My second time through watching The Blind Banker, something finally struck me as odd: John’s anger. Our first glimpse of John in the episode is of him fighting with the chip and pin machine while trying to get groceries. When he gets back to the flat, he’s very out of sorts. He’s obviously feeling a certain amount of financial strain, and seems bitter toward Sherlock for not trying to help make life easier by running some errands himself.
So, that’s easy enough. Of course John is upset. But I don’t think it’s as simple as the monetary aspect of things. John has to swallow his pride and tries to ask Sherlock if he might borrow some cash. I think this is getting closer to the source of John’s discomfort: he’s getting uneasy at the idea that he and Sherlock need to function as a unit. That’s hitting a bit too close, considering that John feels an attraction toward his friend that he doesn’t know how to handle.
As evidence, I present their first crime scene, and John’s out-of-character reluctance to dive in and do what needs to be done to help Sherlock:
Sherlock is surprised, and irritated. He also knows this is out of character for John.
Hmm. Defensive.
Sherlock’s expression changes briefly to this, before he steamrolls over the moment by sticking to the facts of the scene:
And then, later. There’s no reason for this moment, unless it’s meant to highlight how uncomfortable John is with the idea of any sort of brewing intimacy between him and Sherlock. Sherlock ends up at the bank with John, and he introduces him to Sebastian--who knew him at school--as his “friend.” Sebastian is clearly surprised at this--either that, or he’s purposely trying to rankle Sherlock, which he does continually every time he’s on screen (for someone who hired Sherlock for his observational skills, he sure does put him down for it a lot, taking every opportunity possible to make Sherlock feel like a freak). John is very quick to correct Sherlock:
John almost regards Sherlock with an expression of...well, I hate to say it since I love John, but it’s almost a “take that” moment:
Just as the handshake ends, we catch *this* supremely skeptical look on Sebastian’s (someone who knew him years ago and who remembers god only knows what) face: “Friend.” Yeah;
I truly, truly hate Sebastian. And more, I hate that he succeeds enough in making Sherlock feel insecure that, at the beginning of their face-to-face meeting, Sherlock pretends he discovered Sebastian’s recent travels through his secretary--just to downplay his supposed freakishness.
This is someone I would really have enjoyed seeing John punch in the face.