In Part One, Watson grows increasingly concerned about Holmes, who is clearly over-stressed and agitated by a mysterious blackmail case. Holmes refuses to share details, citing client confidentiality, and Watson—despite his best efforts—cannot deduce who the victim is or what scandal might be involved.
In Part Two, Holmes provides just enough information for Watson to solve the mystery himself, leading to a mutual revelation—and a clever resolution to the blackmail threat.
The story strikes a compelling balance between period-appropriate style and modern sensibility, laced with references to canon. While the theme of “first time” romance became common in slash fiction, Absurdly Simple stands out for its attention to emotional detail, tension, and character depth. It’s widely considered a best-in-class example of early Holmes/Watson slash.
Absurdly Simple is also one of three stories analyzed in Juliana Dias Bastos’s 2024 monograph “Sherlock/Watson: Slash Fiction as Queer Translation” (review upcoming).
See also:
Comments