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

I've been thinking a lot about the last episode of series 4. It seems to me that the plot development and the closing montage make it difficult to make a series 5.

Why? Because by the end of episode four we have a Sherlock who has learned that his emotional intelligence is equally, if not more, important than his rational and logical smartness. We have a Sherlock who realises he no longer needs to shut down his emotions and feelings in for the sake of "the work." The end sequence shows a smiling Sherlock, comfortable holding and playing with a baby and relaxed and happy in the company of friends.

I think it would be very difficult to portray that new evolved Sherlock still cutting himself off from romantic relationships. And once you go there is he still Sherlock Holmes as envisioned by ACD or is he someone else entirely b

In the original stories readers were interested in the mysteries not the private lives of Holmes and Watson. ACD barely ever mentioned them:Mary Watson got little more than a sentance.

And even if readers did ponder what went on in the two men's lives other than sleuthing they had no public fora on which to discuss and speculate and make it a global conversation as is enabled now by social media.

Also there were only the books. No film and TV adaptations where 21C audiences expect more backstory.

I hasten to add this is NOT about me wanting JL ( I don't actually). But wondering if the new emotionally open Sherlock can still be shown to shun romance of any kind and if not could that sit comfortably with the original ACD version of the man.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit stream of consciousness but hopefully it makes a bit of sense!