John by comparison represents what Sherlock is not, so that both draws him in, but he also finds it uncomfortable becasue it brings up what might be lacking in himself - hence his harshness towards John's girlfriends.
Very interesting point about John (and Sherlock's treatment of his girlfriends). I hadn't really thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense.
And I think Sherlock and Irene were drawn to each other becasue it was like looking in a mirror - they "want" each other intensely because each is an affirmation of their own self image.
That's one of the many things that is really well done in this episode. It's stated/shown fairly overtly in the episode that clothes say something about who you are - and how many times does Irene wear Sherlock's clothes? A lot. She deduces a crime-scene while wearing his coat after she has already bested him once. Towards the end, when the pull between them is the strongest, she is wearing his robe. They are both very narcissistic people - and what they are attracted (non-sexually) to in each other is fundamentally themselves. You could cut yourself on Irene's cheek bones too, after all.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-01-05 03:23 am (UTC)Very interesting point about John (and Sherlock's treatment of his girlfriends). I hadn't really thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense.
And I think Sherlock and Irene were drawn to each other becasue it was like looking in a mirror - they "want" each other intensely because each is an affirmation of their own self image.
That's one of the many things that is really well done in this episode. It's stated/shown fairly overtly in the episode that clothes say something about who you are - and how many times does Irene wear Sherlock's clothes? A lot. She deduces a crime-scene while wearing his coat after she has already bested him once. Towards the end, when the pull between them is the strongest, she is wearing his robe. They are both very narcissistic people - and what they are attracted (non-sexually) to in each other is fundamentally themselves. You could cut yourself on Irene's cheek bones too, after all.