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Performance in a Leading Role #1
Performance in a Leading Role
Sherlock/Watson Fanfic
Sherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto. When they are cast as a gay couple in a new independent drama, will they surprise each other? Will their on-screen romance make its way into the real world?
Words: 156,714 complete
Cover by uncreativeart
Sherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto. When they are cast as a gay couple in a new independent drama, will they surprise each other? Will their on-screen romance make its way into the real world?
Words: 156,714 complete
Cover by uncreativeart
470 pages, ebook
First published December 30, 2011
10 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
MadLori
6 books52 followersAka: Lori Summers, madlorivoldmort.
Madlori is a multifandom fan writer. She was known as Lori Summers (or just "Lori") in Harry Potter fandom, where she wrote the popular HP/HG epic The Paradigm of Uncertainty.
Ao3 @ http://archiveofourown.org/users/Mad_...
FFnet @ https://www.fanfiction.net/u/971433/M...
LJ @ http://madlorific.livejournal.com/
Madlori is a multifandom fan writer. She was known as Lori Summers (or just "Lori") in Harry Potter fandom, where she wrote the popular HP/HG epic The Paradigm of Uncertainty.
Ao3 @ http://archiveofourown.org/users/Mad_...
FFnet @ https://www.fanfiction.net/u/971433/M...
LJ @ http://madlorific.livejournal.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 3, 2013
I forgive you for Alone on the Water, Mad Lori.
April 8, 2013
Not at all that terrible, and quite enjoyable, to a point.
Some forgivable misapprehensions with regards to how men fuck one another and/or think about fucking one another and/or how often either of those two things occur.
Some nice scenes in the film shoot.
But not a very good story, sadly; a little half-assed, and too long, and off-pagey with the dramatic developments, toward the end, which is a shame—it was hard enough to accept the AU premise to begin with, but once that's sorted out there was fun to be had, but not much in evidence.
Some forgivable misapprehensions with regards to how men fuck one another and/or think about fucking one another and/or how often either of those two things occur.
Some nice scenes in the film shoot.
But not a very good story, sadly; a little half-assed, and too long, and off-pagey with the dramatic developments, toward the end, which is a shame—it was hard enough to accept the AU premise to begin with, but once that's sorted out there was fun to be had, but not much in evidence.
November 24, 2012
This started out really good, but after the guys got together (at less than 30% into this long, long book) things stopped happening between them and started happening only to them. This was interesting, given the setting, but it stopped being fascinating.
Most of the dramatic things happening to them were also happening off-page on top of that (Sydney, family visits for both of them, Christmas Eve, etc), so we only got to see the subsequent discussion of said events, which is really not as engaging as taking the reader there 'live'. Most of the time both guys were just unflappable, but whenever one did get flapped (usually, but not exclusively, at those same off-page events), things would get smoothed over with reassurances of love and devotion and follow up sex within a couple of paragraphs. *sigh* I skimmed most of the sex after 50%.
A few scenes stand out, such as the , but apart from those scenes 2/3 of the book reads like an endless epilogue.
Most of the dramatic things happening to them were also happening off-page on top of that (Sydney, family visits for both of them, Christmas Eve, etc), so we only got to see the subsequent discussion of said events, which is really not as engaging as taking the reader there 'live'. Most of the time both guys were just unflappable, but whenever one did get flapped (usually, but not exclusively, at those same off-page events), things would get smoothed over with reassurances of love and devotion and follow up sex within a couple of paragraphs. *sigh* I skimmed most of the sex after 50%.
A few scenes stand out, such as the , but apart from those scenes 2/3 of the book reads like an endless epilogue.
January 7, 2014
Okay, weird to find this on here, since it's fanfic, but since it's the best fanfic I've ever read, sure, I'll cop to it. I read it about a year ago November (so, November 2012) after seeing art from the scene where John comes to Sherlock's final show with flowers on Diane Duane's Tumblr. (...so my favorite childhood writer connected me with BBC Sherlock fanfic. Again, weird.)
The premise is that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are actors starring in a movie about a gay couple and life imitates art--which sounds AWFUL--and part of the beauty of this is that it's NOT. It's compelling, touching, sweet, and cute--basically, a comfort read.
Taking the characters of John and Sherlock roughly as drawn in the BBC show and translating them into an entirely different world is also rather neat.
It has some very explicit sex scenes, which frankly I think are the weakest part. (Another sign of a good fanfic--the trashy bits are not what you read it for.) As far as I'm concerned, it's character development that matters, and this certainly has that. The development of the relationship, the bumps and trials and Sherlock being sweet, are what's good about it--and the exploration of how friends, family, and Hollywood handle it, of course. There's a great bit partway through that's transcriptions of interviews on talk shows and as far as I can tell (not having seen much of these shows) it's SPOT ON.
