Sherlock

:

Season 3
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 779 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 682 out of 779
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 779
  3. Negative: 46 out of 779
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. Boo_Radley
    Mar 9, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sherlock is one of my favourite shows. It's unique, cerebral and compelling, and I love both male leads. That said, I was disappointed with Season 3. Here's why (with SPOILERS): Firstly, they got carried away with their popularity and ended up catering too much to the excitable fanbase. In giving us what they thought we wanted, they threw all their energy into action sequences and John and Sherlock's relationships (with each other, with their families, with their friends...). 3.1 focussed on John and Sherlock's friendship, 3.2 on John and Mary's wedding and Sherlock's loneliness, and 3.3 on John and Mary's marriage crisis. I found myself longing for Moriarty or Irene Adler to show up and throw a spanner in the works. Mark Gatiss also wrote himself into the story more than was necessary. Secondly, and as a consequence of all this, the stories were less complex and satisfying than usual. I guessed a few plot twists before they happened, which is rare for me because I'm stupid. For example, in 3.1 it was obvious that the [spoiler] was the killer. In 3.2 it was obvious that Watson was sitting at the end of the darkened hallway. In 3.3 it was obvious from early on that Magnussen had a "mind palace" in lieu of actual vaults. Thirdly, fast-paced and cliched action sequences were shoehorned into the plot to compensate for actually story. Sometimes it felt more like "24" than "Sherlock." Sherlock racing through the streets of London to rescue John from a bonfire, Sherlock diffusing a bomb on a train, and most ridiculously, Sherlock shooting the villain to resolve a complex problem. I have a major issue with this sorry excuse for a plot device, because in theory Sherlock could solve all crimes by simply putting a bullet through the criminal's head. In fact, I don't know why he didn't do it sooner in Magnussen's case. It wasn't surprising or clever. On TV, people shoot each other all the time. Sherlock is supposed to be different. And finally, the characters were simply less compelling. Sherlock and John's friendship was unnecessarily sentimental (why did we need to go with them on a bachelor's PUB CRAWL?!?), John and Mary's conjugal bliss is pedestrian, and even Sherlock's relationship with his brother and parents is overly schmaltzy. Magnussen was a repugnant and unappealing villain. While they may be psycopaths, Sherlockian nemeses are supposed to be DELICIOUSLY evil, so that we love to see them on screen. Magnussen, with his "fish eyes," and creepy habits like urinating in fireplaces, eating saucy olives off other people's plates, licking people's faces and flicking their eyeballs, was just icky. His motivations were not obvious, and I couldn't really even work out why anyone cared about him. I didn't. The whole season suffered for lack of a compelling arch-nemesis, so I was relieved to see a glimpse of Moriarty in the end, and I hope the next season will hail a return to the mind-bending plots of seasons past. Because I still prefer it to just about anything else currently airing.… Expand
  2. cmyk
    Jan 29, 2014
    5
    Oh lord, where to start. When this series had just started, I sat there thinking "Finally, a show without the 'emotional interpersonal drama' that so plagues just about every single series in every TV show ever." [I'm not talking about basic human interaction, I mean the whole 'you lied to me' I'm sorry' 'I can't believe you anymore, I'm leaving' 'baby come back blah blah' that evenOh lord, where to start. When this series had just started, I sat there thinking "Finally, a show without the 'emotional interpersonal drama' that so plagues just about every single series in every TV show ever." [I'm not talking about basic human interaction, I mean the whole 'you lied to me' I'm sorry' 'I can't believe you anymore, I'm leaving' 'baby come back blah blah' that even Breaking Bad cannot shake] Previous seasons were case-oriented, character building, to the point. And then there's this season...It's so...melodramatic? Disconnected? Soap Opera-y? Overly stylistic? I feel like the Sherlock and John we knew from seasons 1 and 2 are no longer with us, especially Sherlock. He's grown so emotional and, although I suppose this is more personal than anything, no longer relatable. God I am disappointed. Also if the gay fan-service wagon is not in your interests, watch out, the whole season's peppered with it. I don't mind but it made a few of my friends stop watching because of such.… Expand
  3. maesterpycell
    Jan 20, 2014
    4
    Sherlock in series one and two was a good show, now the excessive and frankly unbearable fan service has ruined it (especially in the first episode). The second episode was stronger due to its unique narrative structure, but still struggled from the same problems. The third episode was terrible and featured a massive cop-out of an ending.

