TOP PICK
WARNING: If you haven’t watched the first three episodes of Sherlock, stop reading this and watch them. Now!
As Series II opens, the genius detective has become an internet sensation. (That’s true in real life as well as within the TV show itself.) Like Series I, Series II is comprised of three episodes. “A Scandal in Belgravia” 
involves the blackmailing of a minor member of British royalty and a beautiful dominatrix. “The Hounds of Baskerville” is about the genetic engineering of animals at a military base, and yes, there’s a large canine lurking about. And Sherlock’s nemesis, Moriarty, returns for the season finale in “The Reichenbach Fall.” This absolutely psychotic version of Moriarty, who we saw for the first time at the end of Series I, is even more evil at the end of Series II.
I have a love/hate relationship with this show. I absolutely love the acting, writing, production, editing, and overall storytelling. What I absolutely hate is the nail-biting, cliffhanger episodes. AND the fact that we have to wait so long between seasons! Hey BBC, we want more Sherlock and we don’t want to wait.
The second series of Sherlock aired in the US in May of this year, but I’ve just now finished watching those 
three episodes. Since there are only three shows per series, I didn’t want to watch them all at once, leaving me with nothing. So, I “rationed” my viewing. But after watching the third show, “The Reichenbach Fall,” I wish I had waited longer to view it. This was a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. AAAAAAHHHHH!
A lot of people blogged about Episode One of Series II, “A Scandal in Belgravia,” saying it was the best episode of the six so far produced. I found Episode Three much better, even though I was totally frustrated with the ending! The way the story was crafted and produced, shot and edited was top-notch.
A third series is scheduled to go into production in early 2013 to air in the UK some time later in the year. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to see it in the US.
I just can’t say enough about this show. It’s at the top of my list of the most entertaining programs to ever come out of the UK. And that’s saying a lot because there are A LOT of entertaining shows from the UK. (That’s why I have this blog!)
MAIN CAST:
Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock Holmes
Martin Freeman – Dr. John Watson
Rupert Graves – Detective Inspector Lestrade
Una Stubbs – Mrs. Hudson
Mark Gatiss – Mycroft Holmes
Andrew Scott – James Moriarty
Total Seasons: 2 (6 episodes in two series)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 2
In Production: 2010-2012
Viewer Discretion: Violence
I’m so glad you finally watched this. And that you liked it! I mean, how could you not. I totally agree about the last episode being the best–but at the same time it’s so horrifically sob-inducing that I tear up thinking about it. I’m dying, waiting for season 3.
Last night my father-in-law said that the US show, Elementary, was great. He’s such a tosser. I won’t even watch a frame of that show. I know that they wanted to capitalize on the success of the UK show, but I know it can’t be anywhere near as good as UK’s Sherlock.
I’ve watched both episodes, because I will watch anything to do with Holmes. I had an open mind for the first episode, but the mysteries were totally predictable! I don’t object to having a female Watson, but Lucy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller have a weird chemistry that is very not-Holmes&Watson-esque. By the end of the second episode I actively disliked it. Again, the plot was predictable and the characterization strange and wrong. It is absolutely terrible compared to Sherlock, and I dont even enjoy it as much as the RDJ movies. But a lot of people seem to love it for some reason. To me, it was essentially a police procedural (a la Monk) with a British guy, and that’s it.
This is just such a cool show and it is totally faultless which is some amazing feat. The whole concept has worked to perfection. I still haven’t watched the last episode yet for the exact reason that you wanted to hold off watching it! Perhaps I’ll give it an airing at Christmas. I’m so pleased that they have commissioned another series!