.
Gregson: I’ve known about your problem for a while now.
Sherlock: Why didn’t you say anything?
Gregson: I did. Sort of. A while back, I asked ya out for a drink; you said “no”. (Sherlock nods.) I figured you’d talk about it when you were ready to talk about it. Was I happy that you didn’t tell me? No. (He sighs.) But your work hasn’t slipped one bit since Scotland Yard.
(Pause.)
Sherlock: Thank you.
Gregson: But not everyone is gonna see it my way, so I’m gonna do us both a favour and keep a lid on this.
So we’ve established that, at this point, Gregson trusts Sherlock and is confident in his work. So much so that he’s not even going to broach the subject of Sherlock’s addiction and recovery to anyone else.
Fast-forward to 1x13. Sherlock is now facing reprecussions of the incident with Moran, and the fact Sherlock was using police resources to seek revenge on him.
Here is the crux of the problem, as Gregson explains it to Joan. Emphasis added.
Joan: What would it take for [Sherlock] to come back? Is it a matter of sitting it out, or do you want a formal apology?
Gregson: You’re making it sound like he took my favourite shirt without asking. Holmes was planning to torture and murder somebody.
Joan: Sherlock thought that Moran murdered the woman he loved.
Gregson: Which makes it natural to think about paying him back. An employee of THIS department does not act on those impulses. You know what Sherlock can do? Nothin’. If I were to bet, I’d say he’s not even sorry. Now, I understand; you’re worried about your client, and he needs this job to stay sober. I understand that. But he’s broken, and he’s broken in a way that has nothin’ to do with whether or not he’s gettin’ high.
Point #1: Sherlock was planning to torture and murder Moran while acting as a consultant for the NYPD — especially the Homicide division! To Gregson, this is Not A Good Thing. If Sherlock did torture and murder Moran, it would spell doom not only for Sherlock, but also for Gregson because it happened on his watch, and he’s already barely treading water by letting someone who is not part of the force visit crime scenes and help them investigate. If Sherlock became a murderer? That would lead to serious professional reprecussions for Gregson. He’d become disgraced, and his team would look bad as well.
Point #2: Gregson understands that, by Sherlock!logic, he was doing what he thought was best (he even acknowledged that wanting revenge was a natural instinct!), and will likely not show remorse for it. In fact, I argue that Sherlock doesn’t show remorse, as evidenced by his dialogue in the pub scene later (see below).
Point #3: Gregson also gets that Sherlock’s problems are much bigger, and deeper, than getting high or not. From Gregson’s POV, Sherlock doesn’t think things through before he does them; he’s too prone to act on impulse. I also wonder if Gregson thinks Sherlock’s consulting work is a way to fill another type of void, whether it’s the loss of Irene, or as a way to work through his Daddy Issues (see even further below).
And then there’s what happened when they confronted each other at Gregson’s local. Emphasis added, yet again.
Sherlock: I’m not supposed to be spending much time in bars.
Gregson: Well, tonight, it’s not all about you; if I’m gonna have this conversation with you, I’m going to have a drink to go with it.
Sherlock: I regret the circumstances that have caused me to endanger our relationship. It was a price that I was willing to pay for revenge, as was the likelihood of going to prison. As it turns out, there was no revenge to be had. Given that, it serves no one’s interest for you to keep me from my work. [Gregson was right, IMO. This, to me, reeks of a fauxpology. Sherlock is sorry about the circumstances that led to the strain, but he doesn’t regret or take responsibility for what he’s actually done.]
Gregson: Who the hell ARE you?
Sherlock: I beg your pardon?
Gregson: You’re obviously not the person I thought you were.
Sherlock: I… don’t know how to answer that question.
Gregson: You don’t let anyone into your life that’s not constantly concerned with you (Sherlock: No.), what kind of mood you’re in, whether you’re getting high or not, whether you’re going to WORK LIKE AN ADULT or THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM. (He looks over to the other side for a moment.) You know, most of the time, you’re worth it, ‘cause you are special. Damned if you don’t know it. But you are. (Pause.) Do you wanna work cases? (Another pause.) You’re right. I can’t say no. (He gets up to put on his coat.) [But] don’t think for a minute I’m ever gonna forget that you were planning to murder someone on my watch, and don’t think that I’m ever gonna REALLY trust you again.
Sherlock: You don’t need to trust me to benefit from my intellect, do you?
Gregson: No, I don’t. But I do need to get SOMETHING outta my system. (He punches Sherlock in the stomach, causing him to double over. Gregson backs away.) Welcome back. (He leaves.)
