Episode Review: SHERLOCK: "His Last Vow"

You have to give Sherlock some credit; it really knows how to end a season.

A bored Watson agreed to help find his neighbor's son who had a problem with drugs. Our favorite doctor ended up in a seedy den where he also found Sherlock. Those close to Holmes worried that he relapsed but he insisted that he was undercover for a case. As it turned out, he needed to get the attention of Charles Augustus Magnussen.

Magnussen was a newpaper owner with the ability to blackmail people, and one of his victims hired Sherlock to take him down. He was also the mysterious man watching the footage at the end of the series opener. Sherlock hoped that his drug use would hit the news thus putting him on Magnussen's radar while also dating the business man's personal aide, Janine. It looked like things were going as planned, and Sherlock and Watson were able to break into Magnussen's office (after he proposed to Janine), but everything took an interesting turn.

When Sherlock came face-to-face with Magnussen, he was being held at gunpoint by a woman in black. At first, Holmes thought that it was the person who hired him but it turned out to be Mary. She had a deadly past that Magnussen was privy to and she wanted to shield John from finding out. In order to get away, Mary shot Sherlock and the race to save his life was on.

Of course Sherlock survived but he had to decide whether he would tell Watson the truth. He arranged a meeting with Mary where he tricked her into coming clean herself. She tried to convince him that she loved him and even gave him a memory stick with details of her past life. After a few months, Watson decided to stay with Mary but refused to learn about what she did before they met.

While at a Christmas get together, Sherlock arranged for everyone to be drugged so he and Watson could meet Magnussen. His plan was to exchange top government secrets for Mary's file, but when they arrived at Appledore (Magnussen's estate), they learned that he didn't have physical files but kept everything in his own mind palace. Mycroft was hot on Sherlock's trail, and he even had them cornered but Holmes killed Magnussen in cold blood in order to protect Mary's secret.

Sherlock was on the verge of exile when Britain was bombarded with a mysterious message from Moriarty.

I'm just going to admit to it now: I did not see the twist involving Mary coming. Sure, they showed us all of the clues that were dropped over the previous two episodes, but I never expected her to be some stone-cold killer. I don't know if I completely buy her as an assassin, but kudos to the creative team for pulling a fast one.

Fake-outs aside, "His Last Vow" was not only one of the stronger finales Sherlock's ever put out, but it was one of the stronger episodes to date. Not only did we get Mary's reveal, but a better understanding of Watson, some amazing character beats from Sherlock, a creepy villain in Magnussen, and the return of Moriarty. Not too shabby.

Even more important to me was the fact that the episode didn't drag like so many Sherlock installments. Things seemed to flow, and "His Last Vow" felt very much like a TV movie instead of an elongated hour of television. When this show's clicking on all cylinders it's one of the best to grace our screens. My only quibbles had to do with Magnussen being killed off and Sherlock being recalled so quickly. It just felt like all tension was deflated and opportunities were wasted.

Other Odds and Ends:

• The Mikkelsen brothers are a creepy brood.
• Molly giving Sherlock the business was pretty much the greatest moment ever.
• Janine!
• Sherlock's voyage towards death and back was amazing.
• Do we really need more Moriarty?

So another three episodes are in the book, and while this series didn't have a standout like "A Scandal in Belgravia" it was the strongest from top to bottom and a good sign for what we're in store for in the future. Thank you Moffat and Gatiss.

Episode Review: SHERLOCK, "The Sign of Three"

Longtime readers probably already know that I have one criticism of Sherlock and that’s the running time of each episode. While I understand and respect the fact that Moffat and Gatiss have to cram as much story into only three episodes a series, they can sometimes end up bloated and unfocused. Ultimately, “The Sign of Three” suffered from this ailment but it was zippy enough to keep things rolling and avoided too many dull periods. Plus, it was just fun to watch.

