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reachnotes: Masks

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

The nobles wearing a mask while hunting the children in The Hunting of the Baskervilles arc might symbolize the anonymity a person feels because he is “hiding behind a mask” so to speak. 

Due to its elaborate designs, it reminds me of the Venetian Masks which is quite fitting especially during the Carnival of Venice, not only the mask but the use of elaborate hats and cloaks as well (coz I am quite surrreee this is not how you would dress for a hunt) 

As well as the different kinds of Venetian masks (though it might not be that entirely accurate) such as the Columbina

and Scaramuccia (or maybe Pulcinella??)

A time for nobles who want to hide their ranks and being able to do anything freely because they are not being defined with their status and that includes doing shady things. 

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Charles Baskerville has a collection of children's skulls and bones 

bones that are kept like any HOUND (or any dog) would do

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reachnotes: on the group’s dynamic in The Hunting of the Baskervilles arc

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

William is in a tricky position battling against corrupt nobles while at the same time having compassion for those in need and the less fortunate

We see in Fred and Louis, William's duality in a sense that with: 

Louis - we see William's calculated and heartless decision-making progress, eliminating everything not necessary for the plan and sticking up to the formula so that the desired results can be achieve

and in Fred -  we see William's emotional side, the part where he is a man for all and just wants to see a better world

Both Fred and Louis are driven by their emotions in terms of:

Louis with his loyalty to his brother and making sure his plan succeeds 

and Fred with his drive (in this chapter) for the kids that were abducted

That's where Moran comes in the picture to balance both sides knowing both are essential

coz if they do kill the nobles but at the expense of the children being harmed what difference does it make to the nobles they are fighting against with?

LOUIS JAMES MORIARTY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE HUNTING OF THE BASKERVILLES ARC:

Louis can sometimes be underestimated because he is usually depicted as the caretaker of the house while the others are away doing “serious” stuffs. 

However, humans as we are and as our feelings and loyalty wavers, his doesn’t and he will accompany William to the ends of the Earth because for him following William is his identity.

These are the people you should look out for because for them, there is no room for adjustments, what is ordered shall be done regardless if it’s wrong or right. They will use all means just to finish a task that was designated for them by the one where their loyalty lies.

FRED PORLOCK THROUGH THE LENS OF THE HUNTING OF THE BASKERVILLES ARC:

Although Fred works for William, he does it for the sake of those who can’t help themselves (whereas Louis helps William for the sake of William). The common denominator of Fred and William are the people in need and if this criteria is not met, there’s a possibility that Fred might turn his back on them (although YNM is loosely based on Conan Doyle’s works, the basis of Fred’s character actually betrayed Moriarty sooooooooooooooooo we might watch out for that, or I might be wrong, I stand corrected)

SEBASTIAN MORAN THROUGH THE LENS OF THE HUNTING OF THE BASKERVILLES ARC:

At first glance we might underestimate Moran because he just gallivants and might not take his work seriously, but he looks at things at face value and is actually good at reading people especially those close to him.

Especially when he acts like a big brother:

he cuts through the mental game bullshit and wants you to say things loud and clear thus the air of uncertainty of those around him vanishes because at least they know each other's intention through his help.  

Hence he is the right-hand of William, if William is not there to solve the internal issue of the group he could always rely on Moran to do it.

Louis is loyal but most of the time it’s his emotions towards his brother that dictates his action.

Fred is loyal because of a cause that he believes William can achieve. 

Moran is loyal because of his respect towards William and he believes the cause that William wants to achieve to the point that he is willing to sacrifice himself:

or when he initiated the conversation that if Sherlock does hinders their plan, he is only one call away.

and Albert? sipping his wine and vibing what else? (Albert best boy!)

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James Bond Series Easter eggs in Yuukoku no Moriarty

1. MI6 - the Secret Intelligence Service where James Bond works 

YNMverse - Mycroft Holmes being the director of the division

2.  MoneyPenny - secretary to the head of the Secret Intelligence Service

YNMverse - MoneyPenny being a secretary to Albert James Moriarty

3. M (Missions) - the boss of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

YNMverse - Mycroft affectionately calling Albert “M” (Moriarty) 

4. Q (Quartermaster) - works behind the scenes

YNMverse - Von Herder’s alias being “Q”

5.) Alec Trevelyan - assassin recruited by the British but then moved to the Russian mafia

YNMverse - Moran’s alias and being the assassin to Lord Graham in The Man with the Golden Army arc (and the two countries gaging war in this arc are the  Russian and British empire, parallelism I see you!)   

and of couurrrseee the icing on the cake: JAMES BOND HIMSELF!!!

