A Better Story: [Part Five] Series Four vs. The Big Bopper

This video is the fifth installment of a larger retrospective series. Click the link below to be taken to the full playlist! Part Five looks back at four of BBC Sherlock and pokes fun at the absurdity of the series to hopefully help us all feel a bit better about how things played out. It concludes by explaining why the retrospective took the shape it did even with Series 4 being the way it is.
A Better Story
• A Better Story
Chapters
00:00 Introduction (Meet The Big Bopper)
04:14 Series 4: The Weirdness
14:33 The Six Thatchers
36:15 The Lying Detective
01:05:45 Welcome to...
01:07:32 The Final Problem
01:34:30 Why the Retrospective is Like This (Introducing BBC Dracula)
01:42:15 Conclusion
From a Drop of Water
archiveofourow...
Social Media
Tumblr: / victorianpining
Main Twitter: / legendofrebekah
Sources
Arwel Wyn Jones on the Yorick 2017:
/ 815681051175567360
The Writers Saying it Doesn't Glow 2018:
221b-investiga...
Sonnet 59:
www.shakespeare...
PBS Q&A Coffee or Tea 2016:
pbstv.tumblr.c...
The Final Problem BFI Post Screening Q&A 2017:
• Sherlock star Mark Gat...
Steven Moffat for Varsity 2017:
www.varsity.co...
The Final Problem BFI Screening 2017: (Courtesy of Fandom Dorothy)
• Sherlock The Final Pro...
Cambridge Union 2017:
• Mark Gatiss & Steven M...
PBS Q&A Proudest Piece of Writing 2016:
pbstv.tumblr.c...
Sherlock Series 4 Trailer #2 2016:
• Series 4 Trailer #2 | ...
PBS Q&A Talking to a Mirror 2016:
pbstv.tumblr.c...
Steven Moffat The Times 2019:
www.thetimes.c...
Steven Moffat The Telegraph 2019:
www.telegraph....
FAIR-USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Reference:
support.google....
www.multiplech....
Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976:
www.copyright....
www.copyright....

[@TJLCExplained]

Hi all. I am still trying to get an alternate version of Part Six through the copyright system. In the meantime I recommend checking out my pinned post on tumblr for a link to the script if you'd like to read it victorianpining.tumblr.com/

[@Anna-xh6fk]

How about that part 6?😅

[@Anna-xh6fk]

Would making it unlisted, viewable w a link in description/comments hurt u or is it ok unlisted?

[@heatweve]

hello, umm, i'm not sure if the post is still pinned? could you please share the link again :'(

[@christinman]

I guess unlike most ex tjlcers, I was never convinced that I was just seeing things that weren’t there. Even after s4, I never doubted myself or the deliberate subtext - and often even text- that was included in the earlier seasons. The reason I left sherlock behind and tried not to think about it for over five years was the anger I felt for being openly mocked and ridiculed by the very writers of the show for daring to think about their show beyond just watching it and for waiting so long for this absolute mess of a final season. Revisiting this season with you through a comical lens has been extremely cathartic, though inevitable, since I believe it to be the only way to approach these 3 episodes at this point, and it was the final push I needed to get me to rewatch the show. I’m still bitter towards mark and steven, for painting us all as nothing more than insane teenage fangirls, which was the narrative that the media and the rest of the world embraced as well, but after watching the Dracula scene, I’m slightly more open to the idea that it was necessary, as in that we were just collateral damage to the story they were trying to tell. That doesn’t excuse their behavior and dismissal, but it at least explains it, and that’s adequate for me now.

[@KajsaBernhardina]

I never doubted it either. I agree S4 is just one giant insult to the biggest fans of the show. I would have been OK with a good s4 without Johnlock, but it didn’t just destroy Johnlock, it walked back on everything we loved about the story. I’m a writer myself and I would never treat my fans the way Mark and Steven treated theirs, I’m glad Dracula indicates they at least have some regrets. They really should be ashamed of themselves.

[@stolenguts5566]

Bro does that mean, with Jeanette in ASIB saying she “never had a dog” whilst putting on The Coat tm is like.. foreshadowing the redbeard reveal.. I’m losing it lol

[@mrlnxf8455]

omg

[@melonie_1510]

John: Finds a girlfriend, Jeanette, who looks like Sherlock Molly: Finds a boyfriend, Tom, who looks like Sherlock Conclusion: JOHN GAY FOR SHERLOCK

[@AlienZizi]

fucking big brain time

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

wow nice catch! I never thought of that :)

[@Anonymous-zw9ud]

There's only these people in that room: Jeannette, John, the cameras and Mrs. H. This means that s4 couldn't have been Sherlock's mind fabrication. It's someone else. I think it may be John

[@rivkavermeij]

Oh also: thanks for this, because at one point, I wondered if I had imagined things, because series 4 was SO far off from what I'd expected. But this video confirmed to me that even without TJLC, series 4 doesn't make sense from a storytelling viewpoint. It really is inconsistent with everything that came before it. So thanks for that. I will be coming along on the rest of this crazy flight, wherever it may lead, with you, I guess.

[@mattimoodle5160]

Almost a year later, and I am once again returning to watch this video essay. This is my favourite part. I rewatch all 6 parts (RIP Dracula section) at least every 2 months.

[@zoetevka4653]

🔨🥰🥰🌈✨♥️

[@allisoncrow8668]

Rebs this is hilarious - this is the first time I've been able to think about season 4 in humor rather than anger 😂 thanks for doing this

[@lediona3996]

I watched S4 exactly once and haven't engaged with it since it aired, and I've forgotten how nonsensical and weird it was. Thank you for forcing us to confront it and have a laugh about how dumb it is 🤣🤣

[@IraeimDrawsStuff]

I watched S4... in its entirety (I may have fast-forwarded a few scenes in TFP but who could blame me)..... in preparation for this particular episode It was both not as bad as I remembered and also SO FRUSTRATING at the same time Needless to say the hype is real. Seatbelts are fastened; take me on this flight, Rebs!!!!

