I don’t think people discuss enough (or I am just blind) the fact that Louis claims in the latest chapter that Liam is unaware of the power he has over the whole group.
Oh. But he is aware.
Liam is not innocent.
I want to return to this scene from chapter 83, which provides easy evidence to disprove Louis’ statement. Liam tells Moran that the latter would do anything for him, puts on the smile of the devil to show his intentions are serious — Liam is aware of the power he has over Moran. In the same way, he is aware of the power he has over Fred to influence his decisions.
Louis is struggling to control the group because, for now, Liam is slowly taking everyone to his side.
Chapter 92, to be honest, left me uncomfortable. Louis and the readers are made to believe that brothers are open with each other now — they are not. When Liam confesses he wants to put an end to the copycat, it is not the whole truth. He tells what is needed for Louis to let him go. The whole chapter sets up the uncomfortable peace: it seems all group works well now, the photo in the end is touching, at the same time, Liam needs permission to be free, Liam is put in a box (???), Louis understands Liam plans something but is unaware of how far Liam has already gone.
And what is more satisfying — no one is aware. I was thinking a lot about the differences between manga parts 1 and 2 — when do we see the real Liam in both? We get to know Liam’s whole plan only close to volume 14, but the glimpses of his depression and loneliness appear throughout the earlier volumes. Part 2, however, is special. We barely see Liam alone. We barely see Liam being honest. The audience of his show is not only the people of London but also readers.
Liam is aware of the power he has over everyone. And he adapts this power differently to every individual to achieve his goal (which is worth a separate analysis, if I get enough energy for that).
Sherliam bit of this analysis
I want to put this musing in a separate section because I feel it is the most ambitious and risky. Which is — Liam is aware of the power he has over Sherlock, too. And he uses it in chapter 88.
I kept this opinion to myself because there's no evidence beyond the general flow of the plot, and well… I just want it to be true. But I feel that what we see as Liam’s loneliness in the chapter — him being caged — is intentional. I think his behaviour throughout their conversation — or his silence — was a show for Sherlock to decipher, for Sherlock to take action. To try to find a way to make his life easier, as Sherlock says, but not because Liam cannot do it on his own. I think Liam needs something that only Sherlock can give him. We will see.
What is tastier to me (again, no evidence, just Ari liking Hannigram) — I feel Sherlock is aware of what Liam tries to do with him. Unlike Louis, he knows Liam is not innocent. He missed Liam's plans coming true — I cannot get over his look in chapter 88 when he finds Liam’s traces in the crimes he solves.
I need their conversation. Desperately. I need Sherlock to ask Liam what his plan is. I need another ‘rondo of our hearts’ situation where Sherlock realises he is stuck in the spider net. And my mind tells me this time he will feel more helpless than before.
Did he miss being entangled in Liam’s threads?
All I wanted to say — I like the direction of the plot, because I do not feel anyone will be happy for the next few volumes for sure. And I also think Sherly will have many problems soon. Because of how Liam has influenced him. Because of how Liam has changed him.
Okay, my Hannibal thoughts are becoming more and more visible, I better stop before I start barking.
