#acd asks

[ash-clans-destiny]

Mosspaw what happened to Ashclan? Why do you now have to rebuild it?

(the style might look a little different, that’s because i thought i’d try something else)

[moroniccats]

It gets me every time just how PROUD Watson is to be Holmes’ partner. He’s constantly talking about how he knows Holmes better than anyone, and can recognize his mood and mannerisms no matter how subtle. How he’s trusted with information that the public will never know, because HE WAS THERE AT HIS SIDE. How he takes pleasure in just being there, admiring Holmes, and in being as useful to him as possible.

[sword-wielding-sapphic]

Holmes and Watson / Tristan and Isolde

BBC Radio 4's Sherlock Holmes, The Devil's Foot (radio drama transcript) /// Granada's The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Red Circle /// Metafictional Monday: Tristan und Isolde, @teaformrholmes /// Brayton Polka, LIEBESTOD: On Love and Death in Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde", p. 246 /// The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Vincent Starrett /// BBC Radio 4's Sherlock Holmes, The Devil's Foot (radio drama transcript)

[chazchaschad]

Hello! I really love your Holmes art! Can you please give some tips of how you draw Holmes and Watson?🥺

Absolutely! Sorry this took a while to answer! Also this is only how I do it!! You don’t have to follow these rules AT ALL!!

Also sorry for my dogshit handwriting if anybody wants to try and translate it please go ahead 😭

[224bbaker]

So, hypothetically speaking, if someone had never been interested in Sherlock Holmes before but wanted to get into it because of Fawx & Stallion... Where should they start?

Oh my GOD, anon, so upset we didn't see this until now because what a great question and also, our show inspiring someone to go check out Sherlock Holmes?? Deeply upsetting for our characters but SO exciting for us!

Hopefully since you sent this you've just dived in to the stories--because, honestly, that's how both of our writers got into them as kids, and also because despite what roughly 40 contradicting scholars will try to tell you, the timeline is nonsense and Watson's continuity doesn't make sense (we have made our own peace with this and addressed it in-universe because we didn't want to go on deep-dives to decide what puns we were allowed to use for the place we're at in the timeline it's fine, we're fine).

However, just a quick sidebar before we jump into The Stories--if you would rather start with an adaptation than the original ACD stories themselves, there are two options we'd recommend as starting points that are pretty true to canon while remaining engaging in and of themselves:

The Granada TV series with Jeremy Brett and David Burke/Edward Hardwicke: It rules, and most of it's on YouTube! Highly recommend their Solitary Cyclist, Speckled Band, Scandal in Bohemia, and Blue Carbuncle (we may be biased towards the early, David-Burke-Watson entries). These actors and sets are what we picture when we read Holmes.

For an audio adaptation, the 1989 Bert Coules radio adaptation, which you can get for a single credit on Audible in full and has basically the whole canon! Incredible dramatization work that preserves the stories and really deepens the character work in a way that we're obsessed with. Big fans!

If you're liking the vibe of these, you'll probably like the stories themselves! In which case, there are also awesome online book clubs like Letters from Watson that have great communities here on Tumblr (just peruse the tag, it's super fun!), and also over on Discord.

SO. If you're still here and looking for our direction on the stories:

If you just want to start with what is/will be relevant to Fawx & Stallion, we recommend:

Our goal is that our audience doesn't NEED to have read any Sherlock Holmes to understand anything in F&S. We'll hopefully lay things out or give context clues. However, we do have little jokes for the fans, and in season 2, some subtext may be a bit clearer, or have a bit more weight, if you've read some of the stories.

A Study In Scarlet: I know, I know I know I know, Holmes fans, the Utah Mormon stuff, I get it, BUT. Holmes and Watson meet in this one, and it's incredible. The first few chapters of them meeting, starting to live together, going from roommates with a mutual fascination to, through Watson's unintentional insult of Holmes's writing and a fateful invitation to a crime scene, actual friends, are electric. It's a crime (pun intended) that we have so few dramatizations of this in the canon era (we're trying to fix that), we love it so so much. Sacrilege, but, wikipedia the stuff in the middle, enjoy the fantastic meet cute that bookends the thing.

Hound of the Baskervilles: Happening during the events of Fawx & Stallion season 1. I don't need to tell you this one is a banger, we all know this. Less Holmes content than you expect, but a GREAT setting, mood, and roster of suspects, and a thrilling, well-paced mystery with some great Watson.

The Final Problem: Occurs right before the events of season 2, and though you again don't need to have read it, some stuff might hit better if you have, particularly in the back half of the season. High recommend. On the same note, The Beryl Coronet is also mentioned a few times, which is the case right before this one.