[@TJLCExplained]

Frustrating is kind of the perfect word for it

[@saucy4379]

I just read from a drop of water and I swear it’s so good. I read the last chapter with my hands over my mouth over how amazed I was. I almost cried at some parts. Thanks for that piece of writing, it really helped me think of series 4 in a different way.

[@melissaaa221]

AJ thought Mary had betrayed them because he heard the guy who tortured him say "the English woman", but I thought we'd already established she wasn't actually English in HLV?? And AJ MUST have known that since AGRA knew everything about each other??

[@Anonymous-zw9ud]

Deadass... Also I reckon Sherlock deduced Mary wasn't British in front of John? Am I correct about this? Anyone?

[@ladyblakeney]

The calling out of "BOP" every time is life! Loved this, and I think pointing out the absurdity of this series is a good point. I hadn't even thought about that angle. This whole series is just delightful 😊

[@mrlnxf8455]

i am sick with covid + thus have had a lot of time to spend with your new video series + even though i am having the worst week, your videos have (as they always had) been the source of a lot of joy + comfort. it's also really giving me the closure i badly needed and i am beginning to make peace with this tv show. so, thank you!

[@iohannalutykk9931]

The fourth season feels like fever dream, but then it was a nightmare now its downright HILARIOUS, like come on, people MADE IT! Might as well enjoy the pure insanity, amarite? Thank you Rebekah, for making it so warn and funny:)

[@ngothingocminh61]

Can't wait!! For me, S4's absurdity is so fun to discuss

[@benjalucian1515]

Watched this again. How in the world did I miss Molly wearing her 'I'm John" jumper? Wow. That really turns that scene on its head for me. Sherlock is saying "I love you" to a John mirror. And afterwards, obviously feeling put through the ringer for hurting Molly he obviously is now equating his love for John as a casket. His chance with John is dead and gone. No wonder he blows up. So sad.

[@Anonymous-zw9ud]

I read Sherlock freaking out as John's internal reaction to the prospect that Sherlock could say "I love you" to someone else in real life

[@benjalucian1515]

@@Anonymous-zw9ud I like your theory better.

[@iamwickedz]

I honestly thought they made an episode so bad, so ridiculous on purpose to then reveal the true episode.

[@butterflymilk6240]

Thank you so much for doing this. You made me laugh out loud a few times. Season 4 is special in an own way and some scenes are just comedy gold. The way you kept this light-hearted made it so much better. And I LOVE the details in the background

[@ddotzil]

looking back i think the thing that upset me the most about series four is the relationship between sherlock and john being in such a bad state. i expected that even if they didn't do full on, canon johnlock, they would still continue centering the show around john and sherlock's 'friendship', and how that's been the most important aspect all along. i was so shocked that we got john beating up sherlock, them barely talking, mary being the focus and the whole 'who you are doesn't matter, it's about the adventures' stuff??? surely even if you weren't into tjlc/johnlock being endgame, this complete breakdown of the central relationship and message of the show would make absolutely no sense??? (also, thank you for this wonderfully light and humorous take on the dumpster fire that is this series)

[@jamesofglory]

Okay so, speaking as someone who didn't really believe they were going to make johnlock canon and was mostly into the show for the modern day adaptations etc, i was similarly really disappointed at the state of their relationship because they're the emotional core of the show. They're why I care about any of it because hey it's my little friend in the television saying things and having feelings. I imagine the weirdness between them has smth to do w ben and martin apparently despising each other but um. You're actors guys. Get a grip. If it was really seriously bad, they're both big enough names they could've backed out of the fourth season contract but who would give up that much money I guess. Plus I think despite their personal relationship they probably felt attached to the show emotionally still. From a writing perspective, it seems like Moftiss just desperately wanted to do the opposite of whatever people expected/wanted to happen, and Sherlock and John being all angsty with each other would naturally achieve that as pretty much ALL fans of the show regardless of shipping opinions care about the friendship between Holmes and Watson. As Rebekah has said, it's unlikely they made writing decisions based solely on fan reactions but also it's possible that they're just flawed writers and are subconsciously very oppositionally defiant. So their inspiration is unwittingly influenced by a desire to go against the grain and piss as many people off as possible because of the misguided belief that being contrarian makes them somehow revolutionary. As much as I don't like to demonise Moffatt and Gatiss, I do believe they're both immensely pretentious people who want to be perceived as really punk rock and irreverent but they've lost sight of the real art of storytelling, which requires an investment in characters. When the characters change personalities on a dime and constantly act out of character, it's hard to stay invested.

[@karolinaj.8656]

Season 4...Oh boy...I was re-watching the entire series and I still can't stomach S4...What they did to John's character is unspeakable, it was so frustrating to watch (and I watched it all in one sitting) I just wanted to throw him out of the window (like he was in TFP) and just hug Sherlock...That scene in TLD with John first beating Sherlock up and then pestering him about The Woman (even if we headcanon Sherlock as gay and not aromantic it's still cruel)... I was literally sobbing, thinking "When did it became so toxic?!"...And I know we are talking about TJLC, which is all about context and subtext but at the same time my friend who is just a casual fan and who was watching S4 for the first time send me a text asking "Why are they still friends if there is so much red flags?" and I froze...The point I am trying to make is that if writers idea was to question our expectations with what we are actually getting and to ripp off "the shippers" glasses to look beyond the surfice then they did a good job because I am really torn right now if I want BBC Johnlock to happen or not and that comes from a TJLC-er...I need some ACD Johnlock comfort after this :( I am sorry :(

[@subtlefire7256]

I now need a Big Bopper in my life. I think it would be great for my mental health hahaha. I actually enjoyed this look back on series 4, pointing out the inconsistencies but not trying to analyze them. This retrospective has been great so far. Mary's death scene is honestly so funny to me, I laughed out loud just now.

