Thank heavens for Benedict Cumberbatch’s insane work ethic, because otherwise we wouldn’t have another Sherlock season on the horizon. We thank you, dear man. Indeed, Sherlock Season 4 just recently started production, with co-showrunner Steven Moffat teasing the shows “climax” is coming in a way that suggests the end may be nigh. Say it isn’t so! But let’s focus on the positive — Mark Gatiss (the other co-showrunner, who also appears on the series as Sherlock’s older brother Mycroft) has teased us with the first image from the new series, as well as a little pun:
The hair! The coat! It’s all happening! There’s a lot more happening in Season 4 as well, including the addition of a new cast member. According to the official synopsis:
“Season 4 begins with the mercurial Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), back once more on British soil as Doctor Watson (Martin Freeman) and his wife Mary (Amanda Abbington) prepare for their biggest challenge yet: becoming parents.”
There may also be some romance in the air, as Rupert Graves — who plays the long-suffering inspector Lestrade — told us in January that his character definitely has “the hots” for Molly (Louise Brealey), so perhaps we’ll see something develop with that. As for Moffat’s comments on the new season,
“Sherlock series four — here we go again! Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street, and it always feels like coming home. Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and terror and tragedy are looming. This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning and it’s about to reach its climax.”
Though I didn’t love the Christmas Special, I still have high hopes for the new season. And of course, even when Sherlock isn’t at the top of its game, it’s still better than most. I’m hoping the new season settles down and focuses back on the Holmes-Watson (Martin Freeman) relationship and just solving some good old-fashioned crimes with wit, style, and (from Watson at least) heart.
It’s still somewhat of a wait until the next Sherlock installment will land on American shores (if it follows the pattern of the other series, it may be in early 2017), but we’ll keep you updated on the specifics as we know them!
