#sea liveblogs about Sherlock Holmes

[theriseofthesea]

When we descended I followed Holmes into the stable yard, where he opened the door of a loose-box and led out a squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog, something between a beagle and a foxhound.

“Let me introduce you to Pompey,” said he.

OH MY GOSH!! Two stories that include dogs in a row!!

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Mar. 6

The Five Orange Pips, Part 1 of 3

A bark (or rather barque) in this scenario is presumably referring to a type of ship, but I like to think it's actually about a missing dog that Holmes and Watson had to go find.

Mr. Russell was apparently well-known at the time for his sea stories, and was even admired by Herman Melville! They each dedicated one of their books to the other, which I find really cute.

Oh, Mary. I know that Watson needs to be at Baker Street so he can be there and write about whatever case occurs, so it's always interesting to see what excuse there is for him to be able to do so.

Oh, Holmes. It's a bit of a sad line, but it at least speaks a lot to Watson and Holmes' relationship with one another.

The woman obviously referring to Irene Norton, née Adler. Though evidently there is a contradiction because this story happened in 1887, as Watson mentioned earlier, and The Scandal in Bohemia takes place in 1888. So minus one point to Doyle for poor continuity.

This threw me for a loop. Apparently the first bicycle of a kind was invented in 1817, so yeah I guess this is a believable scenario. It also kind of dates this story in a fun way.

Let's see. Plantation owner, confederate soldier, and a racist, though that last part probably goes without saying. Well, this is as bad as a guy can be in Doyle's time, so hopefully he's not like, a good person in this story.

Elias is evidently not on good terms with the KKK, which is funny considering his history would make you think he's a shoo-in for being their friend.

On one hand, it's nice that Elias is dead. On the other hand, it's not nice to see the KKK have this much reach and power. But on the other, other hand, they are being shown as the villains in this story so far.

This story sure is contemporary for Doyle's time. I wonder what the audience back then thought about all this, or rather, I wonder what the American audience back then thought about all this.

My heart is full of forebodings as well, though for other reasons than John here.

A very, dare I use the term, political Sherlock Holmes mystery so far, and one in which I eagerly await the next letter.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

[d-lissa]

Liveblogging TMA - Season 2 - MAG 50-53

"For there are things I have seen which I feel deserve a place among your asylum of letters."

Foundations :

... I love Tim. I love him so fucking much. Never change buddy, you are perfect in every ways.

On today's episode, we have a warden, architecture, Robert Smirke and his philosophy as well as his troublesome apprentice.

Somehow, the tunnels under the Archive sounds to me more like George Scotts was the one to make them, rather than Smirke himself, considering the whole walls thing, you know what I mean ?

I actually have very little idea on what all of this could mean though, so I'll have to let the story tell me.

Onto the supplemental, Jonathan is so not discreet that it is funny, Basira is still around with the tapes and Tim thinks his boss is getting laid.

Somehow, I don't think that sex is something that would interest him, but alright.

HIGH PRESSURE :

Oh, fuck me, no, not a diving episode.

... Shit.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Then it moved, slowly but clearly, and I realized how far away it still was, as it got bigger and bigger and bigger, and I could see nothing else, and I screamed."

Okay, that was not ... Too bad. I definitely had worse nighmares about being stuck under water in the twilight zone surrounded by sea creatures so awful they seemed like monsters, and this episode didn't reach any of the graphism I am used to, so it was pretty child. I was more scared by Michael's Stomach episode, really.

More liminal space, this one under water and, most importantly, Simon Fairchild being back and pushing people in situation that would trap them there.

The thing in the darkness made me think of the creature in the poem of "Ex Altiora".

I guess that my theory that this Trevor man, whoever he was, is different from "Simon", who was a con artist. All the better, because I was confused as to why Trevor would get rid of oddity happenings when Simon was actively throwing someone in there in "Freefall", so to know the truth helps put things into perspective.

Was Trevor a hunter, or something ? Him and his associate.

Onto the supplemental, I am guessing that the stranger's powers keep people from doubting them being who they claim they are. ? Otherwise, I genuinely do not think that Jon would just let all of this weird stuff happening without being suspicious, which is ... A problem. Not even seeing the table helped.