[@DominicaL1134]

I so excited about the video about TJLC in series 4! Been waiting for it for years!! I'm so happy you're doing it. No one can explain it better to us than you :D :D :D

[@Orochigirl17]

I’ve come back to this series, finally ready to watch it all the way through. I just wanna quickly thank you for giving a warning in the last episode, because I did need to take a break before watching this in its entirety. This is the first time I’ve visited anything related to season 4 since it came out, and your Big Bopper genuinely helped this to not be as terrifying. I got through it in one piece. It felt a lot less daunting to watch it with you as opposed to watching it on my own. Thank you, truly. I’m so interested in the next episode, but I admit I’m still so scared. Sherlock was a show that genuinely broke my heart, and I’m scared Dracula will be too similar… but I’ll trust you! I’ll take time and come back to hear your thoughts on it! Thank you again for all the hard work you’ve done on this series, seriously. It means so much.

[@bluecladchipmunk]

In the months leading up to series 4 I enjoyed so much of the fandom theorizing. And to this day have not had that much fun theorizing in a fandom with the exception of week to week, watching Wondavision. Like Sherlock, a large portion of the fandom had assumed a certain event was going to take place. And then it didn't. And although that wasn't as big of a blow as the BBC Sherlock... A lot of people had backlash for Wandavision show. However my emotional investment for Sherlock was way stronger, then Wandavision. That's why for so long I held Series four as "the big bad Wolf" and hearing someone else talk about it all this time later... Is really soothing. Seeing someone who's able to look back and while pointing out the flaws still be kind is very refreshing.

[@sofivear]

Oh man, this is making me want to rewatch series 4 for the laughs, I mean the way I cackled at the scene where Mary jumps in front of the bullet and John's strange groan just now! Your staunch commitment to remain respectful and diplomatic throughout is commendable hbufjoicwubacaklesdrtfygu

[@IraeimDrawsStuff]

Oh God now I'm going to watch the full BBC Dracula show in one sitting aren't I? I'm going to be swimming in an overflow of thoughts after I finish until your next video aren't I???? I'm officially without a life until your retrospective ends, Rebs. So thanks for that(I am joking I appreciate what you're doing so fricking much you have no idea) Jokes aside, this was fantastic and hilarious (which I appreciate)(and fully understand that my appreciation would seem strange to... people on the outside looking in lol) and also CATHARTIC. I haven't been following tjlc that much in these five years so just listening to someone.... point out the??? THINGS??? was so refreshing???? I'm sure there have been a ton of S4 meta written and S4 bashing done in these intervening years, I just never sought them out. Your self-Big Bop count is very promising. Can't wait for the next installment and especially the last one.

[@IraeimDrawsStuff]

Oh also totally agree that the kill john or mycroft scene is by far the best in the episode and probably the series. I remember getting to that part during my first viewing, and even with the crushing lead weight in my stomach and utter disbelief bordering on hysterics, absolutely loving how mycroft was written and played. I re-watched only two scenes - that scene and the one where john talks about Oscar Wilde - after I was done. ....That was the entirety of my exposure to TFP until this week heh

[@butterflymilk6240]

actually, season 4 meta is brilliant! there is a lot of it and I hope we will be seeing some of it mentioned soon

[@TJLCExplained]

I hope you enjoy if you do watch! You're in for a roller coaster. And yeah I have quite a bit of material to cover in Part Seven, it's the longest of the lot by far...

[@IraeimDrawsStuff]

@@TJLCExplained Update: Done with the series. Liked it. Horror isn't my cup of tea, but it was surprisingly tame for the potential it had. I think Moftiss tend to make scary things goofy tbh. I actually feel a bit bad for laughing in points that I don't think was intended to be funny There were some. . .. . . ..choices. Actually there were a lot of choices. I paused and gaped at the screen several times. Please ban these writers from including reflective surfaces, TPLoSH references, and bloody love metaphors in their stuff ever again thank you Boy jesus the next one's gonna be a RIDE..... please tell me it's the longest one yet?????

[@TJLCExplained]

It is the longest one yet! It’s nearly 2 hours 20 minutes

[@Pippsissewa]

I am HAUNTED by the fact that Mary named her daughter after herself. And I never could quite figure out why… until these videos. And now I understand.

[@lauramorales5510]

I meant to say this long ago. I just want you to know how much I enjoy your videos, and love the insights you give us, most of us wouldnt bother to do that much work analising the series like this, not just that but I actually learn a lot of things here because on top of all you know what youre talking about; there's an insane lot of work here (also editing and looking for the clips). I liked sherlock but I loved and obsessed with it since I found this channel. I think its beautiful that a story might move us in a such way that we share with each other like this. Again thank you so much for your videos, Ive seen them already but even today i come to visit them sometimes, they are inspiring and also hilarious sometimes! :) And the most important is that at the end it doesnt matter if you were right or wrong about the ending of the show;, i dont think people came here for this (at least me) but because we appreciate the work you did, the amount of things we didnt notice and the thrill and joy of discovering new approaches, new meanings... You enlighten us ^^

[@rekindlefitness]

I am thoroughly enjoying your commentary on the 4th season, you're a treasure, truly. Thank you for this.

[@xFadingStarsx]

I forgot about the John beating up Sherlock scene 😭 This was my first time revisiting season four and while I spread out the other episodes in your series I watched this in one go because I knew it would be hard to stomach. Thank you so much for doing it so amusingly and with such levity. I wouldn't have gotten through it otherwise lol. I was able to laugh when previously I couldn't. I'm excited to see what you have in store for parts six and seven.

