Sherlock Season 3

Previously, on Sherlock: John got married, though since most of the episode consisted of Sherlock and John affirming the epic and lifelong nature of their relationship, you might be surprised to find out it was to Mary. Sherlock gave the best Best Man Speech in the history of time, complete with soppiness, awkwardness, and an attempted murder. Everyone lectured Sherlock about how Marriage Changes Everything at every possibly opportunity, we all got sad, and now we’re a bit anxious about what the future will look like for our boys. Especially since Mary’s pregnant and Sherlock left the wedding reception early and alone, because he couldn’t figure out where or how he fit in at the party.

Sadly, as soon as it seems we’ve got Sherlock back again, it’s over. Yup, His Last Vow is the Series 3 finale and then we’re all back on hiatus again even though it feels dreadfully unfair. But, first we’ve got to get through this episode. And there’s an awful lot to talk about. Let’s get to it.

Previously, on Sherlock: The great detective’s back from the dead, even though we never find out for sure how he faked his death and John never gets told that Sherlock did it to save his life. But, that’s okay, because the boys make up by the end after Sherlock fakes a bomb scare so they can get sentimental and say soppy things for a minute or two, even though that’s an extreme jerk move. John proposes to his new girlfriend Mary, Lestrade has an awesome new hair cut, we learn more about Mycroft than ever before and also meet the Holmes parents who are really the Cumberbatch parents (INCEPTION!). Oh and also John gets kidnapped and stuffed in a bonfire because of some unknown reason by some unknown creepy man with intense glasses. Oh and there was some plot to blow up Parliament again like Guy Fawkes but it legitimately does not matter at all.

So, Sherlock’s back. We’re talking about it. Here comes The Sign of Three.

Previously, on Sherlock: It’s been two years, everyone’s become suitably obsessed with the central mystery heading into Series 3- the great Sherlock Holmes was forced to fake his own death in order to protect the lives of John Watson, Greg Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson after his arch-enemy Moriarty shot himself in the head. We knew he survived. John does not. How’d he do it? Well, hopefully we find out tonight.

Yes, it’s true. After two years of waiting – two years of Benedict Cumberbatch starring in approximately 87 other projects, fandom freak outs and the release of a completely different Holmes show – it’s finally here. Sherlock is back. Really really really. Not a drill. Not a joke. It is time.

So, take a deep breath. It’s time to talk about The Empty Hearse.

Fans are waiting with rising levels of anxiety/excitement/mania/joy for popular mystery series Sherlock’s return with premiere episode The Empty Hearse – whether it’s because they want to know the details surrounding how the great detective faked his death, are curious whether John will react to the news of his best friend’s not being quite so dead after all by punching him in the face, or just want to see television’s greatest bromance reunited, we all just want to get to January 19 (and avoid getting spoiled by our friends in the UK who have already seen this awesomeness).

Subsequently, sometimes it’s hard to remember that there are actually two more episodes to come in Series 3, because we’re all so fixed on Hearse and the fact that it’s been two years since we’ve gotten any new Sherlock at all. But, there’s more to come – and now we finally have some details and a look at life after Sherlock’s return.

Series 3’s second episode is titled The Sign of Three, and is ostensibly in some way based on original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story The Sign of Four, the tale in which we meet Mary Morstan, the woman who would later become Mrs. John Watson. Since we already know that Freeman’s real-life partner Amanda Abbington is playing Morstan, the events of described in this episode and shown in some of the photos probably shouldn’t surprise you, but they do contain a vague spoiler if you’re being super cautious. Take a look for yourself below.

As you may have heard, new behind-the-scenes documentary Unlocking Sherlock is streaming online in full prior to its on-air debut January 12, and it takes a look at how popular mystery series Sherlock came to be. This is, of course, all completely well and good and fascinating – the film is a totally worthwhile way to spend an hour or so of your time.

However, if you’re a Sherlock fan, what you probably really want to know about after a two-year hiatus is as much scoop as humanly possible on the new episodes, and what Series 3 will look like. Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds.

The BBC has released an absolutely amazing seven minute mini-episode prequel clip for Sherlock Series 3 that’s basically better than anything you’re going to get from Santa this year. No kidding.

No, seriously. Admittedly, some of us (cough yours truly cough) may have not have expected much from this particular prequel clip, given Steven Moffat’s track record with enjoyable-but-not-quite-vital similar clips for Doctor Who.

However, yours truly is quite happy to be wrong in this particular instance, because Many Happy Returns is fantastic. Featuring appearances from a huge chunk of the major cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Rupert Graves, as well as a surprising emotional punch, it’s well worth a chunk of your morning to watch.

So, stop whatever you’re doing and check out the full clip below.

So, remember what I was saying earlier about a positive avalanche of new Sherlock material emerging over the past couple of weeks, by way of apology for making us all wait two years for Series 3? Well, the most awesome bit of all may have arrived at last. (And it’s so awesome, I’m breaking my own personal rule about posting on the blog twice in a row about the same subject. I expect you’ll all forgive me.)

Yes, an actual full minute long trailer for Series 3 premiere The Empty Hearse is here, and it’s amazing. There’s actual dialogue, and footage, and a fairly big emotional punch in the gut at the same time.

Well, it would seem that when your fanbase has to wait two years for new material, it’s pretty much right and proper to provide them with a ton of it when you have the chance.

This seems to be the philosophy being adopting regarding the new series of everyone’s favorite mystery drama Sherlock, which (FINALLY) returns to our television screens next month in both the UK (January 1) and US (January 19). There have already been a ridiculous amount of new extras in the past couple weeks, including a hearse-related promotional announcement, new behind the scenes pictures, a new teaser trailer, and the announcement of a holiday prequel mini-episode. But, now it’s time to really steel your nerves. With the premiere(s) inching ever closer, there’s been a positive flood of promotional photos from a variety of sources over the past several days, and it’s possible you’re going to need to sit down for a minute.

But we’re okay with it. Really we are. We promise.

Click through for a long-awaited look at the new season that includes pretty much every major cast member – including Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs and Louise Brealey – as well as a new face you might recognize.

Looks like Santa is bringing Sherlock fans something special this year!

While the hotly anticipated third series of the mega-popular crime drama doesn’t air until the new year (January 1 in the UK, January 19 in America), the BBC has announced that a special Christmas mini-episode will be screened on its Red Button interactive platform this December. The new segment will be called Many Happy Returns and will go live on Christmas Day.

Two new images from Sherlock Series 3 filming have been released by the BBC and while – yet again – they don’t show any actual episodic shots that are clear enough to figure out what’s going on, they’re still quite lovely to look at. (These have apparently been out for a week or so, but what with all the other Sherlock news of late, seem to have passed under our radar. Apologies!)

The behind-the-scenes pictures show stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman filming the upcoming third season and show various dramatic expressions worn by Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

I think we’re all assuming these two must be from sometime near or around filming of the Holmes/Watson reunion and subsequent fall-out, right? Everyone looks so angsty! Freeman’s expression here is particularly amazing. That better be in an episode.

See the new shots for yourselves below, courtesy of the BBC.