# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/41 "2013-03-29T18:02:33Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > One has to give credit to the Brits for both not drawing out a concept suitable for four to six hours into twenty-odd forty five minute episodes (e.g. _24_), or trying to compress a story of similar length into feature film length (e.g film adaptations of _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_, _State of Play_). British “series” such as _The State Within_, _Luther_, and _Sherlock_ are the length they are for a reason; that there is no need to draw them out over more episodes. The quality of the resulting product–which is crafted to maximize dramatic impact, rather than to merely provide filler between commercials–is obvious. > > Stranger Except for the same reason they never end up signing casts for more then a season or two. So when a series is successful and they end up deciding they want to produce more, half the cast will have wandered off to other projects. See Misfits, Being Human, Downton Abbey, etc. I’m kinda impressed they keep getting the leads for Sherlock to come back given their recent success in other projects. I imagine Martin Freeman must make more in five minutes of Hobbit screentime then he makes in a series worth of Sherlock episodes. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/42 "2013-03-29T19:55:54Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I’m kinda impressed they keep getting the leads for Sherlock to come back given their recent success in other projects. I imagine Martin Freeman must make more in five minutes of Hobbit screentime then he makes in a series worth of Sherlock episodes. They work around the schedules of the actors (and in the case of Sherlock, the producers too). There’s not the same need to fill a, say, 13-or-26-week-long time slot at whatever o’clock to satisfy an advertiser. At least not with BBC anyway, and C4 and to a lesser extent ITV are also quite willing to commission a short run of things on a punt. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/43 "2013-03-29T21:00:28Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Except for the same reason they never end up signing casts for more then a season or two. So when a series is successful and they end up deciding they want to produce more, half the cast will have wandered off to other projects. See Misfits, Being Human, Downton Abbey, etc. > > I’m kinda impressed they keep getting the leads for Sherlock to come back given their recent success in other projects. I imagine Martin Freeman must make more in five minutes of Hobbit screentime then he makes in a series worth of Sherlock episodes. The _Downton_ cast was signed up for three years–Fellowes later bitched that UK shows generally don’t offer longer contracts. At least _he_ didn’t. (Of course, his writing started sucking in series 2; if he’d done better, perhaps some of them would have stayed.) As much as we find the short \*Sherlock \*series frustrating, it does allow the cast (& producers) some flexibility. One series of _Downton_ took seven months to shoot. This year, they’ll shoot two episodes of _Sherlock_, Martin will go & be a hobbit (& Benedict will probably stay busy)–then they’ll return to shoot one more episode. Which will probably premiere around holiday season… I think the _Sherlock_ actors are taking the long view of their careers; they aren’t teenagers who just fell of the turnip truck. Cumberbatch was a versatile, intelligent actor–a Sherlock Holmes, he became a heartthrob. He’s continued to take a variety of roles in projects large & small–from _Star Trek_ to BBC radio. Will Freeman get more offers from playing the very human (humorous but tough) John Watson or from playing a hobbit? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/44 "2013-03-29T21:25:20Z")
“How the bloody hell did you survive the fall?” “I put my shoes on backwards.” “What? That makes no sense.” “Indeed.” ---
**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:** [March 29, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/45 "2013-03-29T21:35:19Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Cumberbatch was a versatile, intelligent actor–a Sherlock Holmes, he became a heartthrob. He’s continued to take a variety of roles in projects large & small–from _Star Trek_ to BBC radio. Will Freeman get more offers from playing the very human (humorous but tough) John Watson or from playing a hobbit? I think the first thing I saw Cumberbatch in was _Starter For 10_. That’s the first time I saw him, James McAvoy, Catherine Tait, Alice Eve, Mark Gatiss and Rebecca Hall. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/46 "2013-03-30T06:51:27Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Yay! So looking forward to it! > > In the meantime, there’s fanfiction… > > I’m gonna see if the Blu-Ray is available for preorder from [Amazon.uk](http://Amazon.uk). BluRays aren’t region locked, that’s how I got my all-4-series-of-Torchwood for $30 less than at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). Warning: Despite the lack of “regions”–the UK\* Sherlock\* BluRays will not play on _most_ US players. "Please note that this product will not play on US spec 60i Blu-ray players as the Blu-ray discs are authored to UK 50i specs.w The show does go on sale quite quickly after its UK run–which can be long months before PBS runs its slightly edited version. (Clipped for time.) When my DVD player croaked, I got a region-free version. Not that I’m above also getting the US BluRays when they come out–with all edits restored. And the episodes will eventually show up on Netflix. But we do get tired waiting… ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/47 "2013-03-30T10:10:04Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I love the show, but have to laugh at the word “series”. > Three episodes per season? > Sherlock is a “series”? > In the USA, three episodes would either be called a “mini-mini series” or be called a flop that was pulled from the airwaves. > > OK, OK - so you can’t put a price or number on “quality”, but still - three shows does not exactly a series make. > > Gotta love Brit TV - give the audience what it wants, but only a bit. Well, so far its been commissioned each time as 4 1/2 hours of drama (3 x 1 1/2). Fwiw, I’m just looking at a few episodes of Parks and Recreations (sitcom, I know) and these come in at 20 minutes each - about 10 1/2 of these to a series of Sherlock. Also, Sherlock is no ones career - the writers, actors, BBC crew, etc all have ‘other lives’. It’s an occasional series because it makes sense that way. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/48 "2013-03-30T10:13:07Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I think the first thing I saw Cumberbatch in was _Starter For 10_. I came across that recently, on the iPlayer I think. One of those complete surprises. I don’t know how much sense it would make without knowing University Challenge but I thought it was good fun. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/49 "2013-03-30T11:31:21Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > Well, so far its been commissioned each time as 4 1/2 hours of drama (3 x 1 1/2). Yes, they’ve often pointed out that each episode is movie length, and some think they’re almost as good as a theatrically released feature film in many ways. So that’s not so bad. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/50 "2013-03-30T11:41:21Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > I don’t know how much sense it would make without knowing University Challenge but I thought it was good fun. It’s a good film. I did spend large parts of it shouting at the screen though: “Noooooo, you fool, the Rebecca Hall character is massively into you aaaargh”. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/51 "2013-03-30T15:02:40Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Well, he _was_ in the army. he had bad days! from the very spoilery youtube vidoes out there, i believe mr gatiss may have outdone himself with watson’s reation. how many months 'till january??! ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/52 "2013-04-10T03:18:03Z")
I enjoy reading all the conjectures about how Sherlock survived, but did Moriarty survive? How? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/53 "2013-04-10T06:47:14Z")
The showrunners are not entirely trustworthy, but they have ensured us that Moriarty did _not_ survive. However, it’s whispered that Andrew Scott could show up in a flashback. Or maybe that’s just wistful thinking… ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/54 "2013-04-10T15:25:04Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > The showrunners are not entirely trustworthy, but they have ensured us that Moriarty did _not_ survive. However, it’s whispered that Andrew Scott could show up in a flashback. Or maybe that’s just wistful thinking… Have they? Where was that? ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/55 "2013-04-10T15:39:20Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > The showrunners are not entirely trustworthy, but they have ensured us that Moriarty did _not_ survive. However, it’s whispered that Andrew Scott could show up in a flashback. Or maybe that’s just wistful thinking… Or maybe as a hallucination? I was wondering what he was doing in all the promo interviews. He’s a good actor, I hope he gets more work… ---
**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:** [April 10, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/56 "2013-04-10T16:38:06Z")
there was a brief moment in the roof scene where i heard basil fawlty ask “is this a piece of your brain” ? then i was more concerned about the coat. save the coat!!! they may have a bit of a review montage of the roof scene that would involve mr. moriarty before going into the credits and main story. ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/57 "2013-04-11T15:56:39Z")
Just watched season one, episode one and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to watching the rest. Then of course will have withdrawal waiting for the next season. Was it just me or was Sherlock’s character written to be considerably more obnoxious than in the past? ---
**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:** [April 11, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/58 "2013-04-11T17:16:15Z")
> [@cuberdon](#): > > Just watched season one, episode one and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to watching the rest. Then of course will have withdrawal waiting for the next season. > > Was it just me or was Sherlock’s character written to be considerably more obnoxious than in the past? Yep. He’s a major dick. And John called him that in one episode, which surprised me as I thought that was mostly an American perjorative. But it’s the best descriptor to use in this case. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/59 "2013-04-11T23:31:50Z")
in ep1, i noticed that when mike introduces john and sherlock he seems to be amused by sherlock. i’m not sure if it is because he enjoyed seeing someone getting the “sherlock treatment” or if he finds sherlock more amusing than anger producing. cuberdon, let us know what you think of the series. always fun to hear from someone seeing it for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312/60 "2013-04-12T06:05:33Z")
> [@cuberdon](#): > > Just watched season one, episode one and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to watching the rest. Then of course will have withdrawal waiting for the next season. > > Was it just me or was Sherlock’s character written to be considerably more obnoxious than in the past? Most TV & film versions of Sherlock & Watson have been played by older actors. Serious Sherlockians have deduced that the two actually met when they were about the age of the guys on the BBC show. The showrunners have said their Sherlock has some growing up to do. Keep telling yourself that each episode is about the length of a movie. So it would be \*unrealistic \*to expect more than 3-episode seasons. At least you’ve got two of those seasons to watch before the wait begins… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-series-3/653312.md?page=4)