Musings on A Study in Pink (1)
Trigger Warning (General): Mentions and discussion of homophobia and suicide
More specific trigger warnings will precede each part of the meta
Summary: The theme of the show has been clear since day one. Heteronormativity, homophobia, and toxic masculinity will kill John, Sherlock, and Johnlock if the former are not stopped.
This meta is a series with three parts:
Part 1: Shot in the left shoulder – the Cabbie as a John mirror
Part 2: ‘You can’t have serial suicides’ – media, chain suicides, and social problems
Part 3: ‘Who’d be a fan of Sherlock Holmes?’ – The biggest obstacle to Johnlock
Part 1: Shot in the left shoulder – the Cabbie as a John mirror
TRIGGER WARNING: Discussions of homophobia and suicide; image of fake but realistic blood
The main flow of the case in ASiP goes like this: the Cabbie is one of those ‘just want the best for his kids’ parents. He is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Motivated and enabled by Moriarty, he goes on a potentially fatal murder spree, leaving four people dead in his wake. Sherlock eventually solves the case, but the Cabbie is ultimately stopped by John.
In short, the main characters at play are: Moriarty, Cabbie, Sherlock, and John. Moriarty and the Cabbie are the main enigmas. What do they represent?
In Part 1 we will focus on the Cabbie and what he might stand for.