Yes, there's stuff that is repetitive--Sherlock is kind of insecure and can't logically explain falling in love, different versions of the conversation about commitment and reassurance come up repeatedly--but it's pure fluff and so that's okay.
...shut up don't judge me it's CUTE.
The premise is that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are actors starring in a movie about a gay couple and life imitates art--which sounds AWFUL--and part of the beauty of this is that it's NOT. It's compelling, touching, sweet, and cute--basically, a comfort read.
Taking the characters of John and Sherlock roughly as drawn in the BBC show and translating them into an entirely different world is also rather neat.
It has some very explicit sex scenes, which frankly I think are the weakest part. (Another sign of a good fanfic--the trashy bits are not what you read it for.) As far as I'm concerned, it's character development that matters, and this certainly has that. The development of the relationship, the bumps and trials and Sherlock being sweet, are what's good about it--and the exploration of how friends, family, and Hollywood handle it, of course. There's a great bit partway through that's transcriptions of interviews on talk shows and as far as I can tell (not having seen much of these shows) it's SPOT ON.
Yes, there's stuff that is repetitive--Sherlock is kind of insecure and can't logically explain falling in love, different versions of the conversation about commitment and reassurance come up repeatedly--but it's pure fluff and so that's okay.
...shut up don't judge me it's CUTE.
i-ll-return-mayhaps
August 17, 2015Hmm I've only got to the end of the second chapter and I'm exhausted!
For the bit I've read it feels fast because it's all dialogue.
Sherlock doesn't appear a very likeable character but honestly neither is the cannon Sherlock.
There seems to be a lot of name dropping from both Sherlock and the film world, personally I find a long appendix really off-putting. It means me not feeling much for the characters and it resembling a conversation I'm excluded from.
Never say never, but not tonight's reading.
For the bit I've read it feels fast because it's all dialogue.
Sherlock doesn't appear a very likeable character but honestly neither is the cannon Sherlock.
There seems to be a lot of name dropping from both Sherlock and the film world, personally I find a long appendix really off-putting. It means me not feeling much for the characters and it resembling a conversation I'm excluded from.
Never say never, but not tonight's reading.
July 26, 2014
Hell yeah, I don't even care it's not canon. This right here is why people should read more fanfiction. This is a legend in itself. I can read this again and again without ever getting bored. Thanks Mad_Lori!
February 17, 2022
li faz uns 5 ano no auge da minha obsessão c sherlock holmes lembro q era mto bom a escrita até a parte q eles fazem sexo q dai eh tipo mto sem graça pq acaba toda a tensão e dali p frente soh fica :I
March 11, 2024
Uneven and long,
with bonus boring details.
I skimmed for romance.
with bonus boring details.
I skimmed for romance.
better-not
January 16, 2015Having read the reviews, I tagged this as better-not. Then I forgot about it, went on Ao3, looked for popular Sherlock fics, found this one and started reading. Such a bad idea. Don't get me wrong. Some parts of this fic were really good (i.e. the transcripts from Letterman or Ellen DeGeneres and generally the depiction of the Show Biz seemed spot on, not that I know much about it), but all in all this basically bored me to tears and Sherlock was way out of character to have the feel of a Johnlock fic. Also, to have Sherlock make crazy assumptions about others, but to never explain how he came to his conclusions just makes it kind of pointless to read.
As I said, it wasn't all bad, some of my favourite quotes:
"like a smitten schoolboy" Finally it's a schoolBOY, not an overly emotional teenage girl. Thank you, MadLori!
"Some things go without saying."
John sighed. "They sometimes go better with saying.
"Surely it’ll be a relief to be rid of me and all my self-important arrogance for two weeks.”
“No. It won’t.”
He sighed. “Come on, John. Work with me. I can’t maintain my flippant nonchalance if you insist on being all -- truthful.”
“Oh, sorry. Well, in that case, I certainly won’t miss your nicotine patches everywhere.”"
As I said, it wasn't all bad, some of my favourite quotes:
"like a smitten schoolboy" Finally it's a schoolBOY, not an overly emotional teenage girl. Thank you, MadLori!
"Some things go without saying."
John sighed. "They sometimes go better with saying.
"Surely it’ll be a relief to be rid of me and all my self-important arrogance for two weeks.”
“No. It won’t.”
He sighed. “Come on, John. Work with me. I can’t maintain my flippant nonchalance if you insist on being all -- truthful.”
