SPOILER WARNING FOR “THE FINAL PROBLEM”
Molly Hooper’s many fans were left heartbroken by an emotional scene in Sunday’s Sherlock‘s season finale “The Final Problem”. As part of Eurus’ twisted games, she makes Sherlock force Molly to admit her love for him or else she will kill her (it turns out to be a bluff). The perky pathologist is clearly left devastated by the admission, but we didn’t get a scene examining the fallout of that moment.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, writer Steven Moffat explained that he didn’t think such a scene was needed as it was clear that she would get over it:
“She gets over it! Surely at a certain point you have to figure out that after Sherlock escapes tells her, ‘I’m really sorry about that, it was a code, I thought your flat was about to blow up.’ And she says, ‘Oh well that’s okay then, you bastard.’ And then they go back to normal, that’s what people do.
“I can’t see why you’d have to play that out. She forgives him, of course, and our newly grown-up Sherlock is more careful with her feelings in the future. In the end of that scene, she’s a bit wounded by it all, but he’s absolutely devastated. He smashes up the coffin, he’s in pieces, he’s more upset than she is, and that’s a huge step in Sherlock’s development.
“The question is: Did Sherlock survive that scene? She probably had a drink and went and shagged someone, I dunno. Molly was fine.”
The comments were met with some hostile comments from fans, who thought that Moffat was misunderstanding his own character.
The controversy reached Molly herself Louise Brealey, who responded to the comments on Twitter. She made it clear that she did not agree with Moffat, but accepted that they had differing opinions.
Brealey had previously tweeted in defense of Molly still being in love with Sherlock, after seven years of the show – something that many fans had also reacted negatively too.
Who do you agree with about the fallout of the Molly scene? Do you think Molly should have moved on from Sherlock? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sherlocks Home 
Long live Queen Loo!
LikeLike
I think that, when Sherlock phoned, Molly was having some serious crisis and that particular phone call could have left her a little bit suicidal or at least deeply disturbed… Someone should have gone to her and make sure she was emotionally and mentally ok.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought Sherlock realized as he said it, repeated it, that he did, in fact, love Molly after all.
LikeLike
If he did, why did he freak out so badly afterwards?
LikeLike
I interpreted it as Sherlock realising he did love Molly, although in a caring, platonic way, NOT romantically. However he knew the effect the conversation would have on Molly, since she did love him romantically. That is what upset him so much in the next scene, I think,
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think part of the reason Euros made this one of Sherlock’s challenges was that she wanted to see what Sherlock would do to keep his friend safe and see what Molly’s emotional reaction to it would do to Sherlock. I think Sherlock did open up and realize he did have feelings for Molly after it, but I disagree with Moffat when he said that she just got over it. I’m sure Sherlock went and talked to her after the incident and whether she forgave him or not right away I don’t know, but I think she would eventually if he was truly sorry and opened up with his feelings towards her. She came to Baker Street in the end smiling so I’m assuming it ended well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Fandom Addict and commented:
This is what I think. As a huge Sherlolly fan, I obviously have a lot of opinions.
I think part of the reason Euros made this one of Sherlock’s challenges was that she wanted to see what Sherlock would do to keep his friend safe and see what Molly’s emotional reaction to it would do to Sherlock. I think Sherlock did open up and realize he did have feelings for Molly after it, but I disagree with Moffat when he said that she just got over it. I’m sure Sherlock went and talked to her after the incident and whether she forgave him or not right away I don’t know, but I think she would eventually if he was truly sorry and opened up with his feelings towards her. She came to Baker Street in the end smiling so I’m assuming it ended well.
LikeLike
People are more complicated and complex than that. Milky may try to move on but she will never be able to escape it completely. It was an emotionally critical momen and the scars it leaves are permanent.
LikeLike
Milky hehe made me LOL so cute! I’m calling her that from now on its adorable 🙂 I know it was probably autocorrect but its great.
LikeLike
I don’t think Molly would just get over it. I’m intrigued though, what ever happened with her and the bloke she was engaged to, who ‘just happened’ to look just like Sherlock?
LikeLike
I think it’s leading up to a bigger picture with Molly. Moffat is keeping his cards close to protect a future storyline. Clearly Molly was already fragile over something when he called. My guess is that Molly will feature heavily next series.
