Why I think, mad fan rants aside, a 5th series would be hard to do.

Interesting post ellen!

We have a Sherlock who realises he no longer needs to shut down his emotions and feelings in for the sake of "the work."

This is true, in some ways. I think the post S4 Sherlock would personally be more open to emotional experiences, and would be more tolerant and compassionate toward other's emotions. He would be less likely to malign someone for making a decision based on emotion, or valuing emotional circumstances more than more rational aspects of a situation.

But I think he still might have a tendency to not want emotional distractions while he's working a case. He would be more open to seeing the emotional aspects of cases he's working on, and would use that insight to be a better detective, but I wonder if he still might choose to try to not to let his own emotions to distract him from his case work. He's a creature of habit in many ways, and I could see him settling into a comfortable existence at Baker St, with the relationships and emotional connections he already does have, but not seeking out new ones. He might still choose to remain celibate most of the time, and not seek romantic entanglements if he feels satisfied with the connections he already has in his life .

But it is an interesting thing to ponder.



Have a lovely day - John Finnemore

But I think he still might have a tendency to not want emotional distractions while he's working a case. He would be more open to seeing the emotional aspects of cases he's working on, and would use that insight to be a better detective, but I wonder if he still might choose to try to not to let his own emotions to distract him from his case work.
I'm sure Mofftiss have already talked about this somewhere. Even just knowing John has made him more compassionate and empathetic towards others. But, as Mofftiss have told us, it doesn't necessarily make him a nicer person. Understanding relationships helped him lie to Janine to get what he wanted. I don't think what happened in S4 will change his personality at all. He'll still think that everyone is an idiot. He'll still be impatient and easily bored. He'll still be rude to clients (which we've already seen at the end of TFP). He just won't be so quick to push people away anymore.

So sad at StatsBritain, for using Sherlock to get clicks from hate viewers, and all the disgusting things they are saying.


He's just an actor! ......Wanda Ventham

Funny you should ask, Ellen. I just read an article in Radio Times that answered some of your questions: If there is to be a series five – and it appears that all parties are keen to make that happen at some point in the future – then it will be from this starting point, according to the writers, who have indicated that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes has now discovered the humanity that it is at the heart of the detective’s brilliance.

Gatiss explained: “Our original intention of the series was to go back to the beginning and see them as younger men and… restore it to its factory settings. But I think what’s actually happened is that we have now done the story of how the Sherlock Homes and Doctor Watson that we have always known, how they became those men. It’s actually really a backstory.

“The reason we [ended with] Rathbone Place is that, actually, if we do come back – and we would love to come back – we could absolutely very easily start with a knock at the door and Sherlock saying to John 'Do you want to come out and play?'. They have become the two heroes that we always knew them to be."

Moffat added: “I suppose it’s that Sherlock now finally understands that’s he’s stronger and smarter than Mycroft in a way. But not because he is actually smarter – he’s less smart – but because his emotions, his connections to other human beings, the wisdom he has gained from his connections he has made in the world, make him stronger.
"He sees that, partly because the extreme of [his sister] Eurus who has no connection to anything, is just pure brain, not understanding anything about what it is to be human. [This] makes him realise everything he has worked towards, everything he has tried to get away from himself and deny about himself, is what makes him the strongest.
“He isn’t as smart as Eurus, he isn’t as smart as Mycroft but he is always going to win against them because he is better and stronger. That is him becoming the Sherlock Holmes of Basil Rathbone and [fellow Holmes actor] Jeremy Brett, the one we’re used to, the wise old man… who is still terrifying and still cold but has a heart that you never doubt."

As to whether there will be a fifth series, Moffat added: “If this was the last time – we’re not planning it, but it might be, it’s possible – we could end it there. We couldn’t have ended it on any of the previous series because they always ended up with whopping great cliffhangers."

He said a fifth series would see Sherlock and John – no surprises here – "solving crimes".

Moffat also revealed to RadioTimes.com that he and Gatiss toyed with the idea of flashing the line “The Beginning” across the screen at the end of The Final Problem.
But while it accords with the theme of the episode, he said that in the end they decided it would have been “too cheesy”. http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-01-17/mark-gatiss-and-steven-moffat-reveal-where-sherlock-could-go-in-series-5


I just got home late last night from London. (Took me 8.5hrs to get back.) I watched the episode when I got in when I was very tired, and I'm still processing. First impression: Loved it! Off top of my head, I'd say:

Could we handle a warmer, gentler Sherlock? Absolutely! The cold, 'sociopath' detective isn't an accurate reflection of the character in Conan Doyle. Mofftiss have simply now brought him into line with the original creation. He's never going to be warm and fuzzy (dangling babies on his knee in the final scenes notwithstanding), but he is much more compassionate. Doesn't mean he won't still have some walls up, or prioritise his work over romance.

I shuddered to think of them going down the JohnLock route. Everyone connected with the series has denied that option for years. Benedict, Martin, Steven, Mark and others have repeatedly said it wouldn't happen. Only wooly-headed, self-deluded, and 'entitled' fans insisted it must be so because they wanted it. One wishes the little darlings would just hold their collective breath until they turned blue. Foot stamping might be an option, too. I'd suggest they could do both at once, but I doubt multi-tasking is something many could do.

I deliberately avoided all social media until I'd seen the episode and I was shocked to see such a negative reaction all over the 'net. In all honesty, I think the issue is far less to do with the show or the writers, but more with this 'Christmas tree' mentality some people have. They see the show as something upon which to dangle the pet theories or hobby-horses of their choice. If that particular ornament isn't on their tree, they'll burn the tree. Shame on people for their appalling behaviour. Death threats and demands for the creatives commit suicide because the little darlings didn't get their way? Unconscionable.


https://rycardus.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/sherlock-and-the-sorcerer/

I deliberately avoided all social media until I'd seen the episode and I was shocked to see such a negative reaction
It's only been two days, and I wish I'd never heard of social media. I've become completely disillusioned by all of mankind! Ok, a bit of an exaggeration there. One nut said she didn't care what people thought of her rants because she's blocking anyone who disagrees with her. Is this what they had in mind when the Internet was invented?

Lol. I don't remember who it was but someone once described the Internet along the following lines:

Some of the most intelligent people on the planet delivering a monumental scientific achievement which is mostly used to watch porn or for people to argue with people they don't know.



As for Sherlock, I'd have to disagree with you. I think he was profoundly changed by the events and revalations of E3S4.

As for Sherlock, I'd have to disagree with you. I think he was profoundly changed by the events and revalations of E3S4.
Of course he's changed. But his personality hasn't. Why would it?

Of course he's changed. But his personality hasn't. Why would it?

Because in general personality is linked to emotional make up.

And in Sherlock's specific case, as Mycroft says at the beginning of TFP, everything about the man Sherlock is, is linked to Eurus. So when he recovers his memories, faces what really happened and realises that he no longer should or will shut down his emotions, of course that will have some impact on his personality.

At the end of TFP you can see it already has. He's not embarrassed to openly express concern for Mycroft, he genuinely thanks Lestrade and calls him by his proper name and he's seen holding and playing with baby Rosie. None of those things are consistent with the personality we've seen in the past.

I'm not saying his personality would change completely but it definitely would change.