Last month, Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman managed to impugn the BBC series’ future single-handedly. The MCU actor decried that making the show is “not fun anymore” due to the lofty expectations of fanatics, made worse by a portion of the fandom who desire that Freeman’s John Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes become romantically entangled.
During an interview with The Telegraph, Freeman elaborated, saying:
“There was a chunk of people who just knew it was going to end with us getting together. Me and Ben, we have literally never, never played a moment like lovers. We ain’t f***ing lovers.”
The series, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories, has fallen out of favour in recent years, starting with the mediocre 2015 Christmas Special, “The Abominable Bride.” Sherlock then followed a trio of superbly acted and intellectually exciting seasons with a fourth outing that satisfied no one.
By and large a result of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s growing celebrity, the BBC hasn’t been able to produce new episodes of the show as frequently as they, or fans, would like. That said, the titular character’s portrayer doesn’t seem to feel the same disdain towards the series that helped launch the career of not only himself but his onscreen counterpart as well.
In a sit-down with RadioTimes.com, Cumberbatch deemed it “pretty weak” to blame enthusiasts, whether it be JohnLock shippers or the fanboys and fangirls of the MCU.
“It’s the responsibility of the storytellers to manage that, really. And I think, you know, it’s pretty weak to blame that on fans. You’re either along for the ride or not, and I think to be kowtowing would, in some cases, disappoint fans – so…I don’t think it can all rest on that. I think there are more people responsible than the people receiving what you’re working on.”
The Doctor Strange star then went on to discuss how his Sherlock fame helped prepare him for the MCU fandom.
“Maybe the volume’s up a little, I don’t know – I don’t pay too much attention to it. I just enjoy the graft, and I enjoy the results, and the whole fan thing is sort of mind-boggling, and pretty f***ing generous and wonderful and humbling to be honest.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m a newbie, but I’ve got off lightly if there is sort of, the darker side of fandom out there. It hasn’t really affected me too much.”
While the fate of Sherlock continues to remain up in the air, you can see Benedict Cumberbatch later this month in Avengers: Infinity War, opening April 27th.