Let’s be honest.  Sherlock Holmes is a dick.  I haven’t read any of the books but every character based on the novels, whether it’s Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr. or Hugh Laurie they are all Grade A assholes.  Charlotte Holmes is no different.  And you know what, it’s kind of wonderful.  Now don’t get me wrong.  Charlotte may be a genius but she’s not a role model either.  Too often, female characters in book, movie and TV shows have to be likable and often one dimensional.  This includes when they are the main character.  Male protagonists don’t have this problem.  They can be a dick and still be the hero.  Charlotte is cold and calculated.  She doesn’t adhere to social norms and doesn’t try to fit in.  She is also a recovering drug addict teenage girl that is less then a year removed from being sexually assaulted.  In other words, she complicated and complex as her great great great great literary grandfather and that’s just fine.  Like Sherlock Holmes, Charlotte is humanized by her Watson.  Jamie keeps her from completely losing her humanity but he’s also her weakness as she is his.  Jamie frequently asks why he continues to stay friends and be in love with Charlotte when she often ignores him, insults him and is constantly puts himself in danger but every time he has a chance to leave he can’t.  Instead, he puts himself in the line of fire to try to protect each other.  In their own way Jamie and Charlotte try to protect each other only to hurt each other even more.  It’s complicated and complex.  They are a powder keg ready to blow.  Charlotte still dealing with the trauma of her rape and Jamie is respectful of that but he can’t deny his own feelings and wants.  There is this thread of tension because you know they both want more from each other but unable to give it.  There is always frustration and relief but also realism in it.  One does not just get over something like that and one does not turn off ones feelings each other.  Both Charlotte and Jamie are allowed to show all their faults.  They are allowed to be unlikable.  They complicated and complex and it’s wonderful.