1. A Scandal In Belgravia (Season 2, Episode 1)
Written by Steven Moffat
"My brother has the brain of a scientist or a philospher, yet he elects to be a detective. What might we deduce about his heart?" - Mycroft Holmes The best episode out of six phenomenal episodes, "Scandal" is a testament to Steven Moffat's genius as a writer. By recreating the character of Irene Adler as a dominatrix, the show explores a recurring theme that hadn't yet been fully examined Sherlock's sexuality. While the joke throughout Season 1 (and still through Season 2) is that people assume Sherlock and John are a couple, "Scandal" finally brings the questions about Sherlock's sexuality into full focus. Is he gay? Straight? Bi? We simply don't know, and so the sexual tension between Irene and Sherlock is something to behold. Here are the two smartest people in the room, each equally fascinated by the other. Sherlock is the only man, or at least one of the very few, we assume, that Irene hasn't been able to entice with her body. In turn, Irene is the only woman clever enough to interest Sherlock. She renders him speechless, is almost always a step ahead of him, and is the only person Sherlock can't read. He is baffled by her flirtations but enamored with her intelligence. She challenges him like no one else can except perhaps Moriarty and so her ultimate betrayal seems all the worse for that. Another theme the episode explores is that of Sherlock's heart. Throughout the majority of Season 1, Sherlock is depicted as cold and uncaring. In "Scandal" we see just how much Sherlock has come to care about the people around him. He cares about John, of course, but also Molly, who he apologizes to after he goes too far in mocking her, Mrs. Hudson, who he rescues from violent interrogation, and Irene, who he saves from execution. It's not just Sherlock's heart that is exposed, though. Irene's presence creates chaos within Sherlock's relationships, but this also gives the other characters opportunities to show how much they care. John is apparently unable to keep a girlfriend as he cares so much about Sherlock, which results in his break-up with Jeanette in the episode. John also makes Irene tell Sherlock she's alive, lies to Sherlock about Irene's alleged death to try and spare him the pain of another loss, and gives Sherlock Irene's phone as a keepsake. John may not understand Sherlock and Irene's relationship (and, perhaps, neither does Sherlock), but he hates seeing Sherlock in pain, and so he tries to prevent it any way he can. Molly, who notoriously wears her heart on her sleeve, dresses up for Sherlock at the Christmas party and even has a gift for him even with how horrible he's been to her in the past. She is also clearly jealous when Sherlock X-rays Irene's phone and when he identifies Irene's body at the morgue by "...not her face." Even Mycroft, Sherlock's cold, calculating older brother and bitter rival, looks out for his younger sibling. He tries to reason with Sherlock when he sees how pained he is by seeing Irene's body in the morgue, and he is worried enough to call John to tell him to look after Sherlock. At the end of the episode, Mycroft tells John about Irene's death first because he knows John would be the best person to tell Sherlock. And yes, even Irene cares, as is evident by the password that unlocks her phone, her "heart," as Sherlock says. In the best reveal I've ever seen, the word that unlocks Irene's "heart" is Sherlock's name: I AM _ _ _ _ LOCKED becomes I AM SHERLOCKED. Her whole life is on that phone, and she chose his name to protect it. What that means about their relationship, I don't know, but whatever you take away from it, it shows she cared. The whole episode is a fascinating case in character study, going darker and deeper into emotional depth than any episode up until then had dared to go. The rescue of Irene seems a bit tacked-on at the end, but it does, in fact, show even more of Sherlock's heart, as it shows he is capable of forgiveness. At any rate, we can forgive any small flaw within such a truly fantastic episode. It includes a memorable and witty script as well as arresting visuals and some stunning pieces of music, such as "Irene's Theme" violin solo and "I Am SHERlocked." If Irene does eventually return, it will be hard to top this episode for sheer cleverness and beautiful execution. What an incredible way to start off Season 2!