omegaxx

New to the forum here, but excited to dive into the discussion. I feel very much betrayed by this season. Yes, I appreciate the shift in point of view, and I absolutely adore the human Sherlock, whose humanization the prior two seasons portrayed beautifully. However... what keeps Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes if he loses his mental prowess that keeps us so fascinated (there wasn't a single good deduction in the whole season)? I wouldn't even mind that as much if John's character was preserved. Alas-- The real John would never let his wife get away with shooting an innocent person in the chest, much less his best friend, without at least attempting to find out why. The real John would never just let Sherlock sacrifice his own life (essentially) for his wife's. Seriously, if they had even just changed the ending slightly, having John wrestle Sherlock for the trigger when the latter pulled out the gun to point at Magnussen, that would have been so much more like the badass Dr. Watson that we know from "A Study in Pink".

1) A Study in Pink: Razor-sharp, fresh, magnetic, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship that is persuasive and moving from the first minute. 2) The Reichenbach Fall: The wonderful response to A Study in Pink that wraps Seasons 1 and 2 in a very satisfying story arc--that of Sherlock's humanization. 3) A Scandal in Belgravia: Lovely, evocative, with the best music score and some of the most poignant moments of the series. 4) The Hounds of Baskerville: Some of the best moments between Sherlock and John, their last days of happiness together. 5) The Empty Hearse: Much better on a rewatch, utterly whimsical but enjoyable, with nice inside jokes. 6) The Great Game: Some of the cases were a bit of a stretch, but the final face-off scene makes it all worth it. 7) His Last Vow: The first thirty minutes were very enjoyable and convincing. Then the episode sails off to sentimental land--and I just feel betrayed by John Watson and the whole show in the end. However, Cumberbatch delivers some of his best acting. 8) The Blind Banker: CSI London, clichéd. 9) The Sign of Three: Puerile, corny and embarrassing to watch.