Ok, with that out of the way, we highly recommend:

The "Jump Around To Whatever Short Story or Novel Sounds Cool" Approach

This is the move, in my opinion. As I've said before, the timelines are nonsense, you CAN try to get into the weeds of continuity as we have and there is delightful madness to that, but would I recommend it as an intro? No. They're short stories! They're serialized! Treat it like a TBS rerun series at 1 AM and just pick one that is on/sounds cool!

Now, if you want our PREFERENCE? There are different genres of Holmes mysteries, different types of mysteries for different preferences, but we're going to recommend one particular sub-genre of Holmes mysteries that we find particularly fun/unique: The "It's Not Necessarily A Crime Yet But the Vibes Are There" Mystery.

We love these. They're the best. Not depressing or gruesome off the bat, usually starting with some whimsy at Baker Street, these stories usually begin with a client coming to Holmes and the following interaction happens

CLIENT: Um, hi. Honestly it's pretty silly that i'm even here. It's probably just a Weird Thing, you probably don't-- HOLMES: No no no please tell me I love Weird Things. CLIENT: Ok. Well. My boss/guardian/brother/[insert-person-who-has-power-over-them] has been doing this Thing where he [insert extremely weird thing that again, is not a Crime, but the vibes are there]. It's kinda weird. HOLMES: Yeah, super fucking weird. CLIENT: I know! But it's not a crime, so I don't know, you're probably not interested, I'm just a [not rich not male not high class not privileged identity] so there's really no point in checking that out-- HOLMES: No girl (gn), we are DEFINITELY checking that shit out there's a crime in there somewhere and we're gonna find it!

And we're off! If this sounds interesting to you (and it SHOULD), check out: The Solitary Cyclist, The Red Headed League, The Copper Beeches, The Greek Interpreter, The Speckled Band, The Stockbroker's Clerk, The Musgrave Ritual, The Resident Patient, and honestly probably some others we're missing because it's REALLY common.

Other fun Holmes bangers:

Holmes overworks himself and Watson takes him to the country to rest, only to solve ANOTHER FUCKING MYSTERY: The Reigate Squires

The Christmas One!: The Blue Carbuncle

The Dancing Men: I don't have a fun little thing for this one it's just a banger and the Granada Adaptation rules!

The One Where Sherlock Holmes does NOT fall in love with Irene Adler but does get completely owned because 1) he thinks women don't get up early, and 2) he wanted to have a sleepover with Watson: A Scandal in Bohemia

There are a ton, and hopefully you'll find one that you like and just jump in!

[haedraulics]

PLS MORE SHERLOCK HOLMES YAOI YOUR ART IS SO SPOT ON

OF COURSEEEE 🫡🫡🫡🫡 holmes yaoi art and fic (very good fic!) is genuinely the adhesive holding me together rn. please have this

[pix-writes]

Yay sleepover!! Top five Sherlock Holmes adaptations GO 💜

Yay! <3 :D

Granada Holmes - No.1 | without a doubt my favourite, sure it can be a little um, rusty at times, but Jeremy Brett is so compelling as Holmes, there's so many layers to him, so many times where you just see a little window into Holmes' emotions or past before he pulls the mask baxk on. Not to mention his collaborations with the two Watsons as well, they are so roommates to lovers and married, that I can't help but adore them together on screen! <3 The stories are for the most part book-accurate, they have a cosy vibe to them and the set has a lot of care and attention put into it that seems rare in today's filming industry, in comparison. Compelling and beautiful and also somewhat nostalgic for me as I watched them all after being introduced to the stories when I started high school, and my little gay heart fell in love with it, so it's been a hyperfixation ever since.

Sherlock & Co - No.2 | Still not 100% on what I think of it as a whole, it is still a fairly new adaptation to come onto the scene, but OH MY LORD amazing neurodivergent representation, it feels so natural, its not shoehorned in, it doesn't feel like it's trying to pander. I have been shouting from the rooftops for ages that Sherlock is ND coded, its part of why I love him so much and finally we get it in an adaptation and done in a decent way! The interactions between Sherlock, Marianna and John are so adorable and they look out for each other so much, Sherlock and John show so much emotions and care for each other whilst they also have times where they rub each other up the wrong way, it's also clear that their differences help each other professionally and personally. It also has times of being totally unserious and funny, which I guess is why its so high on this list because listening on my way back home from work is the best wind-down material ^_^

The Great Mouse Detective - No.3 | Such a sweet adaptation and rattigan is a great enemy, lots of loving references that I later fully realised when I grew up and knew more about the other adaptations/original stories. I love a good animated film. Nostalgic as I always associated this with the times I also watched The Rescuers, the Borrowers, Don Bluth animated films etc etc etc. Not much else to say, really!

Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes - No.4 | It is the one that I am familiar with, Rathbone is an amazing Holmes just because he physically embodies holmes in a way I feel like he's Paget's drawings come to life! However, the filmed stories are often so distorted in such a hollywood way that they kind of lose some of the magic of the acd stories as they are, especially because it sets up Watson as this bumbling fool you can hardly believe is a doctor and Holmes can be so rude to him at times. THough in contrast, they have their sweet moments. Plus there's a movie where he abslutely annihilates the Nazis and I'm kind of weirdly impressed that they thought to combine Sherlock and thwarting Nazis in the same movie, like it makes a lot of sense becuase it was made around wartime, but truly made me realise where Indiana Jones cropped up from lol. Probably the one I was most familiar with as it was always on tcm or some old film channel when I was at my grandparents house.

Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes - No.5 | *sighs* see I love RDJ and Jude Law's chemistry together as much as the next person, but I'm sorry I can't fully love RDJ as Holmes, he's not the right fit looks wise and plus there's a certain something in the way he's written that grinds my gears, despite the amusement of how much he puts a spanner in the works when it comes to Watson's settling down with Miss Morstan (also lets not mention how absolutely sexualised and cliche Irene Adler is, jfc) tho Jude Law is an EXCELLENT pick for Watson and brings a certain rougish charm to him that seems unique to the setting of this particular brand of Holmes story, which is packed with a lot more physical danger than you may think the ACD stories initially hold. Its grittier in a way I don't really mind, but at the same time, I miss the cozier armchair aspect being a bit lost within these films. DOn't get me wrong by this expanation, I do love these films, and in contrast it is way better than the only other Holmes adaptation I've watched............ we won't mention that one for the sake of my sanity...... o_o

On the bright side, we do get this ND hastag relatable moment:

But yes, thank you so much mootie for asking me <3 *hugs*

[moonlightandpalmtrees]

you know that comic with the birds? “Do you think we’re best friends in other universes too”? I think about that but with all the different Holmes & Watsons

[holmesunenthusiast]

OPINION ON ATHLENY JONES THE MOST HATER OF DELUSIONAL INSPECTORS?

He's like. If Lestrade is Holmes, Athelney Jones is his Mycroft but instead of any of his positive traits being enhanced it's his assholishness and tendency to be wrong that's been cranked up to 11 and everything else was dropped.

He's the perfect asshole. Like you've met this guy. Whitney Houston said "I'm every woman", well he's every dickhead. The other inspectors at least have, like, a shred of sense and humility in that there's always SOME part of them that acknowledges that Holmes is the main character of this series and will therefore put them to shame- but there's something completely refreshing about the fact that Athelney Jones has not a DROP of that. Absolute madlad. Walks into a room, doesn't give a fuck, quick glance over the details, points to the easiest target, and if the witnesses say "uh actually no that... Makes no sense we were there" he's like "well there's no way I'M wrong sooooo you're all accomplices 🤣 hands behind your back hoe". Holmes and Watson even joked that they were lucky THEY didn't get locked up for just being in the general area when Athelney Jones was doing arrests.

Police corruption icon. 10/10 character. He should be boiled in tar and given twenty more cases because I just KNOW no matter how many times he gets shown up that overconfidence NEVER wavers

[y-a-w-p]

FUCK YEAAAAA

[blistering-typhoons]

1. Favourite canon quote?

2. Favourite canon story/least favourite canon story? (Either question optional)

3. What got you into Sherlock Holmes - the books or an adaptation? If adaptation, which one?

4. Favourite adaptation/least favourite adaptation? (Either question optional)

5. Most niche Sherlock Holmes adaptation you've consumed?

6. Favourite Holmes portrayal?

7. Favourite Watson portrayal?

8. Holmes & Watson or Holmes/Watson? Or both?

9. Do you write/read Sherlock Holmes fanfiction?

10. If you read fanfiction, favourite Sherlock Holmes fanfiction?

11. Headcanon about Holmes? (And do you have any favourites?)

12. Headcanon about Watson? (And do you have any favourites?)

13. What is something you wish more people knew/understood about Sherlock Holmes?

14. Who do you tend to relate to more - Holmes or Watson? Both?

15. Do you draw Sherlock Holmes fanart?

16. Favourite piece of Sherlock Holmes fanart? (Either by yourself or another fanartist)

17. How long have you been into Sherlock Holmes?

18. Favourite piece of Sherlock Holmes related trivia?

19. Favourite Sherlock Holmes supporting/one off character?

20. Favourite Sherlock Holmes villain?

[loonylupin2]

ive attracted another one this time with a fateful good lord. in all caps

how are you?