The majority of the episode took place at the wedding of John and Mary, and a lot of the focus was fixed on Sherlock since he was the best man. Of course he had some issues with his big toast, but he ultimately nailed the big moments while sharing anecdotes about some cases he and Watson worked on, which were coincidentally connected to an attempted murder that was going to take place at during the nuptials.

The first case, “The Bloody Guardsman” revolved around a member of the Queen’s Guard who was somehow stabbed with an invisible knife by an invisible person. As it turned out, the second case (“The Mayfly Man”) also dealt with a man who would woe women and then disappear without a trace. Since Sherlock’s such a clever show, everything culminated when our favorite detective deduced that Watson’s old commanding officer was going to be killed by another inconspicuous man (i.e. the photographer who felt the CO was to blame for his brother’s death and was responsible for the wounded soldier and the heartbroken women). Thankfully, everything ended on a high note: the would-be murderer was arrested and Sherlock was able to give his best friends the gift of music and the knowledge that Mary was pregnant.

Now, I’ll be honest and admit that I really did not care too much about the three cases that were all interconnected despite the fact that they would usually be right up my alley. Sure, they were somewhat interesting, and the twists were fun in spite of the fact that they were pretty obvious from the get go, but the highlights all had to do with Sherlock coming to grips with being John’s best man and best friend. Not only did we get some hilarious scenes that led up to the wedding, but Holmes really stuck the landing with his speech about how much John and Mary meant to him. Great stuff from not only Benedict Cumberbatch but the entire cast.

But “The Sign of Three” was not immune from being overly long and meandering. Yes, it was neat to have all three cases be related to one another, but the set up took too much time and the episode would’ve benefited from being trimmed down by thirty minutes or so. That said, it wasn’t as much of a slog as previous installments so there’s at least that.

Other Odds and Ends:

• I was actually more intrigued by the case that Lestrade and Donovan were working on at the start of the episode. Maybe we'll revisit it someday.
• I really like Janine.
• The Sherlock/Mary relationship might be able to rival the one he has with Watson.
• Sherlock's puzzlement over the wedding party's tear was his most endearing moment yet.
• It's Dean Thomas!
• Sit down, Tom.
• The stag night should've been an entire episode.
• The Woman is back!
• I'm a sucker for a bittersweet ending, so Sherlock leaving the party by himself was perfect.
• "Oh Sherlock, neither of us were the first you know."

Would “The Sign of Three” been better if it had adhered to a more traditional run-time? Definitely, but it was still an entertaining hour-and-a-half of television that had the right amount of laughs, character moments, and heart. I guess I really cannot complain when it’s all said and done.

Episode Review: SHERLOCK, "The Empty Hearse"

It's been almost two years since we last saw Sherlock, and it was reassuring to see that the show did not miss a beat while it was on hiatus because "The Empty Hearse" was pretty good.

As conspiracy theorists and fanboys/girls theorized on how Sherlock faked his death, the real detective was off gallivanting throughout Europe taking down Moriarty's network until he was summoned to return to London by his brother to find those responsible for an underground terrorist threat. One of Sherlock's first missions was to reveal himself to his old friend and partner, John Watson. Of course, Mr. Watson did not take Sherlock's reappearance very well since he spent the last two years moving on. Luckily, John's new fiance Mary was smitten with his estranged comrade and vowed to talk to him.

While John trudged through his new life as a doctor, Sherlock took Molly Hooper on as his new sidekick, and they spent the day solving various cases one of which included a member of Parliament, Lord Moran, who somehow disappeared from an Underground train car. It became clear that Molly would only be around for a short time and that Sherlock needed John by his side, but that proved to be tricky after the latter was drugged and kidnapped. After Mary got a mysterious text, Sherlock's new goal was to save his best friend's life.

