Re-watching ASIB

So the scene where Sherlock goes to identify Irene's body at the morgue. Please bear with me since I am not sure if this has been already talked about and probably ages ago.

Sherlock had assumed that they are going to find Irene dead because she sent him her most prized possession - the camera phone.

He takes a look at her face - we are told it is bashed beyond recognition. He asks for a look at her naked body, all of it.

Now, we know Sherlock was a bit perplexed at Irene's (a woman's) naked body being shoved in his face.

But he is still Sherlock and he did have the time to deduce her appearance up until the time John walked back in the room and then he decided to offer his coat to her.

Back to the morgue - Sherlock sees the dead woman's naked body for a few seconds, rolls his eyes around, and says "That's her" with confidence.

Why would he lie? Because The Game is On. He understood that for some reason Irene wanted them all to believe she was dead. So he let them. Also because she needed protection. Sherlock, without all his walls and masks, is an extremely caring person. Irene hadn't committed a viable crime up until then technically. She just had information. He wanted to see what happens next.

Then Battersea happens.

Now, everyone - including John, Mycroft, and the audience assumes Sherlock is heartbroken and sad up until then because of Irene's "death".

But we know he knew she was alive. Why was he sad then? John says

So, it is not specific to Irene's incident then.

Then this happens.

Sherlock witnesses that John doesn't deny.

Then the text alert goes off and Sherlock hurries off from there.

Going (walking all the way?) home like this

He is clearly shaken, in deep thoughts, a bit confused, and is trying to gather himself.

Why? Because, hey look! Irene is alive? Obviously not.

For a man of Sherlock's calibre, intelligence and standards do you really think he would get all emotional and shaken up or even fall for someone some woman who literally beat him up for her camera phone? Who used him. Who drugged him. Who said he'd make an "unattractive corpse". Who asked John to back-stab him. With who he had no emotional connection whatsoever? Please.

I mean I don't have to go on about it since it has been established that Irene is a Sherlock mirror. So many metas on this.

He was like that because John didn't deny Irene's "Look at us both", John was so jealous - angry jealous (his reaction to "Are you jealous?" was a deflecting "We are not a couple"), him accusing Irene of flirting with Sherlock - questioning her like a possessive partner, John denying he's gay again (nothing new there) but actively doing everything that proves his attraction and love towards Sherlock.

It made Sherlock panic even more knowing that what he had been feeling, rather - what he had been trying not to feel is also, maybe, felt by John too! For a man who keeps a tight lid on his oh-so-strong emotions, it must've been a really intense experience.

It's all there for us to see, we only need to observe.

YES, YES AND A MILLION TIMES MORE YES! @dinner--starving you are spoy on in your deductions here. I don't know why this isn't talked about more often. And I am still looking for a fanfic with this flummoxed Sherlock after-Battersea scene!!! They need to talk about this.

omg, yes! i don't think i have ever seen the idea that sherlock LIED in the morgue! but that's brilliant! and it does change how we read the scenes that come after! it also reinforces why he would go rescue her at the end, i think, aside from the metaphorical reading which of course he does, and also aside from that being mofftiss' little fix it fic for the ending of TPLOSH.

The real impression here to me is that ASiB is a rehearsal for TRF of course... I mean, besides the TPLoSH revival...

Yeah Sherlock is lying. Irene is lying. Mycroft is lying. And John is lying. And is all about sentiment for some reason.

Sherlock has a damsel in distress. Mycroft is not the Iceman. John dont think Sherlock *is like that*. Jim wants attention (!) and Irene doesn't win....I guess?

They all care so much. Or smt.

So this is AFTER Sherlock's meltdown and John being his ONLY FRIEND right? You know, the episode with the fake trauma hound, that is a dead society (gotta love acronyms!) with one rogue player? And the other very real hound that assumes crazy big proportions bc of reasons (of sentiment), but has to be put down?

Cool.

Crazy how even tho John was Sherlock's ONLY FRIEND in like the next episode Molly ended up being *the one that mattered the most*. Bc Mycroft couldn't arrange a fake corpse for him. He needed a confidant?

HELLU MARY! How IS the family?

Hey remember T6T original case is right about this time? And then they fake killed Mary in the one in s4? And then Irene text Sherlock and John with the impact of WOW IRENE FAKE DIED. AGAIN confessed to Mary's ghost that he wanted to cheat on her? Good times.

Why would someone go to all that trouble?

Why indeed John.

Lets eat some cake!!!

yeah, definitely a recurring theme! it SO WORKS on the metaphorical reading too! john is uncomfortable around sherlock's Naked Desire, so he tries to hide it with his Armor(coat) and the Work (lol, using a "gun" to "call the police", like back at the beginning of TGG, using it to get john's attention. Sherlock must be a big screamer, nevermind snorer!)

the phone=heart is tied up with memories/photos somehow. sherlock trying to remember something but without letting on to mycroft/brain. that's not how it works, dear, you have to integrate the aspects. they all care because SHERLOCK cares.

THOB takes place somewhere in the ASIB timeline. Jeanette and Dr Mortimer are reiterations of John not getting anywhere. and yes, just what @netbathetic said about the hound!

sherlock confides in molly because he wants to confide in john, but can't yet? and excellent, pointing out that the original six thatchers case, on the blog, happens around now too. so really all of s4 is sherlock still chewing over these early events and feelings. every "love triangle" is just sherlock, john, and their mutual pining.