I loved him in season 3!!
The relationship between he and Sherlock gave me a feelgood factor when it was sometimes missing in other areas.
And I don't think the menace was gone - look how he threatened Anderson and initially, Sherlock when CAM was first mentioned.
I'm hoping the Holmes Brothers reach a warmer understanding as the series goes on - I think it is possible for them to do this but for Mycroft to retain his aloofness with the outside world, but I love the idea that he's quietly watching out for his Brother.

I think the actor has played a blinder; we are getting to know Mycroft and, I think, beginning to learn that his attempts to harden his brother's heart stem from his own inability to harden his own heart when it comes to Sherlock.

Of course, Moftiss balanced that with his chilling reference to 'the other one' in the last scene with Lady Smallwood, M, and assorted flunkies 

Zatoichi wrote:

I prefer him in S3 - and will probably treasure the image of him patting his belly forever .

I agree with the people saying that his menace is not gone, just balanced to some degree by his brotherly behaviour. For me he feels more realistic now with a few human traits, in S1&2 he was too omnipresent, omniscient and aloof to really buy him as a character. 

Willow wrote:

Of course, Moftiss balanced that with his chilling reference to 'the other one' in the last scene with Lady Smallwood, M, and assorted flunkies

This line still gives me the creeps! He sounded so ruthless, I´m afraid to even think about what might be behind this..
 

 
Well, one things for certain; Mycroft remains the Ice Man to just about everyone but a chosen few. Sherlock is his Achille's' Heel; the one that CAM was going for in much the same way as the Trojans went literally for Achilles' heel.

Of course, now we are in ancient drama we remember that Iphigenia was sacrificed to provide a fair wind for the Greek fleet; somehow this does not comfort me much. 

I think that sherlock melts mycroft's uptight exterior,  this is interesting because it seems that only sherlock can do this. Also mycroft can manipulate sherlock and bring him around when he falls off track...

tonnaree wrote:

SusiGo wrote:

I love Mycroft's development over the episodes. All his scenes with Sherlock in series 3 are amazing and show the complexity of their relationship in a brilliant way. 

 
He really had some fine moments in this series.  I has always held out that underneth it all their bond as brothers is stronger than their other issues.

Yes; there have been earlier glimpses. That image of him consulting with John about whether they should tell him of Irene's apparent death in Karachi had a ring of truth to it, but this season has been exceptional