John and Sherlock: A Study in Friendship

About a month ago I decided to broaden my internet presence and get myself my own tumblr* account. An account that none of my friends know about and can't find me on. A place where I can safely obsess over my favourite TV shows with people who watch and appreciate it. I delved deeper into the heart of tumblr, picking up on words and phrases while getting the general just of things. The one thing that I found predominant was the amount of Sherlock and John shippers**.

Image courtesy of tumblr
I knew that there were lots of people out there who placed John and Sherlock together, some even calling it their "one true pairing" (OTP), but I hadn't known the extent of their fandom. When I say together I mean together, like together-together. Which is fine by me and I'll admit it, John and Sherlock are my one true pairing. They go together like all the great combinations, but I don't want them to be together in that sense.

 Throughout the Conan Doyle canon, John and Sherlock have shown a great friendship. Sherlock is quoted multiple times saying "my dear Watson," and let's not forget the fact that he missed Watson sitting opposite him in his study as mentioned in The Empty House. But they were never a couple, they were just friends and that's what I want from BBC's Sherlock. I want a friendship that makes me believe in love and life. Steven Moffat has stated that there is no sexual attraction between them, just a long lasting friendship. A type of friendship that will never fade, a rare friendship that only a few possess in their lifetimes. To me their love for one another is completely non-sexual. It's a love, yes, but it's not that kind of love.

I don't need a big confession and a sex scene for me to know that these two were made for each other, that no one will ever compare to the eternal love they have towards one another. I know this because I've seen this only once before, between two girls who, if you had seen them out together, you would swear that they were a couple. It's something that doesn't just happen straight away, but grows over time. It's that type of love that gives me hope. The type of love where you can get married to someone else, but still go back to them and begin where you finished off. It's that kind of love that Sherlock and John have. It's a romance, but not a sexual attraction. 

 I'm in no way criticising those Johnlock shippers out there who post some of the oddest yet magnificent pieces of art and literature. All I'm saying is, do we really need to have a kiss or sex scene to show us that they love each other? Hasn't Sherlock already proven that in The Reichenbach Fall when he jumped to his death to protect his friends? What further confirmation is needed?
Drawn by Golubaja on Deviantart.
*tumblr - internet blogging platform where people generally share their views on their favourite shows or other things. Sort of like twitter and a blog mixed together.
**shipper -  a person [who] wants two characters to get together and/or shows support for two characters already together. (taken from Urban Dictionary)