Best episodes (ranking)

[Carol the Dabbler]

I don't think he meant that the roof was essential for all eventualities, merely that if they ended up on the roof, then there were 13 possible scenarios.  After all, if I said "I had a bunch of in-laws once I married Alex," that wouldn't mean that I had to marry him; it merely says what the result was when I did.

 

Therefore, Sherlock's "once we were up on that roof" statement says nothing about what might have happened if a non-roof scenario had come into play instead.  Considering how stunned he looked when he realized (outside Kitty's apartment) what needed to happen, he and Mycroft had not considered the the roof scenarios to be at all inevitable, at least not until that night.

 

[Arcadia]

Good point. Okay, I'll tuck that into the "I hope it was real" section of my brain. But the bigger, more suspicious part of my brain wonders if he was looking stunned, or suddenly realizing where he could get a lookalike, which was the last piece that needed to be put in place before he contacted Jim. Cue manipulating Molly into helping.

 

Geez, I didn't realize I'd thought it through this far.....

 

The only thing that makes me think he wasn't faking with Molly was the way he treated her after he came back ... he didn't have to thank her, but he did. So if he wasn't faking, then he really was upset that he had to "die". Optimist-me thinks just because that was one of the scenarios, it doesn't mean it was the one he preferred. But then pessimist-me points out that he needed to be "dead" in order to take down Moriarty's network, so it had to be part of the plan all along.

 

By the way, am I the only one who thinks he was having the time of his life during that particular hiatus? All the fics portray him as wounded, exhausted, lonely, longing, permanently scarred ... but "Many Happy Returns" showed him gadding about the world catching bad guys, which, for Sherlock, is the perfect vacation!

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

The only thing that makes me think he wasn't faking with Molly was the way he treated her after he came back ... he didn't have to thank her, but he did. So if he wasn't faking, then he really was upset that he had to "die". Optimist-me thinks just because that was one of the scenarios, it doesn't mean it was the one he preferred. But then pessimist-me points out that he needed to be "dead" in order to take down Moriarty's network, so it had to be part of the plan all along.

Nope, doesn't have to be the one he preferred, though perhaps the one he preferred out of a limited number of choices remaining.

 

Plus, if you're going by that quote that I quoted:

 

 

 

There were thirteen likely scenarios once we were up on that roof. Each of them were rigorously worked out and given a code name. It wasn’t just my reputation that Moriarty needed to bury – I had to die.

 

... then he didn't realize that he needed to "die" until it became clear that none of the non-roof scenarios would work -- which may well have been when he got that stunned look outside Kitty's apartment, just the night before The Fall.

 

[Arcadia]

 

 

... then he didn't realize that he needed to "die" until it became clear that none of the non-roof scenarios would work -- which may well have been when he got that stunned look outside Kitty's apartment, just the night before The Fall.

 

 

Okay, now I'm getting dizzy ... "non-roof scenarios!" :D And I suppose each of those scenarios had their own set of scenarios. No wonder Sherlock jumped.

 

The rewatch is coming up soon, I will do my best to be uber-optimistic-me this time around and see if I can convince myself his act on the roof ... ah ... isn't.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Okay, now I'm getting dizzy ... "non-roof scenarios!" :D And I suppose each of those scenarios had their own set of scenarios.

Presumably. At the risk of repeating myself, Sherlock says, "There were thirteen likely scenarios once we were up on that roof [emphasis added]."  Which implies that there would have been different scenarios if he had not needed to use the roof.  And those other scenarios might not have involved his "death."

 

What I'm desperately trying to get at is that Sherlock was probably planning right up till the very last minute (and then some).  So if you feel cheated by his claim that everything was worked out ahead of time, you needn't be.  I think he was just bragging (note who he was talking to!).

 

[Cumbercowley]

In order of best to worst I would say (apologises for spelling)

1. The richenback fall
2. A scandal in balgravia
3. His last vow
4. A study in pink
5. The empty hearse
6. The sign of three
7. The hound of the baskerville
8. The great game
9. The blind banker

Really I love them all though apart from 'The blind banker' which I like.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Deja vu.. there's a glitch in the Matrix..!

 

Or not...wait.. I remember.., seen it before

Let me pull it out from not my.....

 

AHA!

Best Episode Ranking Way Back

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks, VBS.  I've merged the new thread into the old one, and Cumbercowley has very nicely brought us back on topic!

 

[T.o.b.y]

I think a ranking is always fun to do. Mine changes constantly... I always put The Great Game first and The Empty Hearse last, but the middle part is hard. And I don't quite know what to do with The Reichenbach Fall these days. It's a great bit of television, but the follow-up kind of ruined it for me.

