# sherlock series 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312 "2013-03-18T23:15:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/401 "2014-01-27T16:21:52Z")
I rewatched the first episode of season 1 last night, and I have a question about the murderer’s methods. Spoilers for that episode follow, although I think everyone in this thread should have already watched the episode. The murderer tells Holmes that he just talked to the victims, and convinced them to take the pills. Holmes went with the murderer because Holmes was curious about what the murderer said to the victims. However, the method that the murderer showed us was to play a game with the victims, to see whether the victim or the murderer was the more intelligent person. This barely worked on Holmes, and I doubt that it would have worked on anyone else. The murderer even resorted to pulling out a fake gun, which I suspect was how he coerced the other people to take the pill. So was the murderer lying when he said that he just talked to people, and that he did not just use his gun to force them to take the pill? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/402 "2014-01-27T16:45:04Z")
> [@Animastryfe](#): > > The murderer tells Holmes that he just talked to the victims, and convinced them to take the pills. Holmes went with the murderer because Holmes was curious about what the murderer said to the victims. However, the method that the murderer showed us was to play a game with the victims, to see whether the victim or the murderer was the more intelligent person. This barely worked on Holmes, and I doubt that it would have worked on anyone else. The murderer even resorted to pulling out a fake gun, which I suspect was how he coerced the other people to take the pill. So was the murderer lying when he said that he just talked to people, and that he did not just use his gun to force them to take the pill? Yes, he was lying. Of course, it’s true that he never actually shot anyone (how could he, with a fake gun?) but he did use it to, er, “persuade” people to accept his challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/403 "2014-01-27T17:11:43Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …one thing I realized over night: how many people actually died in series three? Was Sherlock the only person this season who actually committed a murder? And, you can argue, Mary. Sherlock was actually dead on the table until his Inner Moriarty (chained in the dungeon of his mind palace) told him that John Watson was in danger, and Sherlock kickstarted his own heart to come back. I’m fascinated to find out someday what Mary’s real intent was, and exactly how much Sherlock and Mycroft knew about her before that moment. ---
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/404 "2014-01-27T17:38:41Z")
In the second episode, a palace guard was killed. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/405 "2014-01-27T18:35:02Z")
> [@Animastryfe](#): > > In the second episode, a palace guard was killed. No, he survived. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/406 "2014-01-27T19:52:48Z")
> [@Parenchyma](#): > > And, you can argue, Mary. Sherlock was actually dead on the table until his Inner Moriarty (chained in the dungeon of his mind palace) told him that John Watson was in danger, and Sherlock kickstarted his own heart to come back. > > I’m fascinated to find out someday what Mary’s real intent was, and exactly how much Sherlock and Mycroft knew about her before that moment. Mary was trying to hide her past. Magnusson was a threat to that, since he knew everything. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/407 "2014-01-27T21:39:58Z")
The Sign of Three aired state-side last night. Question regarding Mayman (Mayfly). Did the 5 women not recognize each other from working at the soldier’s house? Cuz that was the connection, right? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/408 "2014-01-27T21:54:05Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > The Sign of Three aired state-side last night. Question regarding Mayman (Mayfly). Did the 5 women not recognize each other from working at the soldier’s house? Cuz that was the connection, right? Do you mean when Sherlock was “interviewing” them? They weren’t really there. That was just him putting all the facts about them together in his mind. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/409 "2014-01-27T23:41:27Z")
sherlock was interviewing them on line, and having them come together in his “mind courtroom”. i thought archie was great. the look on his face when he said, “beheadings”. so adorable. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/410 "2014-01-28T05:02:49Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > No, he survived. John’s soldier friend lived. But the palace guard died (the younger one, who was a “test run” for the murderer to see if the stabbing through the belt method worked - the one who was found dead in the shower). ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/411 "2014-01-28T06:55:16Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > John’s soldier friend lived. But the palace guard died (the younger one, who was a “test run” for the murderer to see if the stabbing through the belt method worked - the one who was found dead in the shower). Didn’t they think he was dead at first, but once John was able to examine him find out he was still alive? Did he die, then? I need to rewatch it. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/412 "2014-01-28T07:28:45Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Didn’t they think he was dead at first, but once John was able to examine him find out he was still alive? Did he die, then? I need to rewatch it. No, you were right the first time. He was still alive and John saved him. ---
**Author:** ![scuro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@scuro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scuro)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/413 "2014-01-28T07:32:44Z")
What happened to Sherlock. (the show) it’s filled with fluff! ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/414 "2014-01-28T13:17:55Z")
> [@scuro](#): > > What happened to Sherlock. (the show) it’s filled with fluff! Well, season 3 was more about the people than the mysteries I guess. I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/415 "2014-01-28T20:13:47Z")
> [@scuro](#): > > What happened to Sherlock. (the show) it’s filled with fluff! It still has mysteries, it just frames them around life events and the people he loves. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/416 "2014-01-30T13:55:53Z")
I think I’ve kind of settled S3 in my head as follows: 1. Gatiss toying and teasing the concept and influence of social media 2. All three writers joinging together for Sherlock the Comedy 3. Moffat at the top of his game: one to remember for his rocking chair years ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/417 "2014-01-30T18:52:20Z")
Mycroft is a great character. “Mingling!” I’d love to see him play the Master on **Doctor Who**. I also loved Sherlock’s line, in response to Mrs. Hudson’s comment that his mother had a lot to answer for. “I have a list. Mycroft has a file.” ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/418 "2014-01-30T18:54:53Z")
“If someone could just move Mrs. Hudson’s glass out of reach, that would be lovely.” ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/419 "2014-01-30T20:16:05Z")
Paraphrasing: John: “Since when do you take an interest in another human being?” Sherlock: “Just chatting. (sidelong glance) That’s the last time I’ll be trying that.” ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/420 "2014-01-30T20:38:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I liked how they managed to work in the tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra. Finally! I too, felt I could at last find rest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312.md?page=22)