The Unforgettable Transformation: How Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock TV Show Evolved Beyond Season 2

Summary

Sherlock's decline in quality began after season 2 due to its inability to let go of Moriarty and find a suitable replacement for him.

The series suffered due to its failure to adequately explain Sherlock's staged death, leading to disappointment among fans and ultimately resulting in its decline.

Additionally, the inclusion of a peculiar episode involving a Victorian drug trip and Sherlock's diminishing ability to make credible deductions further contributed to the diminished quality of the show.

The quality of the BBC’s Sherlock took a significant decline after its second season. Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective, has been adapted in various forms of media for more than a century. One of the recent and successful adaptations was the BBC TV series Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson. The show brought the characters from Arthur Conan Doyle's stories to a modern-day setting in London.

Sherlock offered a modern and innovative approach by incorporating social issues and available technology into Holmes' renowned cases. While the first two seasons received high acclaim, the subsequent two seasons failed to capture the same level of excellence. The final season of Sherlock was particularly disappointing, with the series finale causing controversy and dividing viewers. However, the decline in quality had already begun after the conclusion of the second season. Here's an exploration of Sherlock's downfall.

9 Sherlock Couldn't Let Go Of Moriarty (& Failed To Replace Him)

Sherlock brought some of the detective's most significant characters from the books to life on the screen, and one of the most prominent amongst them was Jim Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' greatest adversary. Moriarty's presence had been hinted at since the very first episode of Sherlock, and he made his dramatic entrance in the season 1 finale, "The Great Game". Throughout season 2, Moriarty continued to be the series' primary antagonist until his own demise in the season finale, "The Reichenbach Fall", where he took his own life to manipulate Sherlock into doing the same. Sherlock's version of Moriarty was a captivating, cunning, and impulsive genius, whose intellect was on par with Sherlock's, making him a sinister reflection of the detective. Losing Moriarty was undoubtedly one of the series' most significant drawbacks.

Naturally, in the books, a similar event occurs, with Moriarty's death coinciding with Sherlock's faked demise. However, in Sherlock, Moriarty's death came too abruptly. Sherlock never truly recovered from losing Moriarty and couldn't let go of him. This attachment was even hinted at in the season 3 finale, but unfortunately, it was never truly explored. Moriarty briefly returned in a flashback during season 4, and the series made considerable efforts to find a worthy replacement. Charles Augustus Magnussen appeared to be the most promising contender, but his presence was limited to a single episode.

8 Sherlock's Faked Death Explanation Was Set Up For Disappointment

The shocking finale of Sherlock season 2 involved Sherlock, after Moriarty's suicide, being left with no choice but to jump off the roof of St. Bartholomew's Hospital to his apparent death. John witnessed the incident and even checked Sherlock's pulse, confirming his demise. However, just like in the books, Sherlock managed to fake his death. This raised the biggest question of how Sherlock pulled off this deception, leading to various fan theories that were clever and creative. Unfortunately, the series ultimately failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for Sherlock's survival. Sherlock offered multiple explanations, with one being delivered exclusively to Anderson, the most avid theorist and Sherlock Holmes fan. However, it remains uncertain if this encounter even took place, as Anderson acknowledged he would be the last person Sherlock would trust with such information, and Sherlock promptly disappeared as soon as Anderson realized this. The absence of an official explanation for Sherlock's faked death is widely regarded as the point where the series began to decline.

7 Sherlock Had A Weird Victorian Drug Trip Special Episode

To enhance the wait between seasons 3 and 4, Sherlock released a special episode titled "The Abominable Bride." This episode is set in Victorian London but is later revealed to be a drug-induced dream of Sherlock while he was returning to England on a plane. Throughout the episode, the story oscillates between the Victorian dream, the present, and dreams within the dream, using Moriarty as a link between the cases in the dream and reality. Although the episode is filled with references to the books, these references feel contrived and obligatory, aimed solely at pleasing the fans. Ultimately, "The Abominable Bride" contributes nothing substantial to the main series and further highlights the writers' lack of direction for Sherlock and his companions following season 2.

