Sherlock - Series 4 [Blu-ray] [2016]

SPOILER ALERT - PLEASE READ THIS PARAGRAPH ONLY AFTER WATCHING THE FIRST EPISODE: One of the major controversies in Episode One revolves around the death of Mary Watson. However, it is important to note that the TV writers should not be solely blamed for this decision. In fact, it was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself who originally came up with the idea to kill off Mary. In his novel "The Sign of Four" published in 1890, Watson meets and marries Mary Morstan, who is not an assassin or secret agent. Following their marriage, Watson temporarily moves out of 221B Baker Street in subsequent stories, which did not sit well with readers at the time. Recognizing this dissatisfaction, Conan Doyle eventually reveals in "The Norwood Builder" published in 1903 that Mary has passed away (off-stage) and Watson has returned to living at 221B Baker Street.

I really enjoyed this series. At the end of Series Three, I was worried that the dynamic between Sherlock and Watson had been lost and all the characters were becoming psychopaths, possibly due to Mary's prominence. However, the first episode of series four redeemed both Mary's character and Sherlock's for me. Removing Mary from the writing allowed for a return to the underlying relationship between Sherlock and Watson. The emotions displayed between all three characters in this episode were moving and meaningful, with Mary's role being excellent once again in episode 2. Lastly, episode 3 was stunning but not for those who are easily disturbed. It brought together all of the character developments from previous series. Overall, it was an excellent conclusion and I'm curious to see what Series 5 might bring if it happens.