John and Sherlock's friendship has become inequal

I whole-heartedly second this. Quote by a user from sherlockforum.com named Zain:

I've been watching some fan vids ( god, I really waste a lot of my time on this show. Ridiculous...)
And I finally understand the exact reason why I find the idea of Victor so compelling. Dunno if anybody cares but maybe somebody recognizes that feeling? Because I've read more than once that others feel similiar about the third season.

In the past three seasons, we've seen a lot of different characters. It's a narrow set in comparison to other TV shows but there have been plenty of faces. While the show is about Sherlock, positive interaction rarely happens in his presence. Yes, he has got Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade, and Molly, but I don't think he ever really laughed around them. We never get to see him happy around somebody but John. He's content, yes. But he never appears happy. To me, the most memorable scene is when John and Sherlock return to 221b in ASiP after chasing the cab. I don't think Sherlock ever shares something like this with anybody else.
John, on the other hand, seems happier throughout the series. Then, in season 3, it becomes even more pronounced when he has got Mary.
It's like Sherlock needs John around to be happy, while John is capable of finding that elsewhere. He misses Sherlock, yes, and I am sure he values their friendship. But in this regard, their friendship is not on equal footing. John doesn't need Sherlock as much as Sherlock does need John. It's why John says "Goodbye" instead of "Take me with you because I can't let you go a second time." And that in itself is perfectly okay. It would be stupid to criticize that John is happy. But to me, season three makes a point of showing how Sherlock and John have not the same priorities.
I suppose that's where the idea behind Victor Trevor gets in. I feel like Sherlock should have at least one true friend before John. Someone that made him laugh, someone that laughed with him. Since season 3, I feel like their friendship is very fragile. Not because Sherlock faked his death, but because it has become evident that John can do without Sherlock. He might not want to, but he could walk away if he wanted to. I don't think Sherlock could.
It makes me feel very sad for Sherlock. He reminds me of a raven looking for breadcrumbs. And the man who enjoyed feeding him has found another afternoon activity. The man might drop by sometimes, but he does no longer feel the inner need to be there every day at the same time. The raven, meanwhile, remains at the same spot. Hoping. Because maybe this day will be the day, the day when the man will drop in once again.
I feel uncomfortable with this. To me, their friendship was beautiful because it was equal, no matter how bossy Sherlock sometimes had been.

And I don't think you can repair this. Even if John lost everything else, Sherlock would now be just be "an option", not "the option." I have a hard time seeing how their relationship could be put on an equal footing once again. I feel like Sherlock needs another person that fascinates him, that draws Sherlock's eyes to them whenever there's nothing to focus on. Like the moment when you avert your eyes from the TV screen, just to make sure that the person next to you is alright. Just to check that they are still there. Because you couldn't do without them. I want somebody like this for Sherlock. Someone who looks at him, and someone Sherlock looks at.
 I believe that John and Sherlock's friendship can only get more equal when John realizes that it is inequal. When he sees it from the other side, when he's the third person, the one Sherlock is not looking at for confirmation.

And I believe this has got to happen in season 4. I cannot imagine another season with their friendship in utter ruins. Something has got to make them approach each other once again. It'll never be the same, but I really hate this inequality.