A Better Story: [Part Seven] The Coventry Conundrum (TJLC Explained: [Episode 49])

[@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/

[@veanixfire8943]

GUYS. Mark Gatiss was in this documentary about queerness and horror, it's on AMC+... And he literally explains queer coding to the camera. I haven't finished the first episode, the only one out, but I got that far. It's... an experience watching that man talk about this subject. Anyway, this seems highly relevant and I can't stop thinking about whether or not Rebekah knows about it. I want nothing more than to hear their thoughts on the matter EDIT: It's called Queer for Fear

[@kawalkarda32]

I cannot thank you enough for making this series with the kindness that you did. Honestly it always felt like my time spent in TJLC many years ago was locked up in shame, and within a week I think you really did make me realize that we weren't all crazy as we may thought of ourselves to be. I think I have been waiting for an excuse to bring me back to this community, and I will gladly take this as the invitation that I have been needing. Thank you so much for making this and taking as much time and care as you have to present the story again for us all.

[@TJLCExplained]

I am so so happy to hear that, thank you!!

[@themisguidedpoet1570]

Rebs, thank you for making this and getting closure. I was going through a tough time when s4 came out, so I was very invested in your original videos, but I never blamed you when the show seemed to lose the plot. Watching this helped me realise that I’d subconsciously closed myself off from enjoying media fully since then, and I needed to find that joy again, so thank you.

[@Lily-cb8xt]

You're a lovely and precious person. Keep dreaming and believing, whatever will or will not happen.

[@KaleaJordan]

I love love love the idea of using John as an unreliable narrator because if they use it properly to make johnlock happen, it kind of insinuates that johnlock could have been happening all along from the original ACD stories and John simply wrote it out

[@Anonymous-zw9ud]

Of course!❤

[@julesv.2434]

This whole series has been BRILLIANT. And I don't just mean the analysis--although, of course, yes. I mean how you went on that journey of processing everything, and then communicated that journey through this series. Like A+++ job. I feel like I've been through a VERY very similar journey these past several years--although largely with different demons than BBC Sherlock (oddly, though it's not like the show had no traumatic impact on me, on some level i never really lost trust in the fact that what we all saw here was legitimate-regardless of whether there’s ever a concrete resolution-and that made it not QUITE the trauma it could have been for me). But I think there's something in your journey that everyone can take a lesson from, in how you face yourself and the things that hurt, learn that they won't kill you, and let them go and finally feel light again. It's so difficult, but it's so worth it (however you get there). And also that you have to accept that things can have a serious impact on you that, to others, would seem not to matter as much, or others might not understand why you feel the way you do, and that's okay. It's not for anyone else to tell you who you are and how you should feel. All that matters is that you accept yourself in the end, because if you can do that you can do anything--including facing the things you thought you would always be running from. Believe me, that's a journey I understand deeply. I'm sure a lot of us do. And I hope anyone who feels like they're running from something will know what that feels like someday too. Anywho, I could go on and on about this, but I’ll just say that it’s funny how, just when I’ve felt I’m reaching closure with some of the hardest parts of my life, you pop in here and demonstrate the same exact journey in breathtaking clarity, for something I thought I'd long ago stopped needing closure on, and showed me I could have it even where I least expected it. Sometimes the universe really does just work that way! So thanks for that, and for the hours of joy and entertainment-so rarely do i find people in my life who enjoy picking apart stories in this way, and at the heart of it all it’s also nice to be reminded that there are people out there who do :) (Just one more thing--to be clear, I've NEVER thought you had anything to apologize for with regard to TJLC. But I also understand why you would feel that way, especially given the climate at the time, the nuances of the situation--and when you're in that mindset in any context it can be a nightmare to maneuver through. I'm just SO HAPPY to see that you've found your way to the other side!!)

[@strongsarah]

[@whatever3440]

Those first thirty seconds hit me. They hit me like a gut punch. It really took me back to that feeling, that moment in time where it felt like the book I was reading was snatched from me, with the pages being torn and ripped apart with no further care or interest. I didn't expect it

[@sofivear]

I'm only 10 minutes in and I just want to say I love how thoughtful you're being with your approach to this, time and hindsight have given us perspective and it really shows in you. And through revisiting the show through this retrospective you've really managed to ignite that old spark, of noticing patterns and finding meaning through this sort of literary analysis approach, without any of the emotional stability hanging on the line, expecting anything going forward. It's really wonderful to be able to look back and be fond of any of this at all, and even looking forward to dissecting S4, as absurd and silly as it was. I'm really glad you've made your peace with it and can transmit that to your audience! It's certainly reached me.

[@sofivear]

Just finished watching it. Thank you so much for all of this. The meta-commentary of the Holmes stories being the point is a fascinating lens to look at it all, and a much better story, regardless of what it is they set out to do, as you state (and however much one might disagree to their... intense approach to go about it). The whole series has been so cathartic and your message at the end is so heartfelt and meaningful, thank you :,)

[@ROSASharon-gp3vj]

Tried to send this as a tumblr ask - I don't think it worked lol, it's probably better for me to just post this here, where I can elaborate slightly more. This is really long but I had a lot of thoughts from watching your videos. I'm not a johnlocker, but, I have gone through a very similar experience to you. Feeling like a conspiracy theorist for thinking something's queer - and then being disproven in a very cruel way. It was a bit worse for my fandom though - the big creators got rape and death threats all the time, I got pretty regularly harassed - it all made me feel worse about myself and my identity for a long long time. I’m not a johnlocker - but I do actually know a lot about Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ work in particular. First of all a lot of what you say on how TV production works seems off to me, as someone who does know about this type of thing. I really recommend for you to read the Writers Tale. It’s written by Russell T Davies (a very hands-on executive producer and head writer) as his firsthand account of how he made doctor who in 2007-2010. Very close to when sherlock was made, it will tell you a lot about how tv writing and productions works from around this time. Steven moffat is also mentioned quite a bit. The idea of Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat wanting to make a gay love story was… admittedly, very strange to me as someone who knows about these writers independent of the show. One of the main characters in Coupling (moffats show) is a woman who lies about being bisexual to get men to date her. This is one of shows most long running jokes. All the men watch lesbian porn and entire episodes are drawn out of this premise, it’s mentioned constantly. Moffat has admitted this was autobiographical. Almost every female character in doctor who mentions kissing a woman - because moffat finds that hot. This is why Irene Adler is the way she is. He has put representation in his work since - only lesbians. (Bill and Jenny/Vastra) I always saw that as more… um. To cover his tracks from the criticism Irene Adler was getting at the time. I think queer subtext would come from Gatiss really. Where he said. “I much prefer playing around with this homoeroticism in sherlock”. I think this is true. He likes playing around with subtext, because he has a lot of reverence and nostalgia for the stories that did use a lot of that same subtext. He came onto Bryan Fuller’s Queer For Fear to talk about queer subtext in dracula. I don’t think he ever intends to make this explicit - I think he just wanted to recreate the subtext of the stories he loved. I wish I could elaborate on this because there’s a lot more I want to say. But this is too long.

