Series two didn't really end with a cliffhanger though...did it. We all knew Sherlock was not dead didn't we? It was more of a teaser ending. How did he survive? Only series one had a cliffhanger ending and this was, in my opinion, not exactly brilliantly resolved. Likewise I do feel that the solution to how Sherlock survived was just completely evaded by the script writers this time around. I know they went through some of the  theories but really.....!? They need to be careful of their audience/fan base. You can do this to them once but you shouldn't be making a habit of it or you will alienate folk.

he wasn't at the Q&A, he was just at the screening - at the back with the other actors.

I have nothing to be ashamed of and before anybody else points it out to me, I shall 'fess up!
I've never expected to se Moriarty in anything but flashback(or I suppose Mind Palace!) scenarios.
So I was totally taken aback(but delighted) at the end.
We'll see what happens...

Last edited by besleybean (January 14, 2014 6:52 am)

I am actually happy that it didn't end with Sherlock heading away in the plane, because that would be the exact same ending as last time: Sherlock practically dead, and everyone wondering how he might come back (as it would be necessary for the series to continue).

SolarSystem wrote:

...
Can I just say: in my opinion they had the perfect ending right there. Sherlock being on the plane, the plane is in the air, Sherlock looking out of the window - that's it. We would have been left with a sad feeling, asking ourselves how and when he will make it back. This might not have been as 'thrilling' as (sort of) bringing Moriarty back (which to me isn't all that thrilling, btw). And it also might have been a bit similar to the cliffhanger in TRF, but not quite.

I totally agree. Sherlock had to be sentenced to something... even if it "is Sherlock Holmes" and his brother "is" the British goverment.
And... do I really need Moriarty back again? Hmm... not sure about that...
I missed some more emotions from John's side at the goodbye. I didn't expect this from Sherlock, but John...

Last edited by gently69 (January 14, 2014 11:12 am)

I am not really satisfied with the Moriarty ending either. But I do not think that everybody would think of "White Collar" which I have never watched. And I suppose I am not the only one. It just seemed a bit construed. 
On the other hand the ending with the plane flying away for me would have seemed very final. Which I would not have liked either. 

SolarSystem wrote:

I've never seen "White Collar", either, and I honestly believe that almost every thinkable ending has been done before in some tv show or other.
The ending has to fit the episode, and I just feel that they somewhat inelegantly stuck this ending to the episode.

I don't think it's inelegant....I think it was their way of closing this chapter of Sherlock's story, at least for now, and showing that there will be more adventures which will move on from that. It's a bit like a way of going back to the 'old' Sherlock - although of course he is more experienced now.

It honestly left me feeling excited and helped cheer me up a bit.

SolarSystem wrote:

The more I think about the ending, the less I like it. It feels more and more... construed to me. As if they thought 'well, we gotta end this with a real Bang, so let's think of something probably nobody saw coming'. (I didn't see it coming, did anybody...?)
Can I just say: in my opinion they had the perfect ending right there. Sherlock being on the plane, the plane is in the air, Sherlock looking out of the window - that's it. We would have been left with a sad feeling, asking ourselves how and when he will make it back. This might not have been as 'thrilling' as (sort of) bringing Moriarty back (which to me isn't all that thrilling, btw). And it also might have been a bit similar to the cliffhanger in TRF, but not quite.
Yes, there would have been another reunion at the beginning of series 4, but it would have been different. Or am I on the wrong track here?

I agree, Solar. completely!

besleybean wrote:

We don't know Moriarty is back!

I'm not convinced. 
 

SolarSystem wrote:

The more I think about the ending, the less I like it. It feels more and more... construed to me. As if they thought 'well, we gotta end this with a real Bang, so let's think of something probably nobody saw coming'. (I didn't see it coming, did anybody...?)
Can I just say: in my opinion they had the perfect ending right there. Sherlock being on the plane, the plane is in the air, Sherlock looking out of the window - that's it. We would have been left with a sad feeling, asking ourselves how and when he will make it back. This might not have been as 'thrilling' as (sort of) bringing Moriarty back (which to me isn't all that thrilling, btw). And it also might have been a bit similar to the cliffhanger in TRF, but not quite.
Yes, there would have been another reunion at the beginning of series 4, but it would have been different. Or am I on the wrong track here?

I totally agree. I really thought it would end there. But I am still glad they made the plane come back. Because the episode was just so full of tension, that at the very end I badly needed something to ground me... and the joke about the 4 minutes did that, I don't know, that was the moment when I started breathing again ;) I was grateful for it. maybe it was part of the reason they did it like this?

I would have liked more time to process Sherlock being a murderer, though. As someone mentioned in another thread, there is no time to process this. If that plane wouldn't have turned, there would be loads of questions how this murder could affect Sherlocks work, what it says about his morals, what makes him do it, etc. Now it feels - at least to me - that there was a very easy quick way out, and no room to think about the impact. With Moriartys appearance, the focus shifted immediatly.