Zatoichi wrote:

...while I can see why people enjoy it for me it feels too much of a coming-of-age story to delight in it. I know many fans think such a transition was needed and adds to his character.. I tend to disagree, but anyway. It actually felt a lot like adolescence -

That's a good comparison.
I think Sherlock's best characterization was in ASIP. After that, I never could quite pin him down on anything.
I just think, the thing about changing and growing is that some things change, and some stay. The recognizable parts need to stay.
In series three I sometimes felt like Sherlock had hints of a new character not a developing one. Or at least bordering on it. Like reinventing himself, rather playing something he isn't comfortable *being*. Like trying out the grounds.

If cases aren't necessary anymore, if Sherlock stops craving them as badly as he did before... what with children and wives and all the happy friends around... who is he? In series one, he defined himself by being detective, before being anything else. The show cannot take that away from him, sure? I thought it's who he is, the craving for cases. I find it hard to change my perception of him, and in series three I often feel challenged to do that.

I wonder what the show wants to show us. I think they show a changing Sherlock, who is becoming a bit more like "ordinary" people. But I don't want strange people to grow into ordinary. I want them to be at ease in their strangeness, to be just themselves.
I hope in series four Sherlock will not be even more emotionally challenged, but I want to see some of this easiness and not-a-care-in-the-world attitude again - his absolute joy with a complicated riddle. He feels so subdued to me, in series three.
I want to see the Sherlock we saw in ASIP again - laughing in Bakerstreet with John, after that ridiculous chase. He didn't feel underdeveloped to me there, but very much at ease with what he is and what he does.
And I think, if he becomes closer to that caring lark, he won't be able to do his job anymore. Because it was the way he was, that made him able to do what he did.

I think Sherlock isn't really himself yet (anymore?) in series three, and I miss him.
Zatoichi, I think "mourning" describes it very well... I'll join you in that.
 

Last edited by Whisky (January 14, 2015 1:33 am)

I might be wrong, but I don't think anyone craved the characters to remain static. S3 was not really about cases, E1 was about reunion and the introduction of Mary, E2 was about the wedding, E3 was mainly a personal desaster. And there is a difference between developing a character or changing him altogether. Change for the sake of change does not always work. And about developing the friendship, I think they very much did in S1&2 already. As Susi said, very nicely accompanied by the supporting cast.

Whisky wrote:

I wonder what the show wants to show us. I think they show a changing Sherlock, who is becoming a bit more like "ordinary" people. But I don't want strange people to grow into ordinary. I want them to be at ease in their strangeness, to be just themselves.

THANK YOU, Whisky, just this. Strange people at ease with themselves or even *gasp* being proud of what they are, being awesome in all their differences from mainstream, liked and respected in spite of their flaws by some important people and not giving a damn about the others.. what a delight to watch. Sigh, maybe you just can´t do it with such a popular show anymore..?

@Schmiezi: I agree, you just can´t please everyone. 

I could write an essay about how in my eyes the "strangeness" depicted in S3 differs from the one depicted in S1/2, but I feel I´ve done my share of moping about S3 for a while.. 
 

Last edited by Zatoichi (January 14, 2015 7:32 am)

Yeah, I'm unable to give one season or one episode that is my favorite. All seasons have episodes that stands out to me, and all seasons have scenes and moments that are my favorites. 

nakahara wrote:

That´s precisely why I´m not voting in another thread. I have favourite scenes in every single episode and can´t pick the favourite.

I know. As soon as TBB and THoB was gone, it is more or less impossible for me to vote. I love to bits all the other episodes (even including THoB too, I just find it a tad, but not much, weaker than the others). It's impossible for me to rate the rest, they are in my mind equally good for their own reasons.
 

Good points, Whisky.

Sounds a bit as if that happens every second month or so.

But that was exactly what Mark wanted to do...work wirh real psychological fear. not a cheap sci fi stunt!
Anyhow, Blind banker is my least favourite, though I still like it.
It's always been last on my list so far

Last edited by besleybean (January 14, 2015 7:47 pm)

I will agree, even though I've never seen Xena...oh actually I have seen the odd one.
But Sherlock is better than anything.

Last edited by besleybean (January 14, 2015 7:59 pm)

To me, there is no doubt that TBB is the worst episode of them all. Whenever I do a rewatch of the show, that is the only episode I'm not looking forward to see again, and I am close to just skipping it all together.

Nothing on Ben or Martin, they deliver great performances as always. But I find the writing poor, with too many unexplained coincidences to bring the plot forward that makes no sense. Not to mention horrible bad guys. I personally love Chinese history and culture, always have. And to see them portrayed as the old-fashioned stereotyped "yellow mafia" just makes me squirm in my chair, it's horrible! 

I wasn't surprised at all when I learned it's not written by Moftiss.

Last edited by Vhanja (January 15, 2015 4:15 pm)