[@xFadingStarsx]

Moriarty and Sherlock's sister (I refuse to look up how to spell her name)'s weird sex (?) scene is actually hilarious

[@UnsightlyThinker]

I’m ready for this…

[@frofro7134]

for me series 4 can not be real - 100% not real- it is mind palace or sherlock's dream/nightmare/vision after drug use- it is like caricature of this whole show

[@AlienZizi]

I'm surprised the main theory isn't John's mind place like it was back when this first came out. To me, the characterizations and ridiculous parts make most sense if they're being imagined by John. I only think it isn't Sherlock because his mind palace wasn't this messy while he was dying from a gunshot or overdosing.

[@ukallii]

I agree. Imagine the implications of that though - when did it start? Did it start when he was shot? Have we been in his mind palace since then? Or a psychotic break after he shot Magnussen? Or maybe it started when he took drugs after the wedding so everything from 3.3 is all part of it? Honestly, though, it would make so much more sense if it were all a dream of Sherlocks. His character decline is all his self-loathing. Mycroft's character decline is all his inferiority complex. John's character decline and obsession with Mary is all Sherlock's anxiety because John chose Mary over him. Eurus would just be an invention to explain his childhood trauma inspired by learning that John's brother was actually his sister. God......that would have been a glorious plot for series 5 - opening up with Sherlock coming out of it and questioning reality to figure out when it began and what's real and what isn't. Sooooooooooo tempting

[@MariaVictoriaAlberione]

Well, I recently came across another KZbin video explaining that the entire Sherlock season 4 is actually an extension of Sherlock's mind palace, since he was left in a coma by Mary's gunshot. That's why so many inconsistencies, strange things and problems with the script in general.

[@ngothingocminh61]

i cannot stop thinking about the game while watching the video 😭 waiting for your part 7

[@ubi_goes_uwu7126]

can i have the big bopper in therapy from now on? i think it might be magic. also the wholesomeness of you bopping it.... my heart has been mended.

[@caitfraserpoet]

Okay but six minutes in and I love that you underscored the glowing skull with your own glowing skull. Just *chef's kiss*. I've been watching the background subtly change on your bookcases since starting to binge this series 😂because um... Sherlock's all about those small details right?? but this is the first time it made sense to me to comment on! ...God, I hope that's not creepy.

[@TJLCExplained]

Not creepy at there, I love to see people enjoying the background details!

[@jostewart3192]

I am … BEYOND excited

[@leahbeexx]

Only about half an hour through this video so far but I gotta say, I am loving the big bopper lol. Thank you for that!

[@leahbeexx]

I have not touched S4 since it aired, and in ways it was both worse and not as bad as in my memories, but it was most definitely as wild and out-of-place with the rest of the show as I had remembered it being. It was a lot of fun to see you point out a bunch of the things that don't make much sense with the bopper and I laughed a lot, so thanks for making going back through it a less painful experience than the first time. I'm loving this retrospective series so far, thank you for all the hard work you've put into it!

[@miracle_prelude4392]

Jorrinford, that's my new favorite ship

[@iamadreamerr6885]

series 4 was ... something. i just felt immensely betrayed the first time i watched it. bbc sherlock had become something very dear to me, it helped me escape so many things. so when this happened, and with all that were said about the fans, i just felt so mad and sad. i rewatched it all like 3 years ago and it wasn't as horrible, i just didn't like it. plus, as a john watson kinnie (have been since the beginning), i was still bothered by how much they ruined his character in this. your video, lighthearted and with your benevolence and kindness, made it less horrendous. thank you sm for that. now, i am off to watch dracula for the 1st time ( i didn't wanna at first for mofftiss but you got me rethink it and reconcile with them a bit), and afterwards, i'll continue watching your amazing retrospective

[@rosemaryherrick9273]

Wow! Have not seen BBC Dracula. I am still an avid supporter of your work, thank you SO much😊 Now to read A Drop Of Water.🌈

[@rosemaryherrick9273]

Hi. I wrote to you awhile back about wanting to finish rewatching Sherlock, and watching Season 4 for the first time. (Im writing this before I actually watch this video😉). My experience in watching season 4 was .. bizarre as it felt so disjointed within itself and from the 1st 3 seasons😠. I actually had a viseral reaction when I recognized "this is pivotal and changed the narrative. So, I thank and applaud you, look forward to these next 3 videos(or more?) And to read your fic. Blessings to you and all of us 🌈

[@kingkim5020]

I'm enjoying this ride so much and will continue to stay aboard 🥰🥰 this video was absolutely awesome! "Don't think about too much *BOP!*" 🤣🤣🤣 literally I about died laughing so much. Thank you for doing this yet again 🖤

[@DarkElfofVulcan]

This was very fun to watch, but all the bopping has gotten Octopath's "it's a bop" stuck in my head.

[@miracle_prelude4392]

I have way too many things to say. But for my mental health I will say this was extremely funny sjsssjsjsj

[@heatweve]

i watched dracula's first episode yesterday bc you mentioned it previously on a past video and well... that first scene made things make sense. i kinda understood where were you getting at while i watched it unfold.

[@heatweve]

also this made me want to watch shelock again so i make peace with it and especially because i feel like now i can appreciate the fourth season in its madness and heightened parody, i say this after also watching moffat's inside man which was absolutely insane and erractic to the highest degree, i stay a little cynical but at least i'll probably enjoy it for a couple laughs

[@howlynnmartin1356]

The way it was edited when John leaves his cane is especially dark and few pick up on it. John had already seen the broadcast of Culverton promising to put Sherlock in his favorite room. John knew Culverton's favorite room was the morgue. John knew Culverton threatened to put Sherlock in the morgue and when he then visited Sherlock at the hospital, he literally was leaving unconscious Sherlock to be put in the morgue. It may be an error in editing, but that on top of the besting, has to be the darkest moment of the series. He only went back because he realized Mary had told Sherlock to do this. The whole, Mycroft is a snake line distracted everyone from the actual chain of events.