It turned out that John was buried beneath a bonfire that was going to be lit in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day, but Sherlock was able to find him in the nick of time. As the two tried to figure out why Watson was targeted, they ended up working alongside one another on the terrorist case. In typical Sherlock fashion, he realized that Lord Moran paid off the train conductor to detach one of the cars so he could fashion it into a bomb and blow up Parliament. Holmes and Watson found the car, but it looked like they were not going to be able to disarm the bomb. Before they died, Sherlock asked John to forgive him, which he did. Holmes then started laughing and explained that he turned off the switch to the bomb and they were not in danger.

As the episode ended, a mysterious man watched footage of Sherlock saving Watson from the bonfire.

Now, I'll admit that "The Empty Hearse" was far from perfect. The main mystery involving Lord Moran plotting to blow up Parliament Guy Fawkes style was a tab bit underwhelming because it didn't really make much sense and lacked any real motivation. Add to that the heavy-handed homages to Gunpowder Plots and on-the-nose mentions of the Underground, and it was devoid of any subtly or tension. All of the wheel-spinning that occurred before the resolution didn't help either.

Thankfully, the point of the episode really didn't have to do with the central case at all. "The Empty Hearse" was all about answering the questions that revolved around Sherlock's fake death and how it impacted his relationship with Watson, and I for one was satisfied how it was all handled. I'm sure there are some out there who wanted a more concrete explanation on how Holmes pulled off his trick, but I like the ambiguity of it all. Plus, all I really care about is the core relationship, and I was giddy thanks to all of the great bromantic moments. Although, I did feel that Sherlock's joke at the end came off as cruel and out of character.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Yeah, that mustache had to go.
• I like Mary.
• Aww, Molly.
• When did Sherlock become slash fiction?
• Mycroft: "He's got on with his life."
  Sherlock: "What life? I've been away."
• "You should put it on a t-shirt."

Aside from an uninspired mystery-of-the-week, "The Empty Hearse" was a strong return for Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were once again on their game, and it was good having everyone back. I have a feeling this is going to be the best season yet.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 45: This Is A Tasty Burger

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 45. During this episode Kristal and I discussed the death of Larry Hagman, cast shakeups, the return of Cory and Topanga, the current episodes of Bob's Burgers, Raising Hope, Wedding Band and Glee, as well as what they're looking forward to. There are some sound quality issues, so please pardon the mess. Check out the episode breakdown to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:02

TV News: 1:03 - 20:09

• Larry Hagman: 1:03 - 3:31
• The Mindy Project and Community cast shakeups: 3:32 - 13:08
• Cory and Topanga officially join Girl Meets World: 13:09 - 18:09
• Series 3 of Sherlock delayed: 18:10 - 20:09

What We're Watching: 20:10 - 38:51

• Bob's Burgers: 20:11 - 24:04
• Raising Hope and Wedding Band: 24:05 - 28:00
• Glee: 28:01 - 38:51

What We're Looking Forward To: 38:52 - 42:05

• Leverage and The Walking Dead

Closing: 42:06 - End

Check out the episode below, download it over at iTunes or stream it on Stitcher:


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Episode Review: SHERLOCK, "The Reichenbach Fall"

After a small bump in the road, Sherlock made a huge comeback with "The Reichenbach Fall," which was not just the best episode to date, but probably one of the better installments of television over the last couple of seasons. Yes, it was that good.

As Sherlock's fame started to rise, James Moriarty revealed a plot to discredit his rival. Step one of this plan involved breaking into the Tower of London to take the Crown Jewels while also bypassing the security systems of both the Bank of England and Pentonville Prison. Before smashing the case that held the jewels, Moriarty scribbled, "Get Sherlock," and instead of snatching the goods, he put them on and waited for the police to arrive. Moriarty's court date was the trial of the century, and Sherlock was the star witness, but he fell into a trap because he allowed his ego to take over, and his misstep did not make him look favorable. In another odd move, Moriarty did not present a defense, which added to the fact that it was all for show. What should have been an open and shut case was further complicated when the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty.