[Arcadia]

I've never really attempted to rank them, because I love different episodes for different reasons. I know TRF has sunk down the list, for the reason Toby gave. I think Scandal is their best episode; but it's not my favorite episode. TSo3 is my favorite character study, but TGG is my favorite for the cases. Etc. I was going to try to make a list this time, but it's still hopeless ... except that poor old HOB and TBB are at the bottom. They don't really deserve it but there's nowhere else for them to go. :-(

[T.o.b.y]

I'd say the first episode is the best, but it's never first on my favorites list because for me, nothing can beat the pool scene in The Great Game.

 

I think A Scandal in Belgravia is the most cinematic episode.

[Arcadia]

Absolutely. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's just a gorgeous episode to look at.

 

I think the mind palace sequence in HLV might be my favorite scene, but HLV can't be my favorite episode because if you try to make sense of it, you can't.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Thanks, VBS.  I've merged the new thread into the old one, and Cumbercowley has very nicely brought us back on topic!

You are most welcome.

I'm busybody sometimes. :P

[sherlockandjohn]

I'll try to rank all the episodes, including s4:

 

1. The Reichenbach Fall

2. The Lying Detective

3. A Study in Pink

 

Those were pretty easy. The next are a bit more difficult to rank:

 

4. The Empty Hearse

5. The Final Problem

6. The Sign of Three

7. The Great Game

8. The Hounds of Baskerville

 

The last ones are pretty easy for me as well:

 

9. A Scandal in Belgravia

10. The Abominable Bride

11. The Six Thatchers

12. His Last Vow

13. The Blind Banker

[Van Buren Supernova]

Without going to spoiler territory, I am curious why you rank SIB so low.

 

I love that episode because it has Sherlock, John and Mycroft's dynamic at its earlier best. We peek into Sherlock's soul deeper and we have dude in sheet, c'mon! :p

[Surelock]

1. The Lying Detective (Season 4)

2. The Reichenbach Fall (Season 2)

3. The Abominable Bride (Special)

4. The Hound of Baskerville (Season 2)

5. The Empty Hearse (Season 3)

6. The Great Game (Season 1)

7. A Study in Pink (Season 1)

8. The Sign of Three (Season 3)

9. A Scandal in Belgravia (Season 2)

10. The Final Problem (Season 4)

11. His Last Vow (Season 3)

12. The Blind Banker (Season 2)

13. The Six Thatchers (Season 4)

 

This isn't just based on reasons but also personal preferences.

[sherlockandjohn]

Without going to spoiler territory, I am curious why you rank SIB so low.

 

I love that episode because it has Sherlock, John and Mycroft's dynamic at its earlier best. We peek into Sherlock's soul deeper and we have dude in sheet, c'mon! :P

 

:D Yes, it does! And it has some other really, really great scenes. I simply don't like Irene Adler. Don't much like that Sherlock falls for her - except that I actually do like the moment where Mycroft says: "In the end, are you really that obvious? Because this was textbook." I like the idea that Sherlock is just that human... but Irene? Ugh.

 

That being said, I really like all the episodes. I have ranked them between 8/10 and 10/10 - that says a lot!

 

 

1. The Lying Detective (Season 4)

2. The Reichenbach Fall (Season 2)

3. The Abominable Bride (Special)

4. The Hound of Baskerville (Season 2)

5. The Empty Hearse (Season 3)

6. The Great Game (Season 1)

7. A Study in Pink (Season 1)

8. The Sign of Three (Season 3)

9. A Scandal in Belgravia (Season 2)

10. The Final Problem (Season 4)

11. His Last Vow (Season 3)

12. The Blind Banker (Season 2)

13. The Six Thatchers (Season 4)

 

This isn't just based on reasons but also personal preferences.

 

 

I tend to base my episode ranking on personal preference, as well - which means that stories with emotional impact are often high on the list for me. They don't have to make perfect sense, they mostly need to move me.

[Arcadia]

Arrrgghh! I still can't do it! I just had a go at ranking them again, and I just can't ... I like too many episodes for too many different reasons. Urk.

 

I can rate my bottom three pretty easily:

 

11. Hound

12. Blind Banker

13. Six Thatchers (I'd rate it even lower if I could )

 

These probably hover around the middle: Hearse, Final Problem ... and maybe, possibly, Reichenbach. It's a beautifully done episode, but finding out the whole thing was faked sort of ruined it for me. And I guess I'll stick Bride in the middle too, because I think it's brilliant, but since it's an alternate reality type thing, I'm not inclined to watch it as often. Although ... agh, it's awfully good. Maybe it's in the top group.

 

Scandal I still think is the best written episode, as well as the most beautifully filmed. And Benedict just looks so amazing all the way through it. But ... I don't like Irene either. I don't like treachery, I don't think it's clever, just mean, and I don't want Sherlock to fall for it, or her.