[@CatLady-9327]

I don't know if you expected a response from anyone other than Rebekah, but hope you don't mind me discussing this anyway and sharing some of my thoughts. You're absolutely right about Irene. My first clue in was the joke about Kate the assistant. A lot of people took that too mean that Irene and Kate have (or had) a relationship, but to me it was simply someone finding the idea of Irene having a BDSM session with her assistant hot. The fandom interpretation was always kind of naive to me? Cute, but naive. I believe Gatiss is responsible for most of the gay 'jokes', like the one Mrs Hudson and Angelo make. It's why Mycroft makes that "happy announcement" statement. It never meant he thinks his brother is gay. He doesn't care whether or not he is. It doesn't matter, why should it? He would be suspicious of everyone in Sherlock's path. He would make the same statement if Sherlock had a female flatmate. My belief was that Mark, as a gay man born in the 60s, wanted this fantasy world in which gay people are an everyday thing, something no one questions. It makes me kind of sad some people missed the point of that, but I don't blame them for it. But all the heavy handed stuff "look at us both"? I believe that is Moffat. Since I know Gatiss and Moffat write collaboratively even when only one's name is in the credits, they could possibly be co-written with Gatiss? But I don't believe it was ever just Gatiss. I never did. Homoeroticism, at least to me could be about Moriarty (and possibly pilot!Cabbie, Magnussen and Culverton with the sexualized scenes) just as much. Not saying that makes it better, and if Sherlock is not meant to be read as gay, then Sherlock's subconscious fears being represented by this dramatic gay guy who BJs guns in his living room is... questionable

[@jandeman.]

Why does it make so much senseeeee!!! How could they accidently do this? It's mad, I don't believe they actually have this kind of plan, but I am secretly hoping for series 5. (Even if it sucks, I'm still curious)

[@essig193]

When the show was airing and I watched your videos as it was happening, it was AMAZINNG. Then season 4 came and I literally disassociated. Forgot your channel and the show. I’ve been looking for you for the last 4 or 5 years. Then yesterday I finally remembered what the channel was called. Watching your updated videos was a gem. What a fun experience this was, in early 2010s and now.

[@espantapajaros33]

I say this as someone who never got past series 1 when watching Sherlock, but who watched all 7 parts of this: your work here was not only super interesting and obviously with so much thought and work behind it, it's also so very kind and thoughtful towards fans, towards the writers, towards strangers, towards yourself. I think no media is ever perfect, and I think we can all say Sherlock certainly isn't, but any work that can make anyone think so hard about it, spend so much time with it, has value. and yeah, I hope however much pain the series finale caused so many queer and young viewers, there is something good to be taken out of all this. I think you show it can. wishing healing for all who are still hurting tbh

[@AJanineBrett]

God, thank you for this! ❤ For TJLCE, this retrospective, FaDoW. They're all phenomenal! But most importantly, thank you for the reminder that this is just a show. After season 4 aired, like many, I locked away a lot of what in life I found fulfillment: storytelling, drawing, and my love of Sherlock Holmes and queer stories. And when I came back last year and discovered TJLC, I felt comfortable dipping my toe back in. However, I started to unhealthily obsess that season 5 was coming and that it was soon. So much so that I refused to do anything else. In the last few months, I have only been able to engage healthily in TJLC when I remind myself that no one has the correct answer and the answer might not even come to pass. That's fine. I can tell myself a better story or make up a new one. It's a tough pill to swallow, but thank you for framing your retrospective around that. :)

[@runningraven]

"Traumatize a generation". Anyone remember that? I think they achieved that goal perfectly, even if it was satire. I'm "lucky" to belong to an older generation, and after all the rugs that have been pulled from under my feet I barely felt the fall this time, but I saw the hurt in the younger generation of Holmes fans, particularly the queer ones, and it broke my heart... I wonder how Mark feels about that right now. Like, literally wonder, not in a guilt tripping sense. I believe that growth lies in suffering, yet my motherly impulse, which I physically can't get over, is always to prevent kids from suffering. I might just be an idiot. He might just be actually brilliant. 😬😅💙

[@juliannagarcia2640]

Thank you for this, truly. Although I don't think I'll ever be able to fully engage with anything that comes from Moftiss again, can't bring myself to trust them like that again, your return and analysis definitely brought me some much-needed closure. Series Four has felt like a wound that never properly healed for so long I had genuinely forgotten there was a time when analyzing this show and its potential was once a source of joy, and that so much was not just subtext we were picking up on, but straight up text - we weren't crazy to call it out as we saw it. I will say, though, that as painful as the experience was at the time, it did teach me an important lesson: creators owe you nothing, and you must meet a work where it's at. My interpretation can be my own, and I can recognize wasted potential when I see it, but it's no use to let what a creator chooses to do or not do get to me on a personal level, it doesn't lead anywhere good. Since figuring that out I've been able to have a much healthier approach to life in general, managing to find beauty in flawed works because, instead of creating expectations and being let down when they're not met, I simply take the work as it is first and figure out what and how I feel about it from there. It doesn't hurt that since then I've been able to find works with explicit representation that make me actually feel seen, that way it doesn't feel quite as "life or death" when one particular piece of work doesn't deliver on that front. In this case, it'll be a shame if they never do, because there was potential for a beautiful love story about such iconic characters whose mutual adoration is at the core of the story, but alas, it also won't be the end of the world. At least now we have Our Flag Means Death to deliver on middle-aged men who are seemingly opposites falling deeply for each other lol

[@frofrofrofro900]

I am straight person from Poland and I think you are wonderful. I love all these years with you and with Sherlock analysis. I watch them several times. You show us a lot , you teach us a lot, you make us watch movies better way, you make Sherlock more amazing and this whole journey was priceless !!! I had never regret it, I never doubt in everything you said. For me it is true, and series 4 it is completely new show or nightmare/ game/ mind palace... does not matter. Everything you said before was gold

[@space_hobbit]

huh, this went up unexpectedly early! Super excited ^-^

[@teary-eyed-doe]

REBEKAH. That story in the introduction took me by surprise!! I was muttering "no, no no" as the story progressed, and after that 'love confession' my jaw just DROPPED. God, I could all picture it and my heart shattered. ... Which is all proof that you are an incredible storyteller and this show can hurt oh so easily. :') ♡

[@space_hobbit]

Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart: thank you. Watching your series (and pulling an all nighter watching BBC Dracula yesterday - my head is still wobbly from that) has been a cathartic experience. While I don't think I can "believe" again, play the game again, I have found closure. I'm not angry at mofftis anymore, I think they just like to do things for the * drama * of it all, it's what they enjoy, and the tragedy is that I'm afraid they thought we'd enjoy it too. Personally, I've decided that I don't, that while I enjoy the shock value, the twists and the clever punchlines at a surface level trying to go deeper would just end up in me getting hurt. So I'll keep it casual, and that's fine. I'm an adult woman now, I don't need some old men telling me a story for me to feel complete. Anyways, I'm rambling xD at the end of it all, I'm so happy you're in a good place now, and I'm excited to read From a Drop of Water! Because I can now, because BBC sherlock doesn't scare me anymore. It's not the devil, it's not salvation, it just is. And that's fine by me. Lots of love, and again my sincerest thanks, Fio.

[@vaaarna]

i know giving hope was not your point this time, but your analysis makes sense. it just does in my head. i am trying hard not to let myself hope lmao, but secretly i maybe do a bit and there is no way in hell its your fault if everything goes in the worst case scenario way you said in the beginning

[@TJLCExplained]

Yeah that’s a tough balancing act. I think for me it’s just knowing that I’d be okay if it didn’t happen that keeps me from getting too attached to the idea of being right. I don’t *need* to be right, when I very much DID need it five years ago, if that makes any sense.