Now that Moriarty was free, he paid a visit to Baker Street. During their sit-down, the criminal mastermind explained to Sherlock that he was able to scare the jury into letting him go by hacking into their televisions and threatening their families. He even went a step further and revealed how he broke into three different facilities at the same time. As it turned out, all he needed was some computer code to hack the systems, and he underlined his point by telling Sherlock that having the key to everything makes him powerful and every bad guy in the world's after his services. The meeting ended with Moriarty admitting that he's not in it for the money or the power but to solve the final problem between him and Sherlock, and he left it with the ominous message of, "I owe you."

Part 2 of Moriarty's revolved around the kidnapping of an ambassador's children. The two kids were taken from a high class boarding school, and the ambassador personally asked that Sherlock be brought in on the case due to his new found fame. Once there, he came across an envelope with a red seal that contained a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales, which was a clue to where the children were taken because Watson also came across a similar package filled with breadcrumbs. Obviously, the everything pointed to Hansel and Gretel, which led to an abandoned sweets factory. The authorities were able to save the children, but when Sherlock was asked to question the girl, she freaked out because the Moriarty implanted the thought that he was involved in her abduction. Not only did the girl think that Sherlock was involved, but some on the police force also started to wonder whether or not he's the real villain.

In spite of Lestrade's loyalties, the police chief insisted that Sherlock be brought in, but he was able to get away during his arrest and he took Watson as his "hostage." While on the run, they visited a reporter who tried to get an exclusive scoop from Sherlock at Moriarty's trial. Instead of helping Sherlock, she was working on an expose to out him once and for all, and her source was Moriarty posing as an actor by the name of Richard Brook. He claimed that Sherlock paid him to play the part as a way to dupe everyone into thinking that he's a genius detective. Before Sherlock and Watson could get to Moriarty, he got away but Sherlock was able to figure out the final move of the game, and he needed Molly's help. While Sherlock went out on his own, Watson spoke with Mycroft and learned that he had given up details of his brother's life to Moriarty in exchange for information on the his key code.

Sherlock texted Moriarty to meet him on the roof of the hospital so they could resolve their issues once and for all. On the rooftop, Moriarty rambled about how their final problem was staying alive and how he chose Sherlock as his adversary because he was tired of distracting himself with ordinary people, but even he ended up being mundane. He even showed his hand by admitting to Sherlock that the code didn't exist, and he just paid people to help him break in to the tower, the bank and the prison, and he knew that he'd fall for it because everything has to be clever. The final step of Moriarty's game was for the disgraced detective to take his own life, and to make sure he did just that, he planned on killing Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade if Sherlock didn't do just that. Before jumping off the building, Sherlock realized that he could get Moriarty to call of his assassins and still live because he'd be willing to do anything to make his rival talk. Moriarty acknowledged that he and Sherlock were alike and that he and his friends could live if he stayed alive, so he decided to kill himself to force Sherlock's hand. With Moriarty dead, Sherlock accepted the fact that he would have to commit suicide to save his friends, and he had one final conversation with Watson where he confessed to being a fraud. After uttering his final words that would act as his "note," Sherlock threw himself off the hospital to the pavement below.

The episode ended where it started, with Watson recalling the events during a therapy session, but it's hard for him to accept what had occurred. He then visited Sherlock's grave with Mrs. Hudson where he begs for his friend to not be dead, and then there's a glimpse of Sherlock watching him from a distance.

Wow, now that's a finale even though I have no idea how Moffat's going to explain how Sherlock faked his own death. Over the course of this series, I've complained about how the run time's been the biggest hurdle, but that wasn't the case with "Reichenbach" because of all of the but twists, turns, tension and fake-outs. Plus, it had tons of emotion which made it ten times better because the audience was allowed to see how much Sherlock's grown. It's doubtful that the man we met in "A Study in Pink" would entertain the needs of others much less sacrifice himself for someone else, but that's something this Sherlock was willing to do. It also didn't hurt that he still got one over on Moriarty when it was all said and done.