    Also, is anyone going to remember the villain    Sherlock in series one and two was a good show, now the excessive and frankly unbearable fan service has ruined it (especially in the first episode). The second episode was stronger due to its unique narrative structure, but still struggled from the same problems. The third episode was terrible and featured a massive cop-out of an ending.

    Also, is anyone going to remember the villain from this season? I know I won't. This show has lost its touch.    … Expand
  4. Zayn
    Feb 8, 2014
    4
    The third season of Sherlock, respectively, provided little quality entertainment. This season, in my opinion, completely threw off the series. In the first two seasons, Sherlock was quite a show, and the writers orchestrated such a unique, witty performance. However, this third season didn't live up to the name. In the first episode of this season, we find out how Sherlock faked hisThe third season of Sherlock, respectively, provided little quality entertainment. This season, in my opinion, completely threw off the series. In the first two seasons, Sherlock was quite a show, and the writers orchestrated such a unique, witty performance. However, this third season didn't live up to the name. In the first episode of this season, we find out how Sherlock faked his death, which by the way, isn't answered until the end. Even when you find out how he did it, you've got to admit, it's a bit disappointing. All the questions surrounding it were answered with such simplicity, it wasn't even funny. Speaking of which, Sherlock pulled a number of tricks on Dr. Watson (which weren't funny at all) that were, simply put, irritating and repetitive. The humor was that of a child: it's not funny when people get hurt, writers. In the second episode of the season, John is getting married and Sherlock gives a speech, being the best man. That's pretty much the entire episode. This is, by far, the worst episode of the entire series. In Sherlock's speech, he talks about a murder they haven't solved. Okay, in a wedding, have you ever heard a speech about murder? No! The speech should only be about the bride and the groom!!! Worst writing ever. During the speech, there are flashbacks to the murder and finally in present day, they solve it. However, it would've been 100% more logical to simply have the events in order, leading up to the wedding. The murder story was fine, it's just the order and way it was written that ruined the episode for me. And last, but certainly not least, the third and final episode of the season. It starts out with one of the most interesting story lines yet--Sherlock is found doing drugs, Dr. Watson finds out Sherlock has a girlfriend, and an evil mastermind knows all secrets against all kinds of powerful people and using their secrets against them. Wow. This kind of story is why I stuck watching Sherlock, even through their worst episodes. The story picks up and gets Sherlock on a roll, finally focusing on the brilliant detective he is. Everything is superb up until the ending. #1: That was beyond stupidity for Dr. Watson to destroy the USB drive about his wife's real identity and then turn to Sherlock to go to great lengths to get the information he destroyed, from the villain they are facing. #2: The villain is not even worthy to be called a villain because he isn't doing anything wrong. #3: The cliffhanger is not necessary and is really misleading. With all that said, I give this season of Sherlock 4/10 stars. It wasn't horrible, but it was still pretty bad. The third episode saved the series, in my opinion. If some fans even withstood the first two episodes to get to the last episode. Overall, if you want to watch the third season of Sherlock, just skip to the last episode. The first two are pointless.… Expand
  5. Kribskraps
    Feb 15, 2014
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Disappointing

