The Lying Detective: What You Need to Know

I made a reference/meta post on The Six Thatchers a few days ago, so here’s a similar collection of the information and speculation so far on the second episode, The Lying Detective.

The Canon
“The Lying Detective” references the canon story “The Dying Detective”. I’ve linked a summary here instead of copying it, in case you’d like to read the full story without spoilers.

The original story: PDF version HTML version

So why is Tumblr up in flames about this? Because in terms of raw Johnlock material, The Dying Detective is second only to The Three Garridebs.

You’d think that to find an angsty sickfic featuring BAMF!John and a mid-crisis subverted dying declaration of love, you’d look on AO3. But no! Papa Doyle has already done it.

“The Dying Detective” centers around Holmes pretending to be sick for a case, while Watson thinks he really is dying. It features such memorable lines as:

“It’s for your own sake, Watson,” he croaked.

“For my sake?”

“I know what is the matter with me. It is a coolie disease…. It is infallibly deadly, and it is horribly contagious.”

He spoke now with a feverish energy, the long hands twitching and jerking as he motioned me away.

“Contagious by touch, Watson—that’s it, by touch. Keep your distance and all is well.”

“Good heavens, Holmes! Do you suppose that such a consideration weighs with me of an instant? It would not affect me in the case of a stranger. Do you imagine it would prevent me from doing my duty to so old a friend?”

When Watson goes to fetch help from Dr. Culverton Smith:

I thought of Holmes tossing upon his bed of sickness and counting the minutes, perhaps, until I could bring help to him. It was not a time to stand upon ceremony. His life depended upon my promptness.

And these infamous lines, with context:

“[…] I have reasons to suppose that [Dr. Smith’s] opinion would be very much more frank and valuable if he imagines that we are alone. There is just room behind the head of my bed, Watson.”

“My dear Holmes!”

“I fear there is no alternative, Watson […]” Suddenly he sat up with a rigid intentness upon his haggard face. “There are the wheels, Watson. Quick, man, if you love me! And don’t budge, whatever happens—whatever happens, do you hear? Don’t speak! Don’t move!…”

Goodness, if not for Johnlock, what a very interesting choice of story to adapt.

Existing Connections with the Show
1. The story takes place as Watson has already been married (and moved out of 221B) for 2 years, matching the show.

2. Wording: This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about lying on the show.

Sherlock reads Mary as a “liar” in TEH and HLV.

@jenna221b noticed this other instance in HLV:

Janine, His Last Vow: “Because you lied, Sherl. You lied and lied.”

Culverton Smith, Trailers, and Interviews
Some of the first clues that “The Dying Detective” would be adapted this season came when Toby Jones was slated to play Culverton Smith and “Culverton” was listed as one of the Series 4 keywords.

Culverton Smith is the main antagonist of the story: he attempts to poison Holmes, so Holmes fakes the symptoms of the poison in order to lure Smith into a confession.

He’s this guy from the trailer:

(x)

And unfortunately, he’s no playful, Moriarty-esque villain:

Mark Gatiss: “Toby [Jones] is doing something very interesting. He’s an avuncular, funny seeming man with terrible teeth. We’ve given him terrible teeth, which are symbolic of the rot inside him. It’s a great complex, shaded character. You’re not quite sure what the relationship is with him.”

Steven Moffat: “[Toby Jones is] the darkest villain we’ve had. This guy is the purest evil. Sherlock is actually appalled by him. He’s the most evil villain we’ve had. I don’t think that when you see it, you will disagree. He’s horrific.”

(x)

Because we didn’t have enough pain already, apparently.

Speculation
So what is he lying about?

1. The standard answer: He’s lying about dying. Hopefully, he says he’s dying when he’s actually fine, and not the other way round.

2. What has Sherlock consistently lied about, since the very first episode? His feelings. This could go anywhere from simply acknowledging that he is human, that he does “feel things that way” to a full “I’m in love with you.”
@gay-sherlock-holmes expresses this admirably:

A love confession can not occur without Sherlock explaining to John that he lied about being a high functioning sociopath, that he does have emotions and desires. That the reason he moved John’s chair and went back to drugs after John’s wedding is because he was heartbroken about losing John and was trying to numb his pain. That he came back to life at the realisation that John was in danger. That he excused Mary shooting him as “surgery” and protected Mary by killing Magnussen, all because he wanted to John safe and happy.

3. @inevitably-johnlocked pointed out that Sherlock may not be the (only) one lying): it might also refer to John.

4. And she also made this classic ubermeta discussing possibilities for adapting “The Dying Detective”. (Contains Setlock)

5. @beejohnlocked noted that revealing that Sherlock is lying is more for John’s benefit than ours–we know Sherlock isn’t an emotionless sociopath, but John still thinks he “doesn’t feel things that way.” I would agree, but note that a lot of the audience still thinks Sherlock is unfeeling or at least aromantic, so a clear explanation is for their benefit as well.

6. And here’s a nice long chain of yet more lies Sherlock has told.

Other theories:

1. Unlike the original stories, Sherlock really does get poisoned. Angst ensues.

2. Everyone thinks Sherlock is drugged, so they ignore his illness, but he actually has been poisoned. Maybe Mycroft ignores him in particular, and then Sherlock gets into real danger. That might explain the “You reptile” scene in the trailer.

3. I found an interview that implied that Smith’s character might be based on current politics, and adding that to Setlock pics advertising him on a show called “the Business Killer”, one can draw…interesting…conclusions. (*cough Trump cough*). For the life of me, I can’t find that interview now, and if anyone has seen it, please link me. Thanks!

I’m leaning towards an aborted love confession that they don’t really get to talk about until the Garridebs Moment (read: kiss) in episode 3. That could also follow smoothly from a series of flashbacks in The Six Thatchers clarifying just how long they’ve been pining. Evidence, Confession, Kiss.

But really, all they need to do is have Sherlock say “Quick, man, if you love me!” and I will lose all semblance of chill.

Take A Break
This episode is going to be an angsty one. But never fear! Tumblr is here with puns and fanart. These include this, this, this, and this; also this and this. Brilliant creators tagged (in order) under the cut.

If you wrote meta on this episode and I didn’t mention you or cited you incorrectly, or if you found something to add, please please please message/reply/comment/ask me! My goal is to make this as comprehensive and accurate as possible.

Hope this helped!

-s.o.e.

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