[@benjalucian1515]

True. John later admits he wasn't going to rescue Sherlock until Mary told him that Sherlock had done all of this to save _him_ THEN he went to the rescue. Sadly, Sherlock ALSO knew he couldn't rely on John to rescue him. He had alternate plans, but "I couldn't remember what they were". Very sad that Sherlock now knows he can't rely on John to be there for him.

[@robinwamsteker7285]

heyy does anyone know what happened to part 6?

[@lilliansunshine7499]

Give the show a bop for Molly's sake because they're acting like it's acceptable to hand off Rosie to this single woman who works a full time job all the damn time which is 1) incredibly inconsiderate even if molly and john were like. The best of friends. 2) ooc bc molly and john are friends but I mean not to the point of 'yeah of course I'll step in and help you raise your child and be a mother figure' closeness 3) impossible bc again Molly fucking Works 4) kinda sexist honestly like why is Molly on baby duty all the time? Lestrade is closer to John and also works a full time job he could be the nonsensical babysitter?? Can we get some bops for this??? Actually you know what it would still be stupid but you know what would be better than Eurus as random bus lady? Eurus as first Mary + John's and then just John's nanny bc then it would be a little more plausible that John is allowing this relationship to get out of hand bc he would be seeing her everyday + the villain reveal would be more meaningful bc she'd have infiltrated pretty deeply into John's life over two episodes + it would answer the damn baby potholes and let Molly rest.

[@TJLCExplained]

Yeah I should have given more bops on Molly’s behalf. She’s one of the elements that I take issue with regardless of how they meant her, she deserved so much better!

[@benjalucian1515]

Isn't Molly one of Rosie's godmothers?

[@lilliansunshine7499]

@@benjalucian1515 maybe? Either way though John literally just shows up to her home and drops Molly off like yeah sure I buy Molly being a sitter here and there but Like. It's kinda implied that Rosie is just. With Molly all the times she's not with Johnlock and it's like... She has a full time job she is busy she is not a nanny

[@AlienZizi]

i love the babysitter idea! the discomfort the characters (and audience) would feel knowing that a literal villain had so much access to their baby...

[@alicebell7975]

I really love these videos! Such a shame about the Dracula one. I managed to watch it before it was taken down and it was so good. Made me look at BBC Sherlock in a whole new way!

[@rivkavermeij]

Seeing this breakdown of series 4 (kind of), it's just as bad as I remembered it to be. It made me very curious what else you have to say about it though. As for Dracula, I haven't seen it, but you made me curious, so I'm looking forward to that as well. Much love ❤️

[@rivkavermeij]

I also enjoy the little background details. I wondered about that last times, but I specifically noticed the shark this time 😁

[@verbatims6423]

I can't remember the last time I laughed as hard at a KZbin video as I did at the "secret twin?" edit at 1:04:10 😂 10/10

[@space_hobbit]

It speaks to how much I enjoy listening to you analysing media that I am going to sit down and actually watch BBC Dracula today... Depending on how much Mofftiss will frustrate me I might have to watch some Yuri on Ice afterwards, like we did back after Season 4 xD

[@TJLCExplained]

You are in for a wild ride

[@franciscafigueroa5863]

Where is the 6th video? I wanted to hear your analysis of dracula. :(

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

They wrote the story like they wanted to, which makes theirs just more fan fiction. So Steven and Mark can't go saying theirs is an "authentic" writing of the story. The one "fan-character" was ridiculed for suggesting something queer. And Agreed, the 4th season treatment of John as a character and the fact that there apparently was no negative consequence for Mary for shooting Sherlock. They never reveal how Eurus knew about the meeting Culverton had when he drugged everyone attending, so how did she know who to disguise herself as. Sherlock goes from John Watson being the number one feature of interest in all the cases, (Sign of Three) to asking him "have ever wondered if your wife was a little out of your league?" Or "..because she's better at this than you." And I'm sorry Steven but you don't get blown out of a 2nd story window, and not sustain any significant injuries, there would be be broken bones, at least! But I guess on the way down they just shouted "gravity is my friend!"

[@ngothingocminh61]

imo the fan character is more complicated than that, but an explanation requires looking at s4 and “the game”. but basically, there is this bond/hannibal theme in both s2 and s4, and a little bit in that s3’s fan theory scene. anderson’s version is really bond-esque while the girl’s is hannibal, in the sense that choosing gay love means choosing to be on the bad side, to be a criminal.

[@benjalucian1515]

Did they get blown out a 2nd story window? I thought they JUMPED out a 2nd story building. They landed on an awning which broke their fall.

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

@@benjalucian1515 Even if they landed on the awning, I fell like there would still be injuries. And burns from the extreme heat radiation from the explosion. All I'm saying is that scene was really more like watching Indiana Jones, where you can fall out of a plane on a raft and survive. :)

[@benjalucian1515]

@@Plantsandtoyhorses - you always have to suspend belief in some things, even in Sherlock. I thought the jump was a lot of fun. Brilliantly, the writers have Sherlock run up his chair and propel himself off the back of it as he knows there is a railing outside their windows and with his height, and the chair, he will clear it. John's jump is more humorous. He looks like the jumping scared cat meme. He should have hit the window then flipped over the rail as he was too low and short to clear it. Instead he somehow does a high jump and clears it.

[@ukallii]

THANK YOU for pointing out the math in the calendar dates!!!!!!! To me, that shows more than anything that the writers got super lazy with series 4. They didn't even bother to check their math

[@shivanitelang7760]

Literally none of that made sense... 😂 Was that the reason people were saying that there's a secret fourth episode? It didn't even feel like the same show at many points.