“Oh, sorry. Well, in that case, I certainly won’t miss your nicotine patches everywhere.”"
March 22, 2018
One of the best fan fictions I’ve ever read! I love rereading this! It’s fun and cute and theres just enough angst!
January 21, 2020
[flashback de la guerra]
November 19, 2021
I can't say enough good things about this story. One of the best fanfictions I've read and better than several published works. I'm a sucker for AUs and honestly feel this work should be judged almost as its own novel separate from BBC's Sherlock because criticism around it not being enough "like" the BBC show is irrelevant in my opinion to the brilliance of the work itself.
I downloaded the also amazing podfic of this story and it's one of my favorite comfort-listens.
I downloaded the also amazing podfic of this story and it's one of my favorite comfort-listens.
January 10, 2013
this got really really saccharine towards the last half. like, incredibly so. i hesitate to say this but almost saccharine. but. erk. sometimes you need that, y'know?
It was alright. Not my favorite.
It was alright. Not my favorite.
February 27, 2013
This is a moderately successful story about two gay actors; it really doesn't have anything to do with the BBC Sherlock.
February 27, 2017
I'd give this book 4.5 stars up to the point when Sherlock and Holmes got together. But after that, sadly, excluding a few noteworthy pages, the rating drops to 3.
However, I have to admit, if I forget about the real Sherlock, this story is good. But keeping him in mind makes it awfully apparent that this is a fanfic. I think, MadLori should write authentic, non-fanfic stories sometime. She'd be really good at it.
However, I have to admit, if I forget about the real Sherlock, this story is good. But keeping him in mind makes it awfully apparent that this is a fanfic. I think, MadLori should write authentic, non-fanfic stories sometime. She'd be really good at it.
August 1, 2017
Don't recall when I read this exactly, but I remember really enjoying it.
March 29, 2019
Classic
May 16, 2023
This is just THE FANFIC! It’s amazing and I really enjoyed and loved it so much! Thank you for writing this, I needed it and I didn’t know that until I read it!
March 24, 2025
Honestly, this is a top tier fanfic. I really like that there's no third act breakup, and they are such a great pairing.
June 19, 2022
I rarely read plain contemporary romance anymore (i.e., not SF, fantasy or paranormal, nor even mystery/suspense), but this M/M tale with real-people cameos was mentioned in comments on another "Johnlock" fic as a must-read, and I decided to give it a try. I'm very glad I did.
It's full of charming wit and emotion, and how-Hollywood-works insight, all with protagonists who are very much in-character (Sherlock and John, NOT Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) despite the different paths they've taken.
And BTW, don't overlook the extras, including Lifetime Achievement, a follow-up wedding fic.
Second half± reread 6/2022, because I remembered a particular favorite moment, and felt the impulse to go find it, then "couldn't" stop. 😄
I was/am reading this author's Harry-Potter-in-his-20s Harmony-vs.-new/old-evil AU, Harry Potter and The Paradigm Of Uncertainty, https://archiveofourown.org/works/374... — which was written as Lori Summers, way back in 2000, before half the canon series was even published (and which incidentally turns out to also be a crossover with Margaret Mahy's The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance, which I read ~mumble~ years ago) — but between the less polished and mature style and content, and the sometimes jarring backstory/ world differences, I'm finding it hard to become fully immersed, and wanted to reassure myself that this favorite was as good as I remembered it. It is.
It's full of charming wit and emotion, and how-Hollywood-works insight, all with protagonists who are very much in-character (Sherlock and John, NOT Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) despite the different paths they've taken.
And BTW, don't overlook the extras, including Lifetime Achievement, a follow-up wedding fic.
Second half± reread 6/2022, because I remembered a particular favorite moment, and felt the impulse to go find it, then "couldn't" stop. 😄
I was/am reading this author's Harry-Potter-in-his-20s Harmony-vs.-new/old-evil AU, Harry Potter and The Paradigm Of Uncertainty, https://archiveofourown.org/works/374... — which was written as Lori Summers, way back in 2000, before half the canon series was even published (and which incidentally turns out to also be a crossover with Margaret Mahy's The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance, which I read ~mumble~ years ago) — but between the less polished and mature style and content, and the sometimes jarring backstory/ world differences, I'm finding it hard to become fully immersed, and wanted to reassure myself that this favorite was as good as I remembered it. It is.
February 13, 2017
Curioso que precisamente en estas fechas, cercanas a los Oscares leí este otro fan fic que hizo mi vida tan buena.
