This, BTW, is how the original Holmes explains his "death":

"Well, then, about that chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, for the very simple reason that I never was in it…."

"No, Watson, I never was in it. My note to you was absolutely genuine. I had little doubt that I had come to the end of my career when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of the late Professor Moriarty standing upon the narrow pathway which led to safety. I read an inexorable purpose in his gray eyes. I exchanged some remarks with him, therefore, and obtained his courteous permission to write the short note which you afterwards received. I left it with my cigarette-box and my stick, and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my heels. When I reached the end I stood at bay. He drew no weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me. He knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to revenge himself upon me. We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went. With my face over the brink, I saw him fall for a long way. Then he struck a rock, bounded off, and splashed into the water…."

"The instant that the Professor had disappeared, it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky chance Fate had placed in my way. I knew that Moriarty was not the only man who had sworn my death. There were at least three others whose desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased by the death of their leader. They were all most dangerous men. One or other would certainly get me. On the other hand, if all the world was convinced that I was dead they would take liberties, these men, they would soon lay themselves open, and sooner or later I could destroy them….

"I had only one confidant—my brother Mycroft. I owe you many apologies, my dear Watson, but it was all-important that it should be thought I was dead, and it is quite certain that you would not have written so convincing an account of my unhappy end had you not yourself thought that it was true."

Ginger, I fear I will find that account more believable than the one we'll get from Moffat. He has gleefully said that no one's come up with the answer and it will surprise everyone, so I'm thinking the obvious answer, which DCJ just postulated, will not be the answer.

Even if it's ridiculous, he'd better make me like it.

It also is a mystery why law enforcement would be working with Red John. Why? Why would other free thinking adults be working with RJ? I would like to believe that the average adult is not interested in being involved with a serial killer. So what exactly is RJ's draw?

I believe the implication is that Red John is Bret Stiles' more evil, more successful twin brother, metaphorically at least. "Free thinking adults" is not an accurate way to describe Red John followers. I am fairly certain Rosalind Harker is the only one that could possibly have qualified, and I am rather certain it no longer does. While psychopaths rarely play well with others, I think some RJ followers are this way by nature and find themselves drawn to him because he can augment their ability to indulge in whatever proclivities to violence and evil that they have. Others like Rebecca and Gupta appear to have a functioning sense of right and wrong which has somehow been warped through RJ's mind control, genuinely believing that obeying Red John is more right, more good than obeying the law and conforming to society's moral standards. (Gee, that doesn't sound too much like a metaphor for the more extreme bits of fundamentalist Christianity in this country, does it?) I imagine Red John to be something of a Jim Jones or ... um... I don't want to invoke Godwin's Law... so, you know, that guy - charismatic enough to easily manipulate people - but for some reason RJ is going for a secret society, illuminati, conspiracy theorists' dream kind of power rather than more obvious and public displays.

Why did they give him a Deerstalker? Why was that a thing?

I thought it was because he happened to wear one when the papparazzi photographed him at that time.

Then why is he so stumped by what it is? It is the hat you wore the last time, then. Was it an ear hat then? Did you throw it at anyone? Could you work out back from front?

I watched the finale again and...well, the whole series is a very deliberate conceit. How do you write a character that is much more brilliant than you are? Use a series of coincidences, and strictly control the environment to get the answers he needs. I find it a bit clumsy, and don't dig the Sherlock the master consulting detective all that much. I think both their faces are well suited for the role. Martin is very everyman, but he can turn on the military with a snap of the heels. And Benedict looks suitably haughty, with the catlike shape of his eyes and ridic cheekbones. And they do well at acting both very emotional and also stiff upper lip.

I am not surprised the shippers are going crazy. They clearly complement each other in a way that makes the predisposed want to...well, it's a profound bond, isn't it? So very.

I'm not interested in the way my dash seems to be (really not in love with Moriarty or MorMor (could there be a MorMorMol? Hmmm....) very much--he's not a bad guy I can sink my teeth into.

Moriarity irritates me.

He was only wearing the deerstalker when the picture got snapped because he'd plucked it off a hatrack as an impromptu disguise (they were passing through a wardrobe room for some reason? Something like that) but that picture became his public image. I can see being annoyed.

I find the fascination with Moran, who has never appeared on the show at all, trying in the extreme.

-t is me on the hat.

ita !, do you have the same problem with the original Doyle stories? It seems like it's inherent in the concept.

do you have the same problem with the original Doyle stories?

I don't find ACD as coy as Moffat and Gatiss. All of them are playing to their audience, to string them along in specific ways, but the harping on the woobie unclear-sexual cake and eating it too makes me roll my eyes much more.

I find the fascination with Moran, who has never appeared on the show at all, trying in the extreme.

AND ALL THE FANART.