TV Show of the Week: Sherlock – Series 4 – Episode 1: The Six Thatchers

The following review is from the perspective of a (probably over exaggerated representation) of a (stereo)typical fan of Sherlock.

Warning: Spoilers

After a two year wait, Sherlock is finally back on our screens, with the darkest episode yet. Taking a load from two stories, The Six Napoleons and The Sign of the Four, as well as interweaving its own original story with Mary Watson’s involvement with A.G.R.O, and giving us a taster of Moriarty’s intelligence as it messes with Sherlock’s mind long after he killed himself on the rooftop at the end of series 2, this episode is the most packed we’ve ever seen, but it handles everything perfectly as always. After six years, since the first series ended in 2010, we, the audience, has accepted the three episodes, and the long gaps between, but it is still a bit disappointing to know when the third episode ends, and thus the series, there won’t be a new episode for quite a while, but that’s a good thing, to be honest. Sherlock can remain strong throughout each episode, engaging us and makes us want to return when it comes back. Two of the reasons why Sherlock isn’t on as often, is because of the lead actor’s prominent film career, and the head writer’s other commitments as well, but when an episode comes along, it’s incredible

Engaging, emotional, sets up future events in the series, darker, unexpected, this is by far one of the strongest episodes. During the time when Sherlock was waiting for Moriarty’s plan to start unfolding, he was having a bit of fun solving cases, and the attention to detail during that montage was immaculate. Plenty of references from the books and short stories, and seeing Sherlock deduce and solve is always a fun to see. Not only the story was strong, but Rachael Talaway’s directing was original and fresh, which impartially captured Sherlock’s ability to see things at a different angle, keeping the audience guessing and watching, waiting for the reveal when we can all slap our foreheads with the palm of our hands and say, ‘of course, why didn’t I think of that.’

None of us were expecting what happened at the end, and all of us are wondering how Sherlock and John will rekindle their friendship. It was stretched to the limit back in series 3 when Sherlock revealed he was still alive, but this time, it might have broken entirely. Sherlock has been given a mission to save John Watson after the death of his wife, Mary. John is left with his daughter, Rosamund, or Rosie for short, and is expected to slip down further than ever, until Sherlock can save him. Seeing the characters develop over the course of the series will be interesting, and makes me wonder where they will take them in the future.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Sherlock proved he was the perfect fit for the character, as well as Martin Freeman as John Watson. In fact, everyone was perfect for every role. In fact, everything is perfect.

As it’s a review, and I have praised the episode and the entire series quite a bit more than I probably should have done, maybe I should try and balance it out by giving something that the show could improve on. More episodes per series, shorter gaps between each series Anything this particular episode can improve on? Longer.

It’ll be 2019 before series 5 comes along if it continues with this pattern, I hope that it doesn’t end on a cliff-hanger like they did back at the end of series 2. A fifth series has been planned out by Stephen Moffatt and Mark Gatiss, and Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on, but series 4 cannot be the final series, nor can series 5. At least we’ve only got a week to go before the new episode, which is called, The Lying Detective, and introduces the new character played by Toby Jones, and I believe is strongly connected to Moriarty’s plan he had set up a few years ago and is now only just beginning.

If only Sherlock and Doctor Who crossed over, that way we would get to see the next episode earlier… wait, that’s not how that works, is it?

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)