Reaction to "The Sign of Three"
Hmm. I did like it. Overall, it's kind of fun, if a bit . . . erm, slow. Very slow. Very, very slow. It was a change of pace, in more ways than one, but not a bad thing. I did kind of like the little bits of cases we got that unfolded, and this was another episode that felt character-driven, but with a decent case. (Only decent, because see spoilers.) And it was nice to see a little bit of Sally Donovan (I heard the actress playing her had scheduling conflicts so this season is light on Sally. :(
I did not like that all the humor seemed to be at the expense of characters. Lestrade at the beginning, Sherlock and John in the middle (especially Sherlock) -- it just seemed rather mean-spirited, and I don't even like most practical jokes for that reason. (I also had issues with the "cleverness" of the murder case, for practical reasons, and with Sherlock's "last deduction" -- see Spoilers cut for more.) Also -- Sherlock said it took John "years" to tell him what the "H" stood for. Years? According to the timeline based on the official blog, John says his middle name is "Hamish" just about a year into their friendship. And then they show the bloody clip where he says it. O.o
Gorramit, I want to see Harry on the show! I can (reluctantly) accept an actress other than Catherine Tate playing her, if it means we finally get a glimpse of the elusive Harry Watson!
Anyway. I think I can finally dare to say that Sherlock has . . . mellowed. Seriously. High-functioning sociopath, my salt-encrusted boot. He's actually sweet in this, but still in character. He's still a selfish jerkwad at times but I like the change. The ending was very nice. I wish I had a better descriptor than that but it fits too well not to say it. It's very nice. Overall, not quite as captivating as Ep 1 but enjoyable nevertheless.
[Spoiler (click to open)]SPOILERS:
I adore Mary in this. I really, really, really, do. She's exactly like a modern incarnation of how I've always thought of Mary in my own fanfics. But I preemptively hate her because I read a spoiler for the next episode. And now I want to scream with frustration because I don't want to have mixed emotions. If I can't love her whole-heartedly, at least let me hate her unadulteratedly.
Sherlock knew Mary was pregnant before she did. At least, that's the impression we're supposed to have, but it came across to me like Mary did know (or strongly suspected) and was desperately trying to keep Sherlock from saying it out loud. It's frankly ridiculous and insulting to ask the viewers to accept that Sherlock could detect a pregnancy before the woman herself, based only on the clues he was given. Just . . . no.
The attempted murder of Bainbridge -- clever, but still not clever enough. I don't care how fine and thin your blade is -- it's a stab and it's going to pierce internal organs and there was really nothing to distract him mentally. He's going to feel it and it's going to hurt like hell. So no, that doesn't fly with me.
I did not like that all the humor seemed to be at the expense of characters. Lestrade at the beginning, Sherlock and John in the middle (especially Sherlock) -- it just seemed rather mean-spirited, and I don't even like most practical jokes for that reason. (I also had issues with the "cleverness" of the murder case, for practical reasons, and with Sherlock's "last deduction" -- see Spoilers cut for more.) Also -- Sherlock said it took John "years" to tell him what the "H" stood for. Years? According to the timeline based on the official blog, John says his middle name is "Hamish" just about a year into their friendship. And then they show the bloody clip where he says it. O.o
Gorramit, I want to see Harry on the show! I can (reluctantly) accept an actress other than Catherine Tate playing her, if it means we finally get a glimpse of the elusive Harry Watson!
Anyway. I think I can finally dare to say that Sherlock has . . . mellowed. Seriously. High-functioning sociopath, my salt-encrusted boot. He's actually sweet in this, but still in character. He's still a selfish jerkwad at times but I like the change. The ending was very nice. I wish I had a better descriptor than that but it fits too well not to say it. It's very nice. Overall, not quite as captivating as Ep 1 but enjoyable nevertheless.
[Spoiler (click to open)]SPOILERS:
I adore Mary in this. I really, really, really, do. She's exactly like a modern incarnation of how I've always thought of Mary in my own fanfics. But I preemptively hate her because I read a spoiler for the next episode. And now I want to scream with frustration because I don't want to have mixed emotions. If I can't love her whole-heartedly, at least let me hate her unadulteratedly.
Sherlock knew Mary was pregnant before she did. At least, that's the impression we're supposed to have, but it came across to me like Mary did know (or strongly suspected) and was desperately trying to keep Sherlock from saying it out loud. It's frankly ridiculous and insulting to ask the viewers to accept that Sherlock could detect a pregnancy before the woman herself, based only on the clues he was given. Just . . . no.
The attempted murder of Bainbridge -- clever, but still not clever enough. I don't care how fine and thin your blade is -- it's a stab and it's going to pierce internal organs and there was really nothing to distract him mentally. He's going to feel it and it's going to hurt like hell. So no, that doesn't fly with me.