Every Season of Sherlock (And Its Specials), Ranked

The BBC’s Sherlock immediately captivated viewers when it first aired in 2010 – it had been a long time since audiences had seen Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective portrayed as so stylish and sophisticated. Traditionally seen as a character from the Victorian era, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat successfully reimagined Sherlock Holmes in a contemporary setting. The series quickly attracted a large and devoted fan base, who eagerly anticipated seeing Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman bring their talents to the screen.

A major reason viewers loved Sherlock was its limited release schedule. With just four seasons, a special, and a short mini-episode, fans were given the captivating stories of Sherlock and John slowly over time, frequently waiting almost two years for a new season. Though some seasons were particularly strong in terms of story and visuals, the quality wasn’t consistent across all of Sherlock. Here’s a ranking of all the seasons and episodes, from the least enjoyable to the best.

The Christmas Mini Episode Was a Tiny Prequel

When Sherlock appeared to fall to his death by jumping from a building, fans of Sherlock were left wondering about his fate for a long time. The BBC released a seven-minute mini-episode called “Many Happy Returns” on December 24, 2013, which quickly gained over 6 million views. This short episode featured Anderson – who had previously disliked the detective – trying to prove to everyone that Sherlock had survived. He shares with Lestrade stories of unusual cases: an abbot in Tibet catching a drug dealer, an Indian police officer solving a murder using ice cream and a chocolate chip, and a German killer being caught by a mysterious juror. We also learn that Anderson lost his job due to his obsession with proving Sherlock was still alive.

Fans were pleasantly surprised to see the detective featured on a DVD after waiting for so long. While “Many Happy Returns” could have ranked higher if it had been a full-length episode, it served as a great preview of the upcoming season. The special offered excellent mysteries, some very funny performances, and a touching moment when Sherlock left a recorded message for John. It was a clever little treat before the main release, and fans really enjoyed seeing what life was like without Sherlock – and discovering who knew he was still alive.

Sherlock Season 4 Disappointed Most Fans

Sherlock was famous for being both intelligent and sensitive, but many felt Season 4 didn’t quite live up to expectations, though it wasn’t terrible. The season introduced a new villain, Culverton Smith, who was both frightening and entertaining, but it focused a bit too much on emotional drama. A significant event was the death of Mary Watson, who was killed while trying to save Sherlock, leading to tension between her husband, John, and the detective. The show then surprisingly revealed that a third Holmes sibling, Eurus, had been secretly responsible for everything that had occurred throughout the series. She struggled with serious mental health problems and was portrayed as even more powerful than Jim Moriarty, which some viewers found unbelievable.

Although it’s fine to explore characters’ feelings, this season of the show felt overly dramatic. Sherlock’s past difficulties were emphasized too strongly, and the show lost much of its suspense and intrigue. The storyline involving Eurus wasn’t very believable, and the challenges Sherlock faced felt like something from a soap opera. Resolving the conflict with his sister through love felt underwhelming, and Sherlock, which is famous for its clever surprises and intricate mysteries, deserved a better ending. The sudden shift in the show’s style was noticeable and wasn’t handled very well. Given the high standards set by the creators, this was a disappointing way to conclude what is considered one of the best shows ever made.

“The Abominable Bride” Was a Welcome Break

The Abominable Bride transported viewers to Victorian London, exploring the origins of the series. Beyond the enjoyment of seeing beloved characters in period costumes, this special episode was well-received for adding a supernatural mystery to the show. Sherlock investigated the case of a ghostly bride who, after taking her own life publicly, continued to appear in different houses and murder men, even though she was deceased. The horror elements were skillfully done, but true to form, the story ultimately had a rational explanation. It turned out the elaborate Victorian vision was connected to a modern-day Sherlock, who was experiencing a strange episode after taking drugs.

Seeing Jim Moriarty, Molly Hooper, and Janine Hawkins appear was a fantastic way to connect back to the original series, and the nods to Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories were a welcome addition. It would have been even better if Sherlock had fully embraced the Victorian setting instead of constantly linking it to the modern show, but it was still a lot of fun. Bringing those classic characters to their historically accurate time period was a bold move by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, but it never felt forced or like a cheap trick. It truly worked.

Sherlock Season 3 Was a Great Mix of Mystery, Humor, and Heart

Season 3 of Sherlock faced a big challenge – explaining how Sherlock survived and creating mysteries as captivating as those in Seasons 1 and 2. While the season wasn’t bad, it didn’t quite succeed in these areas. The details of Sherlock’s survival remained unclear, with various unconfirmed fan theories circulating. However, it was still an enjoyable season, largely due to the heartwarming reunion between John and Sherlock, and the introduction of a new character, Mary Morstan. She was more than just John’s girlfriend; she was a key character with a hidden, troubled history, which didn’t stop John from marrying her anyway.

Season 3 was quite good, largely due to the introduction of a new villain: Charles Augustus Magnussen. He was a truly unsettling character, unlike Culverton Smith from Season 4, and possessed genuine power to threaten Sherlock and those he cared about. Magnussen ran a media empire and kept compromising information on everyone in a secure vault-though it turned out the vault was actually a metaphor for his incredibly detailed mind palace, which some viewers found anticlimactic. Still, Season 3 had some strong episodes, notably “The Sign of Three,” which beautifully blended the joy of John and Mary’s wedding with a complex mystery involving a man named the Mayfly Man, who was attempting to kill John’s superior, Major Sholto, on their wedding day. Overall, Season 3 was a solid season, but it doesn’t quite rank as high as the first seasons of Sherlock, which were exceptionally well done.

Sherlock Season 1 Was the Beginning of a New Kind of TV Show

This is where the worldwide success of Sherlock started. We first met the unusual, brilliant, and socially awkward Sherlock Holmes, who sought a flatmate in John Watson to share expenses at 221B Baker Street. The first season of the BBC’s Sherlock expertly created its world and presented captivating mysteries with surprising solutions. “A Study In Pink” excited viewers with its clever storytelling, jumping between seemingly unrelated scenes to gradually build suspense, culminating in a dramatic finale where Sherlock himself became the target of a dangerous taxi driver.

The danger posed by Moriarty was introduced early on, effectively setting the stage for the main storyline of the following two seasons. It was compelling to watch how Sherlock operated in a new way, and the developing bond between John and him was a major draw for viewers. Thanks to polished visuals, clever dialogue, and well-developed characters, it quickly became apparent that this gritty and updated version of Sherlock was destined for success.

Season 2 Was Inarguably Sherlock’s Best

The highlight of the series, Season 2, brilliantly blended smart writing, wit, and humor, offering fans a glimpse into Sherlock Holmes’ more sensitive side. We see him encounter the enigmatic Irene Adler – certainly not an angel – who surprisingly captures his affection and is even saved by him from being executed. Each of the three episodes in Season 2 was exceptional, and viewers particularly enjoyed how cleverly The Hounds of Baskerville was reimagined. The cases were solved with remarkable intelligence, and simultaneously, each character continued to develop and grow.

The final episode, “The Reichenbach Fall,” remains one of the most exciting installments in television history. Publicly discredited and labeled a fraud, Sherlock finds himself completely alone, with a dangerous enemy pursuing him who has positioned snipers to target those he cares about. As accusations spread like wildfire, Sherlock seemingly jumps to his death, devastating John, but it’s later revealed he actually survived the fall. The massive cliffhanger surrounding his survival is considered one of the greatest ever, and this season represented Sherlock at its absolute best.

2025-10-02 21:09