[@vaaarna]

@@TJLCExplained jessss, i am not attached to it as in i don't need it to be right to be a complete human bieng. but how neat would it be how actually groundbreaking. i will be okay either way :)

[@avangelinechatters]

@@TJLCExplained Where did part six of the series go? I would have loved to watch it because I absolutely adore your content, for the past 3 days I've been absolutely binging all your content, I even started reading your fanfiction, which is absolutely wonderful btw!

[@loner844]

tbh, I watched this retrospective to decide whether to hold onto hope or not. I don’t regret getting into TJLC, I discovered so many other things that make up for the pain caused by s4. oscar wilde, other adaptations of holmes, the original stories, a community of like-minded people. they made it all worth it. I clung on for several months after the disappointment, clinging to meta and fic. but eventually I fell out of fandom after one too many disavowals from the creators, and I always felt guilty for that, because fandom should be enough, but it wasn’t. but in my heart, I never entirely dropped the hope that they’d come back for one last season to counter what they did in s4 and resolve the relationship between john and Sherlock. I never completely gave up on what TJLC believed in. so I came back, and hung off your words just like old times. idk if they are coming back, but maybe now I left TJLC and fandom for a few years, I’m ready to come back. idk if I can revisit the show or believe in it again, but maybe one last foray into fandom will at least give me closure...

[@butterflymilk6240]

i don't know you and I am not Rebekah, but your words made me really emotional. I hope you find some closure in whatever decision you make.

[@franciscafigueroa5863]

ok, so just a wild theory here. For all of its bad writing, series four doesn't directly negate the core of TJLC, and that feels intentional. In fact, It basically says that the two do end up together and raise a child together. So whether or not they will eventually become romantic with the rest of their lives is a matter of interpretation. I think what the showrunners were doing - or attempting to do - was to address what that thought were the final emotional barriers each character was facing individually. This could be interpreted as the barriers barring them from being capable of the love they deserve in their lives. I feel like the reason that Mary took a bullet for Sherlock was because she knew that Sherlock was the best companion for him in the long run. That he would ultimately be happier with him. It was her final act of redemption, she sacrificed herself so that they (johnlock) could be together. In fact, her ghost/johns subconscious is very pro Sherlock even as John himself is grappling with his grief, guilt, and possibly fear that he had lost both a future with Mary and forever tarnished his relationship with Sherlock. John had always been a puppy dog. Loyal, devoted, but kind of a drag in some ways. Losing Mary made him become more independent. In the face of that loss, he is forced to finally face the world alone, rather than defining himself by his relationships. Sherlock - albeit through the stupidest methods I can think of - is presented with the trauma that made him a "sociopath." And indeed, during the last episode he shows a lot of emotional intelligence, out of character for him in earlier episodes. Maybe now, he can actually be a good partner (slash step dad?) to someone - as lestrade points out near the end. The Mary monologue at the ends for the two men to co-raise her daughter seems to be a kind of blessing over the union... a nod to some kind of modern family scenario? Who knows. At this point I really don't care what the Showrunners actually say about whether Johnlock is real. The important thing is that they acknowledge that they are soulmates. It's still very possible for me to imagine a series 5 where John had gotten over his grief, Sherlock is a responsible and warm adult, and we are dropped into a mature partnership where the two have fostered a deep and open love for one another. I don't think that this will ever be on the screens, but I don't see anything that rules it out explicitly. After all, Sherlock never admits to wanting anything to do with Irene. I think John was just angry that Sherlock still hadn't expressed any sexual interest in anyone, and in his confusion about Mary and admitting that he "still wants more" he was trying to insight a reaction out of Sherlock. The text at the end of the show isn't actually addressed to Irene, and it doesn't say anything explicit --once again keeping it all open. As much as a bloody hate series 4, it didn't crush my idea of Johnlock. It's just not a great story.

[@frofrofrofro900]

The beginning was heartbreking. I can only imagine how you felt....

[@voh3445]

Reb, I'm a lot older than you but was sort-of a fan of Sherlock back in the day, and always watched your YT videos out of curiosity really, to see what the bright young things were hoping to get out of the show, using their analytical tools to dig deep, and share joy. When season 4 ended, I thought, 'Oh shit, I hope that girl on youtube is okay!' but you had disappeared into the ether. I'm so happy to see you back. I know you're going to go out into this world and create stories that are going to make you happy, and other people happy, but I'm still sorry that the Sherlock experience was such a bad one for you. Good to see you back, lovely.

[@shinozakiggwp9971]

Well..maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way, indeed. But jokes aside, I recently rewatched Sherlock and found out about the TJLC (thank god I wasn't a holmie 5+ years ago, it would destroy me back then). Your analysis is truly inspiring, well-thought and beautiful.Thank you so much for the hard work, and a better story that you presented. No matter what will happen next, will there be a season 5 with Jonlock being the endgame, I'm glad that I've found your channel, and at least here, all of my wishes were fulfilled. Hope seeing more from your channel ❤️

[@llunathelynx]

found these series a bit late but enjoyed every second of it. watched the whole thing in a couple days and walked out a changed person, thanks a lot.

[@vaaarna]

rebekaaaaaah you beautiful human i am soooo glad you healed and made this. i think i repressed the damage s4 did so far and together with a lot of other life garbage i repress so it kind of faded but i think this helped. thank you so much, i don't think those words explain what i mean well enough. just i am so glad youre better and the world didn't loose a wonderful soul like you.

[@ngothingocminh61]

I’ve just finished the video (and the whole respective), and it is indeed a better story. Personally, I’m not one of those who have been here since day 1, so I don’t know what it felt when S4 came and everything was a disappointment. But I still hope for a TJLC ending in S5, so it is worth knowing that no matter how the story will end (whether it will or not) I will still be able to tell myself that the story I’ve been telling myself is the best and the most meaningful one, and no one can rob that away from me. Viewing BBC Sherlock as a love story all along certainly is the way to do that. Thank you for a wonderful journey!

[@lemcy1256]

I think this is the forth time I rewatched the 7 "A Better Story" videos... And I read FADOW three times. My Johnlock heart and TJLC soul just needs this every few months 🤷‍♀

[@lydiahunterdurham7588]

Wow, I can’t believe the amount of effort and enthusiasm you have put into this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, and it has made my ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude to series four a lot less painful. I feel hopeful for the series again, and your analysis has beautifully shone light on things that bring purpose to everything the writers have created since the start. Please don’t stop making videos such as these, you are such a joy to listen to! Also, From A Drop of Water is perfection - thank you for all your amazing work for the TJLC community ❤️

[@setsunameiou257]

Thank you for everything. The Dreams and the reality, all this years of work, all the love that you have given to us. You. Have not failed, the writers did! I Will Always love this Channel more than ant other. ( I am sorry for my poor english). I Just Hope this Is not the end...when you want, we Will be here 😍

[@bluecladchipmunk]

You put so much work and effort into this retrospective, and it shows how much of a labor of love this was. It comes through tremendously how much you care about this story and these characters. But also how much you care about the people in the fandom, the people that believed in tjlc, whether they're new to it or were there in the beginning. Whether they were lurkers or very active. You showed with this retrospective how much you care, from the minute details of different things in your background in every video to the time and effort you took into explaining this series to try and get a better story. And I think wholeheartedly that you succeeded. Looking back, I'm still not convinced that tjlc was the correct reading of BBC Sherlock, but it most certainly is the one that makes the most sense. You've convinced me not to be afraid anymore and to dive headfirst back into a story that I had, along with so many others, have loved. Thank you so much for putting in all of this effort on a video that you never had to make. Years had passed, and for the most part, everyone had moved on, but you bravely stood up and said that you were going to make something of it. And it was fantastic.

