What would you like to see in series 4?

[by the sea]

In my house, we have developed a passion for British TV thanks to Neflix ... my Christmas present to myself in 2012 ... and I'm constantly impressed by the flexibility of British actors.  If you watch many different shows, you see the same faces popping up over and over again.  I sit there scratching my head thinking "now, where have I seen him/her before ?".  I never know their names but will usually remember that I saw this person in Midsomer Murders and that person in Endeavour and so on ... I saw Detective Donovan in Death in Paradise last week !   It does seem to keep your regular working British actor from being type cast ... so seeing them on Sherlock, you'd be less likely to have a preconception keep you from believing the character or distract you from the action.

 

Debbie

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm not sure it's the "typecasting" aspect that I sometimes find a bit distracting.  It's partly the "now where have I seen him/her before?" thing that takes my mind away from the show.  (For example, I've been trying to think where the heck I'd seen the bearded actor who plays one of the bumbling two-hitman team in Fargo, and finally remembered last night -- he was Chandler's weird roommate on Friends, during the time when Joey had his own apartment.)

 

Also, if I'm especially familiar with an actor in one particular role (e.g., to me, Tom Baker is the Doctor), that could be a bit distracting as well.  It's not any kind of major problem, but I think I find it easier to suspend disbelief when an actor is unfamiliar to me.  And virtually everyone in Sherlock was unfamiliar to me at the outset, which may be one reason that I've been able to submerge myself so completely in that universe.

 

[by the sea]

Yes, I didn't know anybody in Sherlock when I first tuned in ... not even the stars !  So it was wonderful to see such excellence without any viewing baggage, if you will !   I'm thinking mostly of the guests and character actors involved with the stories ... having seen many of them in many roles, I find I'm not especially distracted by the recognition.  Even Lara Pulver ... the Woman ... I was watching the Ian Fleming mini series at the time of that ep ... didn't cause too much of a blip, in spite of having pretty meaty roles in both productions.  Somebody like Idris Elba would throw me for a loop I think , 'cause he's kind of larger than life ... or John Nettles because I've seen what seems like a hundred episodes of Midsomer Murders.  The stories are easy to get lost in, though, and a tribute to the actors ... even if you have seen them often before,  their believability allows you to see only the characters you're looking at.

 

Debbie

[Carol the Dabbler]

I agree that "larger than life" actors are the hardest to "see" as another character than the one you "met" them as.  (Maybe that's why I picked Tom Baker as my example.)  I watch a fair number of British productions, so sooner or later they're bound to have someone on Sherlock that I've come across before, and then I'll find out if that makes any difference to me.  (Literally the only Sherlock actor I recall ever having seen before is Wanda Ventham -- and that was forty or fifty years ago.)

 

[by the sea]

  (Literally the only Sherlock actor I recall ever having seen before is Wanda Ventham -- and that was forty or fifty years ago.)

 

Based on the photo I saw in here of her "earlier" life, she's changed a bit !   

 

Debbie

[Carol the Dabbler]

Haven't we all!  And I've had a chance to forget quite a bit, too, so I doubt that I'd have recognized her from just those old shows.  I mostly recognized her (and Timothy Carlton) from recent photos I'd seen of them with their son.  But in any case, that was sure a nice surprise!

 

[Slithytove]

I've seen Rupert Graves in loads of things but had no problem accepting him as Lestrade. In fact, his portrait of the character is so sympathetic that I find I can't endure Sean Pertwee's portrayal of Lestrade, as vain and incompetent, in Elementary.

 

I was also puzzling over the identity of the hit man in Fargo until I realised it was Chandler's insane room-mate! One of my favourite characters in Friends.

[Carol the Dabbler]

To me, Elementary has an entirely different take on several of the characters.  I don't particularly care for their Mycroft either.  And I'm not criticizing the actors, more the writing, I assume, and/or the direction, and/or the casting.  But I don't think they've departed from canon (in that particular regard) any more than Sherlock has.  Sherlock's Mycroft isn't a fleshy man with huge paddles for hands, and their Lestrade isn't a little rat-faced man (or alternatively, a bulldog).

