10 Best Sherlock Characters
3. Jim Moriarty
Andrew Scott’s version of Jim Moriarty was a madman. Whenever he was on screen, he projected intelligence, determination, and insanity.
Though he was mentioned in ‘A Study in Pink’, Moriarty did not make an appearance until ‘The Great Game’ – the finale of Series 1. In said episode, Scott’s performance encapsulated his character’s aptitude for chaos perfectly.
Yet the best moments with Moriarty were in ‘The Reichenbach Fall’. The dialogue between Sherlock and Moriarty during this episode was superb. (Indeed, the rooftop scene is a strong contender for the best scene in the show’s history.) Moriarty was a truly terrifying adversary in this episode, and he proved he was willing to do anything in order to beat his nemesis – including taking his own life.
The only negative aspect of Scott’s version of Moriarty was that we didn’t see enough of him. Though he was featured in Series 3 and 4 in flashback sequences and Sherlock’s mind palace, this modern incarnation of Sherlock’s arch enemy should have been in more episodes.