The Empty Hearse

Self-referential and alarmingly smug, this first episode shows all the signs of brand trashing. I loved the first two seasons and thought they represented the very best contemporary entertainment television. I called it smart entertainment for smart people. Sadly, smart is the one thing that this latest episode is not. It played out like an old, well-worn joke told by someone who doesn't quite understand what made the original so funny. The two leads are still a delight to watch but this time around they're working with tired material. Conan Doyle would have sympathized. I'm going back to my Hustle reruns. More fun and, worryingly, more intellectual stimulation.

With the last seasons being such a great spectacle to witness, the expectations were held high by all – would the new season's starter be able to repeat the success of the last season starter? Well, it definitely matched up to it in a way, but was always to be a slightly different episode, as the main events of the episode were be the explanation of how Sherlock's still alive, rather than planting a new villain story and also offer a deep mystery to solve in the first episode. All this would not fit into 90 minutes, would the editors provide maximum attention and detail to everything, it's going to be too intense and too much mystery would make the episode a little too twisty would not provide enough integrity - it would be all around the place. So the balance had to be found between all of these aspects and boy, wasn't that balance found! All of it was wrapped up into a perfect sequence of events that rolled open in front of our eyes and none of the sequences dominated the others... too much... and hence created an episode with excellent integrity. The acting and especially the visuals were always to be spot on, there is no other option with Sherlock. I can't compare it to Scandal in Belgravia and say its better, since they are not really comparable, as in Scandal of Belgravia, the directors needed about 5 minutes to close all the loose ends from the previous season and start another great mystery. This one needed a lot more of it and yet still made a great episode. 9.5 out of 10.

I waited keenly to see the conclusion of the Reichenbach fall, and we get the Empty Hearse.

I enjoyed it as it continues to be bursting with exuberance, it's fun and wacky, but it is not the best, the plot is a bit on the thin side, and it just feels overly self satisfied. I could imagine Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat laughing maniacally and patting each other on the back during its creation.

It feels a little like we have a 15 minuted story with 75 minutes explaining Sherlock's bizarre survival, the on/off switch has been slammed many times, I need not add to that, it just seems a wee bit lazy.

There are great points though, some of the imaginings of Sherlocks death are fun, his actual parents are brilliant, the bonfire scene was superbly done, and Louise Brealey continues to shine brightly as Molly.

It delivers largely, but the bar has been set so high more was expected, 7/10

I only gave "The Empty Hearse" 6 stars for the effort and out of respect for the actors, who did the best they could with a very poor script. The episode seemed like endless nodding to Sherlock's fans. The writers spent so much time nodding that they forgot to actually look at the characters and notice what they were doing. And they were not doing much. Sharp concise dialogue of Sherlock Series 1 becomes in "The Empty Hearse" either syrupy squirts of sentimentality or a parody of itself. Since the camera-work was gone out of the series by Season 2, there is no need to mention it here. However, the creators thought it wise to eliminate the iconic music from Sherlock this time as well. In short, whereas in Season 1 and partially 2 Gatiss and Moffat treated the characters as real, complex, multi-faceted people, here they decided to turn them into caricatures of themselves.

It ended with a bang. Or, rather, a quick drop and a sudden stop - one that sent fans and critics alike reeling and demanding more, more, more. And this past New Years Day 2014, the two- year-long wait finally ended for millions worldwide as the infamous Consulting Detective returned to London with a theatrical flair that can only be described as, well… Sherlockian.

In many regards, the latest and newest installment of BBC's smash hit, Sherlock (2010 - present) did not disappoint fans worldwide - and why would it? Finally, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) are back to embark upon more exciting and thrilling adventures! This is the moment that we've all been waiting for! Yet, this first episode - while exciting - did have a few shortcomings that made it less than what some fans might expect.

When a TV show opens its door to the fandom world - i.e. Tumblr - and brings it into the fold of its own plot, it often risks laughing at itself, becoming a pantomime of the speculations, theories and obsession that have propelled it forward - in short, it risks lessening itself by approaching and enveloping the - sometimes, frankly alarming - fan world. Yet, somehow, Sherlock avoided this entirely, carefully balancing itself on the knife's edge of playful, poking jokes which Sherlockians will probably die over, and that the average viewer can appreciate in the grander scheme of the episode's overall and surprisingly cheeky nature. The fact remains that no one listens to their fans better than Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, and, while some fans might find offense in their references to the, again, frankly alarming Sherlock fan-base, being toyed with was actually quite enjoyable.

The laughs weren't too far behind in regards to this episode, either. Again, "cheeky" is the word for this script - as perhaps are the words, "confident," "smart" and "clever," as Gatiss once again shows off his prowess as not only a co-creator of the show, but a writer as well.

One thing that no one had to worry about for this new series is the superb acting. Benedict Cumberbatch is simply flawless as Sherlock Holmes, supporting an argument that he is, in fact, the best actor to have ever portrayed the sociopathic, genius sleuth. Martin Freeman once again shone as a modern John Watson, showing a wide array of emotions simultaneously. And fans who were worried about the introduction of John's romantic interest, Mary Morstan (played by Amanda Abbington, Martin Freeman's real-life partner) have little to fear. Mary is as charming, brazen and clever as we could have possibly ever hoped for. Though only shown sparingly in this episode, she's sure to become a fantastic character in the near future, one that will not only add to the plot, but help shape a wonderful, new dynamic for this new series.

The plot itself was, overall, very intriguing. From the get go, the audience is immediately thrown back into the excitement and adventure that makes Sherlock exactly that - an adventure unlike anything television has seen before. This new series is sure to be a unique experience.

However, somehow, the plot was very convoluted and sometimes choppy and jaggedly presented for those that couldn't catch every single word of dialog being presented. However, after my second viewing of the show (after my disastrous first attempt at a live stream), I could completely comprehend the plot of "The Empty Hearse" and its implications towards the later episodes. It's truly a masterpiece - yet one that was initially confusing. Yet, despite its many pros, there is one crucial con to "The Empty Hearse" that made it less than what many fans have been expecting - the relationship between John and Sherlock.

Again, it's been two years since Sherlock's faked suicide, and it's been only days since he's been vindicated of all of the charges that had been brought against him, thanks to one "Richard Brook." Somehow, the thrill of the new plot took away from that developing reconnection, and their struggle to reconcile after many years of hurt and loneliness. Again, we understand - Sherlock is an adventure, a wild ride through the twisting alleys of London, filled with danger, excitement and deductions galore. And, again, "The Empty Hearse" did not disappoint in this regard. Yet, the one thing that this episode should have been about - John's forgiving Sherlock, their friendship - was not touched upon enough. After a third viewing (yes, a third), I could see the small hints towards the larger picture, but they were vague and barely noticeable for those who weren't looking. If not for the fantastic performances by Cumberbatch and Freeman, Sherlock and John's character arcs would have been completely lost in the grandeur, the danger and the thrill.

Perhaps this crucial shortcoming has to do with the restrictive time set for Sherlock episodes - ironic, seeing as they're practically feature length films. Yet, an extra half hour would have been enough to help bring this absolutely vital dynamic to life. If not that, then taking away some of the action would have helped - it certainly would've helped clear up some confusion with the intense and rapidly moving plot line.

All in all, however, "The Empty Hearse" was an explosive opening episode in what is promising to be the most action-packed season of Sherlock yet. And its hints towards a greater danger for not only London, but Holmes and Watson, give a glimpse into the new, exciting plot that Gatiss and Moffat have lined up for Sherlock fans globally. I was only slightly disappointed with this opening episode, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!