[@freowyn6415]

Rebs, this was an absolutely beautiful retrospective, from beginning to end, all seven parts. It was clever and fun and creative and interesting and. even a little therapeutic. I'm so glad you're okay. I hope we can all be okay now - and, in this and everything else - always keep trying to find the better story

[@ngothingocminh61]

Yes my beloved series 4 and blog theory!! And everyone should read Amy’s metas they are really intelligent, I was convinced after I read those 🥺💗 I love the way you laid out the thesis-antithesis-synthesis of all series. Edit: Your concern about s4 not being an effective way to prove the point is also my concern, like, casuals wont stop and think about it that much lol

[@ngothingocminh61]

Yess the Blog Theory you like is exactly what I’m so into!! I just don’t like TFP being John’s dream, I want it to be a clue to see how can the story move on after that

[@susyycarlyle]

Thank you so much for this, Rebs!! I wanted to revisit the TJLC Explained series a few months back, only to realize that all of those videos had sadly been removed (so happy they’re up again now though😁). I myself am not queer, but I owe it to you for having a much more open and broad perception of relationships and subtext in TV and film. It has changed how I view so many things and I am extremely grateful for that. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have found peace with the “ending” of BBC Sherlock 5 years later and decided to make an amazing new series as a retrospective! You are a truly talented writer and you have my utmost respect!! 💞💕💗💓 Lots of love

[@Junoisverysleepy]

I can not explain how wonderful this little series was. I followed Sherlock from when I was literally in elementary school until now when I'm in college. This felt more satisfying than what we got 5 years ago, and I feel like I can finally move on now. thank you so much

[@ubi_goes_uwu7126]

thank you for taking better care of my heart than Mark and Steven ever did. i don't regret giving it to you all those years ago, and i didn't regret it now. you are right. even if we're wrong, it's better to believe in something beautiful than to never believe in anything again. thank you.

[@emelyhelfrich6533]

Fantastic. God I love this analysis, thank you for putting it together. I found the TJLC way late, but this is frankly amazing, and though it absolutely sucks that they went so far with the "Moriarty isn't real you made him up" meta part, I think there's something so satisfying in that this Sherlock story wasn't just a mystery, it was a case. They have us a case. They made us play Sherlock. I don't think they intended for it to go as far as to hurt anyone, but knowing that now, I can see and respect and adore what they were trying to do with this show, what they still might be trying to do. God, I still have so many questions!! But I'm so damn excited to rewatch this for myself and dive back into my own truly unhinged Sherlockian deductions about this whole thing ❤

[@rozensabaku]

I'm glad you are in a better place now, I know very well how is been in that dark path. I binge this "better story" and like so many years before I enjoy every second because you have an amazing way to explain things, like you said in this video, even if they don't give us the good path is fine. I'm sure I will watch the previous videos like I did before and enjoy it again. Thank you so much for all this work Rebs, I really mean it, thank you very much, because this is one of my most dearest ships and for some time I cannot even read fanfics because I felt like a fool, but now I can go back and read more adventure, more love storys about them.

[@emmakane6848]

This was an impeccably constructed argument. I loved every second of it. Your descriptions of how you felt you had healed from the experience were remarkably similar to my own. As someone who was always skeptical of M Theory (because of my middling ability to analyze media and my lack of faith in the deliberateness of certain actions) I was not expecting to fall for BBC Sherlock as a five act structure. The narrative paralleling alone - absolutely amazing take that almost makes me want to go back and rewatch something I viewed, for years, as a waste of my time. I never fully got behind the idea of Mary working for Moriarty and watching/marrying John on his orders. I could believe her as a villain or even having previously worked for him, but bringing Sherlock back by being behind his return wouldn’t fit with her potential goals. The idea of John and Mycroft/Lestrade doing it out of love for him is breathtaking in its simplicity and the way it fits so well. Then that prompting Moriarty to step forward because he couldn’t handle being shown up or made so fangless (this is your fault, you deserve all the puns) is much more in keeping with his style. I’ve read EMP, Blog, and Alibi Theory meta before, but it was always an exercise in watching the intellectual antics that people would to to make it all make sense. (Beautifully, making me wish for more stories that cared about the most minuet details.) Sherlock not as some infallible God, but also not an idiot, John being the driving force for action, Mycroft taking the initiative while trying to get out of the web that he’s spun himself into. It just makes me so pleasantly surprised that I can actually get behind it. Your ideas fit so well, although I’d say TFP was borne out of John scrambling to come up with how Moriarty came back before they actually face off, rather than another draft of the same story. (Seriously cannot believe how well that works to combine the best bits of TST and TLD and make them workable.) Oooo, or that was Sherlock’s first attempt at writing a blog entry and pretending to be John - which I think is a common conception of why one of Sherlock’s descriptions of a case sounds nothing like him in some ACD story. (I can literally hear in my head John saying “Harder than it looks, isn’t it?” How dare you get me into theorizing!) But I digress. Because of this video and The Big Bopper (also cannot believe I’m including those words) I have stopped viewing as wasting their time still holding out hope. Theorizing, analyzing, caring, were things I would see and immediately wish that the world was the kinder place that they hoped it to be - if you can’t tell I came at it with a lot of condescension and superiority you’re about as intentionally oblivious as I was. Essentially I feel like watching the videos created on this channel after Rebeka came back to it as fixing things that I didn’t even know were broken, and this video as putting back a sense of empathy into my understanding of others. All while, helping me forgive the part of myself that will forever and always want to throw my hat into the ring with the dreamers.

[@butterflymilk6240]

Oh, I absolutely LOVE the theory about Sherlock writing the final problem, simply because it's beyond cute, not because it has to be true. It's canon (from the blog websites) that he and John watched the Bond movies together and we also know that Sherlock does want cases to be clever, not that romantic like John always writes them. He is sort of a drama queen and this is ABSOLUTELY what he would do lmao.