 

I've never seen Graves in anything else, but I've heard that Lestrade is kind of a departure from his usual sort of role.  Maybe that helps people accept him as the Detective Inspector.

 

 

I was also puzzling over the identity of the hit man in Fargo until I realised it was Chandler's insane room-mate! One of my favourite characters in Friends.

 

Mine too.  I loved that bit with his pet goldfish cracker!

 

[T.o.b.y]

I can't think of any particular actor I'd like to see on Sherlock. There are a few I wouldn't like to see, but I don't think it would be nice to elaborate on that... I must says that whoever is responsible for the casting has done a fantastic job so far. And the acting is amazing.

 

If series 4 really takes another two years or more, at least I'll have my wish list perfected by the time it airs. And after so much of what I wanted for series 3 actually came true, I'm not ready to give up on wishful thinking any time soon...

 

So far, I have the following items on it (growing daily):

- Make something of the baby and the Watson's strange relationship situation by using it for an adaptation of "The Sussex Vampire" without being (too) sappy or melodramatic

- Give us an explanation on how the heck it is possible Moriarty lives that is at least fun and clever if it doesn't make sense

- And explain what the good old-fashioned villain has been doing with himself while Sherlock took apart his network

- Do something with "The Speckled Band" and "The Red Headed League"

- Use the Holmes quote "good night, be brave" (I'd swoon if I got to hear Sherlock say that in Mr C.'s amazing voice)

- Keep Sherlock single (indefinitely)

- If Irene reappears (and I'm not sure I want that, but it'd be better than a new character and I liked her), use the canon story of her being married to somebody she actually loves and change her name to Irene Norton (and the original Norton could well be a woman here)

- If Moriarty returns, that would fit well in a version of "The Valley of Fear"

- Let John mess something up for a change; I'd like to see how he would handle having to apologize to somebody

- Give Lestrade a really nice girlfriend (finally)

- Make Molly happy and don't change her personality any further; I like her the way she is

- Let Sherlock outsmart Mycroft (I'd love to see that)

- Give Mummy Holmes more screen time

- Introduce us to Harry Watson

- Tell us more about Mary and her past

 

And most importantly: Reserve plenty of time for Sherlock being Sherlock, from petulant sulking immature bored kid to high-functioning sociopath to great hero to lovely loving human being and back. And let him have at least one moment of glory every episode. And let him be brilliant and unique and the great Sherlock Holmes. That's really what I want to see the most.

[Arcadia]

 

- Let Sherlock outsmart Mycroft (I'd love to see that)

Oh, YES!!!

[Arcadia]

My last remark must have stuck in my mind. There was a mention of Mycroft in another thread and I suddenly realized what I'd LOVE to see in Season 4 (or 5, I can wait)...

 

Sherlock not just outwitting Mycroft, but Mycroft needing Sherlock to save him. And preferably it would end in a cliffhanger, with us not knowing whether Sherlock will deign to come to the rescue, or decide to let Mikey fall. That, I think, I would find very satisfying; to think of Mycroft in purgatory for two years.  Also highly unlikely, but a girl can dream.

[Zain]

Oh, yes. That's what I went for when I did my "what would I like to see in season 4" post with predictions (or well, wishful thinking ). So, I second that, Arcadia.

[T.o.b.y]

My last remark must have stuck in my mind. There was a mention of Mycroft in another thread and I suddenly realized what I'd LOVE to see in Season 4 (or 5, I can wait)...

 

Sherlock not just outwitting Mycroft, but Mycroft needing Sherlock to save him. And preferably it would end in a cliffhanger, with us not knowing whether Sherlock will deign to come to the rescue, or decide to let Mikey fall. That, I think, I would find very satisfying; to think of Mycroft in purgatory for two years.

 

I don't think Sherlock would hesitate. When push comes to shove, those Holmes brothers are probably a lot closer than we tend to give them credit for. But it would be nice if Sherlock had to get Mycroft out, for a change.

[Arcadia]

Awwww, couldn't he hesitate even a bit, just to make Mycroft sweat a little? Or just pretend to? Then have a good laff at Mycroft's expense afterwards, yeah.

