Sherlock's Best Man Request From John

In the BBC television series Sherlock, John Watson asks Sherlock Holmes to be his best man in the second episode of the third series, titled The Sign of Three. The episode was written by Stephen Thompson, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson. The episode's title is inspired by The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It garnered a viewership of 11.37 million and received mostly positive reviews.

John's proposal to Sherlock is framed like a romantic proposal

The scene is reminiscent of a typical proposal, with John's nervousness and the playful banter between the two. The "Big Question" is asked by John, who wonders if Sherlock will be his "best man." This phrase is typically associated with marriage proposals, adding to the romantic tone of the scene.

The proposal is also framed by the comfortable and funny dynamic between John and Sherlock. Their interaction is natural and lighthearted, with Sherlock being silly and John being nervous. This dynamic adds to the romantic atmosphere of the scene and makes the proposal feel more intimate and personal.

The proposal is also more of a proposal than the other two "proposals" we see in the series. The other proposals are implied and not directly stated, making John's direct question to Sherlock stand out as a more traditional and romantic proposal.

Overall, the framing of the scene, the dynamic between John and Sherlock, and the direct nature of the proposal all contribute to the romantic tone of John's request for Sherlock to be his best man.

John and Sherlock's playful banter

In the episode, John asks Sherlock to be his best man, and their playful banter is evident in the lead-up to this moment and throughout the episode. John and Sherlock's relationship is characterised by their playful teasing and comfortable dynamic. For example, when John first mentions his upcoming wedding, Sherlock immediately begins discussing who he thinks is "the best man", taking the phrase literally, until John clarifies that he is asking Sherlock to be the best man at his wedding. This exchange highlights their playful dynamic and Sherlock's unique interpretation of common phrases.

Another instance of their playful banter occurs when Sherlock enlists Molly Hooper's help in solving a case, and John is shocked by Sherlock's intense emotional reaction to Molly, not realising that Sherlock is pretending to be upset to gain her assistance. John's confusion and Sherlock's playful deception showcase their light-hearted and humorous relationship.

Their playful dynamic is also evident in the way they work together to solve cases. In "The Sign of Three", Sherlock and John, still drunk from John's stag night, attempt to investigate a case, leading to their arrest for their drunken antics. This scene highlights their playful and light-hearted approach to working together, even in the face of danger.

Additionally, their playful banter is often intertwined with more serious and emotional moments. For example, in "The Sign of Three", Sherlock's best man speech is filled with playful anecdotes and expressions of deep love and respect for John. Despite the light-hearted tone of the speech, it also contains more serious reflections on their friendship and the impact they have had on each other's lives.

Overall, John and Sherlock's playful banter is a defining aspect of their relationship and is showcased throughout the series, especially in "The Sign of Three", where their unique dynamic and friendship are on full display.

Sherlock's nervousness

Overall, Sherlock's nervousness stems from his difficulty in understanding and expressing his own emotions, as well as his fear of change. However, his actions and words during these moments reveal the depth of his love and friendship for John.

John and Sherlock's friendship

John is shown to be protective of Sherlock and his quirks. For example, when Sherlock is angrily pacing their flat, desperate for a case, John encourages him and tries to help him find something to do. John also helps strangers understand what to expect from Sherlock and how to behave in socially acceptable ways. In return, Sherlock cares deeply for John, despite not always understanding the emotional impact his actions have on him. When Sherlock returns to London after his supposed death, he is shocked by John's intense emotional reaction and the fact that John does not immediately accept him back into his life.

John's loyalty to Sherlock is demonstrated when he chooses Sherlock to be his best man at his wedding to Mary Morstan. In the episode "The Sign of Three", John is delighted to see his former Army CO, Major James Sholto, at the wedding reception. Sherlock gives a best man's speech, in which he expresses his deep love and respect for John. He also manages to save Sholto's life by deducing that he is the target of an attack.

The pair's friendship is tested when John introduces his fiancée Mary to Sherlock. Sherlock is tense and unfriendly, and John worries that he is trying to prevent the marriage. However, Sherlock eventually accepts Mary and even goes to extreme lengths to stop a man from breaking up the marriage for John's sake. In the episode "The Empty Hearse", Sherlock is shown to be sad about the prospect of John moving out of their flat and getting married. Despite this, he is happy for John and promises to find happiness together.

John and Sherlock's relationship

Despite their differences, John and Sherlock have a deep bond. Sherlock cares deeply for John, and when John asks him to be the best man at his wedding, Sherlock is shocked and unable to mentally finish John's statement about wanting to be "with the two people that [he] love[s] and care[s] about most in the world". During his best man speech, Sherlock tells John that he is sitting "between the woman [he has] made [his] wife and the man [he has] saved; in short, the two people who love [him] most in all this world", and that he never expected to be anybody's best friend.

Sherlock also shows his devotion to John by going to great lengths to stop Milverton from breaking up John's marriage. When John introduces his fiancée Mary to Sherlock, Sherlock finds himself tense and somewhat unfriendly, and Mrs. Hudson accuses him of being jealous. Later, Sherlock accepts Mary as John's fiancée and chooses to be happy for him. He even tries to imitate Mary because he wants John to be happy. When John asks Sherlock to be his best man, Sherlock is shocked and describes the request as "the Big Question". Their relationship is a unique and special one, and despite their differences, they have a deep bond and care for each other greatly.

Frequently asked questions