[@sophykratidesvengeance7099]

Since T6T is basically LION then this reading of the series its the same as mine

[@krystleboss8573]

Thank you, Rebs. Your better story is stunning & one day someone will tell this story the way we hoped. (I’m just gutted that it won’t be Ben & Martin)

[@makiyangatito]

yes, YES, FINALLY! i've been waiting for this video since jan 16, 2017. i am the only TJLCer that i know that never left the boat-- yes, i was dissappointed in s4, but as the credits rolled i immediately was like-- wait... surely that CAN'T be it! and yes, granted, i have a long history of being gaslit, lied to, manipulated, made fun of and queerbait, so one more (show) didn't add much to the pile and maybe that's why even tho i hurt, i didn't feel like leaving the fandom, so i stayed here guarding the fort for y'all lmao. i felt for you and all the fans that did hurt and got it bad, tho, and i understand the pain of loss and disappointment. i was very sorry for you, specially you, Rebs, and was hoping to see you come back and go back to making content, even if it wasn't sherlock related. your pre-s4 TJLC videos helped me during a very, VERY dark time of my life, and they were, i kid you not, the ONLY joy i had in my life for many months. i don't mean to be harsh, please don't take this the wrong way, but s4 didn't make me as sad as seeing you had stopped making content. i'm so, SO happy that you did come back, and i'm even more proud of you for overcoming your pain and working on yourself. they say that when an artist stops creating, they are actually comitting s()1c1de, and i can vouch for this, coz i've stopped creating in the past (for different reasons) and came back after many years, so i'm even more happy for you for being brave enough and daring to do so. personally i never felt like you had disappointed us, btw. i enjoyed every video, kept rewatching them all these past years, and i was beyond ECSTATIC when i saw you posting on youtube again. congratulations, honestly. i KNEW you had it in you, and even tho i believe in sherlock holmes (not so much in moftiss tho, and i don't really need to), i always believed in you, Rebs. thank you for an amazing experience, both these series and FADOW are masterpieces. never stop creating, please. the world needs more jewels like you.

[@kgoofy3297]

This was so sweet and sincere and better than anyone could have expected of you given the circumstances. It was such a pleasant surprise. I never thought I’d be seriously considering engaging with series four critically, but I can see how that might be a fun option now. You did an awesome job.

[@arden8489]

Thank you for everything, Rebs. I have so much respect for your dedicated and grace. Thank u!

[@KetieSaner]

Oh no, I am crying. Thank you for making this retrospective. Thank you for coming back to the show. Thank you for coming back to this. Thank you for making me come back to the story. 🤍

[@lykkestyrbaek]

I have waited for your analysis on season 4 for years now, and it is brillant and so are you. The ending was such a huge disapointment to me at the time, but now I see some point made. Thank you so much for being so generous and sharing your thoughts.

[@emilyholloway5445]

i’ve just finished the 7 episode instalment now. I want to start by thanking you so much for helping me discover a passion for literacy analysis and reading further into things than given at face value. You have taught me how to read subtext properly by using context and consequently how to read underlying messages in things. Not only does this apply to Sherlock but also at school. I moved from a grade low C in English to an A over the course of a few months and I think a lot of that was because I was using your style of methodically adding context and meaning to explain a writers agenda and therefore establishing a reasonable explanation for the choice of language in literature. Secondly, I must tell you how much I loved “from a drop of water”. After reading it twice through, I can safely say, I think it is quite possibly the best fanfiction I have ever read. The techniques and effort that must have gone into creating and building up this perfect tied up ending astounds me and I hope one day, I will be able to use your methods to create my own Sherlock adaptation that correctly portrays the relationship of John and Sherlock as they should be. Thirdly, you made me cry with the ending, that was mean. IT FEELS SO FINAL. fourthly, I am definitely a huge fan of Sherlock and it will probably forever play a massive part in my life. It has shaped who I am and it’s given me a new hope when I needed it most. We might not have been given the season 4 we imagined and I am nervous for what a possible season 5 could entail but I always know that Sherlock has saved me. Since watching the show and every video you have made, I soon enough explored more Sherlock adaptations. Of course, I started with the original canon, which i’m only up to “the three students” in the “return of Sherlock Holmes”. I have watched TPLOSH, basil rathnone, jeremy brett (a personal favourite) and much recently “The irregulars” which is the first adaptation in which John is explicitly in love with Sherlock… however the show manly focuses on the irregulars unfortunately. Thankyou for reading all that, sorry it’s a lot but i could go on much further for days on end on how much you and your videos and your contribution has helped me and thousands of other people to understand Sherlock and understand literature. thankyou so much :) ps get ready to believe

[@angelicalucchetto8624]

Rebekah, I want to thank you so much for making this series. You poured so much thought and care you put into it, and it's made all the difference to me and evidently everybody else in this comments section. Like many other people, I took the defensive route after series 4 came out. If series 4 was that terrible, I guess the entire show had been terrible all along, and there was nothing I could do about it. I basically ignored the fact that there was obviously something I had loved about it in the first place, because it was easier to just dismiss the whole thing as trash at the time. But even that dismissal was painful. I had loved this show for so many years--alongside so many other imaginative and creative and funny people. I wanted that community and enjoyment back. Over the past 5 years, I've seem people on tumblr still enjoying the show, and that's induced a kind of bitter jealousy in me. Why were they able to still find enjoyment in this thing I loved so much, but I wasn't? But series 4 hurt me and many others so much, and I couldn't excuse that, so I've stayed away this whole time. But watching A Better Story has given me back so much hope. You've demonstrated that series 4 doesn't take away all the good of the first 10 episodes. There is still so much there to love. (Even if it's bittersweet now.) And excellent job analyzing series 4! Your analysis is hopeful, above anything, and that's wonderful. I don't know if I can genuinely anticipate a triumphant series 5, but at least I've been able to make peace with the show as it stands. This experience has been so healing for me. I might even be ready to re-watch a few episodes soon. More than anything, it's made me want to re-read the original cannon lol. And I'm also very excited to read "A Drop of Water." Thank you very much for everything.

[@katisawriter]

Honestly, the care you took in these videos and your fic was enough to help mend my wounds. I still will probably have some pain around BBC Sherlock but I do feel better that this wasn't all in my head. Thank you so much ❣️ I'm going to read your fic again now that I've watched all the videos. ☺️

[@adelereede6377]

This entire series was just *chefs kiss* I love listening to intelligent people talking about things they're passionate about. It is also a weird synchronicity since I saw this recommend on tumblr shortly after idly thinking about how Moffat and Gaitiss could possibly end up writing a book or series of books instead of filming a season 5 I followed a similar but different path from you in my watching of Sherlock but I had ended up doing a rewatch that was kinda cathartic a few years ago with a friend that let me come to terms with the fact that it wasn't all bad. I had come into that sideways by doing a Doctor Who rewatch and when I hit the Moffat era it was just making me think about Sherlock so much I had to scratch the itch so to speak. You are completely right in the fact that he clearly likes the write the same stories over and over again. And the same themes. At this point I'm tempted to do a hatchet watch with doctor who/Sherlock with Dracula tacked on the end. No wonder that man was burnt out writing Doctor Who, theres only so much ground one can tread and retread! I'm pretty sad that the text manifestos I was sending during the rewatch are lost to the ages. As a sister fandom so to speak a lot of doctor who meta writers also try to figure out what Moffat's deal is and I think some of the blowback from Sherlock being so badly regarded has just made people think that he cant write and to completely write him off. But I just find so much of what he is trying to say pretty compelling. On a final note they say that writing fiction is like holding a mirror to yourself (laughs) and jeez what does that say about Moffatiss. But I also think that what someone sees in writing says a good deal about them too and if that's so at least we see good and interesting things. I wish you well in your future endeavors, you clearly have a bright future ahead of you.

[@vaaarna]

i am also very interested if you might create things in the future and what that would look like. i was so surprised to hear that from a drop of water was your first work of writing. its marvelous. i remember my first *shudder*.