    Being in love with Sherlock after the first two seasons i was even more frustrated watching the third season. Why? Lots of changes are maid regarding the characterization of sherlock, the characters around him and the main subject, the cases.
    Season 3 tries in general to make Sherlock Holmes more social, more human. This is maid by the people around him who missed him so much, the new „family“ member Mary Watson and various characters with powers of deduction as well. Unfortunatly that does not do any good. While i understand that the creators are somehow interested in pushing Sherlock in that direction it makes him simply more ordinary. Being so untouchable, so unsocialized and so deductive are the reasons for him being such an extraordinary person. But since he is now part of a family, people starting to really like him, some drug addict, some child, some criminal are "deduct ors" as well Sherlock is very weakended in being so unique.
    On the other hand the 3rd season tries to make Sherlock some kind of superagent who is dealing no longer with ordinary crimes but only with matters oft he greatest importance. Of course terrorism and stuff. There is only ONE real case in all the three seasons and that one is the highly unbelieveable „Bloody Guardsman“ (I am stabbing myself in the belly with my belt, then I am going to a wedding, eating, drinking and not feeling that there is a blade in my stomach? Lucky he did not have to pee in between... After so many really great cases in the first two seasons this is almost insulting). The rest is some whatever stuff connected mostly around Mary Watson and the national security.
    But the worst thing came to us at the end of episode three. Sherlock Holmes is now a murderer. Because he wanted to protect Mary Watson (who is „of course“ not only some woman, no, she is ex-secret service, special agent 00X, responsible for killing various people and almost killed Sherlock himself). But killing someone really evil (unfortunatly the script is not able to make the victim really hatred. It tries hard showing us how really, really mean this man is but still he does not deserve to be murdered in cold blood) does more damage to Sherlock than al the humanizing stuff. Sherlock is an „anti-hero“ but he is not an **** as he states himself in the wedding speech. He is a man with principles. He is definitly not a murderer.
    The style itself is still good but you can see the need of the producers to be even more genius. Having Sherlock in his "vault" to survive being shot was great but why also picturing him as a child? This is symptomatic to the desire of the series of being even more extraordinary.
    I am really hoping for the next season to being more devoted to storytelling and interesting cases. Get rind of Mary Watson and a lot of the new and changed faces. Get Sherlock and Watson back into the field solving extra- "ordinary" crimes like in the first two seasons.    … Expand
  6. Lokathor
    Jan 19, 2014
    5
    First episode was okay, second episode was cringe-inducing but pretty solid, and the third episode was weirdness that ended with sherlock being cool when no one else would. There's some parts that are stupid, and they slather a ton of jokes over it all to cover up where there's plot nonsense. It comes out alright.

    I couldn't help but think of it as "Sherlock Holmes and The Hobbit" this    First episode was okay, second episode was cringe-inducing but pretty solid, and the third episode was weirdness that ended with sherlock being cool when no one else would. There's some parts that are stupid, and they slather a ton of jokes over it all to cover up where there's plot nonsense. It comes out alright.

    I couldn't help but think of it as "Sherlock Holmes and The Hobbit" this whole season.    … Expand
  7. rgang
    Jan 21, 2014
    5
    this is probably catering towards a larger audience, the series packs a lot of drama,delves more into character development, and relationships... but falls kinda flat when it comes to what Conan Doyle's canon is known for, mysteries/story-telling
  8. heromoder
    Sep 8, 2014
    4
    Not sure what happened here - Steven Moffat clearly lost the plot. Unclever, boring and often out of character, this didn't sit well with me at all. Won't bother with the DVD.
  9. freinz
    Jul 21, 2014
    6
    Good but not excelent. Some things just don't add up logically which is weird since sherlock is portrayed as being deservingly arrogant. I mean who has a name as password for his account as a high security national intelligence agency chief or something like that, no way anyone can guess a password like that.
  10. danthecritic
    Jan 14, 2016
    6
    As much as it pains me to say it, this season is disappointing. After a two year wait to reveal the outcome to one of the most gripping finales in TV history, the opening episode seems to struggle decide on which theory it itself wants to believe. To its credit, the chemistry between the two main characters does come flooding back in full flow and it is actually my favourite episode of theAs much as it pains me to say it, this season is disappointing. After a two year wait to reveal the outcome to one of the most gripping finales in TV history, the opening episode seems to struggle decide on which theory it itself wants to believe. To its credit, the chemistry between the two main characters does come flooding back in full flow and it is actually my favourite episode of the season. The rest of the season however seems to lack the thrill and suspense the two prior where able to generate. The pacing and forced outside narrative that is not seen prior to season three add a glitch-like distraction that dampens the quality ever so slightly. The end of the season seems quite rushed and not as well thought out in contrast to the two previous seasons. Overall still an enjoyable journey, but nothing on the previous Holmes and Watson outings.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best TV Season of 2014
23
#23 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
83
#83 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Feb 20, 2014
    90
    The writing is still incredibly crisp, so smart, and never boring, and the deeper focus on relatable emotion, particularly in the definition of the relationship between Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman), could even bring in new fans to this international phenomenon.
    Read full review
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    Jan 22, 2014
    80
    The show is at its best in such moments, these sequences that capture the semi-virtual, semi-real ways that we think, and feel, and meet, and connect today. It’s a rare attempt to make visible something that we take for granted: a new kind of cognition, inflected by passion, that allows strangers to think out loud, solving mysteries together.
    Read full review
  3. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Jan 21, 2014
    75
    When you're smart men writing about the smartest man of all, you may feel the need to demonstrate your smarts in every possible way, with every beat of the story. But Holmes and Watson are such enduring characters, and these versions written and played so well, that they don't always require such elaborate mental gymnastics.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »