Speculation: What Would You Like To See In Series 3?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Even if he does make a big leap (not to be confused with a big fall!), he may not do it very gracefully.  It could even look like regression till we (and his friends) understand why.

 

[T.o.b.y]

 

I honestly doubt that we will see a big change in Sherlock's character. It's been established by now. Some character development is always important, though.

 

Oh yes, of course. I imagine it would also be boring to write and act the character if he wasn't allowed to evolve at all.

 

I think the goal for him should be more or less Doyle's Holmes. He is quite polite and polished if need be, mostly kind and patient with his clients, on easy terms with his brother and works well enough with the police. And yet, most of that seems to be an act. He soothes a distraught client, but at the same time almost says "this is most gratifying" to a man who is in danger of being arrested for something he didn't do. He laughs at and makes deprecating comments about the official forces behind their backs rather than to their faces. He suppresses his frustration or impatience or feelings of anxiety and "bleak depression" until strangers can't see it. If I assume he was like "our" Sherlock in his youth, it seems he just got the message later that most people find him disturbing and learned to fake what is generally acceptable while becoming more and more withdrawn and self-sufficient. Even Dr. Watson, who himself claims to be "nearer him than anyone else" and allows us readers to distinguish between Holmes "public" manner and actual glimpses into his soul, finds him very hard to understand and is hardly ever fully taken into confidence.

 

Now, if they let Sherlock mature in that direction, I'll be quite happy.

 

 

 

[T.o.b.y]

If they do more on Sherlock's background, wouldn't it be interesting to have the story of the scull? Did it really belong to somebody he knew, for example?

[bborchar]

...on second thoughts, a thoroughly grown-up, mature version of my favorite character might come across as more self-sufficient and shut up those who like to proclaim him totally dependent on somebody (specific) to look after him. I do like that prospect.

 

I don't think he'll be too grown up or mature...just moreso than he is in Series 1 or 2.

[Carol the Dabbler]

If they do more on Sherlock's background, wouldn't it be interesting to have the story of the scull? Did it really belong to somebody he knew, for example?

 

Yes, I've been curious about that "... well, I say friend" comment myself.  That could be taken as just a humorous cliche -- or ....

 

According to Sherlock: The Casebook (p. 109), the skull is "A product of an early case.  I call it Billy."  Which merely raises more questions. 

[T.o.b.y]

The most obvious question being whether Sherlock knew the person when he was alive.

 

Oh, another darling wish of mine is to see Sherlock do "Holmes the mind reader". In several stories, the detective answers somebody's thoughts because he has been able to tell what they were from watching subtle body language and combining that with knowledge he has about that person. I have always loved that, first of all because I like the idea of that particular deductive process and also because I think it must be so flattering to have a man like Holmes actually take the trouble to find out what goes on in your insignificant brain.

[aely]

I want to know if anyone will comment on Lestrade's uber-short hair...

[T.o.b.y]

 

I think the goal for him should be more or less Doyle's Holmes. He is quite polite and polished if need be, mostly kind and patient with his clients, on easy terms with his brother and works well enough with the police. And yet, most of that seems to be an act. He soothes a distraught client, but at the same time almost says "this is most gratifying" to a man who is in danger of being arrested for something he didn't do. He laughs at and makes deprecating comments about the official forces behind their backs rather than to their faces. He suppresses his frustration or impatience or feelings of anxiety and "bleak depression" until strangers can't see it. If I assume he was like "our" Sherlock in his youth, it seems he just got the message later that most people find him disturbing and learned to fake what is generally acceptable while becoming more and more withdrawn and self-sufficient.

 

... and this, I find on re-reading "A Study in Scarlet", is only true for the later Holmes, anyway. When Watson and the reader first meet him, he is a lot like Sherlock and his relations with the police are marked by mutual contempt. So even the original figure matured and changed quite a bit over the years. Whether intentional or not, who knows? But it seems Sherlock might really be following the same path and in that case, there is nothing to fear.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

  Oh yes, the canon Sherlock remained quirky all the way through his association with Watson so some of his personality traits would ever change no matter how much John Watson and Lestrade would have loved him to.

[T.o.b.y]

  Oh yes, the canon Sherlock remained quirky all the way through his association with Watson so some of his personality traits would ever change no matter how much John Watson and Lestrade would have loved him to.

 

... Or, in Dr Watson's words:

 

"Three years had certainly not smoothed the asperities of his temper or his impatience with a less active intelligence than his own"

 

That's from "The Empty House". I do wonder what they've done with the original mystery of that story. Might Moran turn out to be the sniper whose red dots we saw occasionally during the first series? Will there be a character called Ronald Adair? Will John try to solve a case on his own?

 

I do hope they'll continue to play with (and of course massively improve on) the plots from the old stories.

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

I do hope they'll continue to play with (and of course massively improve on) the plots from the old stories.

 

 Really. It's been such a winning chemistry and formula it would be truly tragic if they lost that edge.

[T.o.b.y]

Thank goodness there is so much material to work on! And they're definitely fulfilling my biggest wish in that department, which was and is an adaptation of The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. Hurray!

[T.o.b.y]

There's not much time for speculation left... at least not about what series 3 will bring. Of course when it's there, we can start on what it means.

 

I wonder what happened to Sally after The Reichenbach Fall. We've gotten hints that Sherlock's presumed suicide had some kind of effect on Anderson - what about her? Did she change her mind about Sherlock at all? Did she feel in any way responsible for what happened to him? Or did she just go on with her job and look upon his absence as a good riddance?

 

I haven't even checked whether the actress is still part of the cast. Maybe Sally won't appear at all, but even in that case, I'd be interested in what they had in mind for her.

[Caya]

She is - she was seen on set. Can't remember which episode, but I think it was Hearse.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Seems the actress is supposed to be joining the cast of a series here in the US. So she might have a part in "The Empty Hearse" but after that, I guess not, if the new series is a go.

[T.o.b.y]

Too bad. I liked Sally. But at least it looks like we'll find out what became of her. Poor Anderson... he'll have to find another affair.

[parv]

 More epicness, more depth in sherlock's charactor and of course a new villian. I had not expected jhon with a mustache. Anyway it would be still interesting to see how that works for us.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hi, parv -- it's good to hear from you again!

 

Judging by what we've heard so far, it looks like all your wishes will come true! 

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Moderator Warning:  

 

A gentle reminder:

 

If it's actually from Series 3, then it belongs in the Series 3 subforum -- a spoiler box is not adequate.  If you'd like to follow up on something that's already been posted in a non-Series-3 thread, then just hit the quote button and copy&paste into your Series 3 post.

 

Any Series 3 spoilers posted elsewhere on the forum will be removed.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

 

 I see that in John Watson Blog, that Kitty Riley gives public apology, but it's kind of disappointing that nothing about her made it into "The Empty Hearse".

 

Edited January 4, 2014 by Carol the Dabbler
Added box -- the post mentions that something was NOT in the episode, so it's *technically* not a spoiler.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Revisiting our predictions:
 

I hope you're right about Mary being a well-thought out addition to the cast.  Being a Doctor Who fan, well, let's just say Moffat makes me nervous.

 
You might take comfort in the fact that Moffat's episode is at the end this time.  So Mary should already be a good, solid, well-established character by then.

 
Well, technically I was right.

 

I guess I'd better be thankful that Moffat didn't write the first episode.