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Sherlock
S4.E3
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IMDbPro

The Final Problem

  • Episode aired Jan 15, 2017
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
30K
YOUR RATING
Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss, and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock (2010)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

A dark secret in the Holmes family rears its head with a vengeance, putting Sherlock and friends through a series of sick, manipulative psychological and potentially fatal games.A dark secret in the Holmes family rears its head with a vengeance, putting Sherlock and friends through a series of sick, manipulative psychological and potentially fatal games.A dark secret in the Holmes family rears its head with a vengeance, putting Sherlock and friends through a series of sick, manipulative psychological and potentially fatal games.

  • Director
    • Benjamin Caron
  • Writers
    • Mark Gatiss
    • Steven Moffat
    • Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Martin Freeman
    • Mark Gatiss
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Benjamin Caron
    • Writers
      • Mark Gatiss
      • Steven Moffat
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Martin Freeman
      • Mark Gatiss
    • 187User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos72

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Sherlock Holmes
    Martin Freeman
    Martin Freeman
    • Dr. John Watson
    Mark Gatiss
    Mark Gatiss
    • Mycroft Holmes
    Una Stubbs
    Una Stubbs
    • Mrs. Hudson
    Rupert Graves
    Rupert Graves
    • DI Lestrade
    Louise Brealey
    Louise Brealey
    • Molly Hooper
    Amanda Abbington
    Amanda Abbington
    • Mary Watson
    Andrew Scott
    Andrew Scott
    • Jim Moriarty
    Sian Brooke
    Sian Brooke
    • Eurus Holmes
    • (as Siân Brooke)
    Art Malik
    Art Malik
    • Prison Governor
    Timothy Carlton
    Timothy Carlton
    • Mr. Holmes
    Wanda Ventham
    Wanda Ventham
    • Mrs. Holmes
    Simon Kunz
    Simon Kunz
    • Sir Edwin
    Richard Crehan
    • Ben
    Ralph Ineson
    Ralph Ineson
    • Vince
    Matt Young
    Matt Young
    • Young Police Officer
    Tam Mutu
    Tam Mutu
    • Leonard
    Clare Foster
    Clare Foster
    • Velma
    • Director
      • Benjamin Caron
    • Writers
      • Mark Gatiss
      • Steven Moffat
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews187

    8.130.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7Littleman95

    The Last "Nothing Special"

    Absurd skill of a character, this is getting out of control, they have gone empty of ideas. Illogical Mycroft behaviour. There is an out of tune song, sadly. Poor and predictable ending. Nothing is surprising more.
    10oisinmoh-70104

    What's everyone complaining about?

    This season started of disappointing, giving us an episode that would have been good on most TV shows, but not Sherlock. But they were able to pull it back with a fantastic second episode, one that felt more like the Sherlock we all know and love. And now the season finale has come out and a LOT of people are complaining. And I really don't see why. Maybe the show has gotten so big that people feel the need to criticize, maybe people are nitpicking like crazy, or maybe most people enjoyed it and what we're seeing is a loud minority. Either way it doesn't deserve half of the hate it's getting. This episode was full of brilliant dialogue, great twists and gripping tension. I was on the edge of my seat through parts and it's done through the fantastic writing, acting and directing we've come to expect from this show. And the way it builds on the characters we've known for years is the best part of it. Every episode of Sherlock is unique in it's own way, and this one focuses, more than any episode i think, on the morals and ideals of the characters. With great twists, emotion- and tension-filled moments, and the usual fantastic production, I give this episode a well deserved 10/10. If this is the lowest point that some are claiming it is, it's still better that 90% of the TV shows out there.
    6IByte !

    OK, but it's just not Sherlock, is it?

    I am sad to say season 4 turns out to be my least favourite season of Sherlock. All of these trippy dream scenes and psychological drama are not what made the first three seasons such an enjoyable show for me, and this episode definitely has too much of that. Also, there are some plot holes and implausible scenarios. The scene with the glass is very questionable from a physics viewpoint, and as for the plane, without going into too much spoiling detail I can say that I saw this coming (whether that is necessarily a bad thing is something I leave up to you). I'm not saying it's not a gripping story, but perhaps it would have been better as a standalone film. It's not what I hoped to see on Sherlock. It feels a bit like the writers were overcomplicating things and going in the wrong direction thematically in an effort to create their masterpiece finale.
    8sachinkr-07449

    Spectacularly over the top tension and thrill in what could be the last we see of Sherlock.

    So the FINAL PROBLEM is here and hands down Moffat and Gattis have a commendable job to create the most tension filled and powerfully emotional episode of Sherlock till date. First of all those who are saying that Sherlock has lost its touch just don't listen to them because this episode is just mind blowing. You will find yourself discovering a new emotional side to Sherlock's character, the most powerful moment of the series featuring Molly Hooper, a highly entertaining and applaud-ably brilliant cameo, Cumberbatch's best performance as Sherlock till date and the dark secrets of the Holmes family disclosed.

    Sian Brooke has just become the most menacing Sherlock villain of all time and Mycroft getting better screen presence are the high points or THE FINAL PROBLEM.

    But despite all these exhilarating moments ,the climax is a bit let down but never the less we saw a humane side to Sherlock and a new angle to Mycroft's character. It may not reach perfection but has provided us with a more than satisfying possible ending to the world's most famous detective.
    5Mattjohnsonva

    How the mighty have fallen

    After being thrilled by the first three seasons of Sherlock it was with dismay that I watched the 4th season slide ever deeper into a convoluted mess. I am actually quite surprised the actors actually agreed to make this crap. The story in "The Final Problem" is so bizarre I think Moffat must have been on the same drugs Holmes used in the previous episode. Totally unbelievable throughout, it tries to be way too clever for its own good and ends up being stupid, and worse it makes Sherlock look stupid.

    If this is the way it is to be from now on I would say please don't bother with another season, not unless you get a new writer. I give it 5 only for the fine acting which was the only thing that made this bearable to the end.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Eurus tells Sherlock that he has to solve his first case ever - 'The Musgrave Ritual'. In the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" is (chronologically) the first case solved by Holmes.
    • Goofs
      When Sherlock called Molly Hooper to make her say "I Love You" on Molly's phone, the screen showed her calling Sherlock, not receiving a call from him.
    • Quotes

      Mycroft Holmes: This is a private matter.

      Sherlock Holmes: John stays.

      Mycroft Holmes: [whispers] This is family.

      Sherlock Holmes: [loudly] THAT'S WHY HE STAYS!

    • Crazy credits
      ANEMOI-these are the letters in red in the end credits-the ANEMOI were the gods of the four winds--Boreas (the north wind), Zephyrus (the west wind), Notus (the south wind), and Eurus (the east wind). It is also an anagram of "I AM ONE".
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 5 Worst Episodes in Great British Shows (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      The Number of the Beast
      (uncredited)

      Written by Steve Harris

      Performed by Iron Maiden

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 2017 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • St Catherine's Island & Fort, Wales, UK(Sherrinford)
    • Production company
      • Hartswood Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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