As you may have gathered from the
Tag of Ten, I'm
not a fan of Sherlolly or really Molly Hooper in general. The truth is I have never really been able to like Molly at all. Sure she's pretty, intelligent, good at her job, she's probably a lot like me in many ways. Molly actually had the potential to be a great character, however, the writer's really messed up with her unrequited love story with Sherlock Holmes.
Molly's primary attraction to Sherlock is probably based solely on his looks. The man is gorgeous! Any woman who has fallen for an attractive guy can understand the absolute thrill and delight that this person may actually find you desirable as well. However, more often than not, there's always going to be someone prettier and more interesting than you. A harsh truth, but a truth all the same.
Looks set aside, what is also attractive about Sherlock? He's different. He doesn't run with the crowd. He's not the typical guy you meet on the street. And his difference is what has made him an enemy to so many people. However, to other people who find themselves different or on the outside, Sherlock Holmes can be seen as intriguing.
To be honest, Sherlock Holmes is not boyfriend/husband material. His intelligence is extraordinary, but anyone who refers to themselves as a 'high functioning sociopath' should be an immediate red flag. He isn't exactly the type of guy I would bring home to meet my parents. I think people love the appeal of Sherlock Holmes; he's a mystery to himself and everyone wants to solve the mystery.
Women don't always want to be rescued; more often than not, they want to be the ones to rescue or save others. And that's what Molly wants to do. Be Sherlock's savior. Sherlock is alone, he has severe psychological issues, possible depression/bi-polar disorder. The problem is Sherlock doesn't want to be saved and the only person that can save Sherlock is Sherlock himself. Even when he seems to go off the deep end, Sherlock usually has a reason and a plan.
Example, in season 3 - episode 3, His Last Vow, Sherlock has to engage in drugs to catch Charles Magnussen's attention. When he tests positive for drugs, Molly takes it upon herself to slap and chastise him for what he's doing. However, Sherlock does know what he's doing. He's putting himself at risk to bring down a madman and he is safe in the knowledge that he can recover. It was not Molly's place to punish him when he was trying to do his job. She certainly didn't chastise him when he needed her help to fake his death.
I compared Sherlock's unrequited love toward Molly Hooper to Marius and Eponine. Their story was a tragic one too, but the fact was, Marius just wasn't interested in Eponine. He loved the pretty, young Cosette, a lady who had a good father. Nothing wrong there.
Yet, I find it hard to accept a female character who does nothing but pine away for a man that just isn't right for her. And yet she's made a living love martyr because of the man's rejection. That's unhealthy and not worth any recognition. If you can only identify with Eponine or Molly because a man rejected them, you must not have much of a life. (I'm not sure how many people can truly identify with Eponine's actual life situation and that's not including Marius)
Writing a woman that chases after a man who is not interested in her is not a good role model for girls and women. In this day and age, women should be portrayed as not needing anyone (especially a man) to prove their value to. In the time of Victor Hugo, maybe, but certainly not in the 21st century.
We gather very early on in the show that Molly's feelings for Sherlock cause her to do whatever he asks of her.
Break the rules of St. Barts
Put her own life in danger
And even lie to her friends
Do not forget, Sherlock, while certainly not evil, is a master manipulator. He knows how to get into people's minds, find their weaknesses and use them to his advantage. As a private investigator, you do what you can to solve the mystery and you use whatever sources you have. Molly was a primary source due to her job as a coroner. Sherlock (like everyone else) was aware of Molly's feelings and he knew that he can use those to serve his own work purposes.
- Access to cadavers without permission
- Constant access to to private rooms at St. Barts
- Using her solely to escape Moriarty
- Eurus Holmes' own psychotic plan (getting Molly to tell Sherlock she loved him)
- Only apologizing when he's called out for it (Christmas scene in season 2 - episode 1, A Scandal in Belgravia)
Molly's constant chasing after Sherlock, a man who certainly is not right for her, is a dangerous sign for young women. In her mind, if she always did what Sherlock asked her, looked the way he wanted her to look, then maybe he'll fall in love with her. There are flaws and red flags when it comes to people and within the first 5 minutes of meeting Sherlock and Molly, we saw immediate red flags.
Unfortunately, Molly Hooper is the victim of bad writing. After 4 seasons, Molly never changes or grows. She's still just on the show, hopelessly in love with Sherlock Holmes, which badly effects their relationship. Molly has never been able to get a clue and move on. She needed to accept Sherlock as he was and what he was, was not in love with Molly Hooper. However, Sherlock's treatment of Molly did change. Overtime, Sherlock did grow and develop and he become warmer and kinder toward Molly. He eventually considered her a friend. Yet, Molly was never content with that.
Sherlolly is not romantic. It's an example of a what feelings for the wrong person does to somebody. Molly Hooper simply shows young women that if I just wait and wait or if I just do what he wants me to do, he'll fall in love with me. Or the dangerous idea that you can save an emotionally damaged person. Molly had potential to be the next Mary. Someone the men could depend and rely on. Someone whose own personal experiences could help others. However, at the end of the show, we still see Molly as timid, shy, and unable to move on from her own broken heart.