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ohhhh is that a Hamlet reference I am seeing? it's written: 

"when there is no one to talk to, you can always talk to the skull"

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reachnotes: Bird Symbolism

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

Although I would love to see the Moriarty gang getting animated sauntering at Baker Street while Sherlock and John are oblivious due to the flock of reporters in their doorstep

especially this painting that should've been in the Louvre Museum

All love still for the interpretation of the anime version with a bird overseeing Sherlock

Which reminds us of the term bird's-eye view that means looking at an object from above or from an elevated view. 

Very fitting for William who views London as the stage for his play, and making sure the people his pulling strings with are doing everything according to his plan and in his blueprint.

And since he is viewing everything from above, the objects are small-scaled which might symbolize their inferiority in his eyes.

Which is such a juxtaposition because William has a hatred over nobles who think highly of themselves but here we have him doing the same.

Then again, human beings are multifaceted and that sometimes circumstances let us act out of the perceived notion of others, and what did Nietzsche say abut this? "He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.” (Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future, 1886)      

I'm not sure if the bird is a raven or a crow, though they are of the same family,

but if we connect it with episode 6 and 7 known as the Noahtic arc, in the Bible, after the flood, Noah sent out a dove and a raven to check if the water has subside on Earth.

Ravens might symbolize messengers/message and with the raven pinning its eyes on Sherlock it signals that William is giving him the message of being the main character in his play, you can say it is prophetic as well since ravens are also attributed with prophecy.

So for this round, plus points to the anime version for the nifty use of symbolism. 💕💕💕💕💕

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reachnotes: On Sherlock's involvement in exposing corrupt practices of the nobles

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

Sherlock isn't goal-oriented and doesn't dwell on the fact of his purpose in life, such that he doesn’t introspect on the metaphysical things and what is important is the present. 

What piques his interest are puzzles and the sacrilege so-to say of how to acquire the solution to puzzles (which was shown when he declined Jefferson’s offer)

this is in par with when William said if he is the type of person "who would do anything for a purpose" 

and when Fred said "he wouldn't do anything for his goal"

because if Sherlock does have different goals then naturally it will clash with William's goals. 

William does want justice against nobles who abuses their power but in gaining this "justice" he uses questionable tactics and he is aware that such tactics doesn’t follow the moral principle the society views.  

So he needs someone who isn't particularly morally-driven but will help him expose these individuals, and how to expose these individuals? we go back to the things that keep Sherlock interested, puzzles and clues.

William uses these corrupt nobles as human shields for Sherlock to come find him but disguises it as an interesting puzzle/crime.

& since Sherlock considers finding the identity of William Moriarty a puzzle

the game of cat and mouse begins, so William naturally has a lot on his plate: exposing the nobles, planting puzzles and clues for Sherlock in relation to exposing these nobles at the same time concealing his identity.

However we need to point out that even if Sherlock does love the thrill of solving crimes (somewhat like L from Death Note and Shinichi Kudo prior to his Moonlight Sonata Murder Case) there is still some semblance of empathy that he showed to Jefferson Hope

Incidentally this arc also introduces John Watson and this panel especially is very meaningful:

John might be used as a moral compass for Sherlock to balance out his emotional intelligence to his IQ

(Although this is base on my observations in the early chapters, there might be developments which I have not yet foresee since I need to catch up with the manga)

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reachnotes: the use of act structure in the Noahtic Arc

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

so the Noahtic Arc introduces William’s plan of staging London as a city of crime

with its first character in the name of Blitz Enders

I am presuming there is a symbolism in the use of “Acts” in this arc especially the three-act structure that we normally use in essays and story-telling

ACT I is usually for setups & starting point of the story, wherein we see Blitz Enders’ voyage to the ship up to the part where he killed somebody (he was talking about the performance here but this might symbolize him thinking everything is going steady since he cleaned up the murder of a passenger thanks to William’s help)

ACT II is for the rising action, a shift in the story, and that was? Blitz Enders murdering the man at the stage and the people witnessing the crime 

here we have William foreshadowing it

and coincidentally this arc also introduces Sherlock Holmes

who might be the hidden figure for ACT III aka the resolution part, the one who is gonna tie the ribbon to all of these (and the main character William decided to use that is unveiled in the A Study in S arc.)

All along we thought that the main character would Blitz Enders and then boom Ryosuke said “PLOT TWIST!!!” and we have Sherlock Holmes being utilized which is *chef kiss*

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reachnotes: Dance of Death

(reachnotes is a parody to sparknotes, wherein I analyze things to the point of reaching)

Moran shooting Dudley Bale & having the illusion of "dancing" to his death 

reminds me of an allegory called Danse Macabre/Dance of Death wherein in death we are all equal, which is in contrast to Dudley keeping Lucian away from Frida due to their societal status.

YUUKOKU NO MORIARTY you did: that