“Sherlock” Returns: A Review

“Did ya miss me?” is the blazing question and the cliffhanger premise for the third season of the BBC smash hit “Sherlock.” Fans of the show have waited three years, interrupted only by a mild television special, to see their favorite high functioning sociopathic detective Sherlock Holmes, as well as his loyal sidekick John Watson, continue their tireless pursuit of solving mysteries in their quirky, dangerous, and addictive fashion.

The first episode of the fourth series, “The Six Thatchers” debuted Sunday. Although more action-packed and shocking than the average “Sherlock” episode, this continuation of the saga might also be considered, dare I say it, forgettable. Like every plot in the history of narratives, things must happen; however, these things that happen don’t feel important. This might be blamed upon the overwhelming amount of storylines and plots that are stuffed down the viewers throats, with the problems left last season absolved with god-like speed and new ones introduced before the viewer has a chance to digest them or even care about them.

What made “Sherlock” so good for the first two seasons was the gradual reveal of story arc, nicely balanced with the mysteries that took whole episodes to solve. The character Sherlock is known for being leagues ahead of all the other characters in brain power and his true rivals are only those who may rival him in plot and foil him through diabolicalness. These requirements manifested through the chilling portrayal of arch-villain Moriarty, comparable in performance to Heath Ledger’s Joker, who in the ultimate “Sherlock” showdown died in the second season. However, his legacy has haunted the Sherlock universe through the third and now fourth season, and little the creators have done since have rivaled the Sherlock magic of the first and second seasons.

Herein lies the first problem. Moriarty is dangled like bait over the first episode, like cheap enticement for old fans who are disillusioned by the events of the third season. His name and legacy are alluded to too many times for the true problem of the episode to not have anything to do with him. But it doesn’t have anything to do with him. This whole premise stank of wringing the fan base dry for money and ratings.

The emotional stuff is disposed of quickly. Sherlock gets pardoned for the murder he committed at the end of last season like it was nothing, John and his wife Mary have a baby and then quickly move on like it never happened, and there are a whole bunch of confusing montages of Sherlock solving crimes that do not matter.

When the true mystery arises, revolving around the shrouded past of semi-retired spy Mary, it turns into a whole bunch of misunderstanding and preventable mistakes. Whatever the writers are channeling, maybe the television show, “24” or the James Bond movie, “Skyfall” they don’t seem to parallel the mysteries that hooked their massive fan base in the beginning.
When the climax arises, based on miscalculations and poor decisions, it doesn’t as seem shocking or important as it should be. The higher purpose of creating a larger story arc is lacking, and currently seems to only advance the plotline.