IM SOOO GOOOD! Happy to Join the ACD/ Granada Holmes fandom! Thought I wouldn’t find someone who liked them- it’s been hard enough on Twitter 🥲. But I’m so happy I’m finding more Holmes and Jeremy Brett fans :)))))

[sword-wielding-sapphic]

every other crime fiction author looked at Sherlock Holmes and said "hmm, he never shows any interest in women and he hates small talk, this must be because he is incredibly psychologically disturbed due to some dark backstory. we should make this the standard for detective characters going forward"

my brother in christ, have you considered that maybe he's just gay and autistic?

[chazchaschad]

Can you draw an Sherlock Holmes?

I love how you draw him :)

Thank you so so much!!!

[sesamestreep]

I’m listening to a radio drama version of “the hound of the baskervilles” right now (with Roger Rees as Sherlock Holmes in frankly perfect casting) and it’s reminding me how much I love this story. It truly has everything:

Widely beloved Victorian literature trope of having One Random Texan in the ensemble. Yes, Sir Henry Baskerville is technically Canadian but I’ve never encountered an adaptation that doesn’t give him big yeehaw energy so it counts.

Holmes encouraging Watson to make a bunch of deductions just so he can tell him how he’s wrong which leads to my controversial take for one of the most romantic speeches in western literary canon. “Conductor of light” speech, my belovedest.

in a shocking twist, the guy who believes in phrenology also believes in the mystical hell hound that eats rich men who don’t respect women enough.

speaking of which, that wild letter from the Baskerville Ancestor being like “and this is why we’re nice to women, my beautiful boy sons. Not because they deserve it, but because a big dog will eat us if we aren’t.” Like, okay, then. Big Dogs Against Misogyny is a cause I can get behind.

Holmes volunteering Watson to go be this random guy they just met’s bodyguard because he’s definitely in danger but not in enough danger for Holmes to go himself.

that secretly being not the real reason he doesn’t go to Dartmoor at first (because he does go), but he needs to make a dramatic and insane entrance every now and then or he will literally die.

written smack between The Final Problem and The Empty House, you can see Doyle trying to have his cake and eat it too by having it be a prior case so Holmes is still alive AND having Holmes notably absent for a huge chunk of the narrative so he doesn’t have to write him and his bullshit deductions, but there’s nothing for it. The readers WANTED that silly old man BACK.

speaking of Holmes’s long absence from the story, this book gives us my favorite thing in the entire canon: Gothic Romance Heroine John Watson™️ wandering Baskerville Hall in a flowing gown, hearing wailing women and drowning ponies on the moors.

Sherlock “Observation” Holmes sending two of the most bisexual men he knows into the countryside together on a dangerous mission would be crazy work truthfully if he didn’t also make Watson promise to basically ruin Sir Henry’s fun at every turn. If Watson hadn’t been in wet blanket mode the whole time, they absolutely would have hooked up.

as it is, Henry’s living the bi dream of being torn between his hot, honorable bodyguard, a tragically beautiful woman who won’t stop portending his doom, and guy he’s technically related to who’s also homoerotically obsessed with killing and supplanting him. He ends the story by going on an indefinite vacation for his health with the best friend he inherited from his dead uncle who is technically married but we never meet his wife or learn her name.

Guy who’s obsessed with filing lawsuits is apparently a type of guy that transcends time.

that one detail where Watson says his letters to Holmes are replicated faithfully in the text except for ONE MISSING PAGE.

Which could mean NOTHING.

Watson begging Holmes to show up in every single letter and thirsting for his praise SO bad.

bad guy who gets his plan ruined by the combined powers of Lepidopterology and Women Who Fucking Hate His Ass.

Holmes wearing Watson’s clothes because he didn’t pack a suitcase (idiot)

Which could mean NOTHING.

all this shit and they still like very barely save their client’s life. Nice job, boys.

BIG HUGE PUPPY.

[224bbaker]

Thank you so much for making Sherlock Holmes this little hysterical weird guy, the characterization is on point and we do need less calculated, cold Holmes e more nervous, clueless and stupid ones.

(I teared up a bit in the last episode but I'm being very brave about it)

Oh, @ghostlycollectorchaos, it is our honor. Between @fogtown-sleuth-society and us, I believe we can deliver the cringefail dork Sherlock Holmes (complimentary) the world has been clamoring for all these years.

(You're so brave, detective 🫡)