cheuwing:

Oh boy, do I love TSOT! 🙂

I find this scene with Major Reed very interesting, because it shows us John’s interaction with the Army, so we have a glimpse of his past… I love how John seems a bit too desperate for Reed’s approval and how defeated he looks when the man treats him with disdain. 

I read with fascination Shinka’s and Kinklock’s metas on this scene and I love how they tie this scene with John’s father. It is indeed quite thrilling to see how John craves “his father“‘s acceptation and love. I totally agree with these interpretations and find them brililant.

I have to add something, though. I think Reed represents a bit more than John’s father: he represents every figure of authority and idea of family John may have had before Sherlock.

Reed represents John’s father, as Shinka & Kinklock wonderfully said => I’m sure John had to fight for his father’s approval and maybe never received it.

Reed also is a symbol of the Army, a family John had chosen for himself, and I’m sure he fought there as well to be accepted and recognized. But the Army gave up on him. He was rejected, left broken without so much care, disposed of. And that was quite hard for John: when we meet him in ASIP, he’s seriously considering killing himself.

Reed’s rejection is a harsh reminder of how the Army discarded him and severed all its ties with him. The Army was John’s family, but they don’t care about John anymore, they don’t approve of his life with Sherlock: it’s something ridiculous and laughable (“the one with the silly hat” in a voice full of contempt).

John spent several years risking his life for the Army, firmly believing in this institution. And they just threw him away. John is defeated and broken.

Also, note that Reed is a major. We see another Major in this episode… Remember Sholto? (Sholto who also serves as a foil for Sherlock in TSOT, so I could even extend this analysis to John’s desperate need of Sherlock’s approval that was blown away when Sherlock faked his death for 2 years without telling him because John couldn’t be trusted. Depressing much?).

Sholto, his “ex”-commander… A man that obviously counted A LOT to John. A man he lost after getting shot, a man who apparently stopped all contact with him until John’s wedding day. Considering John’s puppy face when Sholto calls him by his first name, it’s pretty safe to say John craves for his love and recognition. Only to be rejected again.

This scene is about how desperate John is for approval. How he never really got any.

It’s awful how much John needs to be loved and accepted, how he needs at least once in his life the approval and recognition of a figure of authority/family.

Sherlock, now would be the time to hug your partner in crime and whisper your eternal love into his ear!