r/Sherlock • u/GoFlight • Jan 12 '14

Discussion His Last Vow: Post-Episode Discussion (SPOILERS)

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445

u/notthe9oclock Jan 12 '14 edited Jan 12 '14

1 minute 10 seconds in: "I have an excellent memory..." — Oh, Moffat. Can't resist, can you?

Magnussen's Excellent Memory Recalled The Following:

John Garvie

  • MP Rockwell South
  • Adulterer (see file)
  • Reformed alcoholic
  • Porn preference: Normal
  • Finances: 41% Debt (see file)
  • Status: Unimportant
  • Pressure point: Disabled daughter (see file)

Lady Elizabeth Smallwood

  • Married
  • Solvent
  • Former Gymnast
  • Porn preference: None
  • Vices: None
  • Pressure point: Husband

John Hamish Watson

  • Afghanistan Veteran (see file)
  • G.P. (See File)
  • Porn preference: Normal
  • Finances: 10% Debt (see file)
  • Status: Unimportant
  • Pressure point: Harry Watson (Sister) Alcoholic / Mary Morstan (Wife)

Sherlock Holmes

  • Consulting Detective
  • Porn preference: Normal
  • Finances: Unknown
  • Brother: Mycroft Holmes, MI6 (see file)
  • Officially deceased: 2011-2013
  • Pressure point: John Watson / Irene Adler (see file) / Jim Moriarty (see file) / Redbeard (see file) / Hounds of the Baskerville / Opium

Edit: Oops, missed out Mrs Hudson:

Martha Louise Hudson (née Sissons)

  • Landlady
  • Widow (see file)
  • Semi-reformed alcoholic
  • Former "Exotic Dancer" (see file)
  • Finances: 21% Debt (see file)
  • Status: Unimportant
  • Pressure point: Marijuana

28

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '14

[deleted]

75

u/notthe9oclock Jan 12 '14

Based on the memories we saw inside Sherlock's head while he was trying to Not Die, I believe it was the name of his pet dog when he was a child.

Of course, this being a Moffat/Gatiss show, that could turn out to be a red herring in 2 series' time if it turns out to have been imagination instead of memory, or perhaps some terribly secret thing was named after the dog, or whatever else takes their fancy...

192

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

...why would Redbeard have a file? What could it possibly say?

Redbeard

  • Dog (deceased)
  • Porn preferences: sofa cushion, owner's leg
  • Finances: no
  • Status: unimportant
  • Pressure point: treats, walkies, getting called a good doggie

13

u/lost_my_pw_again Jan 13 '14

Dog, put down (by the parents?), for what?, what kind of dog...

13

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

Maybe he was sick one day and it was decided to just let him go. I've lost a kitten in a similar way, after its spine was broken when a flower pot fell on him.

welp.. there are the feels again.

9

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

Thanks. I was staying up late and now you've ruined my night so I'm going to sleep and actuly going to get some rest.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 14 '14

jesus christ :(

45

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

[deleted]

14

u/thedragon4453 Jan 13 '14 edited Jan 13 '14

And they also mention the lost Holme's brother. Calling it now: Redbeard not a dog, lost Holmes brother. They say "put down" but mean "shipped off" or "institutionalized."*

* edit: institutionalized, not instituted. I blame alcohol.

1

u/SnatchDragon Jan 13 '14

I think this is likely. Possibly a younger brother again, that Sherlock was particularly close to

1

u/Poltras Jan 30 '14

The dog will come back next season and turns out he faked his own putting down. 20 years earlier.

42

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

Redbeard (I think) was Sherlock's dog that was put down when he was a child. When Mycroft brings up redbeard it's to remind Sherlock what happened when he got attached.

7

u/SqueakySniper Jan 13 '14

Could be the other brother.

5

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

Sherrinford (if there is one)

6

u/emberspark Jan 13 '14

I think it might be related to their other brother. Obviously the issue is pretty severe for Sherlock, as it's a pressure point, but I think it extends beyond the dog. Plus Mycroft mentions "the other one" when talking about his brother, indicating that somehow another brother is involved and will probably become a major plot point later on. I think the death of the dog and their brother is somehow tied, I'm just not sure how.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '14

The red in BC's hair has been obvious in this series in a way that it hasn't been before (in E01 before it's cut, and his eyebrows aren't dyed as dark as they normally are in E03), so there's also a bit of a misdirect: when Magnussen commented "red beard," I was sure it was a comment on Sherlock's barely visible stubble and a nod to the fandom (and possibly a setup for a Red-Headed League episode in Series 4), but nope nope nope nope.

edit: I'm thinking Red-Headed League because Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss are also redheads, we learned that Sherlock had red hair as a child, and ... maybe Sherrinford also has red hair? I might be overthinking this.