John H. Watson: army doctor back from Afghanistan roaming
the streets of London once more. The strangest thing about Dr. Watson isn’t
that he’s back on pension, scouring the city in hopes of an affordable living; it’s
his strange attraction to precarious situations that draws him to the
mysterious shadow stalking Sherlock Holmes, and the inevitable danger that
follows behind. What is so appealing
about constantly risking his life? Perhaps it is the knowledge that John is
doing it for the greater good, helping people that are in need. Or maybe it’s
because of the blood rushing through his veins, his heart thumping erratically
and the adrenaline pumping in his system. Multiple factors lead into John’s
addiction to treacherous situations, and Sherlock provides the perfect
opportunity for John to get his fix.
Just as John arrives in London,
there are clear signs that he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Nightmares of the war plague him, as well as a psychosomatic limp that requires
a walking stick and a tremor in his left hand as a side-effect of a bullet
wound in his shoulder. Later we see revealed that the symptoms he’s having aren’t
due to horrible memories; they’re due to the loss of the action. John misses
the battlefield, and the sense of purpose and service that it provided him
with. He finds that again in Sherlock Holmes, and regains his sense of duty,
and leaves his restlessness behind, including any post-traumatic symptoms that
he’d previously had.
John’s interest in Sherlock’s work
reveals a lot about his character, like how in the midst of an adventure his
bravery shines through, and his prevalent belief in saving the life before
solving the case. He doesn’t hesitate to do the right thing. He is also quite
selfless, risking his life multiple times for someone he’s barely even met. Those
traits are obviously related to his military background, considering courage
and compassion are two things every soldier must have, as well as the
willingness to sacrifice himself to save others. He’s intelligent, quick on his
feet and excellent under pressure, making him the perfect partner to the
detective. Pride is a strong attribute of Dr. Watson’s, and he becomes angry or
defensive if any weakness is exposed, like his noticeable limp. John is
extremely self-dependent, and despises assistance that is offered out of pity.
He loathes asking for any sort of help, which is evident in his reluctance to
go to his therapist, and when he rejects Sargent Donovan’s advice of staying
away from Sherlock. Trust issues may play a part in his solidarity, as well as defensive
nature. This makes it all the more intriguing that he found a companion in
Sherlock off all people. But loyalty is one of John’s stronger traits, and he
sticks by Sherlock’s side despite all evidence suggesting that he’d be better
off far away.
A major factor in John’s attachment
to Sherlock is that he’s lonely. Although he was just released from war because
of an injury, he is not staying with friends nor family, and instead is
meandering London on his own. When asked about his last words in the face of
death, he replies with “Please, God, let me live,” instead of a declaration of
love for a dear person in his life. It’s almost as though he senses a kindred
soul in Sherlock from the beginning, like he can tell that they both need each
other in their lives. He’s accepting of Sherlock in a way that no one else is;
he just wants to understand how the detective’s mind works, and he wants to
know the man behind the cold mask. Their immediate connection to one another is
what leads to the epic friendship that defines and ultimately changes them, something
they both so desperately need.
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