In canon, Sherlock calls Moriarty "the Napoleon of crime" (the head of criminal syndicate devoted to breaking down the fabric of civilization" or something like that) but the reader never "meets" Moriarty. There are theories to the effect that he doesn't exist or that Holmes is having a paranoid delusion and Moriarty isn't really evil. But most adapatations use him as a recurring villain, a criminal mastermind, sometimes an international terrorist.

My complaint about the BBC-Sherlock's Moriarty? He spends too much time on just getting Sherlock. Particularly in Reichenbach, it seems like, even though he's involved in multiple crimes, his whole goal is just to get Sherlock.

When the villain is trying to hurt or steal from someone else, or is running a crime network, or wants to take over the world, or something, you feel like the hero is doing real good by stopping him (especially if there's a sacrifice involved, like in Reichenbach.)

When the villain's whole goal is to "get" the hero, you have to ask yourself, why root for one over the other? (In some ways, Sherlock could be almost as bad as Moriarty - and you almost feel like, this Sherlock could have invented a Moriarty, if there hadn't happened to be one, by coincidence. And the British government could be as bad as others.)

Sherlock does save his friends' lives - but they're in danger BECAUSE they're associated with him.
 

BlinkULDHC wrote:

Sherlock was congratulated for the successful capture of Interpol's number one suspect, who had been on the loose for 30 years.

There can't be anyone (in the fictional universe or our universe) that believes that a 6 or 7-year old Sherlock began scheming with this guy in order to set up the ultimate pre-solved crime....3 decades later.

Good observation! I confess that I am frustrated with some characters (and especially John) for not suspecting that Sherlock's death could be faked. 

I mean, from where John is standing it's as though Sherlock committed suicide because he either:

1) he was a fraud and he was found out OR

2) he couldn't live with the whole world thinking he was a fraud

And John has to know that either of those is more improbable than Sherlock faking his death. I mean, Sherlock would never care that much about ordinary people's opinions, would he?

Well, I think it would MATTER to him if he was thought a fraud, in that, it would mean no one would bring him cases and then he would always be bored. I even wonder if part of his motive for staying in hiding (in canon, too) is to teach his haters at Scotland Yard a lesson: "See how you like it when you have to solve cases without me!"

But he wouldn't care in the emotional sense that committing suicide would imply. Except about John. Were there any signs of John losing faith in him? John seemed fed up with Sherlock's apparent coldness (lack of emotion) at some point, but did he ever doubt that Sherlock's genius was genuine?
 

From SCAN: [Watson] slept at Baker Street that night. (And he's supposed to be married at this point.)

From Creeping Man: 

The relations between us in those latter days were peculiar. He was a man of habits, narrow and concentrated habits, and I had become one of them. As an institution I was like the violin, the shag tobacco, the old black pipe, the index books, and others perhaps less excusable. When it was a case of active work and a comrade was needed upon whose nerve he could place some reliance, my role was obvious. But apart from this I had uses. I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence. His remarks could hardly be said to be made to me -- many of them would have been as appropriately addressed to his bedstead -- but none the less, having formed the habit, it had become in some way helpful that I should register and interject. If I irritated him by a certain methodical slowness in my mentality, that irritation served only to make his own flame-like intuitions and impressions flash up the more vividly and swiftly. Such was my humble role in our alliance.

First of all "other habits less excusble," could refer to their...private...relationship, given that it would have been ILLEGAL in their era.

And the reference to a "bedstead" (as opposed to hatstand, fireplace, or other household item) would seem to imply the conversation is taking place in the bedroom!

And Neksomuse says in Decoding the Subtext that the description of their communication sounds like a married couple.

And, from The Empty House: (when Watson is surprised at seeing the 'dummy' of Holmes)
Holmes: I trust age does not whither me, nor custom stale my infinite variety?

Translation: I hope you still find me attractive and fascinating.
 

When you're at your local Humane Society's adoption event, and see a cat that has been named John, and immediately think, "You need another one named Sherlock." 

When you hear that a certain REAL person, accused of leaking classified information, has fled the country, and you immediately think he should fake his death, or you think of Sherlock, or Moriarty, or Irene.

Same when you hear about a certain British newspaper and their notorious-information-gathering methods.

When you hear songs about Christ rising from the dead and think of The Empty House or The Empty Hearse. (Or vice versa, the episodes remind you of the songs.)

Google, for example, "Last Night," by Karen Peck and New River.

When relationship songs like this one, "When and Where" by Confederate Railroad,

Anytime, anyplace, say the word and I'm on my way

I can tell it's her by the way the phone rings
When she calls I drop everything
Snaps her fingers, and I'm there
Hello, darling, [Sherlock] when and where?

...remind you of Johnlock (all of the "hers" would have to be changed to "him", of course). Same with breakup and lost-loved-one songs.

When a Facebook friend calls Bert and Ernie "the oldest gay couple on television," and you reply, "What about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?"

Somebody mentioned pets named Sherlock and Watson: my brother and sister-in-law just acquired a terrier mix and named it Watson. They wanted a "famous sidekick" name, (because dogs are faithful friends) and then they decided this guy was both smart and eager to please. (Watson is the quintessential faithful friend.) What's ironic is that the only Sherlock Holmes my brother follows is Elementary.

I think Sherlock and Watson work especially well for names for hounds.
 

As the username suggests, I'm in Ohio. As such, I have NOT seen Season 3 yet, and am registering here in anticipation of seeing it next weekend.

What I am most obsessive about is the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and am glad to see that Moffit and Gattis understood canon well enough to make that central in the series.

I have had some issues with this series interjecting too many other people to ship each of them with.

"The Empty House" reunion scene is one of my favorite moments of canon. 

You all do know that Watson faints when Holmes reveals himself, don't you? And that Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke (Watson) played it out perfectly?