Speaking of Moriarty, he was another element that was somewhat problematic at the start of the series. His brief cameo during the end of "The Great Game" was entertaining enough, but his shtick quickly grew tiresome during "A Scandal in Belgravia," so I was glad that we got so little of him during the middle installment. When I realized that he was going to be prominently featured in this episode, I had some reservations, but Andrew Scott quickly quelled my fears with his insane but brilliant performance. Sure, Moriarty was still a little too over the top, but his scenes with Sherlock crackled and popped so much that I was willing to give in to the lunacy of it all. The next big question after how Sherlock faked his death should be if Moriarty somehow did the same. What if Richard Brook was real and an actor but was working for Moriarty the entire time?

Other Odds and Ends:

• Moriarty's story of Sir Boast-a-Lot was a bit on the nose, but still wildly entertaining.
• How many shippers squealed when Watson punched Lestrade's boss? Or how about when Sherlock told Watson to take his hand?
• Who has their nemesis' number on hand so they can text them?
• I cannot figure out how Sherlock faked his own death. At least we're getting a third series to answer that one.
• "Every fairy tale needs a good, old-fashioned villain."
• "In a world of locked rooms, the man with the key is king. And honey, you should see me in a crown."
• "Suddenly I'm Mr. Sex."
• "Aren't ordinary people adorable?"
• "Yeah, well you know what he's like; CSI: Baker Street."
• "No one can fake being an annoying dick all the time."
• "Take my hand."
• "No, friends protect people."
• Sherlock: "You're insane."
  Moriarty: "You're just getting that now?"
• "You want me to shake hands with you in hell? I shall not disappoint you."
• Moriarty: "You're on the side of the angels."
  Sherlock: "Oh, I may be on the side of the angels, but don't think for one second that I am one of them."

Another series of Sherlock, and another masterful piece of television (yes, even if you include "Bakersville). It's just a shame that we're going to have to wait another year before we get another episode, but if the new ones are a fraction of good as these, then it will be well worth the wait.

TV Report Card: Week of May 6, 2012

Since TV Upfronts, pick-ups, renewals and cancellations have been taking up most of my time over the last couple of days, this installment of the TV Report Card may lack some punch. I apologize in advance.

Sunday
Sherlock: "A Scandal in Belgravia"

What Worked: Of course you tune into Sherlock for the amazing chemistry between the title character and his trust sidekick, and Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman just might be the best television duos on the screen today. Add in a sexy, smart and formidable Irene Adler, and you have one heck of an episode of TV.

What Didn't Work: The run time of Sherlock's episodes will always been a problem because the story sometimes meanders in order to fill up the allotment. It's a classic example of less is more, but since we only get three episodes a series, I don't see anything changing in the near future.

GRADE: A

Monday
Castle: "Always"

What Worked: They finally went there! After four seasons of mind-numbing unresolved sexual tension, Beckett finally admitted her feelings to Castle after she almost died. Now, I don't have to watch Castle ever again because what's the point now that they're together. Right?

What Didn't Work: The execution was a bit clumsy despite the fact that the case was tied to the bigger mystery revolving around the death of Kate's mom. For some reason, I didn't really buy her moment of truth, and I expected it to be bigger and more impactful. Instead, it just kind of happened.

GRADE: B-

Smash: "Previews"

What Worked: I actually liked the parts that had to do with the musical and prepping for previews. I even found myself digging some of the numbers like "Smash!," but that was about it.

What Didn't Work: Once again, anything that had to do with the personal lives of the characters made me groan and roll my eyes. And they even tried to squeeze church and religion into an already over-the-top situation. Don't even get me started on Katharine McPhee's acting. I don't get how some people actually think this show's better than Glee.

GRADE: D

Tuesday
Glee: "Prom-asaurus"

What Worked: OK, maybe this wasn't the week to throw stones at Smash because Glee was dreadful. This episode was by the worst yet, and I really cannot think of anything I liked  about it except for a few moments that involved Puck, Mike and/or Sam. I'm still mad about this one.

