kindkit | Sherlock 2x03, "The Reichenbach Fall"

That was so good I'm not sure I believe Steve Thompson wrote it.

There were plot things one could nitpick, but I really don't want to. This story was all about emotions--Sherlock's, John's, Moriarty's (god help us), Mycroft's, everyone's. And it worked.

Awesome things: Moriarty with the crown jewels, John and Sherlock before the trial (~~um, did we all notice that they were both in John's bedroom getting dressed?~~ ETA: Oops, my mistake, they're actually in the living room. I was confused by the following shot of them walking downstairs.), Moriarty and Sherlock having tea, John and Sherlock's great escape, Lestrade's faith and then his doubt, John's absolute unwavering trust in Sherlock, John and Sherlock's great escape, Mycroft's fuck-up and his guilt, the twist that there never was a key code, and the whole incredible rooftop scene from the Sherlock-Moriarty confrontation and Moriarty's suicide right through to the phone call (*sobs*) and Sherlock's leap. ETA: And the graveside scene, of course, with John's little rehearsed "last farewell" and then him losing his control and begging for a miracle. And the opening scene with the therapist, where he can barely say Sherlock's name.

I want to know how Sherlock did it, and what Molly's role was, but if there's never a series 3, this was a hell of an episode to end on. (ETA2: Just saw the announcement that Moffat has confirmed there'll be a series 3.)

One point: Sherlock was right. Emotions are a weakness. If he felt nothing for John (and Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade) he could have eliminated Moriarty and walked away a hero. In becoming the good man Lestrade was convinced he could be, Sherlock has given hostages to fortune, sacrificed the easy invincibility of the person who doesn't care.

Oh, and also: I really hope I'm not the only one who finds Moriarty disturbingly . . . sexy? I mean, he's a creepy little psychopath, but, damn. I did not want to be shipping him and Sherlock the way I was throughout this episode. It's a totally separate thing from the way I ship John and Sherlock, but, yeah, part of me kind of wants dark fic where Moriarty seduces Sherlock to his side and the two of them take over the world.

There's going to be so much good fic from this episode. *quivers* I'm almost glad about the hiatus, since it'll mean more fic. Including, I hope, some where Mycroft and John try to console each other and there is sex and loneliness and long talks and also sex. Or Lestrade and John. Or Mycroft and Sherlock keeping Sherlock's not!deadness a secret and Sherlock feeling horrible about John and Mycroft ~~consoling~~ talking sense into him and the two of them quarreling and bringing up all their childhood issues and locked together because they do love each other, in the end. (Yes, possibly in that way too.)

I want to READ ALL THE FIC right now. Write, fandom, write!

ETA3: I think Sherlock wants John to figure out that the suicide was faked. The line in the phone call about the "magic trick" was a pretty big hint.