Sherlock Series 4: 8 Huge Predictions (And Why They Need To Happen)
7. We'll See An Adaptation Of The Disappearance Of Lady Frances Carfax
Up until now, every series of Sherlock has contained at least one adaptation of an Arthur Conan Doyle story. Given how the show is based on those very narratives, that's unlikely to change. One of the more likely candidates for adaptation,then, is The Disappearance Of Lady Carfax.
Similar to The Hound Of The Baskervilles, this story largely focuses on Watson, as he travels to Switzerland to investigate a mysterious disappearance. The person in question is a young, single woman named Lady Frances who stays at a hotel for two weeks before being spotted rushing off in a terrible hurry. In the end, it turns out Lady Frances has been drugged and stuffed in a coffin in London by jewel thieves.
It makes sense: Moffat has admitted the show is heading into dark territory, and Lady Frances Carfax is a story with a messy conclusion: found after days spent in the coffin, Sherlock considers the case a resounding failure, as Lady Carfax appears mentally damaged by the ordeal. Despite this darkness, the show really needs to get back to its case-based roots, and sending Watson out on another investigation would be a great way to do this.