The Johnlock Conspiracy

Johnlock, the romantic pairing between Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) from BBC’s TV show Sherlock, has been a popular fan theory since the first episode aired in 2010. Many fans have noticed the ease with which they behaved around each other and have started to suspect that these men want to take their friendly relationship a step further. A large number of these “Johnlock shippers” believe that the relationship will make it to the small screen, no longer lurking in the darkest corners of Tumblr. I believe that they do indeed love each other, but that it would be unwise for the story if Johnlock were to be incorporated into canon. Sherlock will be forever alone. A romantic interest would simply distract from the real focus: the cases.

However, there are small signs, hints, hidden in cryptic parallels, the reprise of lines from earlier episodes, the facial expressions of characters in the background or during fast-paced action scenes, things that the average viewer wouldn’t notice. Fans of Johnlock, or shippers, will often scrutinise the show intensely, looking for any hints that may help to prove their theory. Some of these theories may seem outlandish and ridiculous at the outset, but if you take the time to reexamine the relationship between the famous Sherlock Holmes and his best friend, Dr. John Watson with the freedom of the 21st century context, you may be surprised by what you find.

1.The impressive amount of staring that goes on between Holmes and Watson.

These two stare at each other incessantly. John looks at Sherlock without the latter noticing, Sherlock stares at John, and occasionally, they both happen to be looking at each other at the same time. When they do, it’s intimate, making the viewer feel as if he or she is intruding on something private, other characters often feeling the same way. This phenomenon, observed in the beginning stages of a ship that goes canon (is officially recognized), has been dubbed ‘eyesex’ by many a rabid fangirl. It seems that the two men don’t even realize they’re doing it. They may not notice, but we certainly did.

2. “I’m not his date!”

Yeah, sure, John. We believe you. From the first scene, John insists adamantly that he and Sherlock are not together. Right at the beginning, they show John getting mad over the fact that the waiter thinks that him and his friend are on a date. There are many things worth noting in this scene. Firstly, there is Angelo mistaking them for a couple. Sherlock doesn’t even react, which I find interesting. He doesn’t actually correct the waiter. John, however, overreacts slightly, getting angry over Angelo’s perfectly logical assumption, being in the modern day. Take it from someone who knows, only someone who isn’t completely straight would get that mad over such a comment. A straight person would simply go: “Oh no, we’re just friends,” and laugh it off. What is also intriguing is the conversation that followed, when the waiter leaves.

JOHN: You don't have a girlfriend, then?

SHERLOCK: Girlfriend? No, not really my area.

JOHN: Oh. Oh? Right. [pause] Do you have boyfriend? Which is fine by the way.

SHERLOCK: I know it's fine.

JOHN: So you've got a boyfriend?

SHERLOCK: No.

JOHN: Right. Okay. [licks lips] So you're unattached. Like me. Fine. Good.

“Not really my area.” Need I explain this?

3. Jealousy

There have been multiple manifestations of John’s jealousy. When Irene Adler flirts with Sherlock, he gets very angry. Through the whole show, Watson refuses to reveal his middle name… but somehow decides to drop it when Irene flirts with Sherlock in an attempt to win back the latter’s attention. In the last scene of His Last Vow, Sherlock parallels this by revealing his own middle name, standing a mere few meters away from John’s pregnant wife. Sherlock has somehow driven away every single one of John’s girlfriends. And let’s not forget the melancholy wedding. As John got married to Mary Morstan, both him and Sherlock seemed sad, the consultant detective’s longing looks revealing his underlying desire to take Mary’s place.

4. The other characters think that they’re together.

When John moves into Baker Street, Mrs. Hudson believes that him and Sherlock are together, and will not be needing a second bedroom. There was also the aforementioned waiter in the restaurant in A Study in Pink. At the Battersea factory in the end of A Scandal in Belgravia, when John explains the him and Sherlock Holmes are simply friends, she actually contradicts him. It’s pretty odd that so many people would think they’re a couple if their feelings towards each other are strictly friendly.

So in case you skipped over that whole thing (if you did, you suck), Johnlock is real, okay? It may not ever be incorporated into canon, but it’s nice to think about. To smile about. To cry about. To obsess about. To all you Johnlock shippers out there, don’t lose hope! The writers will crumble under the weight of our fanmail eventually! As long as there is Sherlock, there will be more subtext… and more irrefutable proof. In the words of everyone’s favourite consulting detective, the game is never over. XXX

Rated "I ship it" on the fangirl scream meter.