The Flawed Reality of Sherlock Season 4: Unveiling the Show's Downfall Post-Moriarty's Demise

Article Overview

Sherlock's obsession with Moriarty's return in season 4 is a major flaw, as it fails to live up to the buildup and only offers a few annoying soundbites.

The intense confrontation between Sherlock and Moriarty in season 2 causes the show to struggle in its subsequent seasons, as it struggles to reach the same level of excitement and coherence. This is further evidenced by the introduction of Eurus Holmes as a means to surpass Moriarty, which only highlights the show's flaws and lack of cohesive storytelling. Therefore, if Sherlock wants to regain its former glory, it should consider moving on from Moriarty and exploring new avenues in a potential season 5.

Sherlock was forever changed after Moriarty's demise, exemplified by a flashback moment from season 4. BBC's Sherlock is undoubtedly a masterpiece, modernizing Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic Sherlock Holmes tales and earning its place among IMDb's top 25 highest-rated TV shows of all time. The series captivates viewers with its impeccable casting, gripping pace, and sharp writing, delivering two seasons of groundbreaking television drama. Nonetheless, Sherlock is not without its flaws, which become increasingly apparent in the later seasons, reaching a point where they can no longer be overlooked.

As Sherlock moves forward from its climactic season 2 confrontation between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, the show stumbles to find its footing. This struggle ultimately defines the issues in Sherlock's third and fourth seasons. Instead of embarking on new territory, the show becomes fixated on echoing the triumph of its second season. One particular scene in season 4 epitomizes this dilemma. Amidst a tense standoff between Sherlock and his brilliant yet secretive sibling Eurus, the audience is finally rewarded with the long-awaited return of Moriarty, though in the most exasperating manner imaginable.

Sherlock Season 4, Episode 3 Brought Back Moriarty (In A Flashback)

One of the most thrilling moments in the climactic final episode of season 4, titled "The Final Problem," is when Moriarty seemingly reappears. However, the excitement of this moment quickly diminishes as it turns out that Moriarty's return is merely presented in the form of a flashback. Moreover, the flashback doesn't hold any significant impact. It is revealed that Moriarty agreed to record video messages for Eurus, which she then uses to taunt Sherlock. Despite the anticipation and hype built throughout the entire season, Moriarty's "return" ultimately amounts to a few mildly irritating soundbites.

Sherlock Could Never Move On From Moriarty

Sherlock's third and fourth seasons suffer from the disappointing return of Moriarty, highlighting larger issues within the show. After two exceptional seasons of gradual buildup, the season 2 finale of Sherlock delivers an explosive confrontation between Sherlock and Moriarty, showcasing a battle of wits between the two brilliant but egotistical characters. However, this impressive climax comes at a cost. Following Moriarty's apparent suicide and Sherlock's supposed death, the series struggles to surpass this moment. As a result, the third and fourth seasons become frustrating, with the show's already shaky grip on reality deteriorating into complete absurdity.

Eurus Holmes serves as the final straw in an attempt to surpass Moriarty. The writers conceive a plot that is so absurd and blatantly lacking in the super-intelligence that Eurus is supposed to possess that it exposes the flaws in Sherlock's character. The earlier seasons of the show succeed by establishing a sense of grandeur and importance through their intricate plots. However, as Sherlock continually strives for greater levels of significance, it becomes disconnected from the fundamental aspects of effective storytelling. While the season 4 hints at Moriarty's return evoke memories of when Sherlock was truly great, if there are hopes for Sherlock season 5 to recapture that greatness, it must move away from Moriarty.

Editor's P/S

In my opinion, Sherlock's obsession with Moriarty's return in season 4 was a major flaw. The intense confrontation between Sherlock and Moriarty in season 2 caused the show to struggle in its subsequent seasons, as it struggled to reach the same level of excitement and coherence. This is further evidenced by the introduction of Eurus Holmes as a means to surpass Moriarty, which only highlighted the show's flaws and lack of cohesive storytelling. Therefore, if Sherlock wants to regain its former glory, it should consider moving on from Moriarty and exploring new avenues in a potential season 5.

Moreover, the disappointing return of Moriarty in season 4 highlighted larger issues within the show. After two exceptional seasons of gradual buildup, the season 2 finale of Sherlock delivers an explosive confrontation between Sherlock and Moriarty, showcasing a battle of wits between the two brilliant but egotistical characters. However, this impressive climax comes at a cost. Following Moriarty's apparent suicide and Sherlock's supposed death, the series struggles to surpass this moment. As a result, the third and fourth seasons become frustrating, with the show's already shaky grip on reality deteriorating into complete absurdity.