Ok, I’ll admit I was getting a little too passionate when I said they turned it into a romcom/soap but, like so many other fans, I find it very hard to restrain myself when talking about this show. My apologies to those who were offended.

Re. the 'romance', was it not obviously the centrepiece of S3? For example:
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[*]John’s reaction to Sherlock’s return, and particularly that inexplicable line "I don't care HOW you did it, I want to know WHY" was used to show us just how much John cares, and how badly he was hurt, in case we hadn’t got it by that point.
[*]John asking Sherlock to be best man was a declaration of his love for Sherlock.
[*]The best man speech was one long love letter from Sherlock to John.
[*]More love and tenderness poured out in HLV.
[/list]
 
 
Now, what I actually disliked about this is not the Sherlock-John personal equation itself, but how the makers abandoned their usual subtlety and finesse in their treatment of it.

There is uncharacteristic repetition and obviousness in S3, which I do NOT want to see in S4. For instance:
[list=1]
[*]"Of course, you're my best friend": Did it have to be spelled out? Why didn't they cut the scene at the point when Sherlock says 'friend' and John says 'man'? More elegant, and John’s expression has already done the talking.
[*]"I didn't expect to be anybody's best friend": Repetition; we would’ve known that from point 1. Also, Sherlock Holmes might think that in his head, but he won’t say such a thing in front of so many people. OOC! It reeks of self-pity, which belongs in soap-operas, not in Sherlock.
[*]"I'm an arsehole": see above. Additionally, did they have to so brutally sacrifice the supreme dignity of Sherlock Holmes, just to make him ‘likeable’? Everyone who knows him likes him anyway! (except maybe Donovan?)
[*]"You're the best and wisest man..": Said not once but a total of three times! It was touching when John said it at Sherlock’s grave in Se

Morton wrote:

My dear Boswell  (I couldn't resist that, sorry) There would be a procedure for bringing in amateur advice which Lestrade hasn't followed - Sherlock has been involved without anyone above Lestrade knowing, hence he is stuck to have to admit that he has allowed an amateur on any crime scene. It would be ok to give Sherlock that credit for helping so long as Lestrade never let it be known that Sherlock was actually at crime scenes. I think Greg was trying for damage limitation and to save his arse and save Sherlock's behind as well. Otherwise I might just have to put it down to Moftiss not examing their plot for holes that such an intelligent observer as yourself can identify as blooming big plot holes.

Please, don't be obvious! ;)

Kittyhawk wrote:

I think the letters did exist and Magnussen did have them (he says something about "sending for files" when he explains about the mind palace).

Exactly, the letters did exist-physically, not just in Magnussen's memory. Unless the writers want us to believe he was doing a remarkable double-bluff and banking on Sherlock noticing it and therefore being misled into believing he holds hard copy documents on everyone he blackmails.
Murder is not really Magnussen's forte in the story, and it is unlikely the plot would assume the angle that Lord Smallwood was murdered.
In which case, i wonder what the writers want us to believe Magnussen would have told Lord Smallwood that was convincing enough to make him commit suicide.

This is a question i've attempted to discuss in other forums but haven't found an answer that really satisfies my curiosity. It does look like a convenient plot twist that has been used to contrive the desired ending. Why would Dr. Frankland come to Dewer's Hollow when he knows Sherlock and John are in Dartmoor and probably in the company of Henry whom they've come to help? And why would he run straight into the minefield, he who has worked most of his life at Baskerville and would know the place well? 
Dr. Frankland's involvement is just a theory of Sherlock's at the moment, there is no evidence against him. If confronted, he could simply deny everything and continue to show concern for Henry, who would then become even mor confused as to whom to trust-Sherlock with his new theory or this person who has had influence over him for the last 30 years? Henry would simply go crazier, and Dr. Frankland could go on living his life as before.
This is overall a well-written episode but doesn't stand up to the detailed analysis that Sherlocked fans myself are bound to subject it to.

OK i can see this is a rather old thread but I'd like to revive it because it's something i have wondered about too. The 'one remarkable thing Magnussen does' at Sherlock's flat is show him the letters sitting in his pocket, which SHerlock takes as proof that Magnussen is willing to negotiate. Later in the episode, almost towards the end, newspaper headlines are shown about Lord Smallwood's suicide. What, if not Magnussen's physical possession of the letters, could have caused that? Did he just call up Lord Smallwood and tell him "I know about that girl you dated ages ago"?