M-theory

"M-theory: Mycroft, Moriarty, and Magnussen’s shared motifs, James Bond’s “M,” Mary and Janine, and the big gay long game," commonly abbreviated as M-theory, is a long meta written by TJLC BNF loudest-subtext-in-television.
M-theory is over 80,000 words long, and it is divided into ten sections: first, an introduction, and then a section for each of the episodes of BBC Sherlock's first, second, and third series. According to the author, the meta is meant to be read in sequential order.Each installment after the introduction is prefaced with the following note: "This will make zero sense to you if you have not read the introduction and previous entries in the series." The original posts went offline after LSiT deleted her original Tumblr in 2016, but archive links from the Wayback Machine have preserved the meta in full:
*M-theory: Introduction
*M-theory: A Study in Pink
*M-theory: The Blind Banker
*M-theory: The Great Game
*M-theory: A Scandal in Belgravia
*M-theory: The Hounds of Baskerville
*M-theory: The Reichenback Fall
*M-theory: The Empty Hearse
*M-theory: The Sign of Three
*M-theory: His Last Vow
In physics, "M-theory" is a theory that "unifies all consistent versions of superstring theory."M-theory on Wikipedia. Last updated on July 31, 2018. Accessed on August 18, 2018. In the introduction, loudest-subtext-in-television outlined "the basic tenants" of the theory, also noting the self-admittedly tongue-in-cheek origins of the theory's name:
==Some Topics Discussed==
*The Personal Blog of Dr. John H. Watson (and its relationship to the show)
*music/sound design/the soundtrack
*cinematography
*parallels to James Bond
*connections between Mycroft and Moriarty
==Excerpts==
==Fan Commentary==
M-theory was (and still is) cited heavily by other TJLC meta writers, and often referenced as required reading for those entering the world of TJLC meta. When LSiT's Tumblr went offline in early 2016, many novice TJLCers were left scrambling to find a copy.Where can I read M-Theory?. Thread on the BBC Sherlock Fan Forum. Posted on June 2, 2016. Accessed on August 18, 2018.
A 2014 exchange in the Sherlock subreddit illustrates the often nuanced reactions to M-theory from Johnlock fans:
Like LSiT's earlier meta Softly, Softly: The BBC's LGB Research Commission and The Johnlock Conspiracy, M-theory drew attention from some Sherlock fans outside of the TJLC subfandom:
===Critical Responses to M-theory===
Just as many TJLCers responded to and expanded on M-theory by writing their own meta, some Sherlock fans wrote critical responses to M-theory that argued against LSiT's (and TJLCers') interpretation of the show.Tumblr post by professorfangirl. Posted on June 8, 2014. Accessed on August 26, 2018.
===Post-Series Three===
M-theory was a predictive meta, exploring the future arc of the show after series three. Other fans frequently wrote meta based on M-theory, working from LSiT's analysis to draw their own conclusions about the future of the show. When series four aired, jossing many of the hypotheses advanced in TJLC meta, some fans went back to M-theory and tried to reconcile conflicts stemming from the events of The Abominable Bride (the 2016 special) and series four (released in January 2017).
LSiT also returned to M-theory, making reference to the original theory in posts about The Extended Mind Palace Theory:
==Further Reading/Meta==
TJLC Explained posted a fifty-six minute video discussing M-theory on December 14, 2016.
==References==
Category:The Johnlock ConspiracyCategory:2014 MetaCategory:Meta on TumblrCategory:Fan Theories
Category:Social Media Feature-Meta Monday