clevermanka: default (Sherlock icon 1)
clevermanka ([personal profile] clevermanka) wrote2014-02-03 09:00 am
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Season 3 meta

There was/is a lot of debate in fandom about this season. I don't think either of the two previous seasons inspired so many confused and ambivalent feelings. Myself, I kind of like that. I understand and feel for the people who are put off by the feelings of betrayal and unease this season generated, though.

I especially appreciate how much meta sprung from these confused feelings, though. Oh my god, SO. MUCH. META.

This is why we love this show: The post that made me feel better about this season after I was feeling a little disappointed after episode 2.

Incredibly detailed analysis of The Empty Hearse Part one, Part two, and Part three: Not much conjecture, but a lot of good analysis of the cinematography and film-making.

Why I really really do not like that ‘Holmes Parents’ scene and a followup post by the same author here: I agree completely, even though I couldn't put my finger on why until I read these posts. It was charming to see Benedict's parents in these roles, but the scene rubbed me wrong from the first.

The Empty Hearse: Some Thoughts on the Fans and the Fannish.

The fine line between comedy and pathos: The train carriage sequence analyzed from a very literary perspective.

The loudest subtext in television: The more I read posts like this the more I wonder how people don't see the subtext.

John Watson's feelings: Completely leaves aside the potential shippiness of the Sherlock/John dynamic and focuses on how (if not why) John Watson loves Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock's Dilemma: Why loving John Watson would destroy Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes's feelings: Pretty much the opposite of what everyone else saw and thought about the ending of The Sign of Three (including me) and I love it.

Johnlock is not just for fans anymore: Some important thoughts on queerbaiting that the post in my first link doesn't address. A companion piece that references this post is here: An ode to unconventional relationships (or, queerness vs. queerbaiting — there’s another possibility).

Another Johnlock isn't just for fans anymore essay: Addresses only what we see on screen without attaching politics and culture to the issue (at least, without attaching them as much as one can).

It wasn't John and Mary's wedding we were supposed to witness: [livejournal.com profile] pennswoods nails it, succinctly and beautifully.

You Asked For It, You Got It: A shot-by-shot analysis of John and Sherlock's body language in the drunk guessing game scene, done by someone who analyzes body language for a living.

Sherlock reacts to the nurse's story: How much of her story is a reflection of his feelings about John?

Humanizing Sherlock: This is the post that converted me to being 100% okay with the decreased emphasis on cases.

Dixiebell's argument that Sherlock did tell John that he loved him.

Penance: Sherlock in S3: this is a fantastic observation of how S3 was Sherlock's paying for his betrayal of John, and how much more painful that is than would be his punishment for actually murdering someone.

Love and Breadcrumbs: The entire season broken down into John and Sherlock's relationship arc, with gifs and analysis.

I don't feel the same way about Moffat, but I am 100% on board with [livejournal.com profile] drinkingcocoa's thoughts on John and Mary's love.

What to do when None of This Makes Any Sense to you.

If you wanna get all SRS BSNS and academic about it, here's Bakhtin, Dialogue, and The Empty Hearse.

Stone Romancer, John Watson: Some thoughts on John’s Sexuality.

All these holes in his habit: A fucking brilliant analysis of John Watson's wardrobe.

Hands down absolutely the most amazing macro-meta analysis of the general show is right here. And she's got a host of addendums (to which she is still adding as of 02/03/14) here. ETA: If you don't read any of the other meta I linked here, read acafanmom's stuff because seriously she is amazing.

And if all that's not enough for you, here and here are giant lists of collected meta posts. I also put up a shitload of reblogs on my Tumblr today. Some are the ones I linked here, some aren't, and there are several fanvids and gifsets, none of which I linked here.

Happy reading.

[identity profile] pennswoods.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I want to roll all over the gorgeousness of all this meta. It's fascinating to see so much of it on Tumblr.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I KNOW! I'm really loving it. Seeing all this stuff in a big giant lump has me relieved and looking forward to 221B Con. For a couple weeks I was really worried that it was going to be such a downer with everyone so bummed about the season, but I think people are coming around.

[identity profile] pennswoods.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I really think it was a case of fans reacting very quickly to something they had been looking forward to and building up for so long. It really does take time to process these things and the meta is one way of doing that. And so is fic.

