Quirky by definition means that one is “different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion.” One can argue that it is an endearing quality but can also argue that a specific quirk is undoubtedly annoying. In Sherlock, we can see how John finds Sherlock’s quirks annoying—most of the people in Sherlock would agree with John. While they find his quirks annoying, they still find Sherlock to be smart and a great detective. I would argue that while a quirk may seem annoying at first, it can grow on a person when the person the quirk belongs to is gone.
First of all, let’s look at Sherlock’s method of investigating, he observes and deduces in his head without coming to a conclusion right away. John is unaware as to what is going on in Sherlock’s head while he observes, and at some points assumes he has solved the case himself without Sherlock’s help. However, In the case of “The Great Game,” Sherlock has already solved the case of Connie’s death, but allows John to follow his own clues thinking the cat killed her with tetanus. John is quite peeved that Sherlock already deduced that the housekeeper was the killer and allowed him to continue on without letting him in; he feels as though Sherlock is not the type of human being John had hoped. John also supports Sherlock’s quirks and acts as a sort of buffer between Sherlock and other characters like the Inspector and Mycroft.
Secondly, Sherlock’s random stops and running off to places without explanation is also quite annoying to John. He has no idea what Sherlock is doing and is constantly left questioning Sherlock’s intentions and motives and trying to keep up with Sherlock’s train of thoughts. Normal people would also find that annoying, always being left in the dark. Mycroft isn’t much different either, always operating on a hidden agenda. For example, John doesn’t seem to be able to pin down the Holmes brother’s true intentions and is left constantly guessing and trusting them blindly. The quirks that Sherlock often displays, while annoying to most, are mostly a method of investigation. It is as though Sherlock uses them to draw out the personalities of the people around him. The same can be said for Mycroft; he has a soft spot for his brother and often does not fully understand Sherlock’s sense of humor or his methods of investigation.
Thirdly, Sherlock’s quirkiness seems like a game to John at times, it was the whole reason John was attracted to Sherlock and his cases. John could have easily walked away when he met Sherlock but John was curious. Sherlock’s genius is something else that allows him to act the way he does. He is able to solve all these cases and help the police. Hence, they bear with his quirks for the greater good. You may ask yourself if those quirks that Sherlock displays in the show are really supposed to be Sherlock and not just the actor’s own quirks. Sherlock at times fiddles with things around him, but would Sherlock really do that in Doyle’s works? Or is that just the actor’s specific quirk that seemed to fit with the character?
Sherlock’s character, as it is portrayed in the series, is much different from that of a commonplace man. Sherlock is heroic, he is a sociopath, and the audience gets impressed by the quirks. The specific traits of the character make him different from the other characters portrayed in the series. Sherlock likes to play with the minds of his associates. He keeps police officer Lestrade and John in dark many a time, only to reveal to them the specifics of the case in the end.
Such an act also serves the purpose of accentuating the effect of the story. The portraiture of the story gets the shape of an arch, increasing the heightened mystery of the plot. The audience gets more gripped to the episode as the secrets are kept away from them till the very end. The audience gets more involved in the process of viewing as they are also made to surmise about the case like John.
Sherlock is like a specter, an enigmatic character, who is himself a mystery for the audience and the characters. John, his closest associate, is also left in dark about his whereabouts at times. His bizarre traits are expressions of his sociopath nature. When Sherlock feigns his death, he does not let John know about it.
Sherlock with all his quirkiness is the heroic character of the contemporary times. Like the bizarre characteristics of the other superheroes, this modern day hero has his own characteristics. What sets him apart is the intellect, wit and quirkiness that are not present in the nature of the other characters of the TV series.
In conclusion, the original question was if Sherlock’s quirks are endearing or annoying. I’d have to agree with both. While his quirks may seem annoying at first, they can grow on you after a while. The characteristic adds quintessence to the uniqueness of the protagonist of the story. He leads, he fights and triumphs over the negative characters.
These quirks are just a part of the character and you can get used to them after witnessing them over and over again; sooner or later you’ll end up missing the quirks if the makers stop them altogether. To answer the question, quirks can be both endearing and annoying. It just depends on how long you’ve been around the quirks to get accustomed to them. Sherlock and John’s relationship stands as proof that it works.
Works Cited
Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Dir. Paul McGuigan, Euros Lyn, Toby
Haynes, Colm McCarthy, Nick Hurran, Jeremy Lovering. Hartswood Films, BBC Wales,
WGBH.