La historia es sencilla: dos actores, se encuentran en una misma filmación: uno es un actor de clase B que quiere ser respetado por todo Hollywood( y tiene una barba, su agente que también lo usa a él como su barba); otro actor, aclamado por la crítica, con premios por montón que ahora esta pasando por un mal momento pues su carrera se ha estancado. Inevitablemente se vuelven amigos y descubren las mil maneras en que este filme los acerca.
Conclusión: es genial. Son capítulos largos como la cuaresma, pero preciosos y bien escritos. madLori es de esas pocas escritoras que te traen esos pedazos de información sobre un mundo cercano y lejano a la vez.
El drama es poco, pero vale la pena leerlo.
La historia es sencilla: dos actores, se encuentran en una misma filmación: uno es un actor de clase B que quiere ser respetado por todo Hollywood( y tiene una barba, su agente que también lo usa a él como su barba); otro actor, aclamado por la crítica, con premios por montón que ahora esta pasando por un mal momento pues su carrera se ha estancado. Inevitablemente se vuelven amigos y descubren las mil maneras en que este filme los acerca.
Conclusión: es genial. Son capítulos largos como la cuaresma, pero preciosos y bien escritos. madLori es de esas pocas escritoras que te traen esos pedazos de información sobre un mundo cercano y lejano a la vez.
El drama es poco, pero vale la pena leerlo.
December 30, 2018
I STILL FEEL BAD ABOUT COUNTING FIC, goddammit! But hey, it's a fuck ton of pages.
Now, this is one of my favourite AU fics (and it still holds up though I'm not even into Sherlock anymore). I love the details, I love how easily this integrates into real life show business through all the references. I'm not a film geek, but there's a lot of expert knowledge here that makes this exciting beyond it being a Johnlock fic, even. At some point later in the fic, I actually got less interested in the relationship and more into all the antics around it... but then again, I'm not an active shipper right now, so it's just my personal experience. So yeah... it's not a perfect fic, but it's a prime example of how to make AUs WORK. (I can't help compare this fic to Love-In-Idleness, which I'm pretty sure is actually based on it. There's some things I actually like more about Love-in-Idleness, but Performance really goes that last step towards realism.)
There's just one detail driving me crazy:
(Also, I keep being amazed how easy it is to make Sherlock less of a huge asshole. TV show writers, why don't you learn from fandom??)
Now, this is one of my favourite AU fics (and it still holds up though I'm not even into Sherlock anymore). I love the details, I love how easily this integrates into real life show business through all the references. I'm not a film geek, but there's a lot of expert knowledge here that makes this exciting beyond it being a Johnlock fic, even. At some point later in the fic, I actually got less interested in the relationship and more into all the antics around it... but then again, I'm not an active shipper right now, so it's just my personal experience. So yeah... it's not a perfect fic, but it's a prime example of how to make AUs WORK. (I can't help compare this fic to Love-In-Idleness, which I'm pretty sure is actually based on it. There's some things I actually like more about Love-in-Idleness, but Performance really goes that last step towards realism.)
There's just one detail driving me crazy:
(Also, I keep being amazed how easy it is to make Sherlock less of a huge asshole. TV show writers, why don't you learn from fandom??)
June 19, 2023
I'll start by stating my bias - if MadLori wrote it, chances are, I'll want to read it. Doesn't matter if I'm actually into the fandom or not, her writing is so awesome that I'll read it either way.
I've only seen 4-5 episodes of Sherlock, but since this fanfic takes place in an alternative universe anyway, I didn't think that would matter too much. I knew how Sherlock and Watson were supposed to look to my mind's eye, and that's really all that mattered.
"Performance in a Leading Role" is just as ridiculously readable as pretty much everything else MadLori has written, and I greatly enjoyed it. There wasn't nearly as much angst as her fics often contain (her Criminal Minds fanfic broke me), but just as much humour (I laughed out loud on a regular basis) and passion. She writes relationships SO WELL! Not just the sexy parts either, but also the every-day 'mundane' basics of living together with another person.
My favourite fanfic of hers is still "How to Fight Loneliness" (the aforementioned Criminal Minds fic), but this one was highly enjoyable as well.
I've only seen 4-5 episodes of Sherlock, but since this fanfic takes place in an alternative universe anyway, I didn't think that would matter too much. I knew how Sherlock and Watson were supposed to look to my mind's eye, and that's really all that mattered.
"Performance in a Leading Role" is just as ridiculously readable as pretty much everything else MadLori has written, and I greatly enjoyed it. There wasn't nearly as much angst as her fics often contain (her Criminal Minds fanfic broke me), but just as much humour (I laughed out loud on a regular basis) and passion. She writes relationships SO WELL! Not just the sexy parts either, but also the every-day 'mundane' basics of living together with another person.
