Why I Believed Sherlock was Going to Confess His Love to John

This is not just a fangirl statement. I truly believed I was about to hear a love confession from Sherlock, because of how the buildup was with season 3 to the modern television show of Sherlock. Season 2 had ended with Sherlock faking his own death, in order to protect his companions, including his best friend, John Watson. 2 years pass, and Sherlock finally reunites with John, back in London. Of course, this reunion wasn't a good one for obvious reasons, but John eventually forgave his best friend and even went as far to let Sherlock know that he had spoken to 'Sherlock's grave,' asking his friend to come back to life for him.

Sherlock states that he 'heard him,' because he was literally standing in the cemetery, listening to his best friend, most likely wanting to see him one last time before he left.

It took the entire third season for me to start looking back on that season 2 finale a little differently. I never thought it was odd that Sherlock decided to go back to his friend in the graveyard, wanting to hear him one last time, carrying a sad expression on his face. This could be seen as a friendly thing, but if you watch the entire third season, it definitely gives off a much different vibe.

I playfully shipped Sherlock and John for the hell of it in the earlier seasons, but once I watched the third season, I was truly expecting Sherlock to confess to his best friend.

The third season shows Sherlock with a much more human side to him, but we get a lot of surprising heartfelt moments with Sherlock, when it came to interacting with his best friend. The first scene that really caught my attention was during the wedding episode. I know that Sherlock was sad about his best friend starting a new life with Mary Watson, but there was something about Sherlock's expression that didn't seem like...a guy losing his best friend.

I could be analyzing this part completely out of proportion, due to the great acting by Benedict Cumberbatch, but I truly think that Sherlock was a little heartbroken. The way that he acts during the entire episode, realizing that he is no longer going to have John by his side...it did not seem like a reaction you would expect from a friendship.

Then we get a major important scene before the ending to the third season, and I was completely baffled by this moment between the two friends. Sherlock was forced to kill a piece of shit dude that was threatening to take away John's wife and put both men in prison. Sherlock's punishment was going to have Sherlock be sent to a 6-month expedition of sorts that would most likely lead to his death. Sherlock reveals to John that he has something to tell him, something that he has been meaning to tell John for a long time.

Since they would most likely never see each other again, he was willing to finally confess something to John. He then tells him that Sherlock is actually a girl's name, smiling at John's laughter.

I truly believe that Sherlock had chickened out with confessing to his friend. I really thought we were going to get a love confession from Sherlock, and yes, John would not have been able to return his feelings, but I think this would have been such a beautiful moment between them. And because of how great the writing was leading up to this moment, I don't think it would have been out of place. Having a gay confession in a show like this actually would have worked, and I'm sure that many fans would have been in shock with filming such a bold scene with Sherlock and John.

Call me crazy, but I really think that Sherlock was about to pour out his feelings, but he couldn't do it in the end. It does break my heart that he wanted to see his best friend laugh one last time...how is that not seen in a romantic light?

Do you think Sherlock was secretly in love with his best friend?

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn