That's a really good question and one that I'll probably change my mind about as I read what everybody else says!  I love all the little fast-talking deduction scenes (often based on the books) as well as the big story cases.  I agree with you about ASiP (loved it) and TEH (oh, for goodness sake!  Although it was good to know that Sherlock isn't a genius at everything and can't magically drag up bomb defusing skills). 

My favourite at the moment is probably the code at the end of ASiB, because it has such emotional impact.  And it's so revealing.  He's "deconstructing love into chemistry" (as I think Benedict says in the commentary), but he has to reconstruct to know how Irene really felt - that it wasn't just sexual arousal, and that it was a strong enough feeling to put her life at risk.  Does anyone else think it's interesting that using Sherlock's name is what gives Irene away ... so he doesn't use her name?  He calls her "the woman".   Anyway, it's a very simple deduction, but requires more than just working it out. 

Least favourite.  Hounds was a bit tenuous, I think. 

 

I agree Susi and maybe it's something about Mark...
Cos I love the mystery in the The Sign of Three.

It may be, i love both the mysteries of TGG and TSoT. 

Not keen on HLV (i think i was disspointed that they get rid of the villain so quick, i would have loved a "battle" over more episodes), i even like better HoB and TBB. Perhaps TBB is a little dissapointing because they didn't fetch the villain there and everything is let open and not touch again in the next episodes (or i miss something?). HoB is  a little too sublte with the gas-leaking. 

I would also consider TGG as my favourite concerning the cases. So many deductions in separate cases leading to one result.
As Susi already mentioned it's complexity which makes TGG so interesting ... on "case base". 

In the last scene there is the Chinese general on the phone with someone we don't get to see, his words are just written down on screen. Then the women gets shot.

besleybean wrote:

It's Skype messaging and the person she is speaking with signs himself ':M.'

 
That's better explained than I could. Thank you 

I really like the case in TGG, how everything was so cleverly woven together... A fine piece of writing I think!

I am especially fond of the Van Buren Supernova being the thing to solve the case of the fake Vermeer!