I love this part of TEH so very much because we see how much Sherlock cares for John (even before we are “told” by Magnussen [like we didn’t know, dipshit]) and we see actually see the raw worry in Sherlock’s face.
What I also like about this scene (and it took a couple watch-throughs to notice) is that Sherlock is the only one who comes completely into focus and takes up at least three-quarters of the frame – a beacon which John uses to regain his senses … and Mary is mostly a blur and is very small compared to Sherlock. Then when she becomes the one taking up the entire frame, she’s all a blur. As stated in many meta, Sherlock is always framed in an attractive light whenever we are to perceive the scene from John’s POV. So… Are we then to assume that subconsciously Mary’s just a blur to John? We know that he was using her as a crutch to get over Sherlock, but now that he’s back, all his focus is on Sherlock, and Mary fades away.
Remember, this is before he found out she was pregnant, and I definitely wholeheartedly believe that if the events of the stag night panned out differently, John would have chosen Sherlock (duh).
…
Also, right after this, we see who John looks at: first at Mary, in passing, and then at Sherlock and that’s where his stare stays. I find that telling, as well. She’s absolutely second in the hierarchy of importance.
Ahhh, he does indeed! And it then cuts immediately to the scene where John MEETS SHERLOCK’S PARENTS, and Sherlock is acting like a teenager all embarassed by his MOM OMG GO AWAY GET OUT OF MY ROOM HOUSE. GOOD GOD, not subtle at all, Moftiss.
I made the original post months ago, and now months later, I’m looking at this and I think that this small snippet really speaks to me that John’s marriage isn’t gonna last. MARY FADES AWAY. It’s always going to be about Sherlock. Sooner John realizes that, the happier these two idiots will be.