[@AlienZizi]

pretty much, yeah. that and the "There must be something comforting about the number three. People always give up after three." from TLD

[@KajsaBernhardina]

That was hilarious!! Thank you for a good laugh and another great video. Loved the big bopper! That scene when Mary dies is so bad, the writing, the acting - all of it is just hilariously awful! I’m crowning it the worst television moment in the history of the BBC. Second place goes to the entire episode ”The Final Problem”. Congratulations to those guys who wrote it. Is TJLC the most reasonable reading of s1-3? Yes. Was Johnlock intended? Yes. The evidence is blatantly staring us in the face. Had Johnlock not been real, had it all just been queerbating and gay jokes, then why did all that subtext suddenly stop in s4? Why did the romantic comedy and tension between John and Sherlock suddenly abruptly end? Surely if it really was just for fun in s1-3, why not continue the fun gay jokes in s4? It stopped because it was real, but they couldn’t go through with it. They were allowed the fall, but not the landing. For some reason, they could not go through with what they had intended from the start, what they had forshadowed. And the reason nothing makes sense in s4 is that the REAL story ended with the Abominable Bride. It was game over back then, we just didn’t realize it until s4 aired. Mark and Steven should be ashamed of themselves. Putting so much effort into destroying everything good about a story thousands of people loved, and especially butchering John’s character, a character so many bi/pan people related to, just to make a dumb parody, just to make a point? It’s pretty much unforgivable. It’s like they thought the story and characters only belonged to them and they could do whatever they wanted. Talk about immaturity, incompetence and sacrifing the happiness of their entire audience for their own vain gain! Maybe these people were living in a bubble, getting high on the perception of their own ”brilliance”. They sure as hell wouldn’t be the first men to make that mistake! You might compliment them on their ”not giving a fuck and just doing what they want”-attitude. I certainly won’t. You know what I call their attitude? Pure selfishness. What they did to s4 was just selfish. Literally no one wanted this direction for the show. That’s why it caused so much disappointment and pain. I hope they’re happy with it, as the ”artists” they are, because for the rest of the world it was an insult and a betrayal at worst - and at best; just one giant waste of time.

[@carpefuego]

You're the bomb, lady 🎉 keep it up!

[@butterflymilk6240]

Okay, I now have finally finished this video and I have to say one thing. This will be a little longer and emotional and I want to apologize for that before I start. Season 4 has always been a kind of difficult terrain for me, but I was distancing myself enough from it to not get too emotional about it. I thought, why would it matter? If in the end, they decided that after all, BBC Sherlock was not queer and that I must have imagined things, that must be the truth. And I told myself that this was okay. I had found peace with it. Until you showed us the first scene of BBC Dracula. Until that specific part. THAT one sentence. And here I am, sobbing and I don't even know why. I haven't been that emotional about something for a long, long time. It may sound strange regarding the fact that I am talking about a TV show now, but shit. I feel hope. I feel a HONEST hope about what made me fall in love with those characters back then when I discovered Sherlock. It feels unreal that this is coming from the writers. This specific sentence. "Your dinners. Your conversations. Your intimate moments." I have no idea what is going on in BBC Dracula (YET, I will definitely watch it) but after we just saw season 4 with only one or two small moments of Sherlock and John being alone, this piece of dialogue got me. This nun was implying that in the story he wrote down, there was something missing, right? Those exact moments that were missing in season 4. And if that wasn't enough - she seems to be convinced that some more sexual moments were missing AS WELL. Thank you. Thank you so much for doing this.

[@TJLCExplained]

I completely understand what you mean!!! I had a similarly strong reaction. I had completely convinced myself I had mostly made it up, or took jokes too seriously. And then I saw that scene. Although in my case it was more shaking with fury initially, that's why I had to go take a walk to calm myself down. I hope you enjoy Dracula if you do watch!

[@butterflymilk6240]

@@TJLCExplained Your reaction is so understandable as well! It must have taken you so much emotional strength to work through all of this, and then I imagine you seeing that scene and being like "are you serious? Why do you tell me this only now?" I was convinced that no matter what, I had taken all of this a bit too serious, taking things out of context and so on, and then this came along. I will definitely watch it, I might even start now. Thank you!

[@ShemsuHor1403]

I totally forgot season four. It is like seeing it for the first time again. NOTHING made sense! It is bonkers!

[@CatLady-9327]

I'm just going to point out one imo extreme example of heteronormativity in Sherlock TFP. When Eurus makes the comment about SAing the nurse, Sherlock assumes it is a male nurse. What stuck about this, is that nurses are generally stereotyped as a feminine profession. I myself assumed the nurse was a woman for that reason alone. Sherlock's heteronormativity is so strong here it overrides the societal belief that nurses are assumed to be women.

[@elizabetkiraly]

Girl, you drink tea? 👀 Is there any chance I could take you out to dinner?

[@lemcy1256]

Hm... what if AJ is a 'J' as is a person with a name starting with the letter 'J'. Because Mary called John also James by ACDs mistake in canon. It also lets me think of the texts Mary recieved when John was in the fire in TEH. And considering John might be behind Moriarty's return video, he also is a 'J'.

[@strongsarah]

S4 was where I totally let go of needing the surface story to make any sense at all, and embraced the metaphorical reading and five act structure. then it makes sense for s4 to be "opposite day in bizarro mirror world" and the subtext is still there. But I would love to ask mofftiss, if there were no other considerations or obstacles, like actors' schedules, covid, etc., when would they have liked to make s5?

