Short Version: Not Dead.
I thought I'd hate Mary, but I liked her. And she's right. We do need shirts that say "I don't shave for Sherlock Holmes." :D
Okay, so the first episode was pretty thin on plot and not too good on the mystery as well, but I LOVED IT! It's funny and entertaining, and all the characters were such a delight to watch. Besides, we haven't had a Sherlock episode in, what, twoish years?! I don't mind being re-introduced to each character at all, and finding out how they've changed in those years they've been away from our screens. And really, it felt like the writers knew exactly what would grab their audience by their (halfly-nonexistent) balls.
I won't give a detailed review. I'm sure there are already a lot of those out there written by people more eloquent than me. But here are some of my highlights:
(SPOILERS FOLLOW, OF COURSE!)
1. I loved how when we were shown that first theory of how Sherlock survived (Anderson was relating it to Lestrade), Sherlock's attitude was extravagantly arrogant and badass and just overall 007-cool. That blasé way he smashed into the window, kissed Molly, and strutted out the door? Definitely not the Sherlock we know and love (although he IS arrogant and badass and cool, just not that extravagantly so), but it's so fun to see that that's how Anderson actually sees him in his mind's eye. Hahaha! No wonder Anderson used to hate Sherlock so much. XDD
2. Mrs. Hudson. I love her to bits. And I swear, her conversation with John was one of the funniest things on the episode, fan-pandering or not. "So soon, after Sherlock?" "A woman?" "You really HAVE moved on, haven't you?" "Live and let live, that's my motto." LMAO!!! "Listen to me, I AM NOT GAY!" Hahahahaaaaa! She still believes John and Sherlock were together. After all those years. How cute is that?
3. Jawn, Jawn, Jawn. I don't have any words. I must have watched that restaurant scene a million times. John's reaction was precious. "Two years. Two years. Ehrm. I thought... hmmmm... I thought you were dead. Hm? And you let me grieve? Hmm?" Close up shot on the face conveying the reined-in undercurrents of anger and confusion and everything else in that straight-backed soldierish way of his. Martin Freeman is perfect. ♥♥♥
And in case any of you didn't notice, he has very nice hands:
♥
4. Lestrade's hug. Awwww. I don't ship them, but I think their friendship is sweet.
And Lestrade and Molly should totally get together. That Tom or Ted (or whatever) is bollocks. And, with Molly's track record, probably a sociopath to boot. Hahaha!
5. So, Mycroft is not actually as stupid as I thought after the previous episode. They had a plan! pffft. But, he's obviously jealous of Sherlock for having goldfish, and that's why he keeps bugging his little brother. I mean, if Mycroft was really as smart as he thinks he is, can we really believe that he needs Sherlock that much?
6. This tongue-in-cheek fanfic parody:
I miss Moriarty.
7. At first watch, I thought Sherlock's scene with Anderson didn't really happen (mostly because of the editing -- it was spliced in the middle of the train bomb scene, plus Sherlock just disappeared when Anderson's back was turned -- but also because, as Anderson said, why would Sherlock tell him the truth?). But after a rewatch, I think it's completely plausible that Sherlock would have visited Anderson, if only to let Anderson know that he's figured out the skeleton thing. Sherlock is that way, yes? And then of course Sherlock couldn't have stopped himself from telling one of his thirteen How-I-Could-Have-Done-It plans to Anderson (because he's itching to share it with everyone haha!). Whether it's what actually occurred, or just one of his backup plans, we'll probably never know. (Or will we?)
Oh, and while I also do like my doctors clean-shaven, I like my Empty Hearse club founders better with facial hair. :)
Also, posting this prequel mini-episode here for posterity.
***
And for the curious, non-English folk:
1. his nibs
Someone who gives a command or makes a demand, often one who acts in a self-important manner, sometimes one with authority; - used mockingly as a jocose term, as if a title of honor, but not usually in the presence of the person referred to, and usually indicating resentment or contempt. Source
Usage: "I have six months of bristly kisses for me and his nibs turns up..."
2. Derren Brown
Derren Brown (born 27 February 1971) is a British illusionist, mentalist, trickster, hypnotist, painter, writer, and sceptic. Source
Usage: "A bungee rope, a mask, Derren Brown... two years and the theories keep getting more stupid."
