I watched SotT with my friend who loves BBC Sherlock but is not a fan, and she had really enjoyed TEH and was eager to see more.

Last edited by Harriet (January 15, 2014 2:14 pm)

So after reading the comments of Mattlocked, Pav, Mrs.W and Harriet it is safe to say that there were not too many references in the episode. I wonder why we as fans worry so much about it when "ordinary" viewers don't.

Oh no, sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

I am just a bit annoyed because there is so much negativity around regarding Series 3. And when I see people critizising it on the behalf of the "ordinary" non-hardcore fan watchers I get the feeling that some people exaggerate their criticisms.

It's understandable when people criticise things they don't like, but assuming what other people might criticise and then complain about it seems over the top to me.

(Okay, I am very annoyed about all the negativity around, but that is off topic here.)

You've got a good one there, Harriet!

I just looked up my son's facebook messenger after TSoT, an episode I didn't actually expect him to like.
Of course, he had watched series 1 and 2 several times - but he isn't familiar with fandom, canon and other stuff.
At 1.30 am he wrote: "Fantastic episode, Mama!". And at 5.44 pm: "It was really good!".
 

I personally enjoyed the winks to us, especially the line about the shirt, and the two "kisses." IMO the second near-kiss was just there because of the first one, as if everyone's theory had to involve Sherlock making out with someone.

It's so rare that a show-runner cares what the fans think or say. Everyone involved in the show seems to be genuinely grateful for the attention and adoration fans are demonstrating. I'll admit to some good-natured fist-shaking in Moffat's general direction during the episode (I WANT MY EXPLANATION, DARN IT), but I recognize the show is great in large part because of him.

In general my attitude is sit back, relax, suspend disbelief, and enjoy my favorite favorite favorite show ever

In general, I am okay with The Empty Hearse. However, if the next two episodes are anything like it, I'll steal all the prop umbrellas.

And indeed are hugely better!

another latecomer...

I think it's safe to say that TEH wouldn't be first choice if you had to pick an episode - no matter who chose, fan or casual viewer.
I got the feeling, that here on the forum many very active fans didn't like episode 1 as much as the others. Or at least there was more potential for critical response... I joined here only after series 2, but I think the focus was so much on the Reichenbach episode that critical response for series 2 fell short. Now that we don't have something similar like the fall, maybe people take more time to consider the episodes in detail. Also the expectations were incredibly high and hard to meet.

To me, the fan service in TEH felt like a slightly desperate attempt to meet expectations and not to disappoint. Maybe with tongue in cheek, but still. Problem I had with this: I want to keep the fine line between what's in my head (shipping and stuff) and what appears in the show. When I say I would like to see this and that, then only half of it is what I actually need to see - the other half is fantasy that, if I am very honest, I would prefer to stay only fantasy.
That's why I didn't like the Molly/Sherlock and Moriarty/Sherlock scene until it was revealed that it's only in Mollys/ Mrs. Hudsons imagination... which I thought was cleverly done, and made it perfectly okay for me because it was there with a background. friend of mine without any fandom-contact said: "ohhh, that's the housekeeper imagining they have a relationship? the one who also said they only need one bedroom?" ...she understood that part perfectly well, although she doesn't know anything about shipping. same with molly, same with the "fan club"... the media attention in TRF hints at a fanbase, there must be more kitty rileys, and any viewer who has seen the first two series won't have a problem understanding series 3, imo. I don't know about casual viewers, but I have to agree - to jump into a series somewhere in the middle and to expect everything will be easily understood... hmmm, no. if they like it, or even only parts of it, they can easily provide background with watching the other episodes.

Personally, I fell in love with series 1 and 2 without any effort... for series 3, it took patience and lots of re-watching until I could fully appreciate it and with TEH I never quite succeded. I got the impression others went on the same journey.
Friends of mine, who patiently waited for series 3, but haven't been much (or not at all) involved in fandom, had similar feelings for TEH.The main points that they disliked were: the focus shift from crime story to relationships, the disjointed pieces all over the episode, the change of "atmosphere" compared to series 1+2. the fan-service was not even really recognized as such. Obviously, only active fans will recognize it for what it is and catch all the hints.

So I think, maybe TEH is indeed not the best episode, even if it has great moments and dialogue. I don't think the huge fan service is the main reason. Even without it, I probably wouldn't like the episode much better. (I do like it, of course... but it's the only episode where I skip parts when re-watching, which wouldn't be necessary if it was as captivating as the others, imo)