[ SECRET POST #1954 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #1954 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 040 secrets from Secret Submission Post #279.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom.livejournal.com]

17. http://i50.tinypic.com/2z6ukg9.jpg

[fenm.livejournal.com]

OMG, THIS.

Though, in fairness to fanfic writers, I largely blame the show for this. They've at least mentioned him in every freaking episode, and made him a major character. Yes, there are other villains in ACD canon, but how many of them have been on the show?

[saya22.livejournal.com]

YES! Like you said, we can hardly blame the fanfic writers because every freaking episode in Sherlock ties the crime back to Moriarty, but come on, expand your horizon! Go back to the ACD canon and have your pick of the many villains in the stories. I'm partial to Charles Augustus Milverton myself.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

In fairness, the villain in "Hounds" was not connected to Moriarty in any way. I was pleasantly surprised.

[saya22.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's true. You would think they would have him be related to the experiments, what with Hounds being the episode before the big climax.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I kinda of thought they'd do that. Thank Doyle they didn't.

[mutantjules.livejournal.com]

yup, this. I love him on the show and get that they wanted to make him EPIC but shit son, the wide majority of Sherlock's cases had nothing to do with any Big Bad with an evil plan, but were just random people being people

[kelincihutan.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, please, yes. Moriarty is interesting and all, but he's hardly the only bad person in the universe.

[piepeloe.livejournal.com]

It's probably to do with the impact he has on the relationship between Sherlock and John. There are loads of villains in ACD canon, but he's the one that 'caused' the hiatus. Also, it's an easy way to up the stakes. I'd imagine coming up with an interesting case is the hardest part of a Sherlock fic, but a common murder or robbery is immediately a lot more interesting when it's tied to Moriarty.

But I'll admit I am looking forward to series 3 partly because I hope we can finally have some other villains.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

but he's the one that 'caused' the hiatus.

But did the hiatus really impact Holmes and Watson's relationship? Once Holmes came back, it seems like things went on pretty much as usual.

but a common murder or robbery is immediately a lot more interesting when it's tied to Moriarty.

Really? I find it far more interesting to have individual people committing crimes for their own reasons, not because Moriarty told/paid them to.

[piepeloe.livejournal.com]

In ACD canon everything went back to normal, but most people assume (and a recent quote from Gatiss seems to confirm) that this won't (immediately/necessarily?) be the case for the BBC version.

IA that murders and robberies that are entirely unrelated are (or at least have the potential to be) as interesting as a grand scheme of Moriarty's. But it's hard to come up with one that's clever and intricate and dangerous enough.

Moriarty is a shortcut. If a case isn't dangerous or intriguing enough on its own, making it part of this vast web of crime will make it so. Because other criminals are in it for the crime itself, Moriarty (in the BBC version) seems fixated on Sherlock. So it also becomes more dangerous for Sherlock and John since they could be targets. More danger, means more angst, more worrying about each other etc.

People could come up with other villains or situations to evoke the same feelings, but why spend time building up a new villain when everyone already knows how serious this other guy is. It's a bit lazy, which is why IA that people (and especially the show itself) should come up with some new evil.

Also, Sherlock fandom might be a big offender, but most fandoms have a cliché bad guy like this. Or a cliché obstacle, trope, something that returns in waaaay too many fics because everyone knows how bad it is for the good guys.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

But it's hard to come up with one that's clever and intricate and dangerous enough.

Nonsense. Writers have been doing it for centuries.

So it also becomes more dangerous for Sherlock and John since they could be targets.

They could be targeted by the killer(s) just because they're trying to uncover his/her/their identity. Moriarty doesn't have to be involved for that to happen. Hell, we've had two episodes that have had that very thing happen ("Blind Banker" and "Hounds". Yes, the lady in BB was involved with Jim, but she targeted "Sherlock" cuz he was trying to uncover her smuggling ring).

[piepeloe.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm not saying it's impossible to come up with clever cases. I'm not saying Moriarty's the only villain that could ever pose a threat to Sherlock.

I'm saying that for a lot of fic writers it is difficult to come up with these things. Fanfic is a hobby after all. And maybe the case isn't the most important aspect for them, maybe the characters' reactions and emotions are. And if the case is merely a framework for all the other stuff: emotions, banter, action scenes, etc, then perhaps they prefer spending time on those than on building an amazing villain from scratch. If they have to come up with someone new, they have to spend time thinking up a name, personality, skills, motive, all those things. Moriarty is ready for them.

It's perhaps lazy, it's a shortcut, and maybe people should try harder and be original, but I understand.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

Oooh... ok, see, I was thinking you were referring to the show...

Yeah, I can see why fanficcers might fall back on him, but it's still annoying.

[piepeloe.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I definitely hope they move away from Moriarty in series 3. I mean, he'll sort of still be around the first episode back, but after that I don't want any 'former members' from his organization showing up or people seeking vengeance on his behalf. He can be mentioned because of the hiatus and what it meant for everyone, but that's it.

Good to know we agree ;)

[deadtree.livejournal.com]

I'd like to extent that to all current adaptations, as well :P Luckily they've killed him off in both the RDJ and BBC versions so we can move on.
Unless he's not really dead. In which case I would punch something because... how?

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Seconding, thirding, fourthing, THIS!

Heck, I was disappointed watching Study in Pink when the cabbie came out with "Moriarty". Too damn soon. Give me some proper mysteries first.

[cloud-riven.livejournal.com]

But it's so perfectly in character when Moriarty pops out from behind all the curtains, seeing how showverse sticks his finger in all the pies.

Honestly though, he's basically reduced to "plot device to stir angsty tension" both in show and fic. I just back button when it gets too weird, awful, or contrived.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

Ah, worry not, anon.

You know there will soon be a rash of crossover fics where Loki is the villain.

[velvet-mace.livejournal.com]

... Okay.