swissmarg | (Reply)

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Yes, but to me that's the same as John realizing later that Sherlock did it to save him. Even if it was done for noble and good reasons, the fact of the lies and manipulations remain. Sherlock may have hoped that John would piece it together, realize that Sherlock is not dead, and not suffer, but if so, then he might as well have told him in the first place. The whole point of keeping John in the dark was, a) because Sherlock didn't think that John could play-act well enough to convince Moriarty's men that Sherlock was dead, and b) (probably) to keep him safe and not have John go after Sherlock and try to help him. Once John realizes it was a trick before Sherlock returns, he would be going after him, and that would blow the entire cover.