Holmes and Watson both receive this, although, in Watson's case, his characterization is the general fan-accepted characterization of intelligent, capable army surgeon Overshadowed by Awesome.
Holmes, on the other hand, is widely accepted either as asexual or homosexual. Or, if neither of those, then in love with Irene Adler. Here, all three are debunked spectacularly when the narrative implies that Holmes might be feeling something for a young woman but can't work out those feelings. Later on, he delivers some pretty thorough Take Thats to said theories, to his wife, no less.
He also once explains to another character that the Sherlock Holmes in the stories is a fictional character, with exaggerated traits. Which, actually, is entirely plausible.
Cargo Ship: While there's definitely Doctor/Rose here, the Doctor/TARDIS is also quite blatant.
Just about everything Beth does in the series is something that teens really shouldn't do, from tussles at school to tracking criminals down to their evil lair to... well...
Ever so slightly justified in the fact that, though it's a Coming of Age story for her, it's a fantasticalComing of Age story. Most teenagers (we think) will never have the chance to do what Beth does, and the themes of her story are responsibility, determination, forgiveness, friendship, and love.
Ensemble Dark Horse: Or the closest thing that series has to one! The plasmavore, originally a one-shot character in a TARDISode ("A Study in White"), returns for the finale and has a huge part to play.
Given how much Foreshadowing there is throughout the entire series, this pops up with chilling frequency in the finale.
“Not if you do not wish to truly experience your role and sleep on the street...” Which Beth actually ends up doing while on the run with the Irregulars.
“I should have cuffed you to the railing back at Baker Street.” Holmes cuffs Beth to the cab door just half an hour later, which starts the ball rolling on a world of trouble between the two.
Not to mention the use of Vincent Starrett's poem as a Motif for the finale. You will never think of the words "always 1895" the same way again.
OTP: Sherbeth (Holmes/Beth). For both authors. Like burning. One of them even came up with the Portmanteau Couple Name.
"Dynamics of a Point," first episode of the Season 1 finale, the finale that's been toted as utterly heartbreaking. What happens? Well, we all saw the breakup between Holmes and Watson coming, even though we hoped it wouldn't... But then something begins to happen to Reality, then both men are kidnapped, then Mrs. Hudson doesn't recognize Sally whom she met that morning, then it turns out that Professor Moriarty is ALIVE and in charge of Torchwood and Time has frozen.
"The Dying Detective" manages to beat that out though, in spades. "Every Good Fairytale" doesn't do so poorly, either, but "Detective" manages to be the Empire Strikes Back story of the finale cycle.
The Woobie: The Doctor's woobie status is solidified very early on in the very first episode. Holmes undergoes serious woobiefication by the middle of the first season, and Watson reaches that status in "Watson and Sparrow" (CoT's version of "Blink"). Sally becomes more of a woobie in the same episode. Then Beth re-enters the equation and probably ends up trumping them all until Holmes undergoes Cold-Blooded Torture. Even so, Beth remains the only one who actually dies... until she's no longer the only one who dies. It's all timey-wimey, and both the Holmeses are woobies in the second season.
