Impertinent! Offensive!

wildwoodgoddess:

So I was reading lots of other Sherlock TAB meta and reviews, and several people have commented on these two exclamations from John and Sherlock when Moriarty whines that they should “just elope already.” 

The comments range from basically “I’m offended that they’re offended” to trying to explain what they’re really offended about (the idea that they should have to hide their relationship by eloping).

I think that both these interpretations are overlooking the sarcasm in how the lines are delivered. The tone tells us the lines aren’t meant to be taken literally. Furthermore, it’s pretty rare for a good, self-respecting screenwriter to write such “on the nose” dialogue. It’s considered very amateurish, and Moftiss are definitely not amateurs.

John says “Impertinent!” in the same general tone as someone might say “Oooh, snarky!” And Sherlock’s “Offensive” lacks the bite of one who is actually angry or offended. It almost sounds to me like Sherlock is one-upping John’s line–tag team reactions. They’re having fun.

They’re mocking Moriarty. They are calling HIM “impertinent” and “offensive.” And they should–he’s ruining their “moment” with his snark. But they don’t need to be actually angry about it–he’s at their mercy. They’ve won. 

Think back to earlier in the episode where John is upset with the maid for talking back to him. He calls it impertinence. It’s basically mouthing off to someone of higher rank or authority. It’s being overly familiar with someone you don’t have a right to be. It has nothing to do with the suggestion itself–it’s the snarky way it’s delivered and the context of who is saying it to whom. 

So if John is referring to Moriarty himself as being impertinent for horning in on the private conversation of his superiors, in context, it only stands to reason that Sherlock’s “offensive” is also referring to the same context–Moriarty himself. And doesn’t that make more sense–that Moriarty’s presence and very existence is offensive to Sherlock? 

That context is further supported when John asks “Do you mind” and comes over to shove Moriarty off the cliff. We know that he’s not sending Moriarty to his doom because he suggested the two elope. That doesn’t make sense. He’s sending Moriarty over the cliff because Moriarty himself is the problem that they want to be rid of. 

Subtextually, I think the case can be made that the two lines are also mocking the horrified reactions of people who really would be offended by the idea of the two of them being in a romantic relationship. There’s a lightness to the way the lines are delivered that wouldn’t be there if they truly were upset. 

Basically, they’re so totally over Moriarty’s shenanigans and since he’s powerless in the face of their togetherness, he’s not even scary to them anymore. He’s something to be mocked, rubbish to be dumped over the cliff. 

John and Sherlock–taking out the trash since 1895. 

TL;DR: John and Sherlock are not actually offended by Moriarty’s suggestion of eloping. They’re mocking him and mocking people who really would be offended.

Yes, I agree. Their “impertinent” and “offensive” are sarcastic. In other words “Oooh, is that the best you can come up with?” because they’re not offended in the least. It’s like a child pointing and calling “Homo!” at a mature queer adult, and the reply being “Yeah, and?”