jaradel:
Martin “I’ll just do that with a look” Freeman
I’ve been watching these for longer than I’d like to admit. I’m impressed by how much is going on in them.
In the first gif he’s concerned and direct, cautious, driven. He has a purpose, and he knows what it is. The world is very clear to him. He knows who he is in this situation. In the second gif he just looks irritated. He’s still certain, confident, and centred. Up is up, down is down. Easy.
The third one: that might be my favourite shot of the entire show. I swear to god he ages himself down at least 15 years in that gif with just his eyes. That’s pure vulnerability, don’t you think? Defences he didn’t even know he was hiding behind were just stripped away with no warning. It’s as if the universe just changed shape in front of him. I don’t think he’s afraid; or, perhaps fear is difficult to parse with John Watson, since he doesn’t react to fear the way the rest of us do. He’s looking Irene right in the face there with a question forming on the tip of his tongue that’s never going to lift off of it. That gif should come with the sound of screeching brakes.
But then in the fourth gif, everything changes. The vulnerability is still there, and so is the question, but he’s not looking at Irene anymore. He hasn’t moved at all, but suddenly you can see that he’s looking inward instead. He’s drifted off. He’s in a world of his own. It’s like she’s not even there anymore. He’s taken that question, the one he wasn’t asking Irene, and beginning to ask himself. Is up actually down? He’s not sure. If you wanted to, you could read him thinking, she’s discovered my secret, but I don’t think that’s what it is. He doesn’t look embarrassed enough for that. I imagine he’s thinking, oh god, is she right? That makes sense. That actually makes sense, that explains a lot. Well, shit.
John doesn’t need Ella as a the therapist. She’s useless to him. He needs Mycroft (“You don’t have PTSD, you dolt, you’re turned on by danger! Lucky you, finding my brother! He’ll keep you in danger! But watch out, you might get addicted to him and start questioning your sexuality!”) Holmes and Irene (“Woohoo! Stop having an identity crisis, pretty little idiot, you’re just in love with your flatmate in defiance of your sexual orientation! It happens! See? That’s what’s happened to me, too! You’re not special! Get over it! And if you don’t, I’m going to steal him away from you if I can, obvs! Chop chop!”) Adler for all his mental health needs.
Oh, damn, I had never noticed the way his jaw shifts just a little bit to the left in that bottom one. Ivy’s right. That’s not a stunned face or a scared face or anything. That’s a “Fuck, that’s an unexpectedly good point” face.
Lady Karasu 