 

I love the first two seasons because they're so young and eager, and the show is still fresh. But I love the emotional wallop of S3. If I were ranking seasons, I'd probably make S3 my favorite, and S4 my least favorite. But do I like His Last Vow better than Lying Detective? I don't think so; they both made me want to wrap Sherlock up and give him a big hug. Then smack some sense into him.

 

Nope, can't do it.

 

 

 

 

[sherlockandjohn]

Well, Arcadia, as you said recently, it's great that we are all able to enjoy Sherlock, even though we fans have so varied tastes! S3 was probably my least favorite, and s4 possibly my fav. Possibly! Though TST did drag it down a bit. But I love all the seasons, just to a varied degree ;)

[Van Buren Supernova]

:D Yes, it does! And it has some other really, really great scenes. I simply don't like Irene Adler. Don't much like that Sherlock falls for her - except that I actually do like the moment where Mycroft says: "In the end, are you really that obvious? Because this was textbook." I like the idea that Sherlock is just that human... but Irene? Ugh.

I see. I also don't care for Irene, but her presence makes me 'know' Sherlock better. Not on falling, sex and those, but on how his brain and heart are wired. The series is so relate-able most of the times, so yes, I probably, definitely, base mine on personal reason as well.

But then again, SIB is on my top, together with TRF. I never know what to do with TRF. I still cringe when I watch it, I still weary about Cumbersplat even when I know he is actually un-flatten. :P It's the perfect timing, wrong spoiler that I got that time I will not forget how it made me feel the first time I watched it.

SIB has my favorite happy moments, when Sherlock is at his git-est, when he and John share that laugh and scold Mycroft, and who would not want to parade in sheet where you should know how to use dozens of silver fork and spoon. I'd love that (even when I tried to wear sheet out of necessity one time and I hate it), it has Sherlock half killed a man for Mrs.Hudson. It has Mycroft's sadness and different side in how he looks at his brother. It has client parade and the hat. So I like it a lot, and curious if other don't. And so I think, having those two up there, S2 is probably my favorite.

 

 

1. The Lying Detective (Season 4)

2. The Reichenbach Fall (Season 2)

3. The Abominable Bride (Special)

4. The Hound of Baskerville (Season 2)

5. The Empty Hearse (Season 3)

6. The Great Game (Season 1)

7. A Study in Pink (Season 1)

8. The Sign of Three (Season 3)

9. A Scandal in Belgravia (Season 2)

10. The Final Problem (Season 4)

11. His Last Vow (Season 3)

12. The Blind Banker (Season 2)

13. The Six Thatchers (Season 4)

 

This isn't just based on reasons but also personal preferences.

Eh..! Another one. Soooo...what is your reason SIB is so low? :P 

 

 

 

Arrrgghh! I still can't do it! I just had a go at ranking them again, and I just can't ... I like too many episodes for too many different reasons. Urk.

Chicken. :P

 

I can rate my bottom three pretty easily:

 

11. Hound

12. Blind Banker

13. Six Thatchers (I'd rate it even lower if I could )

 

These probably hover around the middle: Hearse, Final Problem ... and maybe, possibly, Reichenbach. It's a beautifully done episode, but finding out the whole thing was faked sort of ruined it for me. And I guess I'll stick Bride in the middle too, because I think it's brilliant, but since it's an alternate reality type thing, I'm not inclined to watch it as often. Although ... agh, it's awfully good. Maybe it's in the top group.

 

Scandal I still think is the best written episode, as well as the most beautifully filmed. And Benedict just looks so amazing all the way through it. But ... I don't like Irene either. I don't like treachery, I don't think it's clever, just mean, and I don't want Sherlock to fall for it, or her.

 

I love the first two seasons because they're so young and eager, and the show is still fresh. But I love the emotional wallop of S3. If I were ranking seasons, I'd probably make S3 my favorite, and S4 my least favorite. But do I like His Last Vow better than Lying Detective? I don't think so; they both made me want to wrap Sherlock up and give him a big hug. Then smack some sense into him.

 

Nope, can't do it.

I don't know about S4 actually, it's probably too soon for me to think of the ranking for them. I still need to process and obviously, rewatch. My phone is full at the moment, I even have to delete other seasons of Sherlock, and I can't cram in S4 yet.

 

they both made me want to wrap Sherlock up and give him a big hug.

He won't like it.

Then smack some sense into him.

He peobably loves to see you try.

XD

[Arcadia]

Hey, Irene did it. Maybe if I do it, he'll fall for me too. Hey, thanks for the idea! :D
 

I don't know about S4 actually, it's probably too soon for me to think of the ranking for them.

