The Lying Detective

Well, let's all admit that waiting for more than two years and being greeted by an episode like the six thatchers, wasn't fair. Well, if you are like me, you probably had your expectations high too. Unfortunately, thinking like that, will always leave you disappointed after each episode.

This episode was brilliant. Stepping up from the previous episode, THE LYING DETECTIVE featured the most famous fictional detective of all time. Sherlock is back with his quick deductions and doesn't fail to entertain you. Just like in the novels, he misses some points which we come to know about in the end, which makes the first Episode (Season 4) even better.

I love how the episodes are linked, and to those people who had questions in the first episode, I'm sure they would be answered till now. However, the mystery still prevails over Moriarty, which I think would be an integral part of the third episode. Considering, this season would be the last one(Which I gather from the rumors), we might expect a thrilling and fulfilling third episode.

Brilliantly executed, well written, astonishingly well acted. Cumberbatch's acting was on point, as always, but was given a little bit more opportunity to display it. Toby Jones was as chilling as a Villain could be, leaves Magnussen jealous. A very good addition to the Sherlock Holmes list of villains. It is really quite dark, and at times makes you very uncomfortable, as promised. It left me quite puzzled. Comedic relief was also great, light headed, ironic humour as always. Brilliant lines for all the characters. Really loved the mind palace scenes. Overall clever. I can't complain. I'd say it is up there amongst the top three Sherlock episodes. I really hope the third one isn't a disappointment after this great episode, they've really set the bar high.

I'm thinking of going back to the very first episodes of this show to look at it again. I mean, it can't always have been the way it has become, can it? My memory tells me that the first episodes were sharper, more interesting in the construction, and more satisfying in the delivery; but maybe I am being nostalgic. As it is, the last few episodes of Sherlock are hit and miss; sometimes infuriatingly superficial, and other times entertaining in its flamboyant and quite fun. More and more though it is doing it all at the same time, constantly.

The Lying Detective was a great example as it offered so much that is interesting, or 'event' television, or just fun (and it is fun to watch actors chew the scenery), but at the same time it is hard to shake off the constant feeling that it is all just busy nonsense of no consequence. I found this one quite tiresome. The mystery had an interesting construction, however it was built off so much convenience that it really cut its own legs off – and the '3 weeks ago' thing only covered it the first few times they relied on that joke. The sheer energy and professionalism of the production helps it a great deal – indeed it is so well put together in the technique, the performances, and the technical, that one assumes it must be good, because it certainly looks and sounds like it should be good.

I found myself thinking that even as I sat there left detached from the whole thing. The humor is overly smug; frequent moments of excess (in all forms) are overpowering and lose impact – making the whole thing seem silly more than clever or fun. The mystery holds no intrigue because everything is just explained away as Sherlock being miles ahead of everyone, and the very high quality cast (including Jones) is generally wasted in the middle of it all – they enjoy the energy, but there is little of substance to get into for long.

Most of the people were pretty much disappointed by last week's episode and were convinced that 2nd season was the last good season of the show. No promise of goodness was shown in the last episode and it presented itself as wastage of time as they only have 3 episodes per season. But after this episode, it seems that the previous episode was just a clever move to tease the audience as the writers knew that they'd be able to more than make up for it. This epitomizes the Sherlock we all love and wait for. CGI was incredible: the slow motion shots were well placed to represent the scenario appropriately. It was fun to see Sherlock as Quicksilver(I have a feeling that John Smith was somewhere involved in all this). Really, a fabulous use of technology. The acting also was unparalleled. Everybody expects a few deductions here and there, but this episode showed the emotional connect between John and Sherlock. Toby Jones did a good job being despicable. Desperately waiting for the last episode, more because of its name.

Weren't for the first episode of the 2nd season, I would suggest this for the best one of the series. It's a tie. This is an amazing episode, definitely a lot better than the previous one. Moffat portrays both Sherlock's and John's demons and inner wars in a brilliant way. This is what I expect from Sherlock. To be astonished and surprised at the last moment, when you think that everything is over and suddenly everything is explained in such a magnificent way that you can only ask for more, while you clear your mind from every other thought and simply focus on the screen to enjoy those specific mind- blowing scenes. Toby Jones's performance was also extraordinary, he was the perfect villain for this episode. The tension in his scenes with Sherlock was huge and Jones's expressions were perfectly portraying Smith's lunacy. This episode even managed to fully counter my disappointment of the series not being the detective-focused series that it once was. It was a brilliant add to Sherlock's myth and I can only hope for the final one to even surpass it!! 10/10