Benedict Cumberbatch called Martin Freemans fan-blaming comments pathetic
Last week, I mentioned in a Benedict Cumberbatch post that Bendy had said something shady about and in reaction to Martin Freeman. Freeman complained several months ago about how the Sherlock fandom had ruined the show, and that the fans wanted Sherlock and John Watson to get together so badly that they were going to hate the show if that didn’t happen. It was a weird thing to complain about in general, especially considering that the quality of the writing fell off a cliff after the second season and most die-hard Sherlock fans have moved on at this point.
Anyway, last week, Benedict was asked about Freeman’s previous comments and he said: “I think…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.” This is a reminder that after the fourth season of Sherlock aired, there was a lot of talk about how Benedict and Martin were done with it… not because of the writing or the fans, but because they never liked each other in the first place and they were tired of pretending to be friends. Well, in any case, people are still asking Benedict about Freeman’s comments, and this is what he had to say in a new interview with The Telegraph:
Benedict Cumberbatch shot back at Martin Freeman’s infamous criticism of Sherlock fandom, calling his costar’s gripe “pathetic.” You’ll recall Freeman said doing the detective series was “not fun anymore,” citing “people’s expectations” for another season, and how it’s “it’s not a thing to be enjoyed, it’s a thing of: ‘You better f—ing do this, otherwise, you’re a c—.’”
In an interview with The Telegraph, Cumberbatch was asked about Freeman’s comments, and this is what he said: “It’s pretty pathetic if that’s all it takes to let you not want to take a grip of your reality. What, because of expectations? I don’t know. I don’t necessarily agree with that … There’s a level of obsession where [the franchise] becomes [the fans’] even though we’re the ones making it. But I just don’t feel affected by that in the same way, I have to say.”
A fifth season of Sherlock is considered highly unlikely to happen anytime soon due to the busy schedules of Cumberbatch and Freeman. Cumberbatch will next be seen reprising his role as Doctor Strange in Avengers: Infinity War. Freeman was most recently seen in Marvel’s Black Panther.
As I said after the fourth season finale, I’m completely fine with them not making any more episodes. I’ve had my fill. It was brilliant for two seasons, okay for one season and absolute garbage for one season. Martin and Benedict clearly despise each other and Steven Moffat drove this Sherlock car off the f–king cliff years ago. Let’s just call it a day! (Also: Benedict is right, Martin’s fan-blaming comments were pathetic… but wow!)
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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