LikeLike
I agree with Moffat, although I don’t agree with his choice of words. Molly is way stronger than we think. After Sherlock, Jim and Tom and men using her all the time she is probably more badass than we dare to expect her to be. Besides, she works with dead people so her nerves can’t be that weak.
Mary is one of the strongest, badass characters, of course she’ll manage this forced “I love you”. We can be sure that Sherlock and John saw her again because of their work and therefore I am sure that they found a way to explain everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fun to watch Moffat fans eat themselves. Hitch your wagon to a guy who’s proven over and over again what a tool he is and this is what you’re going to get.
“Fight the patriarchy.” Ha!
LikeLike
Moffat doesn’t have a damn clue. Molly is not going to get over it as easily as that. Yes, the circumstances of his call definitely help with forgiving and understanding and all that, but her unrequited love for Sherlock, something she has been struggling with and getting control over, was just dragged up and ripped open and she had to admit to it–to him, in no uncertain terms–and hear him say, “I love you”, knowing he did not mean it the way she wanted him to. Her emotional state was about on par with Hiroshima after the atomic bomb was dropped. Coming back from that is going to take time.
Moffat’s comment explains why we never got an explanation about what happened with Molly. He thinks she’s as emotionally detached as he is.
LikeLike
Given the absence of any on screen evidence, I suppose I can only guess. But my take is that Sherlock was broken after that test, realising that he has feelings for Molly all along. And he almost got her killed, and realise how much he has been hurting her for the past decade.
I mean, this s the girl he used to comment on her lipsticks and hair, and analysed her Christmas present and clothing, and trusted her to participate in faking his death. He even tried to replace John with her in Empty Hearse.
The only other evidence we were presented is her coming to 221B jumping with joy. My guess is that they are at least trying a romantic relationship.
Unless she’s there only to see Rosie.
LikeLike
Moffat’s comment is bollocks … and I’m sure he knows it. He has been known to be … less than forthcoming about the future. I’ll go out on a limb and predict their will be a Season 5 – though God alone knows when.
Back to Molly and Sherlock – there is massive emotional damage on both sides. Sherlock’s fit of rage is born of helplessness for the pain he SAW inflicted on Molly by his request and the reconnection he’s had to his own emotions over the course of Season 4 (i.e. Mary’s sacrifice, almost losing his new best friend John, Eurus’ torments). Recovery of memories of childhood trauma is deeply traumatic itself (I speak from personal experience) and despite the Happy Ending there was obviously a great deal left out.
Molly was having her own difficulties when Sherlock called. We can suspect it’s nature because she made Sherlock say it first – but I suspect Molly heard genuine love AND emotional distress in Sherlock’s voice the second time he said it. We are intentionally left with an “unresolved crisis” which I expect to see addressed in Episode 1 of Season 5. My take, Molly has to SEE Sherlock ASAP to find out “what the hell was that call all about” upon his return to London while Sherlock will feel duty bound to apologize for PAST trauma and the call. Molly will find a new, fragile Sherlock who is now, as he has been in the past and Mrs. Hudson pointed out, “all about emotion”.
Louise Brealey IS her character and is correct about the damage. What she has said is spot on. What she has NOT said is something I expect all of us would love to hear. How does Molly react to the new Sherlock?
My answer: Molly is one of the two love interests for Sherlock. She is the Angel (caveat: no misogyny intended – spiritual context not gender association). Irene Adler is the Devil (same caveat applies). Will the Angel turn her back on Sherlock at the moment of his greatest weakness? How would she react to the reappearance of Irene Adler? There is drama abounding and The Game Will Be On!
By the way, I am tired of the complaining about Season 4. There have been plot holes all along from the beginning of “A Study in Pink” – which hooked me for good from the very first interaction with Dr. John Watson. From that point on, it only got better and better. My criticism of the Sherlock Holmes written by A.C. Doyle was how one dimensional the character was from beginning to end. “Sherlock” has been a challenge to the established conventions as it has progressed through the seasons.
I despise 99.9% of television AND movies. I would sit in a house on fire for the first episode of Season 5. They can take their time or start shooting tomorrow. If I am alive, I will be there for Episode 1 of Season 5.
LikeLiked by 1 person
because OF COURSE someone “short, distant from relatives and practical about death” is Molly. it isn’t john. of course. THIS is television history.
they let me down, so hard…
LikeLike