Chicken. :P

[sherlockandjohn]

 

:D Yes, it does! And it has some other really, really great scenes. I simply don't like Irene Adler. Don't much like that Sherlock falls for her - except that I actually do like the moment where Mycroft says: "In the end, are you really that obvious? Because this was textbook." I like the idea that Sherlock is just that human... but Irene? Ugh.

I see. I also don't care for Irene, but her presence makes me 'know' Sherlock better. Not on falling, sex and those, but on how his brain and heart are wired. The series is so relate-able most of the times, so yes, I probably, definitely, base mine on personal reason as well.

But then again, SIB is on my top, together with TRF. I never know what to do with TRF. I still cringe when I watch it, I still weary about Cumbersplat even when I know he is actually un-flatten. :P It's the perfect timing, wrong spoiler that I got that time I will not forget how it made me feel the first time I watched it.

SIB has my favorite happy moments, when Sherlock is at his git-est, when he and John share that laugh and scold Mycroft, and who would not want to parade in sheet where you should know how to use dozens of silver fork and spoon. I'd love that (even when I tried to wear sheet out of necessity one time and I hate it), it has Sherlock half killed a man for Mrs.Hudson. It has Mycroft's sadness and different side in how he looks at his brother. It has client parade and the hat. So I like it a lot, and curious if other don't. And so I think, having those two up there, S2 is probably my favorite.

 

I still think it's a great episode, though! Okay, maybe I can make you feel better by naming some of the stuff I love?

 

Molly/Sherlock at Christmas and his sincere apology to her - the first time he apologises for being an ass!

 

Sherlock saving Mrs. H - I LOVE how he headbutts the agent and says "moron"!   Just fell in love!

 

One of the funniest scenes ever is this one: "Punch me in the face". "Punch you?" "Yes! Punch me. In the face. Didn't you hear me?" "I always hear 'punch me in the face when you're speaking, but it's usually subtext". :P

 

I could list many more, but I have to work

 

 

[Arcadia]

At that's why Scandal is near the top of my list! With about four or five others... :d

[Boton]

I feel like I'm stirring the pot in some respects by saying this, even though this is not my intent.  But, now that the show feels complete, my top 5 are:

 

1. HLV

2. TLD

3. SiB

4. TFP

5. TGG

[Surelock]

 

1. The Lying Detective (Season 4)

2. The Reichenbach Fall (Season 2)

3. The Abominable Bride (Special)

4. The Hound of Baskerville (Season 2)

5. The Empty Hearse (Season 3)

6. The Great Game (Season 1)

7. A Study in Pink (Season 1)

8. The Sign of Three (Season 3)

9. A Scandal in Belgravia (Season 2)

10. The Final Problem (Season 4)

11. His Last Vow (Season 3)

12. The Blind Banker (Season 2)

13. The Six Thatchers (Season 4)

 

This isn't just based on reasons but also personal preferences.

Eh..! Another one. Soooo...what is your reason SIB is so low? :P 

 

I wasn't a fan of Irene. To me she's just a typical femme fatale character. I never really got what was so great about her. Also the books make her out to be cleverer than Sherlock in some respects but I don't think this adaption captured that well enough. I know that she manages to sedate Sherlock and keep him guessing on what the password to her phone is but I don't think that was good enough.

 

I thought Moffatiss could have incorporated her intellect into a bigger mystery with bigger stakes. Her phone does have stakes but the possibility of that isn't brought up until the last 5 minutes. Before then all we know is that her phone has some secrets that Mycroft would want. 

 

Also there are some minor details I wasn't a fan of:

 

- I don't like how Moriarty was portrayed in this episode. This episode starts off from the cliffhanger of Season 1 and we find out that Moriarty isn't going to kill Sherlock and John because of a phone call from Irene. What was the phone call even about? I think this is the only episode where Moriarty doesn't amaze me.

 

- I didn't like how we found out that John randomly broke up with Rachel some time before this episode. I liked the couple and if there was a breakup I'd prefer it to at least be on-screen.

 

- There are some convoluted plot devices. How did Irene trick Sherlock into thinking that another lady's corpse was her? I mean Sherlock saw her naked. Irene can't observe information as well as Sherlock can (she admits this when Sherlock asks her to deduce information about the murder at the river).

 

This episode did have its moments though. Minus the flaws I mentioned, Irene was still well acted. I also like how John told Sherlock a white lie at the end because he didn't want to hurt his feelings. However that wasn't enough to make this episode better than all the others.

 

Anyway mind explaining to me why most people don't like The Hound of Baskerville as much as me? The only big flaws I see in it is that the minor characters aren't interesting and Mycroft is barely featured in it. I do think the horror/thrilelr element of it was done pretty well. I think Gatiss is really good at horror/thriller.