There is something so nerve racking about waiting for an episode to air. Especially an episode that fans have been waiting for for nearly two years. Even more so, an episode that follows a bleeding steep cliff hanger. Dangling in the air, in front of us, like a detective on a bungee jump rope. Finally, our wait is over. The Empty Hearse, the season three opener, fell into our laps and we all rejoiced in epic celebration. But was it worth the wait? Was the new episode, coinciding with a brand new year, going to go off with a bang? Or was it going to sizzle out?
Imagine, if you will that there are four plates all containing some major point of The Empty Hearse. There’s the crime, the return, the explanation and the enjoyment. Mark Gatiss, the writer of this episode, has the unbelievably hard job keeping them all spinning for an hour and a half. Did he succeed? You can bet he did. This was probably the best series opener of Sherlock and pushed the already incredible programme into new dizzy heights. The writing here was phenomenal as nearly every moment was timed excellently. Bravo for the explanation of surviving the fall. Throwing in several hilarious red herrings and making the daring escape not firm has caused everyone’s brains to wrack.
There were a few wobbly moments, and perhaps the terrorist bomb plot fell a bit short due to the reunion; it didn’t quite feel as important or life threatening and at some points felt more like fodder. And there will be a few people disappointed that the “explanation” wasn’t elaborate enough. But it’s pleasant to know that it might not be the exact explanation and the mystery still hovers over us, perhaps forever.
Just steer clear of any rooftops.
TTFN
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