I'm not sure it matters? I mean to say, idk. They aren't presented as having a sexual relationship in the books. That doesn't mean the author didn't *intend* that or imagine them that way.

HP author stated after the last book that she *always* knew Dumbledore was gay. It just wasn't part of the written story, per se.

When authors don't explicitly let the public know about what else is going on their imagined world, there's simply no way to "know" for sure, by research or otherwise.

They'd be a cute couple tho lol

Why not try reading the books and come up with your own conclusion?

I'd say read them and come to your own conclusion. I always thought Holmes was asexual, but anything is possible I suppose.

The concept of "friendship" used to be different than it was today and a lot of things that weren't necessarily seen as romantic or sexual back then might be viewed as such today.

Even men used to be much more comfortable showing physical affection without it having a sexual meaning or feeling behind it.

I think with the Victorian era, especially, we tend to look at them and think that they were just like us but with steam and some sexual repression. It was just different, and you have to take that into account when looking at the era.

Maybe there really is some evidence to suggest they were romantically or sexually involved. I don't know, but I'd be very careful evaluating any "evidence" and remember that it was a different time.

I've read the original books, not the newer ones, but I'd never got that impression about them. I believe today we'd call it a bromance. Watson marries and Holmes shows no resentment towards his wife, but merely laments that he doesn't see his friend as much as he used to. And Holmes eschewed romance and the thought of getting married. He reasoned that such things would affect his abilities, but he did seem happy enough thinking about settling down with a woman when he retired. The only time he showed interest in anyone, man or woman, was when he came across a woman who had bested him. After the case had finished, he kept a picture of her, and was seen to be looking at her fondly.

Errant's response is exactly correct - Watson is usually married during the run of the stories (in fact, he married at the end of the very first novel). Holmes is - at best - a mysogynist, which Doyle had done on purpose to make him disagreeable; Doyle didn't understand why women still wanted Holmes.

Irene Adler (the actress who out-maneuvered him) was the closest he ever came to admiring a woman because she could think at his level.

Because he doesn't compartmentalize his life - keeping hobbies, work, etc, separate - this suggests he is an integrated person, and knows that relationships will distract him from his work (which Errant had mentioned). Remember, Holmes throws himself body and soul into his work and hobbies - he'd do the same in a relationship which is why he'd be saving marriage for his retirement, so he can focus on that.

Besides, according to the Wold Newton Universe theory, Nero Wolfe is his son by Irene Adler.

In the books Holmes is a serious coke head and extremely messed up, him and Watson has a weirdly co-dependent relationship as well. There are several references to Watson being gay until he gets engaged. Personally I always thought Sir Doyle was aiming towards a gay relationship. Love it!

Watch "House". That's what it's based on.

I'm unsure on the original stories, as it has been some time that I have read them and I did not read them in chronological order. I do know that it is mentioned in the BBC/PBS modern reinterpretation called Sherlock. There it is clearly stated that neither are gay. Not that it matters very much at the end of the day since it's not really all that necessary to the plot.