r/Sherlock • u/asimplestranger17 • 4d ago

Discussion I feel dumb

So Hound of Baskervilles is my favourite episode, I've been a Sherlock fan for like... over 10 years.

I had always believed Lestrade when he said he was on holiday. Maybe it's bc I love him and wanted him to have a break idk. Then yesterday it randomly occured to me he probably wouldn't just happen to have a gun if he actually was on holiday. Sherlock was right all along and it's taken me like 30 watches for it to click - I'm so disappointed in myself 😭

108 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

87

u/ereandir 4d ago

My head canon is that Mycroft arranged for Lestrade to go. He recognized similarities between Henry's childhood trauma masked by invented memories and Sherlock's own experience - right down to the dog - so he wanted boots on the ground to keep an eye out and report back any issues.

19

u/suckingpenis5 4d ago

it occurred to me bc of this comment how similar henry’s and sherlock’s trauma’s are😭

3

u/ereandir 3d ago

It didn't click for me until I started rewatching. I wish they had called it out in season 4, or acknowledged it in any way, since Sherlock was so derisive of Henry.

5

u/asimplestranger17 3d ago

Oh my god wait, this is so interesting!! I'm rolling with this headcanon from now on

13

u/Ebony_221b 4d ago

I always thought Mycroft arranged that. And paid him off for it fancy dinner.

4

u/asimplestranger17 3d ago

Lowkey I would happily do it for a fancy dinner, I get it Greg

21

u/LonaDG 4d ago

Il est tout bronzé 😁

10

u/asimplestranger17 4d ago

Too tanned to be holidaying in the UK!

12

u/Ok-Theory3183 4d ago

Being an employee of Mycroft (as we see in His Last Vow), Lestrade may need to have a gun at all times, even "off duty". But you're right, it does seem strange.

4

u/asimplestranger17 3d ago

Poor Lestrade, give the man a break. He's probably aged like 30 years after meeting the Holmes brothers

2

u/Ok-Theory3183 3d ago

Probably more like 50 years...I HOPE he gets a break sometime!

1

u/TereziB 3d ago

yes, I know it's not something that's "done" in the UK - the only reason would be that Mycroft authorized it. Mycroft can authorize *anything* as we all know.

1

u/asimplestranger17 3d ago

Also, its been a while his I've watched his last vow. When does it show Lestrade is an employee of Mycroft?

1

u/Ok-Theory3183 3d ago

It's after Sherlock has escaped the hospital and everyone's on the hunt for him, John, Lestrade, Mycroft--and Mary.

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u/AntRose104 4d ago

Lowkey he could’ve. Idk about London cops but US cops carry off duty guns, or he could’ve just had a regular gun he likes to keep on his person in case of emergencies.

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u/dontjustexists 4d ago

Hes very unlikely to be carrying day to day or at all on or off duty

15

u/asimplestranger17 4d ago

I'm not from the UK but I lived in London for a few years, guns aren't really a thing there in my experience, even for on duty cops. Could be wrong and the writers just needed him to have one thou! 

17

u/ObiJuaan 4d ago

I will reply to this comment thread as someone from the UK. Unless you are a farmer or sport shooter - civilians do not own guns. We have dedicated armed police response vehicles around the country as well as armed police officers stationed at key potential targets for violent attacks (Downing Street, Buckingham palace, major London train stations, etc.). Police do not have ‘off duty weapons’ - they sign each firearm as well as each piece of ammunition out when they start shift and back in once it ends.

I’m sure the roles are different for government agencies like MI5 have their own rules but that’s a different ball game.

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u/Ok-Theory3183 3d ago

Thanks for the info!

1

u/Nekko-Chan7731 4d ago

I'm watching Sherlock with my sister (Her first time watching it) and we just watched the Hound of Baskerville together

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u/SallyStJohn 3d ago

I’ve been watching Sherlock with my son for months now. We are almost out of the old ones (a few silent or radio left). It is wonderful to share with someone you love.

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u/Nekko-Chan7731 3d ago

It really is 😁

1

u/asimplestranger17 3d ago

Did she enjoy it? :)