[@evelyn3832]

oh yeah i remember watching dracula when it first came out as sort of an ex-tjlcer and being haunted to absolute shit by “johhhnnny there is no babyyyy”

[@irgendeinname5871]

I'm sorry but I completely lost it at this absolutely ridiculous scene at 1:11:40 again 😭😭😂 seriously had to pause, it looks so ridiculously fake I can't 😂😂

[@trutrustories5223]

I won´t lie, coming back to the series four and see how terrible it turned out and how little it made sense was hard. Harder, then I thought. (And funny thing is, that I really was under the impression, that I don´t care that much anymore.) But that frustration hit me hard the second I saw first shot from the Aquarium scene. And as much as I thought I was ready… I had to pause the video and I realized (to my dismay) that I needed to made myself more ready for this and it took me almost a WHOLE F-ing WEEK before I came back to it. Whitch was really weird experience, because only day before, I couldn´t wait for this episode to be out, and was SO curius and so ready to watch it!!! - well turned out I wasn´t xD. It´s a long time since I saw series four (when I don´t count watching furiously every single video essay about how terrible Sherlock show is, and watching fan videos or even editing them - which was my first immidiate reaction and my way to deal with that ongoing feeling of frustratiopn and anger. And I gotta admit, I was kinda hoping for magical special fourth episode because The Final Problem turned out to be SO absurd and ridiculous that one would thought these writers are lunatics and everything is possible. But it seemed too utopian to me, so I gave up any remnants of hope pretty early on. And once I stopped processing this through KZbin videos, I never came back to series four... I wasn't even able to write something about it, because I knew anger would be very apparent in every sentence of mine. I thought I was over it, but the whole time I just pretended s4 simply doesn´t exist (and I didn´t even realized I was doing it) „…like writers plucked at the loose threads present in the story and instead of tying them neatly together, pulled and pulled until the entire narrative unraveled.“ - yes. YES! Exactly! You put it so accurately! That´s literally what they did! The part I was most afraid of was probably the morgue scene. When John is beating Sherlock, it's like watching my favorite character changing in least favourite infront of my eyes. In few seconds. I mean he is terrible and out of character in episode before but this is just another level. Because if this is real, if it is meant to be real, it completely destroys character of John Watson on such a scale that no one ever done before. It also completly and irreparably destroys their relationship for me. Not only writers had even capacity to think this scene is a good idea, but they didn´t show any consequences of this horrific scene, like it never happened. Sherlock and John never talked about it, and John never said anything about regreting to do this. We didn´t even hear him apologies. And as you said, THIS John just look like horrible person. „Sherlock comforts him, which in this scene is sweet, but in the context of the episod eis less so. I can´t quite look away from Sherlock´s injored eye.“ - yeah, same. This was just heartbreaking. That part where you counting year of Mycroft x Moriarty meeting made my day though xDD "After the brides and their clever use of glass? This felt pointed, and this was the moment when my brain broke." Poor Sherlock! writers just won´t ever let him learn that lesson :D My brain broke when "I love you" scene happened. I was in disbelief from the begining (you know clauns, crying paintings, drons and all ) but this scene was just were it hit me the most. 🤯 So that Bop for Molly´s sweater was very satisfying, thanks🥳! Anyway, despite how difficult it was to return to this, you managed to make me laugh many, many times. I almost died of laughter at some parts. And my poor computer ended up splashed with tea (I had to clean up my monitor atleast three times. 🤣) I loved your light and goofy approach to this video! It really made everything easier. Incredible, how much fun I was having (considering the fear and how much I put it off until later) in the end I really enjoyed it. This video is a cure I didn't know I needed so much. ❤‍🩹 I feel, like I can finally take a deep breath ... and it feels priceless! ❤ You´re hilarious, briliant (and really cute with Big Bopper in your hands! but I definitely wouldn´t dare to come near you, while you holding it 😂) Thank you Rebekah

[@krystleboss8573]

Sharks swimming (jumping) over Sherlock’s head in the tunnel sums up S4 in a single piece of imagery. They can’t be alone together because unless they are 5 feet apart, they’re too gay! Also John Watcow is the only terrible acting choice Martin has ever made & it feels deliberate b/c he & his wife mock ridiculous cow noises in Breeders while his character is embarrassed

[@howlynnmartin1356]

Still laughing at your hilarious way of looking at this mess. You have yet to point out how long John spent with Eurus, between affairs and therapy-- I blame her for breaking our John (Who was always just a bit of a psychopath, really, really. But, most really good Doctors are, weirdly enough) I mean we know it was more than 5 minutes. 😆😆 At least by our fan fiction standards, John had some stamina!😂😂😂 I guess it is a small point for those who don't understand firearms, but ballistic guns (those that shoot magical freedom seeds) have almost nothing in common with the kind that shoot tranquilizer darts. It hurts my soul that John is still bleeding out on the floor and that wasn't a real rug!😂😂 The next episode is obviously John gone to hell for beating up Sherlock. 🤪😜😝😁💚💥👍🤷‍♂️ John and Jim ships anyone ?😂😂😂 preferably wing fic😉

[@ngothingocminh61]

Yess the Dracula setup 🥺💖 And the meta commentary (again) and this time about an(other) unreliable narrator 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@zoetevka4653]

I cant wait!!!! S4!! Finally ♥️🤗🙏🏻🏳️‍🌈

[@CatLady-9327]

I just have to say this, as a friendly lurking Mycroft stan, I believe you got some things wrong. (Emphasis on believe, my interpretation is not more valid than anyone else's). Mycroft did not choose to kill the governor because of himself and his own soul, not because he had some regard for the man's life. He threatened to kill the governor at the beginning of the episode. "I will not have blood on my hands" angers me too, more so because that idiom is almost always used to mean being indirectly responsible for someone's death. It is a nonsensical statement practically begging to be torn apart. If anything, Mycroft is being hypocritical as opposed to OOC. There is still a huge difference in letting someone die or leading them to death over the phone and shooting someone to death with a gun. I once saw someone make the comparison it's like killing in a video game, and while imo I would not have gone that far, there is a level of detachment. Someone also noticed Mycroft covering his ears to not hear "the little girl" speak, because he knew he would have to "kill" her and did not want to get attached. Excellent work otherwise. (I really hope I don't come off as condensending. Your videos helped me very much in a very dark period of my life, inspired me, and made me realize things about myself, (including inspiring me to go to therapy) so the last thing I want is to make it seem as I am tearing down your arguments. I don't know if you read all of the comments, but I always type as if you do, just in case).

