I just rewatched TFP and my opinion has somehow changed, so here are a few thoughts: you know how the Conan Doyle Estate has never allowed others to interpret the Sherlock stories as containing two main characters that are gay for each other? And you know that the BBC/Sherlock pay fees to the Estate to be able to put together this show? And you understand that they would get in a lot of expensive legal trouble if they made it explicit that John and Sherlock are involved romantically without the Estate's authorization?
Well, I actually now feel that Mofftiss have made the ending of season 4 as gay as they could without having to put them literally gay kissing and gay loving each other on screen.
Here's why: when Sherlock arrives at Sherrinford to play the violin for Eurus, as soon as he starts playing, we cut back to Sherlock and John fixing 221B after the explosion. It's almost as if Sherlock is playing "the Ballad of Holmes and Watson" as a way to talk about his love life with Eurus. He's made this special connection with his new found troubled sister and he feels safe enough to talk to her about matters of the heart.
And then we have Mary telling them "I know you two. And if I'm gone I know who you could become" and them giving each other a little smile.
And then Mary going "who you really are doesn't matter" in a way saying that whether they're gay or straight or bi, it won't matter because they'll still be wise and amazing and brave and bla bla. It almost feels as if Mofftiss are talking to the audience then.
Also, when 221B is back to normal and they are solving crimes again, John walks in with a bag in his hand. Maybe it's Rosie's stuff, maybe he's arriving after work with his doctor stuff, but I think it's clear he's moved back in.
And then the final line "When all else fails, there are two men sitting and arguing in a scruffy flat." TWO MEN sitting and arguing together, as family, as lovers? and this is said right as we see that cute little scene when Sherlock has Rosie and goes "look it's daddy hiiii" and you don't call another baby's father DADDY unless he's your daddy too. ;)
So I now in a way feel that Mofftiss did the best they could with what they had, in this case no permission to show John and Sherlock as a couple. They made it as explicit as they could without getting into legal trouble. I encourage you to go and re watch the episode as you might find it makes more sense, or don't, or if you did and still are mad about it, that's okay too. I'm just adding another little grain of sand to this big fuckery. If this is in fact the last episode we'll ever get, I don't want to be left with a bitter taste in my mouth after having admired the people who make this show for the last 5 years.
1/19 PS. OH, and the song that plays through the montage is called “Who You Really Are” I mean COME ON.