What Didn't Work: Everything that had nothing to do with the aforementioned characters. To add salt to the wound, Ryan Murphy actually made his characters regress as an allusion for growth. Seriously. Usually, I can defend this show with my dying breath, but not this time. "Prom-asaurus" sucked. Plan and simple.

GRADE: D-

New Girl: "See Ya"

What Worked: I'm a fan of scenes where the main characters just sit around and goof on one another, so I pretty much dug everything that took place in the middle of nowhere. Plus, everyone had some decent jokes/one-liners, so there's that.

What Didn't Work: I'm over the Jess/Nick UST dynamic, and at this point I'd prefer them as strictly platonic friends. I don't even care if the writers lay off the gas and try again in a few seasons. I just don't care. Also, what was the point of having Nick move out if he was going to be back by the end of the episode. At least keep him out of the loft until the Season 2 premiere.

GRADE: B-

Wednesday
Modern Family: "Disneyland"

What Worked: I like Dylan, so I was happy to see him back even if it was due to a major contrivance. Watching Luke and Phil just be wacky together's also worth a few laughs.

What Didn't Work: The time honored tradition of ABC family sitcoms going to Disneyland was one I hope died with TGIF, but apparently Modern Family's bringing it back. I've never been a fan of the trick, and I still didn't care for it, and I'm usually a fan of when the entire family's together. Not this time.

GRADE: C+

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Making Rent"

What Worked: As always, JVDB stole the show with his extremely tight fitting pants line, an unfortunate billboard ad and starting a trend by pitting the gays, hipster and Japanese people against one another. Brilliant stuff. I even liked the Chloe tricks June into being on a fetish website, but that's probably because Happy Endings did it first.

What Didn't Work: I'm still not feeling the outlying characters, so the fact that they took up so much time during this episode didn't help it. It's just sad that Liza Lapira has to be on this show instead of Traffic Light.

GRADE: B-

Thursday
Community: "Curriculum Unavailable"

What Worked: For the most part I enjoyed this sequel to last year's "Paradigms of Human Memory" mostly because Troy had some good lines, but I also liked the idea of the Study Group being crazy people who invented Greendale while in asylum. It's just too bad that was just a ruse.

What Didn't Work: The ruse itself because it progressed the ill-advised "Chang takes over Greendale" arc that's wrapping up the season. I've shared my thoughts on Chang before, so I don't want to get into it. Let's just say I'm disappointed about the end of Season 3 so far.

GRADE: B-

The Vampire Diaries: "The Departed"

What Worked: At least the killed Alaric once and for all just to bring him back as a ghost. Seriously, this show cannot just kill people...

What Didn't Work: I think I'll warm up to the idea of Elena being a vampire, but for now it felt like just another cheat, and I'm so over them. The fact that Klaus also found a way to stick around was an effective twist, but I'm not a fan of the Originals, so I'm skeptical about keeping him on the show. At least he'll make Tyler interesting for once. It's just too bad that it's taken them so long to do so.

GRADE: B-

Friday
Grimm: "Big Feet"

What Worked: We got more Monroe which is always a good thing. I was also happy to see Hank and Juliette get sucked into the Grimm world little by little. I don't know how the show's going to manage this new development, but they couldn't have stayed in the dark for much longer.

What Didn't Work: The creature of the week (Sasquatch-like beasts) didn't really work for me, but at least they were better than last week's bats posing as Cinderella. The sooner I forget about that episode, the better.

GRADE: B-

Nikita: "Crossbow"

What Worked: This show got entertaining again the second Percy took over Division, so watching him steal a satellite that could be used as a weapon just so he could blackmail the President of the United States as a way to buy his way into some secret group of terrorists was interesting. Plus, Birkoff planted on on Nikita before a supposed suicide mission ... and then made a Star Wars reference.

