Sherlock - Season 2

     Due to the brilliant cliffhanger at the end of season 1 of Sherlock, the two year anticipation of season 2 brought on the beginning of absolute Sherlock mania. Everyone, everywhere was obsessed with the updated detective and doctor. Fan-fictions, Pinterest boards, Tumblr fan accounts, all dedicated to the brilliance of Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman became immediate household names; and Sherlock (along with Downton Abbey which premiered the same year) began a Renaissance in British television drama.

     No one, not the writers, directors, actors or even Sherlock Holmes fans ever expected such an incredible reception to the show. So it's only natural that season 2 recreate three of the most popular and iconic Sherlock Holmes mysteries, The Woman, The Hound and The Fall (to quote Steven Moffet).

Episode 1 - A Scandal in Belgravia

     Sherlock Holmes wanted to be a successful detective, not a famous one. However, due to John Watson's blog that relays all their cases, he is beginning to experience city wide fame in ways he never imagined. And this growing fame that encroaches on his privacy and his work, may end up being his undoing.

     Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off. Sherlock and John literally at death's doorstep all orchestrated by Jim Moriarty (probably should have mentioned him in the first season review). They narrowly escape at the phone call of someone who could be their savior or their enemy; an even worse enemy than Moriarty depending on how Sherlock wants to deduce it.

     Shortly afterwards, Sherlock gets a very unlikely client...from Buckingham Palace. The royal family are caught in a scandal created by Irene Adler or The Woman as she is commonly known. Adler is a wealthy professional dominatrix who is as intelligent as she is beautiful and makes her living by blackmail. And like the rest of London, has a growing interest in Sherlock Holmes.

     Upon meeting Irene Adler, Sherlock is faced with a phenomenon he never thought he would experience. Not being the smartest person in the room. In a matter of minutes, Irene outwits Sherlock Holmes, leaving him in utter confusion, but also developing a secret and growing fascination for her. Afterwards, Irene screws around with Sherlock to no end, texting him constantly; to which he conveniently ignores, pretending that she, like everyone else, holds no importance to him.

    When, Irene gets into trouble and ends up on a coroner's slab, Sherlock is utterly devastated; another phenomenon he never thought he would experience. Yet, when it's revealed that Irene has actually faked her death, Sherlock is left more confused and angry than ever. To make matters infinitely worse, Irene uses and manipulates Sherlock to uncover a growing threat that ends up costing the lives of innocent people as well as the immense disapproval of Mycroft Holmes. 

     Irene has messed around with Sherlock's mind and has betrayed the people who originally commissioned her to get information from him. However, she made the mistake of severally underestimating Sherlock Holmes and when he discovers her one weakness, the one thing that she can no longer hide behind, Sherlock has finally had the last word.

Episode 2 - The Hounds of Baskerville

     While trying to quit his smoking habit, Sherlock is driving John to insanity. And John is not the only person who is going insane. Henry Knight from Devon, England will never forget the night his father was killed by 'a gigantic hound.' The experience still haunts him twenty years later and the traumatic loss of his father has left him to the point of delusional. He still believes that the hound is out there, waiting for him, waiting to attack and kill him. It doesn't help that the said hound has now become a supernatural legend for the small country town and helps with the tourism.

     Sherlock and John go down to Devon and visit the area on Dartmoor where Henry's father was killed. This investigation leads them to Baskerville Military Base, a top secret facility that is rumored to run insane science experiments. This case proves to be much harder on Sherlock emotionally than he cares to admit. Prior to going to Devon, Sherlock believed this hound to be a made up creature in Henry's mind, a coping mechanism to deal with the murder of his father. Yet, when he actually sees the hound and is faced not only with fear of the supernatural, but also the conclusion that he was wrong, he begins to break down at a rapid pace.

     John, ever the loyal--if not at times aggravated--friend, puts his former military skills to good use and ends up providing Sherlock with the information he needs to solve this bizarre case. While the hound may have been in Henry's mind, it was not entirely made up by Henry himself. Baskerville Military Base has indeed been hiding many secrets from Henry and the rest of Devon. Sherlock manages to piece together what he can, but to prove that he is right, he must risk facing the hideous beast one last time.

     When the time comes for the hound to be seen, Sherlock sees something entirely different. While Henry may see an imaginary dog, created by his fear of death, Sherlock sees Jim Moriarty. His own private monster, only this one is very real, very dangerous and is truly set out to destroy Sherlock Holmes.

Episode 3 - The Reichenbach Fall

     Heroes don't exist. And if they do, then Sherlock Holmes isn't one of them. Or so he says to John. After several successful cases, the once private world of Sherlock Holmes is busted open and Sherlock becomes an internet sensation, all due to John's charismatic writing of their work together. Sherlock is put on edge by this unwanted media attention and annoyed that John seems to delight in chronicling their private work life. He cannot escape the cameras, the lauded appreciation of thankful clients and being humiliated by Scotland Yard (much to their delight).

     Now that he's the center of media attention, Jim Moriarty puts his long awaited plan to destroy Sherlock Holmes into action. After staging break-ins to the Tower of London, The Bank of England and Pentonville Prison, Moriarty writes 'Get Sherlock!' on the glass case that holds the Crown Jewels case, right before he smashes it. Moriarty is arrested and brought to trial, where Sherlock is asked (or made) to give a testimony against him. He begrudgingly complies, but Sherlock being Sherlock does things his own way and ends up spending a night in jail.

     Despite the evidence brought against him, Moriarty  is set free, but Sherlock is not surprised. As he said in court, Moriarty is a spider and he knows how to weave his web. He knows how to use fear and manipulation to catch his prey and to make them suffer. After he is freed from his charges, Moriarty visits Sherlock explaining to him how he now owes Sherlock Holmes for his newfound fame. And with that fame he will make Sherlock burn and will make him fall. "Every fairytale needs a good, old-fashioned villain," he remarks. And Moriarty knows how to make a fairy tale into a nightmare and turn a hero into a monster.

     When Sherlock investigates the disappearance of two children from a boarding school, it's not long before he discovers Moriarty's hand in the whole case. He starts the game all over again. And slowly, little by little he begins to destroy Sherlock, pointing him out to be a fraud and a liar, that he created Jim Moriarty for fame and is responsible for the kidnapped children. As the media gets wind of these accusations, Sherlock knows that he is running out of time. He can no longer turn to John or even his brother, but instead to Molly Hooper, someone he has underestimated for far too long.

    To save his friends and protect them from future danger, Sherlock must confront Moriarty one last time. Moriarty has finally pushed Sherlock Holmes to the absolute limit. Sherlock refuses to back down and challenges Moriarty, proving his goodness in the face adversity. And even when he falls, Sherlock is not one to stay down for very long.