I don’t see Gregson reducing Sherlock’s humanity at all. I also don’t see him flashing his drink around him. I see Gregson putting Sherlock in a position where Sherlock isn’t allowed to call the shots. The pub is Gregson’s territory, where he feels at home. By summoning Sherlock there instead of meeting somewhere more neutral or at the brownstone, he’s saying, “You’ve severed my trust in you, and if you’re going to earn it back, it’s going to be on MY terms, and I’m going to say what I need to on MY territory.”
I also direct you to this bit of Gregson’s speech, which I think is very important: “You don’t let anyone into your life that’s not constantly concerned with you…”.
And yet? The person who supposedly put Sherlock into rehab? Who has paid for Joan to be his sober companion? Who contacts her solely by email? Daddy Holmes? Is not an active part of Sherlock’s life. I think he’s been replaced, in Sherlock’s mind, by Captain Gregson. He’s, essentially, “dad”. The dad Sherlock probably wished he had but never really got. A dad who actually gives a shit, who takes an interest in what he does, WHO PUTS BOUNDARIES IN PLACE BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT GOOD PARENTS (let alone fathers!) ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I like what jamilalikemanila said in their meta (yep. emphasis added)…
Gregson acts a more complex authority figure to Sherlock. He’s hesitant initially to reveal that he’s in recovery and relieved when Gregson keeps him on, then he’s disappointed and confused with him on the case where he thinks Gregson planted evidence. The quality of person Gregson is and what he thinks about Sherlock is important to Sherlock.
Sherlock avoids behaviour he knows is wrong or hurtful to the people important to him (“No Watson, I mean uncomfortable for you”), but if he doesn’t understand why an action is hurtful or acts in the moment or thinks he will be forgiven - the other person’s feelings are not important to him. Like the thing with the video camera, Watson’s upset with him for not telling her but it’s not important at the time because Moran. And then revisited this episode, he still hasn’t removed the video cameras but disregards it because Joan isn’t really all the upset about it.
He knows that people let a lot of things slide for him because of the way he is, but he doesn’t know where the limit is or what to do when he surpasses it.
(snipped)
There is a power that Sherlock doesn’t want to give to other people by expressing his feelings about them, but at the same time he’s torn apart when people don’t realize the trust he’s put in them. Sherlock’s hurt that Gregson doesn’t see his revenge plan as a strictly Moran deal and it’s not going to be a future problem and hurt that even Joan doesn’t understand his motives - so much so that she can’t realize when he’s joking.
YET on the flip side, that’s exactly how Gregson feels about Sherlock. That Sherlock is not aware enough to see that the consequences of his actions affect more than him and that his special snowflake status doesn’t override the fact that he broke a trust with Gregson. Sherlock approaches the scene in the bar thinking Gregson understands his motives and is just punishing him for acting out of line, and Gregson reacts with the reality that Sherlock’s revenge plot scheme was a serious offense on their professional and personal relationship. By demanding to return to his consultant status sans regret, Sherlock is, unknowingly to him, telling Gregson that their personal relationship is not important. It’s not until the conversation is over that he’s confronted with how unclear he is to other people.
In relation to this, I’m also a massive fan of what skydark said…
[The] Gregson and Holmes relationship is very much the father-son relationship that Holmes is missing with his own father. Not only does Holmes realize what he’s done by the end of the episode, he probably fears it’s irrevocable. What Gregson is telling Holmes, is that Holmes needs to grow-up. Gregson is not there to be his baby-sitter; and he’s right.
Gregson is saying it’s time for Holmes to step up and take responsibility. Gregson is, in essence, his BOSS. This was Gregson saying, “I’m done coddling you. Act like an adult. Take responsiblity for yourself and your actions.”
On the flip side, Gregson has admitted that he can’t say no to Sherlock’s want to help on cases. He’s come to depend on him. He knows he’s good. He knows Sherlock’s been good at solving cases since the Counter-Terrorism Unit days at Scotland Yard when they first worked together. Could Sherlock’s intellect be Gregson’s addiction? Perhaps. All I know is, from where I’m sitting, Sherlock and Gregson need each other, too, just like the former needs Joan and vice versa.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 04:36 am (UTC)Edit: Look up! *g*
no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 07:45 am (UTC)One thing I wasn't certain about in Gregson's speech was this bit You know, most of the time, you’re worth it, ‘cause you are special. Damned if you don’t know it.. Does he mean that Sherlock knows he's special, or that he doesn't know he's special?
no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-04 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-04 02:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-05 05:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-05 06:03 am (UTC)Yeah, there's a lot more meta and analysis over on Tumblr. (Check both the #elementary and #elementasquee tags. I say that because even now there is still some negativity on the #elementary tag, and because not all fans know about #elementasquee.)
no subject
Date: 2013-02-09 05:14 am (UTC)