Love is the most dangerous weapon

In this show, what interests me most is the scene when Sherlock Holmes decoded Irene Adler’s camera phone. I think this is the climax of the whole episode because Sherlock successfully made a twist when Irene was so close to make Mycroft fulfill her requirement. Also, it indicates that Sherlock can truly set aside his personal feelings while Irene lost the game exactly for failure to do so.

 

When Irene bragged about using Sherlock to compile the e-mail from terrorist, Sherlock stayed muted all the time. But when Irene continued to mock “Holmes boys”, Sherlock stepped ahead and pointed out that he knew what the password is. Despite Irene’s shock, Sherlock began to analyze her motive. It is Irene’s sentiment that exposes herself. Although she tried to deny her feelings, Sherlock did not let her justify herself by telling her he had taken her pulse. For Irene Adler, her biggest security loophole is Sherlock Holmes because “love is a dangerous advantage”, said by Sherlock. He knew this theory well so he pulled himself back before the situation went uncontrollable – yes apparently he has some feelings to Irene too. For both of them, they cannot help being led by the sentiment yet Sherlock is far more rational. Even though Irene shed tears and begged him to help her after Sherlock successfully decoded her phone, he just turned around and left, acting nonchalant.

I think here we can draw a parallel to the ending of Maltese Falcon, where Spade also turned Brigid in without showing any mercy. Just like Spade, Sherlock also made the right choice at the key point – to punish the criminal.

 

On the other hand, Irene and Brigid also have something in common. They both use their feminine advantage to get what they want. In Irene’s case, she first showed up naked just to shock Sherlock and obviously she did it.

What’s more important, they both fell in love with their antagonists. To be more specific, even Irene Adler, a dominating lesbian, also has strong attachment to Sherlock because she is willing to make him an exception. It is the very attachment that makes her lose the whole game.

3 thoughts on “Love is the most dangerous weapon”

  1. Somehow the the phrase “dominating lesbian” isn’t convincing, at least not to me. I may have missed something during the film that suggests otherwise but she shows more feelings towards Sherlock than anyone else. It is because she is unable to best him that she-and Sherlock- is so drawn to him and vice versa, thus leading to the constant tension we see on screen between the two.

    Sorry I had to play the devil’s advocate here.

  2. I would say that you are correct: the phone-unlocking scene is definitely the climax due to the intense non-diegetic music that can be heard building to Sherlock’s reveal. When you say that she appeared, nude, before sherlock just to “shock” him, you are missing the point that her body measurements are the combination to the safe. This seems more like a test of Sherlock’s skill than it seems like a surprise-tactic.

    I like your idea that attachment is dangerous for the detectives and their counterparts and maybe you could talk about the other side of attachment as portrayed in Rear Window between Lisa and Jeffreys.

  3. It is a good point that you bring up about people who fall in love with their antagonisits, because now a days or even in the past a bunch of films have had that common theme and when that happens it helps add to climax of a plot which is important to note. It is good that you contrast Irene and Brigid because they way they are portayed, because its important to note the different behaviors of the females throughout the story. Although if you are going to say that Irene displays ” lesbian” qualities if one were to say, you should at least provide more clear examples about that trait. Like I don’t see how is she lesbian in the BBC or book because, I mean she flirts with Spade, sits naked right in front of him, and tries to be ” sexy” and kiss him at times. I think if your going to say something like that you really need to make some arguments or provide better examples.

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