[@ThePonderer]

As someone who never bought into TJLC until this video series, this very much gave me the framework I needed to gain closure over this show. So thank you, for that.

[@rosemaryherrick9273]

I cannot remember where I read the comment about asexuality. Unfortunately I just had a response. I, personally, would be thrilled to see this resolved with Sherlock being Ace and loving John! For me that would be an absolutely wonderful love story ending😊🌈

[@ladyarrogance]

i'm so happy you have found a way to live with you see as your mistake, and get over it, and be happy with your life. don't be too harsh on your past self, the love story that you, that we all did see, was unfolding there. i still believe that series 5 will be coming in some future. your analysis and meta commentary is way, way more refined than my hunch of "series 4 was mark and steven's version of killing holmes off, an abrupt unfitting end, that's beginning of a long hiatus". but everything you have said here rings true. the mirroring of episodes was really neat detail! but yeah, when series 5 happens, i'll be waiting of your tjlc ep 50. thank you so much for sharing your own pain and grief to create something hopeful and beautiful.

[@SpectralChicken]

Thank you for this analysis and catharsis. I appreciate your writing and care for us. ❤

[@coppertopbaritone]

Like so many, I found series 4 to be a massive disappointment. I was fully entrenched in TJLC, and eagerly awaited each of your new videos. Your insight and analysis have always been brilliant - seeing the deeper meaning. I was so excited to stumble upon your new videos! Even if it’s not what the author intended, who cares? Stories mean different things to different people. If it spoke to us in a certain way, then it’s completely valid. Before watching part 7, I just wanted to check and be sure I’m not missing anything. Is there a part 6? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.

[@carpefuego]

❤ so happy you did this. So much work and care!

[@atomiccavalier5354]

Thanks Rebs! Episode 7 of your retrospective FINALLY made understand what “We told you, but did you listen?” meant! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Even as I watched series 4 the second time I just didn’t get that the rug being pulled was under ME and they HAD warned me, but _I_ didn’t listen. Your take on Series 4 gives me hope again - cautious, careful hope. 😸 Even if TJLC doesn’t happen, understanding the show, especially S4, through your analysis makes me so much happier than when I thought I’d just imagined it all, or the whole series really was queer baiting. 💜💜💜s to you!

[@wiseongs6183]

thank you so much for putting some much work into this project, i already miss having new videos from you. having said that, i would love to watch your analysis of any other piece of media you'd be interested in, you're really good at it. have you ever considered creating another channel perhaps? but of course you deserve some rest now. thank you so much for making me fall in love with (the first ten episodes of) this show again and showing that even series 4 might be fun to analyze, it was a really brave thing to do and i had no idea tjlc is still alive. although in my mind 'from a drop of water' will be canon forever, it's the best and the only logical conclusion of 'a better story', after all. you were the only pilot i could trust with this healing journey and i loved every minute of this flight

[@TJLCExplained]

Thank you so much! I do hope to make a new channel for media analysis, though after a bit of time off like you said. I will let you all know here if and when I do 💛

[@laritaenlinea]

The thing I enjoy most out of this retrospective, is being able to watch you sharing ideas with us. I really enjoyed being part of TJLC, and watching your videos then is what made me feel IN IT. When it all went south, the sadness was in part losing the feeling of conection. THE JOY I felt when you came up again in my recommended videos. And the joy does continue. I really appreciate what you've done here. Delicate but thorough, and clever. Because no matter what happens, or what anyone says, I really enjoy things beeing clever. And I'm slowly bringing back that part of me. So thank you rebs, honestly. Here's to us making better stories!! or the best out of the ones we like!!

[@butterflymilk6240]

I have just finished this video and I have to thank you so much for doing this. Your absolutely gentle approach was such a good decision and I felt really safe watching this. This is no dangerous conspirancy you have guided us into until that event five years ago, it is a beautiful reading of a maybe clever, maybe not-that-clever TV show we all love. And it indeed does make it a better story. I have always been more in peace with season 4 than many others, mostly because it came out only a few months after I started watching BBC Sherlock. Reasonably, wasn't such a big part of the TJLC community and did not have that much time to theorize about everything. Most importantly, I haven't been waiting for it to show that better story for nearly seven years. And I want to tell you that even though I was able to watch season 4 already in my first run, and even though I only discovered the TJLC community after I did that, after finishing the show I had no doubt that there could be a beautiful love story under the surface. In my opinion, most things only make perfect sense if you dive into that reading. You simply made sure I wouldn't drown. You landed the plane safely. And you already managed to do that with A Drop Of Water. You always say "someday, someone will tell their true story" but I want to let you know that you already did, and so did so many other fiction writers. So did we all. Simply by reading a love story into this, we all kind of already tell their real story every day. This all makes so much sense. I am really into blog theory now, but I am also finally fully happy with what we got to see on screen. I would be insanely hyped for season 5, simply because I love the characters and I want to experience the feeling of watching new canon Sherlock content together with others, but I have finally come to terms with that whatever happens, it's fine. It doesn't have to be canon Johnlock. It can be, but it doesn't have to. No matter how it goes on, if it goes on at all, it's fine. I am so glad you are back on the Game, back on the surface, back in the sunlight, and I hope to see more from you, no matter what. Simply because I like you as a person. You did this so well. Thank you.♡ (a little edit: My only concern is that I can't watch season 4 now without thinking about Blog Theory all the time, but to be honest, that's not such a big deal lmao)

[@ngothingocminh61]

I think series 4 shouldn’t be read without a theory in mind lol there’s no way it can be real at the surface level. Like series 2 also has that Bond and horror vibes but it wasn’t nearly as bad as this. On the contrary, for a person who is in love with Bond and horror stories like John , it is reasonable for him to write his story that way 😮‍💨

[@butterflymilk6240]

@@ngothingocminh61 Series 4 definitely is wild lol, and I agree that you should not watch it and take everything for granted! The fun starts only when you are asking yourself "what the hell just happened? What did I just watch? What did that mean?" I simply meant that I had a lot of theories, but now blog theory fits the most! I can absolutely imagine John doing this

[@ngothingocminh61]

@@butterflymilk6240 yeah and i think thats what acd watson did too in the casebook stories. he also erased himself from the narrative to tell his story and also because he is insecure about his role in holmes’ work. and casebook stories were also the ones that made people think doyle must have hired someone else to write them bc the stories were really bad according to many readers. it really looks like moffiss have casebooked their show in that way 👀

[@butterflymilk6240]

@@ngothingocminh61 I need to take a minute to tell you how much I LOVE having such light-hearted, fun discussions about theories! Secondly, this is absolutely brilliant. John writing himself out because he doesn't think he is needed is not only a very in character thing to do for our BBC Watson, but also a perfect thesis-antitheses-synthesis problem again! In season 3, Sherlock doesn't think John needs him anymore. He doesn't think he is important to him. That's the thesis. With our theory, the antithesis happens in season 4. John thinking Sherlock doesn't need him anymore. What's our conclusion for the synthesis then?👀 To add that, it may be an unpopular opinion, but the show has always been kind-of-written by John. The events literally start happening after we have discussed his blog in the very first scene. He is writing it all down on his blog (until the end of season 3, suspicious👀), but the show shows us both. The blog and the real happenings

[@ngothingocminh61]

@@butterflymilk6240 the 5-act structure is actually 3-act but split into 5 by having 3 parts of antithesis between the thesis (act 1) and synthesis (act 5). so s4 is somewhat the culmination of everything that is wrong in the antithesis, and the end of act 4 is the ‘worst point’, which fits perfectly. if they announce series 5, we can kinda expect what would happen 👀 i don’t think the show is written by him, but maybe it is from john’s pov in the first 2 series 👀

[@teaganlee4219]

It’s taken me a few days, but I’m so glad I finished this series! And goodness Rebekah, what an absolute mountain of love, time, and effort you put into this. It really is a masterpiece all on its own, no matter the fact that it’s made me feel seen, heard, and valid after S4…you should be so proud of yourself! You’re an asset to this community, and I can’t thank you enough!