What Didn't Work: Still too much Alex and Sean, but at least we got a Season 1 callback in the form of that one recruit who was supposed to be dead but ended up being turned into a cleaner. I forgot about him.

GRADE: B-

Between Upfronts and season finales, I'm not quite sure how next week's Report Card will look like, but I'll try to put something together.

Episode Review: SHERLOCK: "The Hounds of Baskerville"

One of the truths of television is every episode cannot be a winner. Even the best shows ever created have had installments that were a bit off, and "The Hounds of Baskerville" was Sherlock's rare misstep which's unfortunate since there's only three episodes in this current series.

An agitated Sherlock's jonesing for a case and nicotine when a young man by the name of Henry Knight showed up at Baker Street. Henry recalled the night his father was killed by a gigantic hound twenty-years earlier and how he feared that the dog had returned, but this was not an ordinary animal as it was implied that the beast could have been the product of a government research base known as Baskerville. At first, Sherlock was not interested in the case until Henry muttered the word "hound," which piqued his interest enough to agree to work for the client, so they packed up and headed to Dartmoor.

After settling in, Sherlock and Watson dropped by Baskerville where the former used his brother's identification to infiltrate the facility. He was able to pose as Mycroft long enough to get a quick tour and an understanding of what kind of biological and chemical experiments took place there. Unfortunately, their cover was blown but they were saved by a Dr. Frankland who was a friend of Henry's father. Frankland recognized Sherlock and Watson from their website and assumed they were there because of Henry, and he even offered to assist them if they ever needed it.

Henry relived some more memories, and this time he remembered the words "Liberty" and "In," which he shared with his therapist and our heroes. Sherlock decided to accompany Henry to the hollow where he saw the hound, and once there he too felt a sense of terror, and he even saw the hound himself. Seeing the beast caused him great strife since his mind could not logically process what he had just witnessed.

The next day, they ran into Inspector Lestrade who was apparently sent by Mycroft to keep an eye on them. Since he was already there, Watson asked him to help get some answers from the local innkeepers because there was something about them that wasn't adding up. As it turned out, they were responsible for the hound sightings because they used a dog to keep the legend alive as a way to drum up additional business from tourists and monster hunters, but they admitted to putting the animal down because it could not be controlled. Despite the confession, Sherlock was not convinced, so he asked his brother to help him get back into Bakersville.

Once inside, Sherlock was determined to piece together what he saw in the hallow. Since the hound was illogical, he figured that the only explanation was a drug that was introduced into their systems. After going into his "mind palace," it dawned on him that hound was an acronym (H.O.U.N.D.) and that "Liberty" and "In" stood for Liberty, Indiana. With some help from a Bakersville researcher, he hacked his way into some top secret files and confirmed that Project H.O.U.N.D. was a top-secret chemical weapon that caused hallucinations and terror but was discontinued. As luck would have it, he also stumbled across the fact that Dr. Frankland was a part of the original research team.

Frankland continued to work on the drug, and Henry's father found out about it and tried to put an end to it all which led to his death. Since Henry was there when his father was murdered and was exposed to the drug (it was in the form of fog that filled the hallow), he concocted a memory where a giant hound killed his father instead of Frankland. Sherlock was able to get Frankland to the hallow so he could expose him once and for all, but he was able to get away. Before Frankland could be taken into custody, he accidentally wandered into a mine field and blew himself up.

The biggest issue I had with "Hounds" was the case itself. It had too much of a sci-fi feel to it, which I'm not inherently opposed to, but for some reason the subject matter and genre didn't mesh seamlessly with the Sherlock universe. I'm not even saying that sci-fi cannot be successful on the show because I'm confident that it could be considering Moffat's ties to Jekyll and Doctor Who, and I'd like to see them try again, but the execution needs to be tighter. Also, the run time was once again the show's Achilles' heel because the plot lagged and hit multiple lulls instead of zipping along, which was only amplified by the fact that the episode did not have an interesting supporting character like last week's Irene Adler.

