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So in summary, here’s what I get from our 3 characters:
- John takes lethal action in a legally justifiable way
- Sherlock takes lethal action in a way he justifies morally as revenge for someone “evil” who is shielded from the law
- Mary takes legal action against someone innocent in a way she justifies as protecting her new life and identity.
I’m not saying this makes Sherlock a better person (he does drug people after all, and use emotional manipulation) but I feel like it’s important not to conflate all killing in the show as the same.
I agree with everything VH said here, but I want to add one note: If Mary had killed Magnussen (and not tried to kill Sherlock), I would be 110% on her side. I would feel COMPLETELY different about her character and this episode. They could easily have had Sherlock walk in on her shooting him but never see her face, and the rest of the episode he’s trying to find the assassin before the police do in order to protect him/her. Think what a fun episode THAT could have been. Maybe we see her face but Sherlock doesn’t, so we get to see her struggle with revealing herself to him to get his help (but risking John) vs risking getting caught. Ugh, now I’ve pissed myself off thinking of the episode we COULD HAVE HAD. *sigh*
Oh my god, I want that episode so badly grrrr {kicks a pillow across the room}.
Anyone wanna write the fic?