[@vaaarna]

emm does anyone know why is there a exclamation point in the middle of the screen on the video

[@frofrofrofro900]

Thers is not

[@zoetevka4653]

THE BIG BOOPER!!! ♥️😂🙏🏻😂♥️

[@KajsaBernhardina]

Was the Dracula analysis copyright claimed? Can’t find it anymore

[@TJLCExplained]

Yes it was about a month back and my appeal was just rejected 💔

[@KajsaBernhardina]

@@TJLCExplained that stinks! It was a fantastic analysis, I was blown away by your work there, well done! Let me know if you manage to get it up elsewhere or if we can download it from anywhere because I really loved it and would like to watch it again if possible.

[@sherlockholmess.2148]

Sorry but also why were they trying to imply that the woman from the six thatchers, the police woman, they were having an affair or something? I mean seriously? I’m on about the forensic officer that comes around for a ‘chat’ and it’s ‘nothing.’ Wtf

[@howlynnmartin1356]

Oh and the whole Ammo code doesn't work at all. You could have a code to call off an operation. You could have a code word to begin one. But, saying a code word to an opposing force, doesn't explain a secret operation. It would be meaningless to them. And if you are rescuing hostages, then not expecting an opposition, would be a bit dumb. If the operation went bad, no code word will make it go worse. A code did not make AGRA betray each other. So AJ being angry with Mary, didnt make sense any more that John being mad at Sherlock for the actions of an old woman with a gun, and a past tied to Mary. So Bop for the whole story line. Knowing the name of the handler somehow affects bullets? You know what I liked better? Mycroft set Mary up to be killed for shooting his brother. Because everybody just stood around and let the old girl wave a hand gun around rather than trying to get it away from her!😂😂 Mycroft is the elephant in the room and he never forgets. 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

[@zoetevka4653]

🔨🙏🏻♥️

[@benjalucian1515]

Um, in The Abominable Bride, Sherlock brings up the switch of bodies like he did for the Fall and his Dream Palace John is still sensitive about it which means Real John probably is as well. Mary is falling after getting shot because she JUMPED in front of Sherlock. The bullet didn't make her fall violently, her jump did. And yes, Sherlock had 3 seconds of consciousness when he was shot. But Mary's not Sherlock. Not everyone has the same reaction to being shot. And did you miss Sherlock's look at John when he is telling him to "get some of that" A person who would make him a better person? Obviously, John is that for Sherlock, and Sherlock is bewildered that John *still* doesn't know that. John brings up Irene and you see how aggravated Sherlock is with him for doing so. He reminds John that he's told him over and over again that he never texts her back and isn't interested in her. Eurus isn't a twin. Eurus didn't corrupt Moriarty's film, Sherlock did. Sherlock is wearing the hat because they have hired two actors for the confrontation and it's easier to get cooperation when the two actors are thrilled to be working with the "famous" detective. Yes, John pulls a gun on civilians. He did it in the Great Game as well. Did you forget? No, we were not all expecting Moriarty's plan. We knew he was long dead back in The Reichenbach Falls. No, not all of us were buying into a theory that didn't come true, so what really happened is fine. Don't bop it when it's really your own personal disappointment and not a problem of the episode. John was always a ladies man. Karma gets him though when he realizes that the pretty girl who came onto him, wasn't really interested in him after all. It was just a set up. Eurus probably checked out John to see if he was worth bringing into her scenario with Sherlock and Mycroft. I find it interesting that she made herself a John mirror to attract Sherlock's attention and she attracted John because...well, she's Sherlock's sister. Her features probably resemble his. Sherlock is gay, John is closeted bi, and so you have gay heroes and villains. Don't see a problem. Yes, having a baby around is problematic. It worked in 19th century ACD stories, because the wimmenfolk took care of kids while their husbands ran off to do "important work". But it wouldn't work in the 21st century when fathers are supposed to be involved with raising their children. That's why I was hoping when Mary was taken out it would have been BEFORE she gave birth. But alas. John was not being rescued from the well by a rope. The rope was thrown down for rescuer to climb down. John is simply holding it to balance himself and to hold it taut for the climber.

[@KaleaJordan]

I'm curious if you have any thoughts on blog theory/extended mind palace theory, and if you think that's a good/constructive lens to watch series 4 through. I really enjoy the blog theory, and I think it helps explain a lot of the weirdness through the whole series, and is a nice extra-narrative analysis of Sherlock, really driving home the point that the public doesn't know the truth about John and Sherlock.

[@Candre99]

I adore your videos and obviously will keep watching, but I refuse to watch Dracula because I will not help Moftiss in any way, shape or form. Like giving them views, for example. And specially not with a story about vampires, wich are one of the things I love the most. I have read the book several times, so I particularly didn't want to see this. However, I very much thank you for doing a review that will allow me to see where they went with the story without actually watching the story 😘

[@zoetevka4653]

♥️🏳️‍🌈♥️

[@sheilapurcell515]

Why did you do this

[@butterflymilk6240]

how do you mean, what's wrong with it?

[@AlienZizi]

closure 🤷‍♀ and it's fun

[@alanacamp.]

I hated the s4 and I am not even a Johnlock shipper. I loved their friendship in the first two seasons and I hated how the writers completely disgarded it for the sake of "this is not a gay show". Romantic or not, the show was about their relatioship with each other, why change that in the last season!!?? Such a disappointment. Everything is even worse because of the terrible written last ep., I mean, a x-men secret sister, wtf!!!????