G.V. Pearce: As the title implies Ghost Story has some ghosts in it, but not just the human kind. The ghost of the past is present in every page, along with all the things – both good and bad – that might have been. At times life can be like that, when we look at the layers of dust that have settled across us all as the years go by. That’s where John is at this point in time, lost in the past and unsure of the future because the present is overwhelming.
However, hope is a theme that runs through Ghost Story like plant roots running wild. Personally I feel that hope is something we could all benefit in finding where we least expect it. Even in the most desperate and saddest of times we need to reach for the things that nourish us.
In this scene, in a home that has stood empty for decades, a mint plant has managed to flourish. Similarly John can thrive in their relationship because, while Sherlock always listens he only reacts when it's appropriate. Grand gestures aren't everything, sometimes quiet support is what keeps us going. Especially at times like these.