My favourite fanfic of hers is still "How to Fight Loneliness" (the aforementioned Criminal Minds fic), but this one was highly enjoyable as well.
November 9, 2015
After Alone on the Water, this is the single most obsession-inducing Sherlock fan fic I've ever read (and I've read quite a few). It's just so believable despite shifting the entire milieu, and yes, it does seem to go on and on, but the good parts are so good that its faults don't matter. It captures everything: the initial spark, the restless longing, the hesitation before plunging in, the absolute ecstasy of being together, the homophobic reactions of the people, the idyllic getaways...I could go on and on, but I'd like to add just one more thing: it's this fic that made a hardcore JohnLock shipper out of me. I love your work, Mad_Lori! You're a writer and Sherlock fan extraordinaire!
And oh, despite its length, I've read it multiple times. And it still hasn't stopped tugging at my heartstrings.
Wow, the fact that I reread it in October 2015 and still curled up in a ball of mush tells you everything that you need to know. I LOVE PIALR AND I CANNOT GET OVER JOHNLOCK
And oh, despite its length, I've read it multiple times. And it still hasn't stopped tugging at my heartstrings.
Wow, the fact that I reread it in October 2015 and still curled up in a ball of mush tells you everything that you need to know. I LOVE PIALR AND I CANNOT GET OVER JOHNLOCK
July 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this story and I wish I had read it sooner. Without going into a long winded rant, I'll just say that it addressed the backlash of homosexuality in society in a simple yet realistic way. Even though I felt that it was a little censored, it was insightful as to how people in the same 'community' respond in different ways. Take for example the 'gay community' in this fic. While some cheered and celebrated, others were offended as they felt it was wrong for Sherlock and John to come out and become poster boys without fully enduring what others have to go through every day.
The only reason I gave this 4 stars was because this is a Sherlock fanfic and I found it extremely difficult to imagine Sherlock and John act in this way (not the homosexuality part, just their personalities).
The only reason I gave this 4 stars was because this is a Sherlock fanfic and I found it extremely difficult to imagine Sherlock and John act in this way (not the homosexuality part, just their personalities).
January 7, 2015
John, is a rom-com king looking to reinvent his acting career. Sherlock, is an Oscar winner hoping to rejuvenate his career. Both are cast in a film involving a gay couple. They become quick friends then lovers. I liked this story, it felt organic and all the Hollywood jargon was well done. John and Sherlock were very vivid, they were a great couple and very believable. there was not much internal angst, all problems originated from the public reception of their relationship and what would happen to their careers if news got out that they were gay. I liked it but it was too long, I was losing interest toward the end.
January 22, 2022
By far my favorite Sherlock AU. In fact I loved that it only vaguely borrows the 2 main characters from canon, and the story in itself is all original. It was refreshing. Like I was reading an entirely new thing, but with a sense of knowing the characters. Lovely. And I also loved the evolution of their relationship and the details about the movie industry and showbiz. It's quite a long story, but I was never bored. In fact I read it twice. Yes, their love story is very sugary and out of a fairytale, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want to read.
June 10, 2013
I'm not sure how I feel about this fic.
At first I didn't like Madlori's writing in this story, but then it got better or maybe I got used to it. The story flows nicely but I think it would have worked better as a original story, instead of Johnlock. IMO, most charater were a little OOC.
HOwever, some of scenes were really nice and emotional and I also liked the relationship between Sherlock and John.
It's become a fandom classic.
It's worth a reading. Most people love it.
At first I didn't like Madlori's writing in this story, but then it got better or maybe I got used to it. The story flows nicely but I think it would have worked better as a original story, instead of Johnlock. IMO, most charater were a little OOC.
HOwever, some of scenes were really nice and emotional and I also liked the relationship between Sherlock and John.
It's become a fandom classic.
It's worth a reading. Most people love it.
September 10, 2016
I like the first 20-30% a lot – the nice scenes in the film shoot with some fine details about acting. But after that my interest slowly declined till I was about to stop reading. Sherlock Holmes is portraited too girly/emotional. Watson is more true to the original BBC-Watson. The book is way too long compared to the amount of content. It could benefit a lot from getting cut down to half the length by sharping up.
February 11, 2015
I had no idea that fanfiction could be a part of goodreads but apparently it can provided it is self published, novel-length, and complete. I'd read this before and loved it (as I do a lot of johnlock) so I read it again for this. At more than 156k words, it's certainly novel length. Going to have to research what others of my favourite fanfics are around here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews