Sherlock; when a show starts to stink

Rather interestingly, I learned the next Episode of Sherlock had been released online yesterday, so I scurried over to take a look.

I was the most repugnant episode in the series. In fact, as a person who absolutely adored Sherlock, and his portrayal by Benedict Cumberbatch, let me admit; after twenty pathetic minutes I skipped to the last five minutes to get over it.

There is a rumour that this is the Last Episode.

Unless the writers are going to be sacked and / or return to the level of engagement, competence or simply story telling, it is a tragic conclusion to a show which ought have ended in Season 3 at the penultimate episode.

The Magnificent Beginning

The first episodes of Sherlock were excellent.  There was not a flaw.  The mixture of levity and seriousness was in balance, the acting was perfect as was the casting.   One felt that brilliant minds had read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, internalised them, cast them into modern day.

The Glowing Middle

The ability to weave the original, done in the late 1800s to now, early 2000s was done artfully, cleverly and added to the enjoyment.   The ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ a group of virtually homeless boys who helped the original Sherlock Holmes were updated to a group of homeless people.

The ‘delve’ into the past was cleverly done.

One found the character of Moriarity a bit too ridiculous, for one assumed he was brilliant, not insane in that nauseatingly annoying style.   One hoped that it would be toned down, unless it was played for laughs.

The Revolting Final Season

At the end of Season 3, John Watson’s wife Mary steps in front of a gun and takes the bullet meant for Sherlock and dies.   This was the opening of Season 4; although we hoped she hadn’t really died, because she added a certain interest to the story.

The introduction of a sister who is more repulsive than Moriarity, and the unbelievable plot of how she escaped the mental institution and returns, moved the show into the kind of cartoon fiction one did not expect, desire or think could happen.

One expects Logical Deduction from Sherlock, not ridiculous plots where one has to suspend belief; like a bad 1950s Sci-Fi show.

Over?

As far as my viewing is concerned, whether there is a Season 5 or not is moot.  Unless the show plans to return to sanity there isn’t enough ganja in the world for me to smoke so as to be able to focus on this rubbish.