Sherlock Series 3

WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS!


And then the drums stopped, lightning cleared the sky, the twitterers of Twitter quietly clicked away into the night, and the game continues on. Ladies and gentlemen, the third prolific series of Sherlock is over.
A little while ago, I celebrated the barn-storming return of Sherlock, following a two year wait, with it's epic, twisting and fast-paced first episode. Yet just two short weeks later, it was over and done with for another series, and the legions of fans around the globe are now left fidgeting and twitching in the corner for another indefinite length of time. So, without wishing to repeat myself, I thought I'd just go over the undoubtedly popular series, through episodes one, two and three, commenting on what I liked, what I didn't, what was interesting, what was different; you know the drill. In fact, as this post is covering a whole three episodes, I shall even separate them clearly with bigger bolder type for you, aren't I nice (if slightly patronising)?


EPISODE 1: THE EMPTY HEARSE

Of course, when we had Sherlock back we had to have him back with a BANG! But this being Sherlock, and written and produced by people like Steven Moffat, it was naturally a bit more complicated than that. Yes, there was plenty of mind-spinning action, plenty of drama, more than a smattering of comedy, and quite a few surprises.
I'm sure you know by now the slight conundrum that had befallen fans who frantically wanted to know definitively how Sherlock faked his own death at the end of last series (and if you don't - see my previous Sherlock blog) and I think I was one of those who was a wee bit peeved that the minds behind Sherlock seemed to keep us guessing needlessly. Yet, I did enjoy the perceived lunacy, and the wonderfully epic sequences that resulted.

Sherlock's death/survival was, predictably a main factor of this episode. The other for me was the new and remarkable new depths of character arc and development produced before us. We had the odd new face, as Amanda Abbington was brought in to play John's love interest Mary (yes, we know she's Martin Freeman's real life love interest, but to all the tabloids - stop going on about it; they're both fabulous actors and they're both fabulous in Sherlock). We also got to see a lot of new stuff from the characters we have come to know and love, mainly through how they each individually reacted to Sherlock's resurrection. Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes' relationship was set to another level. which was a joy to watch. We had some lovely Molly/Sherlock moments that I was very grateful for in this episode. And of course, we got to see some totally new sides to the John Watson/Sherlock Holmes relationship. After all they've been through, it was reassuring to know that they still have a few blinders to pull out when it comes to their friendship, be it dramatic, funny or ridiculous. Theirs is a subtle relationship change that begins brilliantly in episode one, and resonates throughout series 3.


EPISODE TWO: THE SIGN OF THREE

The wedding episode! This is the episode which has apparently garnered the most criticism from those who feel the world is obliged to listen to them, yet it is one of my favourite Sherlock episodes by far. All that was discovered, rediscovered and celebrated in episode one, thankfully moved on and was transferred effortlessly into episode two, and then built upon tremendously. Before we even got to the wedding, there were some superb scenes in my opinion, featuring the incomparable Benedict Cumberbatch doing what he does best - displaying the manic, dangerous, hilarious, and wonderfully watchable qualities of Sherlock, all encompassed in the ridiculously great setting of planning a wedding.
Once we got to the wedding, yes we got a bit of jumping about through time and space (sorry for the possible tenuous Doctor Who reference there!) but it really wasn't rocket science to follow, and I felt it displayed a charmingly different way for the Sherlock team to ram a lot of stuff into one episode. From the utterly bonkers and brilliant "stag night" scenes, to not one but several chilling and gripping crime mysteries, some key moments of nostalgia for die-hard fans, to some unlikely relationships being kindled, to that Lara Pulver cameo, and a great array of human moments from almost all involved in the episode.

I really and truly loved this episode. To me, it had everything you could want from Sherlock, and a great deal more besides. If I had to pick, and thankfully I don't because it would be terribly difficult, but if I had to, The Sign of Three might just be my favourite of the series.


EPISODE THREE: HIS LAST VOW

All too soon, we reached the final episode of series three, His Last Vow. This right here is something I definitely DO NOT like, and I know for a fact I am not alone. Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss - I love your work but, either get on with making the damn show or give us more than three episodes when you do! I realise that scheduling is an issue, and I know Moffat lies and likes to think he is a Moriarty-esque mastermind tugging the strings of his audience like puppets, but really! Come on! Most new BBC series get at least six episodes a series, most dramas getting at least ten. We know you can do it, and we know the wonderful actors can deliver, so I simply ask you to get your act together and give your millions of loyal fans what they, and you deserve!

OK...mini-rant over. Now, the episode. Broadly speaking, it was a belter. Full of fantastic plot, some ingenious twists and character moments, and scenes and sequences that were glorious and a joy to watch. Of course we can't neglect to mention Amanda Abbington here, as her character's dramatic twist was truly the moment and catalyst of the night for me. The development of Molly's story, and the consequences of it, were what made this episode, rendering astounding performances from almost all involved. 

We also got a new villain in the shape of Charles Augustus Magnussen. Maybe it's the comparisons to Moriarty which I suppose are inevitable in cases like this, or perhaps the rushed nature in which they tried to set up and develop the villain, but I was in two minds here. Many praised Lars Mikkelsen for his cold, serpentine approach to Sherlock's new nemesis, and indeed in several areas I join in praising him. His scenes with guest star Lindsay Duncan were disgustingly brilliant, and his "face-flicking scene" with Martin Freeman was great to watch. Yet almost everywhere else, including when he faced off against Sherlock, to me it felt like he was trying way to hard. In trying to set this villain up as this incredibly clever, dominant, audacious, uncaring, powerhouse of a threat, I think that more often than not, we saw the strain with which Mikkelsen was trying to make his character believable. When everything was brought down in a close, personal way, he excelled, yet in trying to set up Charles Augustus Magnussen as a villain in such an epic way like they tried to do, I think sadly they failed in a lot of areas.

Speaking of Moriarty, how this episode, and the series ended, whilst being epic in nature and still a clever twist, left me feeling a bit hollow. I thought we were gearing up to something brilliant with series 4, when it looked like Sherlock might be jetting off to lands and adventures unknown. Yes I knew he'd have to return to London and John eventually, but that, in my view would have been a brain-blowingly brilliant way to lead into a new series. But no. We got the apparent shock-horror return of Jim Moriarty (which I for one enjoyed but could kind of see coming a mile off, ever since Sherlock's resurrection; if they brought him back you could tell they would want to bring his ultimate foe back too). Thus Sherlock was given immediate absolution and brought back to save the day.

Regardless of little niggles though, I loved series 3 of Sherlock, as I know did legions of others. It's return was well and truly due, and hopefully they won't keep us waiting that long for the next round of adventures. In the meantime, and if you haven't seen it already, Sherlock series 3 still graces iPlayer, and I believe the DVD has just been released, so have at it! Remember...the game is never over...