Series 3 of the BBC’s Sherlock is tonally different than either season that came before, and that can be both good and bad. It’s a season that toys with its characters’ emotions more than ever, as the plots get more convoluted and wacky than before. It’s… a lot. But it’s also pretty tightly told, entertaining as ever, and some of the funniest Sherlock has to offer.
When Series 2 ended, Sherlock had somehow faked his own death. Leaving “The Reichenbach Fall” on such a huge cliffhanger, Sherlock had two years to figure out a satisfying reveal for what really happened on the roof of that hospital. Instead, Series 3’s opening episode, “The Empty Hearse”, mostly mocks the fervor over figuring out how he did it. Perhaps some magician’s tricks can never be revealed and all that, but it’s a little cheap to make such a big deal about this trick at the end of one season and then write it off so candidly when you return.
That being said, the comedy is funny. Sherlock’s attempted reveal to John sets the playful tone for the season. This is the jokiest Sherlock yet. The jokes are good, but it doesn’t go as well with the drama of the first two seasons. It’s fortunate, I suppose, that Series 3 doesn’t seem as concerned with drama or character development. Its main focus is fun, and in that respect, it delivers.
“The Empty Hearse” is all about reunited Sherlock and John and introducing John’s girlfriend, Mary. There’s a mystery of the week, naturally, but it’s one of the least compelling in the series. Sherlock saves the day, and he uses the moment to mess with John. It’s almost mean-spirited, all in the name of comedy. Between evasively dancing around the conclusion of “The Reichenbach Fall” and having Sherlock fall right back into old habits, it’s a bit disconcerting. As a result, “The Empty Hearse”, while entertaining, is the most frustrating episode of the season (and series so far).
The middle episode, “The Sign of Three”, finally solves Sherlock‘s middle chapter problem. It’s every bit as entertaining as the episodes that surround it, and it doesn’t feel like a dip. Set at John and Mary’s wedding, we get to see Sherlock struggle with the duties of being a Best Man. It’s the funniest stuff of the season, and possibly the most humanizing episode of the series for its titular character. While the show has had greater heights, this might be Cumberbatch’s best episode; he’s the star here more than ever, and we’re all just along for the ride. Naturally, a murder mystery breaks out at the wedding, which helps Sherlock feel not quite so out of place, and the way he works through it is the closest Series 3 comes to the general tone of Series 1 and 2. It’s a strong episode that gets things back on track.
The season’s conclusion, “His Last Vow”, follows Sherlock’s plan to foil “The Napoleon of Blackmail”, a newspaper magnate named Magnusson. It’s an entertaining episode for sure, if not quite on the same level as the season-enders involving Moriarty that came before. While entertaining, it’s kind of a messy episode, because so much happens. It tries to focus on so much – Sherlock’s drug use, the Holmes brothers’ relationship, Mary’s past, Magnusson’s archives of information – it gets a little lost at times, plot-wise. The conclusion doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but thanks to some gripping storytelling, the story is more digestible. The cast is one of the best on television, and this episode shows that they can overcome a convoluted plot here or there. “His Last Vow” ends with yet another cliffhanger intended to blow your mind, but after the show’s cheeky refusal to address “The Reichenbach Fall”, this one doesn’t really hit quite as hard. Instead of wondering how the ending is possible, you instead wonder if you’ll ever find out at all.
Is It Watchlist Worthy?
Yes. While not quite as strong as the first two seasons, it’s still an entertaining 4 1/2 hours of television. Sherlock‘s comedic dedication, while occasionally frustrating for a show that handled drama so well, does work on its own, making for another solid season.