This is so absolutely fascinating. And it's funny that I've moved into the realm of writing meta myself. I don't consider myself a meta person (I'm a fan artist!) but all the following of spoilers and trying to guess at what was coming really rewired me for this. I love chasing down patterns.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish there was a way to just put all of acafanmom's stuff into one giant post because damn.

[identity profile] pennswoods.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I wonder if she would do it or if she would appreciate someone else compiling a collection of all her meta for her. You could offer? :P

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm! I might just! Let me see how this morning pans out. I'm supposed to have a giant project due at noon, but haven't heard from my boss yet about it, sooooo.....

Edit! I found the post where she lists them all together (even the WiPs) and I linked it with her other post, above.
Edited 2014-02-03 18:43 (UTC)

[identity profile] kazoogrrl.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow! I really do need to get to watching the show.

Also, I think it can't be a bad season if it inspires a lot of thought and discussion. Unfullfilling maybe, but not awful.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
To my mind, it wasn't a bad season. Unlike most of the fans I follow/read, I was ambivalent up until the last episode, which I loved.

I think what hit the fandom the hardest was that this season wasn't anything like what any of us expected and it really threw us for a loop. We're coming around, though, and I think many people might eventually see this as the best season so far. If nothing else, it certainly was a game-changer for the way we see our two man characters.

If you haven't watched any of the show at all, definitely don't start with this season. Watch the other two. There's only six previous episodes, after all. =)

[identity profile] redheadfae.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow.. all that is Very Impressive.


[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
This, THIS is why I love fandom.

[identity profile] redheadfae.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)

I couldn't wade through all of it, but I do love [livejournal.com profile] pennswoods' interpretation!

[identity profile] redheadfae.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)

I loved your interpretation!

[identity profile] pennswoods.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! :D

[identity profile] carmy-w.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I wasn't very impressed by the clip of Sherlock's parents in London (sometimes there is such a thing as TOO MUCH SARCASM), but I ADORED the Christmas clip, especially Mary's conversation with Dad.
And I'm going to have to read all the rest of these at home. Darn work for actually expecting me to work!

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm still not convinced about the portrayal of the parents and honestly I've erased them from my head canon. =/

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I put up an addendum near the bottom of the list about how if you can't slog through all of it (which, really, who could?), acanfanmom's stuff is the best of the best to my mind. She really nails it and addresses many of the issues throughout the entire season.

[identity profile] redheadfae.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)

Well, a dedicated fan would..which, of course, I'm not involved enough to be one, so I appreciate knowing what's a Can't Miss.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-03 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
God knows the only way I made it through all of these myself was reading them as I came across them on Tumblr. And I am a dedicated fan!

[identity profile] kazoogrrl.livejournal.com 2014-02-04 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm 1 episode in! Took a break to watch How To Train Your Dragon last night (loved).

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-04 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I LOVE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON!!!!

Image

[identity profile] kazoogrrl.livejournal.com 2014-02-05 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
I told Justin that Tootless' attempt to smile is probably how I end up looking at work most days. Then I practiced it on the way to work so I can pull it out as a party trick at a later date.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-05 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Ha!
ext_12541: (Default)

[identity profile] ms-danson.livejournal.com 2014-02-06 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
HOW DID I MISS THIS POST??

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-06 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I DO NOT KNOW! Glad you found it eventually, though!

[identity profile] lapinetrose.livejournal.com 2014-02-11 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
My friend kazoogrrl linked this post to me. LOVE!!!!! I'm going to read all this stuff. Thanks!

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-11 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurray! Happy to be of service!

[identity profile] lapinetrose.livejournal.com 2014-02-11 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, do you have any links to especially good posts on Sherlock's relationship with Irene?

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I read one recently, but I didn't save the link, sorry. Basically, it suggested that her place in the mind palace represented the awakening of his sexuality, even though he wasn't necessarily sexually attracted to her.

[identity profile] lapinetrose.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, interesting! That kinda makes sense.

Your post has brought the tumblr fandom to me. I'm not yet on tumblr. And I'm finding it VERY difficult to search for past posts in earlier episodes.

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, searching on Tumblr is an exercise in futility. It's a very...transient...blogging platform. Great for practicing one's attitude toward impermanence, but not so good at archiving information.

[identity profile] lapinetrose.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I've figured out that if I google the topic I'm looking for lots of Tumblr posts come up. So, I've found quite a bit!

The problem now, of course, is that all these posts are eating my life!

[identity profile] clevermanka.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, well, that's a problem with being a fan of Sherlock at all.