The Many Ways "Reichenbach" Broke Our Hearts

Sherlock may not air in the states until Jan. 19, but it airs in the UK tomorrow, so...well, as an Internet user I'm guessing you can make some cognitive leaps as to what that means for a rabid fandom that's been waiting two years (two years!!!) for the resolution of one of the most emotionally trying cliffhangers of all time. Sherlock Season 3's about to make its debut, so it's time to take a look back at the Sherlock Season 2 finale, "The Reichenbach Fall." In other words: in honor of the imminent reunion of one of the most legendary pairs of all time, let's get sad, shall we? Like, shiver-sobbing, fangirl weeping sad, which is a powerful

type of sad. Let's explore the little moments in "The Reichenbach Fall" that made these two years at once torturous and two of the most interesting and fervent years any fandom has ever seen.

Are you ready for the Reichenfeels?

(For the record: I am not ready for the Reichenfeels. Also for the record: This thing's gonna gush.)

That opening scene

BOOM, literally a second in and we're already sad. John Watson's talking to his therapist, who is urging him to talk about what happened out loud. "Do you want to hear me say it?" he asks. "I'm here because —" "What happened, John?" his therapist prods, and John gulps, and you think the water pounding the windows near him is rain but it's not, it's the tears of tumblr. "Sher...My best friend...Sherlock Holmes...Is dead." And then the opening credits roll and we know we're all screwed.

Oh, and there's the fact that THIS FACE is the episode's opening shot.

No.

"The press will turn, Sherlock. They always turn, and they will turn on you."

This occurs approximately three minutes later. Said by John. John don't say these things you don't know how true they are and how badly they will fuck up your life.

"It really bothers you. What people say," Sherlock says. "Yes." "I don't understand, why would it upset you?"

John doesn't answer this until later, when everything has escalated pretty much to the point of no return:

When Everybody Starts Doubting Sherlock

Honestly tempted to just put a :( emoticon here. Because that is what I feel. Especially when this conversation happens (bolded emphasis ours):

John: Sherlock I don't want the world believing you're —

Sherlock: That I am what?

John: A fraud.

Sherlock: You're worried they're right.

John: What?

Sherlock: You're worried they're right about me.

John: No.

Sherlock: That's why you're so upset, you can't even entertain the possibility that they might be right. You're afraid that you've been taken in as well.

John: No I'm not.

Sherlock: Moriarty is playing with your mind to CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON?

John: No I know you for real.

Sherlock: 100 percent?

John: Nobody could fake being such an annoying dick all the time.

"You look sad when you think he can't see you"

Molly Hooper, sweet Molly Hooper. Why are you doing this to us.

Image: Tumblr

When John Punches A Dude For Calling Sherlock A Weirdo

Well, maybe this one's not heartwrenching. But it is super badass — he's his weirdo, thankyouverymuch — if inadvisable. He's also about to lose his best friend and then have to spend the next two years fervently defending said best friend, so yeah, every awesome moment in this episode is also laced with heartbreak.

Then they run around in handcuffs together and holding hands ("well now people will definitely talk") and everything is wonderful.

But then the episode keeps on keeping on, and eventually more sad occurs:

The Very Second John Realizes Sherlock Is In Trouble

Martin Freeman's acting is so finely tuned in this episode that all he does is slightly raise his eyebrows and you can feel that climactic scene clicking into place.

Image: Tumblr

Every Single Thing About That Climactic Scene

Literally everything. The fact that when Moriarty threatens his friends the first words out of Sherlock's mouth are "John. Mrs. Hudson. Lestrade." That final phone call. John's face when he realizes what exactly Sherlock is about to do. Sherlock's "this is my note" and his telling John he's a fake to save him. "Nobody could be that clever," "You could." Sherlock reaching out his hand. John checking Sherlock's pulse and then collapsing. His "God, no." Everything.

That Grave Scene

God, that fucking grave scene, man. It haunts me. "I was so alone and I owe you so much?" Fuck. "You told me once that you weren't a hero. There were times I thought you weren't even human, but let me tell you this: You were the best man — the most human human being that I have ever known, and no one will ever convince me that you told me a lie."

And then there's the kicker: "There's just one more thing, one more miracle, Sherlock, for me: Don't. Be. Dead. Would you do that, just for me? Just stop it, stop this."

John Reverting Back To Repressed Soldier Mode

Finely-tuned acting, part infinity: The moment in which John Watson, down his best friend and soul mate (even if you don't ship these two romantically, they are canonically destined to spend the rest of their lives together as each other's perfect match), steels himself for life without Sherlock. This takes form in his reverting back to a bit of who he was before he met Sherlock — down an about-turn, stiff, war-ravaged, and alone.

Our reaction to "The Reichenbach Fall" these past two years has been, for the most part, this:

But Jan. 1 brings a brand new Sherlock episode, probably a whole new batch of pain, and the definite reunion of two of literature's best soul mates. And for that I am grateful.

Images: BBC, Tumblr