All is not lost as this stage, but some changes and a watchful eye may still be needed to ensure that we don't have to put up with any more episodes as weak, inane and shambolic as The Sign of Three.
So, Series 3 of Sherlock has drawn to a close, sending Tumblr into a frenzy and leaving us on tenterhooks for however many years it is before both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman can find sufficient room in their burgeoning schedules. The series finale, His Last Vow, truly lived up to its hype, delivering a fantastic story with gripping twists and a truly creepy villain - two of them, in fact. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. As great as His Last Vow was (and it really was great), there are quite a few things about Series 3 that weren't anything like as good. In fact, a lot of it up to the final episode was disappointing. While the show has always been appreciative of its fans, there was a distinct feeling that the first two episodes were more about pleasing squeeing fangirls than telling the kind of great stories that won them fangirls in the first place. The writing was weaker, the stakes were lower, the pacing was slower - frankly, the show was a shadow of its former self. All is not lost as this stage, but some changes and a watchful eye may still be needed to ensure that we don't have to put up with any more episodes as weak, inane and shambolic as The Sign of Three. Here, then, are five recommendations to Messrs. Gatiss and Moffat going forward...
Freelance copywriter, film buff, community radio presenter. Former host of The Movie Hour podcast (http://www.lionheartradio.com/ and click 'Interviews'), currently presenting on Phonic FM in Exeter (http://www.phonic.fm/). Other loves include theatre, music and test cricket.
