Sherlock - S4E3 - The Final Problem

Previously on Sherlock, “The Lying Detective”

This review will contain spoilers for “The Final Problem”.

Images: PBS

If this episode was indeed the final problem, it’s hard for even the most dedicated Sherlock fan to complain; the finale was as great as the series gets. “The Final Problem” examined what has always made Sherlock Holmes interesting: not his intellect or art of deduction, but his relationships. For the past four seasons we’ve watched how his mind works, how he retreats into it for long periods of time, and how he uses it to store massive amounts of information (mind palace). It makes sense that his mind would also rewrite memories to hide the things he could not face; namely, the existence of a sister and the terrible thing she did when they were children.

After Sherlock scares the truth about Eurus out of Mycroft, he, Watson, and Mycroft head to Sherrinford, the top-secret island prison Eurus has called home since Mycroft faked her death years before, to confront her.

If Sherlock is a brilliant sociopath and Mycroft a brilliant man unable to connect to others, Eurus is a brilliant combination of all their worst qualities. Her ability to reprogram others - plus some help from Moriarty before he died - allowed her to set the perfect trap for her brothers. She puts them through a series of tests with lives literally hanging in the balance. Only when Watson’s life is in danger does Sherlock finally break through his self-imposed mental block and confronts the awful truth about Eurus - out of jealousy, she murdered Sherlock’s best friend, Victor, when they were children.

Perhaps it’s because they’re so alike or that Sherlock understands that he could have been Eurus, he extends kindness and forgiveness, visiting her regularly when she’s once again secured in Sherrinford. Mycroft also has to answer for his role in keeping Eurus hidden from Sherlock and their parents, and also for connecting her with Moriarty in the first place.

Sherlock has faced its fair share of criticism, and a bit of it deserved, but it has never failed to deliver excellent performances, fun twists (even when they’re ridiculously over-the-top like the haunting at Mycroft’s house), and one of the best friendships on television.

I hope this isn’t the last we see of the Baker Street boys, but if it is, they’ve left me thoroughly satisfied.

The Final Questions

• Was Sherlock texting Irene Adler?
• Would some closure on Molly (especially after that devastating phone call) been too much to ask?
• You know what? A full season may be too much to ask, but can we get a few two-hour Christmas specials here and there? Hell, I’d settle for an Easter episode.

Leave your thoughts on the episode below or on the Facebook post for this review and we’ll read them on tonight’s podcast.