Win me back, Sherlock.

I don’t really know what to think about Sherlock’s Season 3 The Empty Hearse. 

Well, actually, that’s a lie. I’m trying to be nice, because to be critical about a show I love so much, (and has so rarely miss-stepped), is remarkably unpleasant. So here is the truth--The Empty Hearse is rubbish.

Hold on you die hard fan. Read.


Let me say that I consider myself a very level-headed aficionado of the BBC’s reincarnation of Sherlock. I’m not into cosplay, I don’t salivate over every interview and movie of Benedict Cumberbatch, and I even bristle at the idea that any girl would submit to calling herself a ‘cumberbitch’ for that matter. (Have some self respect, Ladies!) I digress. 

From the first few minutes of A Study in Pink, I loved Sherlock. It’s one of the few shows that treats its audience (with few exceptions), as an intelligent bunch who deserve top notch entertainment, in sharp contrast to the predominately serialized crap we Americans are fed on TV. 


This is why I am so disappointed to see Sherlock sinking to the lowest denominator in The Empty Hearse. It’s like Mark Gatiss sat down with a list of the Sherlock fandoms and just checked off every one as he wrote the script. SherlockXMolly? Check. SherlockXMoriarty? Check. Shirtless!Sherlock? Check. Remind the audience ONE MORE TIME that John isn't gay? Check. 


One could argue that The Empty Hearse is winking at Sherlock's massive popularity and rabid fan base. I’m sure that was the intent. A 1.5 hour love letter to the fans. But shouldn't they have taken the high road rather than submit to blatant fan service? Sherlock shirtless as a humorous and effective part of the plot in season two worked. His poor treatment of Molly, and eventual recognition of his cruelty/apathy, worked. His genius at war with Moriarty worked. These were just scenes that flowed beautifully with the overall plot. These were the scenes that led to the fandoms. So why on earth did The Empty Hearse have to capitalize on the stuff of teenage girl fantasies, rip away the sophisticated plots and motivations from the characters and degrade them into realm of bad fan fiction? I feel insulted.

The whole beginning feels disjointed due to the setup of these 'fantasy' outcomes of how Sherlock survived juxtaposed with his reintroduction to John. I believed John somewhat, but he isn't particularly violent in the other seasons despite suffering PTSD, thus to see him punch Sherlock repeatedly doesn't quite feel in character either. And once we finally get around to the (boring) plot, it is a rehash of V for Vendetta with Sherlock behaving like an ass. Gatiss must prefer this manipulation of John's emotions, because he wrote the same thing in the Baskerville episode, easily the weakest and most un-Sherlock episode of the entire series. Sherlock and John had reached a level of mutual respect and understanding, so this behavior actually erases both seasons worth of progress in their friendship. 

The greatest flaw of The Empty Hearse is that the resolution we all wanted--how did Sherlock survive?--is missing. The greatness of Season Two's The Reichenbach Fall is that Sherlock wears the face of a man who knows he is facing his doom, and he faces it bravely. I needed that emotionally charged moment on the roof where he might really be saying goodbye to John before a leap. The sociopath learns to love. Now he pays for it. I don't mind that Sherlock escapes his doom. In fact, the moment between him and Molly made my heart go pitter-patter. I knew he would survive. But in that assumption, I was certain the Sherlock creators would tell us in season three. It's not about meeting fan expectations, after all. It's their story. They should have had the resolution planned all along. Has Sherlock become so big that they can't maneuver like they used to for fear of fan disappointment? Did they give a damn before?

I am honestly nervous to watch the second episode of season three rather than excited. It's a horrible feeling to adore a show and wonder, "gee, what will they screw up now?" Maybe Gatiss and Moffat should just bite the bullet, kill off Mary and have John make out with Sherlock and live happily ever after. After all, that's what the fans want, right?