[T.o.b.y]

Yeah, I can picture him feigning disinterest in his brother's fate, especially if that meant getting another "what the F***" face out of John. But so far, I haven't noticed any sadistic streaks in Sherlock (unlike Mycroft...), so I don't think he'd really let his brother tremble for long. He'd be more likely to find "logical" explanations for why he saved him later, other than "your loss would break my heart".

[Caya]

"Mummy would've been cross with me"?

[T.o.b.y]

Yes, Mummy... Really, if they want more women on the show, they should just give her more screen time instead of introducing love interest number whatever. Mummy has a lot of potential.

 

Another thing I'd really like is more mind palace sequences. When they introduced the concept in The Hounds of Baskerville, I already went wow, I wonder what it's like in there, and I was thrilled to actually have gotten a glimpse.

 

I'd also like a crime without a murder. Or one of those cases where it turns out no crime has been committed at all. There were some of those among the original stories, and I liked them. And how about a more complex antagonist who's not a mere villain and actually has some plausible reason for his actions? Not that that's true to the original, but hey, there's always room for improvement...

[Carol the Dabbler]

I cannot believe that they would introduce a character with so much potential (and intriguing past) as Mummy and then never follow up.  It may take them a while, but never fear, she'll be back!

 

I suspect we'll see more mind palace scenes too, but I hope they rein themselves in a bit there.  Thought they went a little overboard in "Last Vow" with the "death" scene.  I did like the chat room sequences, though.

 

And I heartily second your request for a bloodless "crime."  Those can be very cleverly presented, and a real bitch to solve.

 

[T.o.b.y]

True, Carol, they did go overboard, but while I wouldn't want something like that in every episode, I have to admit I liked it.

 

Something else I'd like is a "hero moment" for John. For example, if Moriarty is indeed back, and if Sherlock tried to go off and deal with him all on his own again, then I think John should step in and tell him, not this time. After all, the original Dr Watson quite forcefully insisted on going to Magnussen's house with Holmes as well as accompanying him to the Reichenbach Falls, and he was ultimately successful, even though in the matter of the falls, he had to argue with the detective for half an hour and was ultimately lured away at the crucial moment by that message from the inn.

[Dragonslayer]

I would like;

-more Sherlock-John screentime!

-better cases which have some base on ACD.

-less plotholes

-More clear view of the Holmes brothers relationship. I'd love to know what happened between them.

-No fake deaths

-A great, interesting villain. BUT not Moriarty!

[Arcadia]

Amen!

[CanuckFan]

I feel kinda bad for saying this, but I'm hoping that John's wife/baby are somehow painlessly removed from the series. It feels almost sacrilegious to have Sherlock involved in John's family matters, when what sets him apart is his ability to be completely detached.

 

Also, please don't bring back Moriarty. One fake death (Sherlock) is quite good enough. If Moriarty comes back, Sherlock Holmes's reputation would be greatly damaged.

 

I watched A Study in Pink again, and I noticed especially how Holmes stated that Mycroft was "his archrival" and "the most dangerous man in England". So far, however, we haven't seen much of Mycroft's powers. I'd love to see an episode or two where he went into beastmode  Also, isn't Mycroft able to monitor Holmes and Watson as he upgraded their surveillance status to Level 3 or something?

 

Just a few thoughts and hopes for the next Series.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

Also, isn't Mycroft able to monitor Holmes and Watson as he upgraded their surveillance status to Level 3 or something?

 

 

  Which has spawned no end of speculation on what lengths Sherlock will go to avoid the watchfulness of his personal "Big Brother". Some quite amusing. Because of course Sherlock would know about Mycroft's attempts to spy on him.

[Arcadia]

I wonder how good the surveillance is since they were able to just waltz right into Baskerville.

 

Maybe Level 3 just means something like "If they show up in any of these places, flag me." Just to make sure Sherlock doesn't find out something Mycroft doesn't want him to ... he must be hiding plenty of things like that!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

I wonder how good the surveillance is since they were able to just waltz right into Baskerville.

 

  Exactly. Because not only were Sherlock and John able to "waltz right into Baskerville" they did it on Sherlock using Mycroft's own high security level code card....now how in the world was Sherlock able to get his hands on that....and how long had he had it.