But Anderson or Donovan dying wouldn't have a very big emotional effect, neither to us (the audience) nor to John and Sherlock. And I suppose the "someone will die" part of the episode will have a dramatic and lasting effect on the characters and their developement.

I have posted the following in an other thread already but as it fits here more anyway, I am reposting it:

I don't want it, I really don't want it, but I think, Mycroft will be the one that die.
 
- Mark can quite with his role as Mycroft without tearing the Sherlock-family apart. He will still be part of the series as writer/producer (or even as Mycroft in Sherlock's mind palace).
- I recently read somewhere that Steven wants to reduce his production-tasks at Sherlock due to his other producer-job (Doctor Who). Main producers of the show should be Mark and Sue then. So Mark will have some more duties in the next series.
- The canon story 'His last bow' is the farewell of Holmes. And so HLV would also be the final bow of a Holmes (but Mycroft instead of Sherlock).
- Loosing his brother will have a huge impact on Sherlock and therefore provide plot for further character developement - more then any other death (except of John, of course) would have.
 
As I said, I don't want it happen! But that's my guess.
 
I'm not sure how the story might go, but I suppose, the plot developes to a point where Sherlock is ready to sacrifice himself to protect John and Mary (as he vowed). To protect his little brother, Mycroft sacrifices himself because he knows how important John is for Sherlock.

P.S.: I know it is far fetched but talking about Red Beard: Have you ever seen photos from Mark when he hasn't shaved for a while ?

Last edited by stoertebeker (January 11, 2014 9:13 pm)