From Basil Rathbone to Jonny Lee Miller, filmed adaptations abound that take Sherlock Holmes -- and his loyal friend, partner, and biographer, Dr. Watson -- out of their native Victorian London and place them in a different world. From the Second World War to the 1980s to the twenty-second century, the idea of thrusting Holmes and Watson into new and unchartered territory has proven irresistible.
Enter Sherlock, a television series produced by the BBC which places Holmes and Watson in 21st century London. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, the series (which airs only three episodes per season) has quickly become one of the most popular adaptations of Conan Doyle's stories and characters.
Season Two ended at quite the cliffhanger, with fans waiting nearly two years to see how Sherlock had "survived the fall." In this entry, we're taking a look back at the third and newest season of the show, which just finished airing on PBS last week.
Beware: Mild spoilers for previous seasons ahead!
EPISODE 1: THE EMPTY HEARSE
MS. B: In the original Conan Doyle stories, The Adventure of the Empty House features a Sherlock Holmes returning from his presumed death at the hands of Professor Moriarty three years before. The moment in which he reveals himself alive and well to his dear friend, Dr. Watson, is as fantastical as it heartwarming. "My dear Watson," begins Holmes, "I owe you a thousand apologies."
Most fans were disappointed in Empty Hearse for failing to give a definitive explanation of how Sherlock survived his jump off the top of St. Bartholomew's Hospital at the end of Season Two. But my disappointment was for a different reason -- we never get any real emotion. In this adaptation, Sherlock never sees fit to apologize for leaving his friend behind to mourn for the previous two years; in fact, he "wins" John's forgiveness not through a heartfelt apology, but trickery. Unfortunately, this lack of consequences for any of Sherlock's actions bleeds through the rest of the episode, as we discover that Moriarty had never been a real threat and that the crimes Sherlock was framed for last season have been brushed aside. With no consequences and no follow-through, the whole outing, at least for me, fell rather flat.
TRACY: I had been waiting almost two years for this episode, and it did not disappoint. Well, at least not in character development. The "mystery" was a little weak, but that was something I could overlook. What everyone wanted to know was, how did Sherlock survive -- and we sort of got the answer. Overall, I was very happy with this episode. Mostly I was just thrilled to be seeing Sherlock and John together again!
EPISODE 2: THE SIGN OF THREE
MS. B: Everything Empty Hearse got wrong for me, Sign of Three gets right. The previous episode had introduced us to Mary Morstan, John Watson's fiancée. This episode centers squarely on John and Mary's wedding, with the mystery coming into play thanks to the story Sherlock tells during his best man toast.
The way in which Sherlock's mystery-storytelling weaves into the episode's third act is clever and fun. But the real joy of this episode is in showing us a Sherlock who truly has changed from his "Reichenbach Fall" of the previous season. Still grumpy and callous, Sherlock nonetheless does his level-best to play his part as best man to the fullest, from a mathematically-calculated bachelor party to an outlined toast that leaves the reception guests in tears. His genuine care allows us to see the real friendship between the detective and the doctor, and his determination to place both John and Mary under his protection is truly touching. This is a changed Sherlock, indeed -- and an episode fully worth watching.
TRACY: At first viewing, I didn't think that I cared a whole lot for The Sign of Three, but after some discussions with friends, I realized that it was far more clever than I had realized. I think I was a little disillusioned with it initially, because I figured out the mystery before Sherlock did -- and that just shouldn't happen! Again, this is very much about watching the relationships grow and evolve.
EPISODE 3: HIS LAST VOW
MS. B: The final episode in the season ties together several threads, from both the original Conan Doyle stories and from the show's own previous episodes. The plot centers heavily on the mystery this time, showcasing this season's "Big Bad" -- Charles Augustus Magnussen, a blackmailer who deals in secrets and information. But Magnussen is not the only central mystery to be unraveled. Sherlock and John uncover a secret that could be the undoing of both of them, leaving Sherlock gravely injured and John fighting to protect his new wife.
The final solution, which showcases Sherlock making a horrifying sacrifice in order to protect his friends, left me a trifle uneasy. (Sherlock Holmes has always been something of a vigilante, but the lengths he proves willing to go here may push the character too dark.) Still, it was good to see Sherlock and John operating as a team once again, with a kind of mutual understanding we haven't seen since Season One's "The Great Game." Best of all, the ending held the promise of more satisfying adventures to come in future seasons.
TRACY: This is where everything paid off for me, and actually gave me a new perspective on the two previous episodes. There was still lots of character development. Plus, we got a new villain, one that Sherlock especially despises. Also, there were more twists and turns than the first two episodes had -- and a ending that, while not as shocking as season two's ending, was still quite surprising.
Check out past seasons from the Catalog:
"Sherlock" -- Series One
"Sherlock" -- Series Two
-- Post by Ms. B and Tracy
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