[@sherl-xb4bq]

❤,you are really so brave and kind to change my mind to think about this show in an extend. thanks.

[@nonononono2]

This is so much to unpack! You’re brilliant

[@neodlehoko404]

I keep trying to think of something to say but I keep failing?? For now I guess I'll just express how grateful I am for the TJLC community. Those who left, those who stayed, and everyone in between (my best friend and I have had recurring arguments way too heated because we found ourselves at either end of this divide - Sherlock discussions are currently banned between us lol). The Meta writers and the silent readers and candle burners. But most of all Rebekah who put her entire ass on the LINE for this story and the fans who love it: Thank you! You took a profound risk because you believed in the heart of this show. May your reward be 4 times more (why stop at 3 amaright) than what you deserve. We may be on the losing side of this game, but from now on we create our own games and the knowledge that we can, and HOW we can, is perhaps the biggest win. If these writers are the end brackets of a generation of storytellers, they are an appropriate end. We can be the new beginning of stories that are unconstrained by shame and the imperialist pressures of legacy. Just good old trash and love. Neo x

[@oneofthe_extras]

I don't know if anyone already pointed it out (or if it even makes sense) but I just noticed something. Sherlock says that Mary might have a British accent right now but she probably isn't English. She never denies this (she does let Sherlock do a lot of the talking at this stage, talking that isn't true so this might be false as well but lets just pretend it is correct). AJ then calling Mary the English woman makes little sense in and of itself. But again, looking at AJ as a John mirror (or as John "being" AJ) it makes way more sense why he calls her that. John only ever knew Mary as English. It's late and this thought just passed me so it's not thought threw but thanks for reading and have a lovely day!

[@kingkim5020]

🤗🤗🤗 literally amazing. You are such a gift to this community 💗 💕

[@ikalia.]

Thank you so much, Rebs, for taking us on this incredible journey! I laughed and cried throughout this entire series of videos and definitely came out of it feeling reassured and calmer. Your work here and "From a drop of water" gave me peace and broadened my perspective. Most shockingly to me, I faced series 4 with you and... survived. It's not a monster I have conditioned myself to think it was during the last 5 years. It was equally amazing to laugh with you at the absurdity of it and to contemplate its possible layers. I think I'm okay with it all : )))

[@miracle_prelude4392]

This 7 videos were wonderful... I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed watching your videos. There is so much to think about. Thank you for sharing... And caring ❤️

[@leahbeexx]

Many, many thanks to you and all who helped with this series for all your hard work! I had so much fun watching these 7 videos and I think it really helped me settle a part of myself that had never quite healed from the wound of S4. I think a big part of the lack of closure these past 5 years for me was my brain looking for the answers of the "why" - why was S4 the way it was, why did the writers do things that way when it seemed to be so opposite of what they'd done before. And even if the readings you present here are ultimately not what the writers intended, it still helps me to have a possibility that makes sense to me, a way to look at S4 that's a version of it that I enjoy and can keep as my own personal canon even if that's all that it ends up being. I've been at peace with the show not being what I had hoped it to be for a while now, but after your series I feel like I am finally as at peace with S4 as I'm ever going to be. So thank you for that, and extra thanks for the care you took in making this series while handling your audience with respect and love. It's very appreciated 💜

[@Vik.ta92]

Just finish watching, and I'm so happy I did it. Thank you for your effort now and five years ago. Such as back then, your words now are so meaningful and important to move people towards a more hopeful world. I hope to see you here, or in a new channel, engaging in deep analysis again soon.

[@emmagirl20]

i don’t know if you’ll ever see this but…..watching this series of videos has been so healing for the experience i had with sherlock. i was obsessed with johnlock from 2013-2017. i watched season 4 as it aired, and even though i was someone who wasn’t certain it was endgame i was still left discouraged by the end of the season. i never interacted with the fandom and just sat back in the shadows…so it says a lot that i’ve even decided to comment on this video. i still felt the shame of viewing the subtext but like the creators were flaunting something in my face and snatching it away. earlier this year me and some pals decided to watch the first episode for the first time in a long time and it reignited the love i had for the show and all the subtext. i found this series and it helped me grapple with a lot of feelings i had for the show. so even if the subtext wasn’t intentional (which it still feels like…at least some of it was?) this helped me come to terms with all the shame of viewing it the way i did. i want to thank you for all you’ve done for the queer community who saw such a beautiful love story. to see how you’ve come to terms with it and how you view it despite what the creators intended…i don’t know. i think it’s such a beautiful love story in this show regardless. these two love each other so much. i no longer have to feel weird or odd about how this shaped my queer/gender identity. this show will always mean so much to me and you’ve helped me feel less weird about it. so thank you. ❤

[@cassieroo17]

What a fantastic retrospective!!! I love all of your takeaways from this. These videos definitely have confirmed for me that there were things to like about this show, and that it's not embarrassing for me to have liked it, or TJLC. I'll admit I was hesitant to see how the theory continued. I was worried it would be similar in flavor to the "secret good fifth episode" theory from back then. And even though the explanations for series 4 being the way that it is are kind of far fetched, and I'm still not very convinced, your reading of Dracula felt Spot On to me! And it helps me consider the more far-fetched theories and actually have fun with them. The episode on Dractula was seriously insane. All those references were so on the nose it's hard to see how they couldn't be blatant! But yeah, in any case, we're not crazy, and the writers, while being a bit deranged (putting it lightly lmao), are not evil either. Nuance is so important, and I'm so glad you brought it to TJLC and the aftermath of series 4. I also am just a huge fan of your content and analysis and I'm so glad you're back!! If you ever make another channel for other kinds of video-essay-type content I'll definitely be keeping up with that!! It was a very good sign to me when you mentioned verilybitchie's video on bi Dracula, I'm a huge fan of her content too!! But yeah, in any case, excellent work!!! I really hope this isn't the last we see of you, take care!! :))

[@strongsarah]

deranged, but not evil, i like that thought! :)

[@maybedjd3123]

Coming back just to say; being in tjlc really wasn't a waste of time. I started animation school a while ago and didn't even realize how much I know about media analysis and screen writing. Your videos definitely helped Me a lot!