Anyway, more information about the stranger from the stranger herself ! She is linked to the table, trapped as it were maybe against her will, but the table doesn't have anything to do with fractals like I had thought, and more with webs, which is ... Concerning, considering the Spiders and their expansion in the tunnels.

Would restricting her access to the table make her weaker, maybe ?

And what is she doing so often at Baker Street ? The only thing I've ever associated with the street was Sherlock Holmes, but I somehow doubt this has anything to do with it.

And a ... Wax Museum ? Is Sasha trapped there ? Did she not get killed then ? Or she did and got waxified ? Does this mean that the stranger turns the people they take the place place of in wax and then just ... Expose them ?

Were Jonathan to decide to have a look inside, would he see Sasha ?

EXCEPTIONAL RISK :

... Holy shit, it's about Robert Montauk from "A Father's Love".

~~~~~~~~~~

"I feel it might be worthwhile getting a few more torches for the Archive."

... Are you sure buddy ? Do you really think it'd do anything ?

Ok, so again, Jon did all my job. I almost regret the times where he was denying everything and just never asking any questions ever, but that's on me.

The Darkness/Lightless Flame/Asag/What-the-fuck-ever back in a brutal way, and so did Maxwell Rayners. I was right before, and Robert WAS keeping the horror away from his family through his murders which is. God. I feel so bad for him.

The presentation of the prison hurt my soul, I just. It makes me sick. Not surprised that the guard ended up being an alcoholic abusive asshole, that environment just breed violence for violence's sake. Power trips are dangerous, and of course when he lost his main fix, he had to find it elsewhere, this time directed at his wife.

Understandable, if absolutely disgusting.

Basira is back and throwing shades left and right. I'm sure Jon is plenty handsome, in a geeky, stern teacher kind of way that'd probably get me giggling, ngl. I can picture him with slightly long hair slicked back very neatly at the beginning of the series but it slowly unravel and become more and more disheveled the more time passes and unhinged he becomes.

Although ... The scars would creep me out. It's just. Holes in the skin. Brrr.

But also, Tim is pulling everyone, so I think it's an unfair comparison. And Martin is adorable, how dare she. I'm sure he'd give great hugs.

Considering just how much Jon is kind of losing it, how much time before he starts breaking and entering in the homes of his assistants ? Oooooh, if he ends up doing that, he should try to go to Gertrude's house, if she had one and if her things didn't get moved, that'd be nice. Maybe she had things hidden there.

CRUSADER :

"Or perhaps… perhaps… it too was once an archivist.""

... Did Gertrude fucking explod the ancient archive ?

Metal. And also kind of crazy, this killed people. But dude, a part of the Alexandria Library though ? Just ... Blown up ? This hurts my soul.

Anyway, more Archive lore and I am kiiiind of losing my mind and crawling my walls and stuff. No big deal. But also, biggest deal because what the FUCK do you mean by that, Gertrude ?? Excuse me ?

I just. I am. Uuuuuurgh.

Ok, so the Archive has been a thing long before the Institute itself, I am guessing. And the "Archivist" has been too for just as long. But why ? And why did the Institute get created then ? Was it created around it, somehow ?

What is the Archivist, and why are the oddities so eager to destroy them ? Did Magnus know about this ? Why is the archive a thing ? And for whom ?

What is watching them, and why ?

Is that the other eye ? The open one, doing the "beholding" thing, compared to the closed one of the cult of Rayners, that plunge everything into darkness and the lightless flame ?

Uuuuurgh. I am. Fine.

I am fine.

Supplemental, Jon is worrying literally everyone around him and Martin seems to think that Jonathan is self harming and trying to keep an eye on him, because that man just cannot tell a lie for the life of him, I guess.

He's a pathetic wet cat of a man and I am in love with him, actually.

The quote of the post will be :

"I really thought that the murderous filth we were looking after were the closest thing this world had to real monsters."

End Liveblogging.

[theriseofthesea]

It’s entertaining to me that Holmes yet again is like you romanticize and sensationalize what I do rather than instructing the reader in scientific exercise, Watson!

And Watson’s response is fantastic.

Well then, why don’t you write them yourself!

You’re right Watson and you should say it.