3. There is no unused station in Sumatra Road, but abandoned stations really do exist.
Okay, so the first episode was pretty thin on plot and not too good on the mystery as well, but I LOVED IT! It's funny and entertaining, and all the characters were such a delight to watch. Besides, we haven't had a Sherlock episode in, what, twoish years?! I don't mind being re-introduced to each character at all, and finding out how they've changed in those years they've been away from our screens. And really, it felt like the writers knew exactly what would grab their audience by their (halfly-nonexistent) balls.
I won't give a detailed review. I'm sure there are already a lot of those out there written by people more eloquent than me. But here are some of my highlights:
(SPOILERS FOLLOW, OF COURSE!)
1. I loved how when we were shown that first theory of how Sherlock survived (Anderson was relating it to Lestrade), Sherlock's attitude was extravagantly arrogant and badass and just overall 007-cool. That blasé way he smashed into the window, kissed Molly, and strutted out the door? Definitely not the Sherlock we know and love (although he IS arrogant and badass and cool, just not that extravagantly so), but it's so fun to see that that's how Anderson actually sees him in his mind's eye. Hahaha! No wonder Anderson used to hate Sherlock so much. XDD
2. Mrs. Hudson. I love her to bits. And I swear, her conversation with John was one of the funniest things on the episode, fan-pandering or not. "So soon, after Sherlock?" "A woman?" "You really HAVE moved on, haven't you?" "Live and let live, that's my motto." LMAO!!! "Listen to me, I AM NOT GAY!" Hahahahaaaaa! She still believes John and Sherlock were together. After all those years. How cute is that?
3. Jawn, Jawn, Jawn. I don't have any words. I must have watched that restaurant scene a million times. John's reaction was precious. "Two years. Two years. Ehrm. I thought... hmmmm... I thought you were dead. Hm? And you let me grieve? Hmm?" Close up shot on the face conveying the reined-in undercurrents of anger and confusion and everything else in that straight-backed soldierish way of his. Martin Freeman is perfect. ♥♥♥
And in case any of you didn't notice, he has very nice hands:
♥
4. Lestrade's hug. Awwww. I don't ship them, but I think their friendship is sweet.
And Lestrade and Molly should totally get together. That Tom or Ted (or whatever) is bollocks. And, with Molly's track record, probably a sociopath to boot. Hahaha!
5. So, Mycroft is not actually as stupid as I thought after the previous episode. They had a plan! pffft. But, he's obviously jealous of Sherlock for having goldfish, and that's why he keeps bugging his little brother. I mean, if Mycroft was really as smart as he thinks he is, can we really believe that he needs Sherlock that much?
6. This tongue-in-cheek fanfic parody:
I miss Moriarty.
7. At first watch, I thought Sherlock's scene with Anderson didn't really happen (mostly because of the editing -- it was spliced in the middle of the train bomb scene, plus Sherlock just disappeared when Anderson's back was turned -- but also because, as Anderson said, why would Sherlock tell him the truth?). But after a rewatch, I think it's completely plausible that Sherlock would have visited Anderson, if only to let Anderson know that he's figured out the skeleton thing. Sherlock is that way, yes? And then of course Sherlock couldn't have stopped himself from telling one of his thirteen How-I-Could-Have-Done-It plans to Anderson (because he's itching to share it with everyone haha!). Whether it's what actually occurred, or just one of his backup plans, we'll probably never know. (Or will we?)
Oh, and while I also do like my doctors clean-shaven, I like my Empty Hearse club founders better with facial hair. :)
Also, posting this prequel mini-episode here for posterity.
Click to view***
And for the curious, non-English folk:
1. his nibs
Someone who gives a command or makes a demand, often one who acts in a self-important manner, sometimes one with authority; - used mockingly as a jocose term, as if a title of honor, but not usually in the presence of the person referred to, and usually indicating resentment or contempt. Source
Usage: "I have six months of bristly kisses for me and his nibs turns up..."
2. Derren Brown
Derren Brown (born 27 February 1971) is a British illusionist, mentalist, trickster, hypnotist, painter, writer, and sceptic. Source
Usage: "A bungee rope, a mask, Derren Brown... two years and the theories keep getting more stupid."
3. There is no unused station in Sumatra Road, but abandoned stations really do exist.