[@KaleaJordan]

BLOG THEORY BLOG THEORY I'M READING THE CHAPTERS OF THE VIDEO AND I'M SO EXCITED YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BLOG THEORY YASSSS

[@sophykratidesvengeance7099]

hard same

[@aiva1895]

Rebekah, thank you so much from the deep of my soul for this analysis, telling us a better story and for the whole series. It's such a relief that I didn't know I needed since s4 aired. I commented on the pt.4 how I buried all feelings and pain about it, but the way you are explaining the theory - even if we don't get the result eventually - is just like a deep breath of fresh air when looking at this story and how it could be shown, and how maybe will be someday. We can't ignore the fact of obvious queerbaiting and harmful expressions towards the fans from the creators, but as I personally, too, invested lots of emotions and time in Sherlock back then, thanks to you and this interpretation it now feels like it all makes sense and wasn't here for nothing. Thank you so much. I should mention additionally, the part with texting and "Exx" phone number got my mind blown, my goood, if it really was their plan it's incredible.. but if not.. that's another great side and reason of telling a better story to ourselves to find closure, which I thank you again for.

[@solysnivy]

Wow, only 5 months ago... Um...Well, hi! It's been a pleasure to meet you, Rebekah. Although I'm yet to watch even a single video of yours, I'm already prepared to set sail on a journey of days, weeks, HECK maybe even months! I don't care how long it takes, but I.AM.GOING.TO.WATCH.EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.OF.YOUR.VIDEOS. Promise I'm currently in the mid of season 3. I just finished The Sign of Three (which I consider my favorite episode so far, more for the emotions & reactions it evoked on me than the writing itself tbh) half an hour ago, and I'm more determined than ever to finish the series quickly. My sister has been the only thing holding me back, since it was thanks to her that I met the show and I really wish we could finish it together, but she finally got tired of me insisting on how much I crave for Sherlock and told me to continue it myself (though after the perorate I gave her about how incredible this episode is, I believe she reconsidered it...) Aaaanyway, I'm also thinking of buying the whole book collection, since I have some spare money and reading The Sign of the Four & A Scandal in Bohemia left me wanting more of this clever detective. As soon as I finish the series, I'll come back with my thoughts (probably bad ones, since ppl don't seem to be especially fond of the last seasons) and start watching your content. Wish me luck!

[@sissi9898]

is there a part 6 of the series? I can't find it on the channel :(

[@Mel-zl2pz]

Ok But on minute 42:02 or so, where you show the clip of Martin saying "Well they're on adventures again, as friends wich is, you know... lovely" Doesn't it kinda look like he's being sacarstic? lol he seems so tired to me 🤣

[@butterflymilk6240]

lol I feel you, he is like "friends. A lovely thing. Of course. If they were friends"

[@strongsarah]

oh yes, "it's lovely" (barf)

[@strongsarah]

wow, thanks so much for this, you're a real gem.

[@mushroomshrub]

So I watched all of this retrospective, and I'm not entirely sure why. I fell out of love with Sherlock as a show post s3, and even when I was enjoying it it was never my favourite Holmes adaptation (hello Granada). I only ever witnessed tjlc from a distance, and only knew you were doing this series because Sarah Z answered a tumblr ask about it. I'm glad I did watch it though, even if I might have been in part using it as a procrastination aid, oops. While the story of the tjlc phenomenon pretty clearly demonstrates the folly of attempting to use fanworks/theories as ironclad predictive tools, I think you've managed to demonstrate here that the theories can still be fun for their own sake, when it's no longer about proving a point. It's still a bit too tin hat-y for me personally, but I also can't deny that yes, the tjlc reading is the better story and there's value to be found in that. It's especially interesting to consider when ofmd has opened the conversation about queerbaiting in genre fiction and "being made to feel stupid by stories" back up again in a big way. idk if I had a point with this ramble, but in any case, I'm glad you and others in this comment section have been able to process your feelings about the show and move on in a productive way.

[@irgendeinname5871]

I had the biggest flashback experience when you played your old intro

[@ukallii]

Wait so....Sherlock bringing himself back to life....is John wishing for another miracle? Oh, my heart hurts because that has such tragic implications

[@rosemaryherrick9273]

Hi, just saw your post re Part 6, and I am grateful that I watched it before this decision happened. You did an awesome job, I regret that I will be unable to see it again☹️. And, I can always reread A Drop of Water🤗. Take good care of your self. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH🌈

[@Jdoesntwrite]

Love this series, thank you for all your work x

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

Have you seen the HBO show "Our Flag Means Death"? Its another pirate story :) I think you will like it, so many people are finding out about it now.

[@riablatterspiel7236]

That was... very interesting! Back then, I never watched BBC Sherlock and wasn't familiar with the fandom either. I only vaguely heard that Sherlock and Supernatural were ultimately labeled as prime examples of queerbaiting. It's only now that I'm catching up on Sherlock, and consequently, the discussions associated with it. Discovering your channel has been like an amazing and captivating history lesson for me! I'm quite certain that in the near future, I'll be revisiting some of your earlier videos with a nice cup of tea. ^^ The fandom seems to have been a beautiful safe space for you!

[@eduardosolistinoco9698]

This was a ride, thanks for taking us in the amazing journey

[@TJLCExplained]

All excellent critiques! I agree with most of what you’ve said here, including that the more generous reading presented here of the show is really pushing the limits and that even if it is right, it’s still wouldn’t be a great situation. I don’t blame anyone for being annoyed with the show for any reason, there are PLENTY of valid reasons to not like it, I personally just wanted to take back the bits I loved and let go of my anger, and for me this had to be part of my healing process. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and just for to watch the series as someone on the outside! I’m amazing at the patience and empathy that would have taken

[@Anonymous-zw9ud]

49:51 51:03 55:20-55:31 3:09:45-3:10:13 Personal-53:19-54:19

[@KetieSaner]

Welcome to The Valley of Fear hell.

[@sophykratidesvengeance7099]

this and BOW hell with HLV has been my nightmare for literal years URG

[@ukallii]

Another note about Mary as a mirror for either Sherlock or John: Sherlock "prefers" her over working with John in the dog scene. She's playing both sides in that scene, standing in for either of them with the other

[@zoetevka4653]

The new Intro!!! 🙏🏻♥️🏳️‍🌈😂

[@AlienZizi]

I was always a fan of John's mind bungalow theory, which is like a mix of the blog theory and EMP. However, it only explains the inconsistencies and fuckyness of TFP, so I like blog theory better. I just really liked how neat it would have been, John imagining TFP in a fever dream after being shot by Eurus in TLD.

[@ThePonderer]

Hate to comment spam but the conclusion of this video may have changed my life? Help??

[@lemcy1256]

I am exhausted by people telling me a queer reading of Sherlock, Doctor Who, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Sailor Moon, The Matrix and so on is bonkers. Because it is not! Those shows were all queer as hell! And I love these shows helping me realise who I truely am. And I am queer. And I love it!

[@mathildeglaser8421]

thank you so much for this series and for your original account as well... I would love, if you could make an analysis of the music from s4 ( the score is amazing and one could "watch" series four and "see" the subtext when closing ones eyes just by listening... ) so really thank you again for all you did for tjlc

[@Mel-zl2pz]

Oh and there was an intro indeed!!!!!

[@vaaarna]

it makes senseeeeeee im in paaaaaaaaaaaaaaain

[@spameranne]

where is part 6, please? i was really looking forward to your analysis of Dracula (and really don't think i could handle it on my own). :)

[@nvrnvrmnd]

it's on google drive! she linked it on her pinned post on tumblr

[@rareli6394]

I cannot watch part 6 for some reason… 😢😢😢😢 please help