Was Mycroft Holmes Homosexual in the Books or a Tarnished Portrayal by Hollywood?

I think it was a misguided move. Sexual orientation was not part of the original storyline in the books. Introducing sexuality into the film adaptation is unnecessary and misses the point. I don't care if Holmes was gay; it's just not relevant to the story.

According to Stephen Gatiss, both the original texts and the modern adaptations do not portray Holmes and Watson as homosexual. Mr. Gatiss, himself a homosexual, firmly states that their on-screen portrayals by the BBC do not reflect such sexuality. It's crucial to focus on the experts rather than relying on those who haven’t read the books or who may be misinformed. The authors, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, were complex and not one-dimensional, so their characters may exhibit inconsistencies.

Watson, a key character, is explicitly married twice in the stories. Holmes is known to show interest in women as well. They are not bisexual either; Watson's marriages are well-defined within the narratives. Doyle's descriptions of their characters, while not always consistent, are rooted in the period they were written in. Events such as Watson being wounded in the leg or Holmes varying his sleep patterns reflect the nature of the stories rather than altering the characters' established traits.

The Inconsistencies and Expert Opinions

Doyle, the author of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, wrote from the perspective of his time, which was the Victorian era. This period saw the evolution of sexual identities and norms, but it did not equate to modern notions of homosexuality. Therefore, it is important to interpret the text in its historical context. Experts in literature, such as Professor Gary Hoppon and various Sherlock Holmes societies, support the view that the characters are not meant to be homosexual.

A prime example of this is Mycroft Holmes. While there is no explicit evidence of Mycroft's sexuality in the books, there is a scene in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which portrays him as naked in front of a guest, Mary Watson. This depiction is jarring and in poor taste, as Mary clearly seems uncomfortable in this situation, while Mycroft remains oblivious. Such scenes can be seen as both gratuitous and improbable, entirely out of character for the context of the film.

In conclusion, while the books do not explicitly state Mycroft's sexual orientation, the fan-made interpretations and Hollywood portrayals can deviate from the original intent. It is essential to consider the original texts and the opinions of experts in literature when discussing these characters and their sexual orientations.