Mark Gatiss reserved a choice character for himself, and he did well to do so! His Mycroft is puzzling, subtle, cold and annoying, but sometimes lovable when he accepts to show that he cares for his "little brother".
Reasonably eccentric, "so British", these are the common features of this character. But I found Mark Gatiss especially convincing as a key figure of British secret government. What does he do exactly ? MI-5, consulting, negotiator ? We never know for sure... Mycroft is reluctant to leave the shadow.
He makes an exception when it becomes necessary to save his brother (introductory scenes of the 3rd season) but blames Sherlock for it and even takes a little revenge.
Mycroft is working, he has got an assistant, see some personalities, goes to the Diogene Club. But does he take part in the life and in the world ?
We know no friend of his, and he is proud not to care about other people ("goldfishes" he despises). That's not enough, though, to prevent Moriarty from finding the flaw in his armour : Sherlock.
The link between the brothers is very special, but it is strong.
They never hesitate to help each other, and Mycroft is rather protective with Sherlock. He seems to appreciate John, thinking that he may have a positive influence on his brother.
Sherlock calls Mycroft when he needs to talk, at John's wedding for example.
When the brothers are close and in peace, they smoke a cigarette (a reminiscence of an early common transgression?). They both love their parents, share the same intelligence, above all norms, and are both sociopath. But Mycroft, a bit older and without any close friend (as far as we know) is even worst as a sociopath...
Mark Gatiss' Mycroft preserves the spirit but is rather different from the original one, even in the physical description (see below S. Fry...)
[The Greek interpreter, introduction]
Sherlock says that his power of deduction is hereditary, "because my brother Mycroft possesses it in a larger degree than I do".
Watson is astonished to learn than Sherlock has a brother -seven years older- and that, despite greater powers of deduction, he is unknown.
Sherlock explains that Mycroft is rather well known in his own circle. But he is incapable of using his capacities as a detective:
"If the art of detective began and ended in reasoning from an arm-chair, my brother would be the greatest criminal agent that ever lived. But he has no ambition and no energy".
His profession ?
"He has an extraordinary faculty for figures, and audits the books in some of the government departments. He lodges in Pall Mall" and goes every day to the Diogenes Club, just opposite his flat.
"Mycroft Holmes was a much larger and stouter man than Sherlock. His body was absolutely corpulent, but his face, though massive, had preserved something of the sharpness of expression which was so remarkable in the of his brother. His eyes, which were of a peculiarly light, watery grey, seemed to always retain that far-away, introspective look which I had only observed in Sherlock's when he was exerting his full powers".
I wish to add that I really admire both Mycrofts:
Stephen Fry, closer from the canon -only a character in one single movie- exuberant, eccentric (naked at home when Mrs Watson wakes up), so British, funny, subtle but fierce and dangerous all the same.
Mark Gatiss, who was more free as one of the showrunners, performed another kind of subtle, fierce and dangerous man: if he dislikes moving out of his rooms, he does it frequently and seems much more active than Doyle's character. He is obsessed with protecting himself from the world around and especially from emotions. What is hidden deep in his powerful mind?
Mycroft if even more a mystery than Sherlock.
He makes an exception when it becomes necessary to save his brother (introductory scenes of the 3rd season) but blames Sherlock for it and even takes a little revenge.
Mycroft is working, he has got an assistant, see some personalities, goes to the Diogene Club. But does he take part in the life and in the world ?
We know no friend of his, and he is proud not to care about other people ("goldfishes" he despises). That's not enough, though, to prevent Moriarty from finding the flaw in his armour : Sherlock.
The link between the brothers is very special, but it is strong.
They never hesitate to help each other, and Mycroft is rather protective with Sherlock. He seems to appreciate John, thinking that he may have a positive influence on his brother.
Sherlock calls Mycroft when he needs to talk, at John's wedding for example.
When the brothers are close and in peace, they smoke a cigarette (a reminiscence of an early common transgression?). They both love their parents, share the same intelligence, above all norms, and are both sociopath. But Mycroft, a bit older and without any close friend (as far as we know) is even worst as a sociopath...
Sherlock - Look at them (a family weeping). They all care so much. Do you ever wonder if there is something wrong with us ?
Mycroft - All lives end, all hearts are broken. Caring is not an advantage, Sherlock.
Sherlock - [As a child] I used to think that I was an idiot.Mycroft - Both of us did, we had nothing to go on, until we met other children.
What says Sir A.C. Doyle about Mycroft?
Mark Gatiss' Mycroft preserves the spirit but is rather different from the original one, even in the physical description (see below S. Fry...)
[The Greek interpreter, introduction]
Sherlock says that his power of deduction is hereditary, "because my brother Mycroft possesses it in a larger degree than I do".
Watson is astonished to learn than Sherlock has a brother -seven years older- and that, despite greater powers of deduction, he is unknown.
Sherlock explains that Mycroft is rather well known in his own circle. But he is incapable of using his capacities as a detective:
"If the art of detective began and ended in reasoning from an arm-chair, my brother would be the greatest criminal agent that ever lived. But he has no ambition and no energy".
His profession ?
"He has an extraordinary faculty for figures, and audits the books in some of the government departments. He lodges in Pall Mall" and goes every day to the Diogenes Club, just opposite his flat.
"Mycroft Holmes was a much larger and stouter man than Sherlock. His body was absolutely corpulent, but his face, though massive, had preserved something of the sharpness of expression which was so remarkable in the of his brother. His eyes, which were of a peculiarly light, watery grey, seemed to always retain that far-away, introspective look which I had only observed in Sherlock's when he was exerting his full powers".
I wish to add that I really admire both Mycrofts:
Stephen Fry, closer from the canon -only a character in one single movie- exuberant, eccentric (naked at home when Mrs Watson wakes up), so British, funny, subtle but fierce and dangerous all the same.
Mark Gatiss, who was more free as one of the showrunners, performed another kind of subtle, fierce and dangerous man: if he dislikes moving out of his rooms, he does it frequently and seems much more active than Doyle's character. He is obsessed with protecting himself from the world around and especially from emotions. What is hidden deep in his powerful mind?
Mycroft if even more a mystery than Sherlock.
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