6 Sherlock’s Deduction Skills Became Hard To Believe

The visual representation of Sherlock's deductions in the BBC series was a significant aspect of its appeal. It allowed the audience to follow his thought process and make connections. Sherlock's ability to quickly deduce information was made tangible, enabling viewers to comprehend the complexities of his mind and making his skills and the cases seem plausible. However, as the series progressed beyond season 2, the believability of Sherlock's abilities diminished. He began predicting uncannily accurate outcomes with little to no information, leaving no room for surprises. Any twists that occurred felt forced and lacked credibility.

5 Sherlock Became Too Self-Aware

Sherlock's self-awareness reached alarming and destructive heights after its second season. Fans generated numerous theories on how Sherlock feigned his death, many of which were more believable and satisfying than the potential explanation provided by the series. The writers incorporated some of these theories into the show. Sherlock even managed to convert Anderson, who had always despised him, into a devout fan and leading theorist.

The creators of Sherlock also became aware of the notorious "Johnlock Conspiracy," which proposed a romantic attraction and bond between Sherlock and John. Fans passionately desired for them to become a couple. To counteract these speculations, the writers introduced characters like Mary Morstan (portrayed by Amanda Abbington) and even a (pseudo) romantic interest for Sherlock, in a bid to quell the fervor surrounding Johnlock. However, this proved to be more detrimental than initially anticipated as the essence of Sherlock lay in the friendship and chemistry between Sherlock and John. The writers did whatever they could to keep them separated.

4 Sherlock Tried (& Failed) To Add More Humor

Sherlock Holmes may not be known for his comedic antics in the books or in the BBC adaptation, but there were instances where he showcased his humorous side by delivering witty and slightly mischievous remarks with impeccable timing. While the first two seasons of Sherlock focused more on portraying a stoic Sherlock, there were still moments of levity akin to his literary counterpart. However, in subsequent seasons, the show attempted to incorporate more humor, but unfortunately, these attempts fell short. The jokes in seasons 3 and 4 of Sherlock lacked the essence of the characters and felt out of place. One particular scene that received criticism was Sherlock's ill-fated endeavor to surprise John by disguising himself as a waiter at a restaurant.

3 Sherlock Favored Drama Over Mystery

Sherlock's first two seasons revolved around the intriguing cases that Holmes and John tackled, often tied to the enigmatic Moriarty, which contributed to a larger overarching mystery. However, seasons 3 and 4 seemed to overlook the central element of Sherlock Holmes' tales, shifting their focus towards the personal dramas surrounding the characters. The narrative delved into John's marriage, Moriarty's reemergence, and Mary's hidden past, diverting attention away from the captivating mysteries that initially captivated audiences. As a result, the quality of the cases suffered, becoming convoluted and increasingly implausible.

2 Mary Morstan’s Dark Past & Fate

Mary Morstan made her first appearance in Sherlock season 3. Similar to the books, she tied the knot with John Watson. However, unlike her literary counterpart, Sherlock's version of Mary harbored a mysterious and troubling history that eventually came to the surface. It was revealed that she used to be an intelligence operative on the run, which led her to assume the identity of "Mary Morstan." To alter Mary's backstory in this manner seemed unnecessary since she was a character who provided John with support and stability without hindering his growth. Unfortunately, her shadowy past robbed her of that role. Although Mary's demise is also accounted for in the books (without explanation), Sherlock attributed her death to the consequences of her past, even though she perished while saving Sherlock.

1 The Reveal Of The Third Holmes Sibling

The reveal of the third Holmes sibling, Eurus (Sian Brooke), has been the subject of endless criticism and controversy. Her existence was hinted at in the finale of season 3 and later revealed in season 4, where it was discovered that she had been disguising herself and getting close to John in various ways. Eurus posed as his therapist, a woman on the bus he flirted with, and even pretended to be Culverton Smith's daughter. Despite being the true genius in the Holmes family, Eurus also proved to be the evil mastermind. In the final episode of Sherlock, she devised a complex and nonsensical plan reminiscent of Saw-like traps to torture Sherlock, Mycroft, and John. However, in the end, Sherlock managed to outsmart her.

The introduction of Eurus seemed illogical since she was never alluded to before season 3. Her unanticipated emergence as a malevolent mastermind appeared to be a desperate attempt by the writers to extend the series and introduce a Moriarty-esque antagonist. Regrettably, the Eurus storyline ultimately led to Sherlock's downfall, resulting in an unsatisfactory conclusion for the series. As time passes, the likelihood of a fifth season seems increasingly improbable.