That being said, there was still a lot to like about "Hounds." Of course we got some more of the flawless banter between Sherlock and Watson which saved the episode, but we also got a better understand of their relationship. There was that great scene where Sherlock apologized to Watson after snapping at him due to his frustrations over being stumped by the appearance of the hound, and he showed his vulnerable side by admitting that John's his only friend. It's these smaller moments that really make Sherlock work, and it's too bad that Moffat feels the need to keep reminding everyone that these two men are very close friends and nothing more, but fans will do what they want.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Sherlock second-hand smoking has to be one of the funniest scenes filmed in a while.
• I know that the Morse code sequence was supposed to plant the idea of acronyms, but it didn't quite flow with the rest of the episode.
• That poor dog.
• Sherlock's Mind Palace was a fun little trick.
• Ah, Chekov's Minefield.
• "That's not true. He's a snorer. Is yours a snorer?"
• Watson: "Oh, please can we not do this this time?"
  Sherlock: "Do what?"
  Watson: "You being all mysterious with your cheekbones and turning your coat collar up so you can look cool."
  Sherlock: "I don't do that."
  Watson: "Yeah, you do."
• "Funny doesn't suit you. Let's stick to ice."
• "Listen, what I said before John, I meant it. I don't have friends. I've just got one."

Like I mentioned before, television programs cannot bat 1.000 and we're always in for a few duds here and there. Now that Sherlock's gotten its out of the way, we can go back to being amazed by this brilliant show.

Episode Review: SHERLOCK, "A Scandal in Belgravia"

It seems like reboots, remakes and re-imaginings are taking precedent over original ideas. While most of these facsimiles can be underwhelming, every so often one really gets things right, and Steven Moffat's updating of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most iconic character definitely gets is right. Sherlock returned to the PBS Masterpiece Mystery! series with "A Scandal in Belgravia," and it was an excellent example of why this contemporary adaptation cannot be beat.

After a brief showdown with Moriarty that was interrupted by a well-timed phone call from Irene Adler, Sherlock struggled with finding a new case that would challenge him along with his new found fame as being an Internet detective thanks to Dr. Watson's blog. After rejecting some possible clients, and working on a few cases involving dead bodies in car trunks and fields, Mycroft Holmes brought his brother an assignment that involved a member of the royal family and some compromising pictures. You see, this version of Irene Adler's a dominatrix with some very high profile clients, and she kept these photos in her phone as an insurance policy. Since the royals couldn't risk them getting out, Sherlock was brought in to get them back.

During their first encounter, which Irene attended in the nude but eventually covered up after Sherlock offered her his coat, he realized that he could not read her like he could everyone else, and it started to dawn on him that she very well could be his equal. Their banter was cut short by a group of Americans who were also after Adler's phone, but they were unsuccessful thanks to a booby-trap that was set in a wall safe. Once things settled down, Sherlock was able to get his hands on the phone, but he was duped and drugged by Irene which allowed her to get away. When he woke up, he heard a female moan, and it turned out that Irene had returned his coat which contained his phone, and she had added the sound as her personal ringtone. She texted Sherlock over the next couple of months, but he never replied until she sent him her phone for safekeeping which he interpreted as a sign of her upcoming death. Sure enough, Holmes had to identify her body at the morgue.

Like all great mysteries, there was more going on behind the scenes. Watson was taken by unnamed woman to a meeting where he learned that Irene was not dead. She had faked her death to throw off those who were tracking her down due to all of the secrets that she kept on her phone. One of those secrets was a code that she got from an email that belonged to an official of the Ministry of Defence. After a few seconds, Sherlock deduced that it was a seat on a plane from London to Baltimore. That particular flight ended up being a decoy set up by the British and American governments that was supposed to explode as a way to fool a terrorist cell. Unfortunately for Holmes, Irene sent that information to Moriarty who in turn let Mycroft know that he was aware of the plan thus ruining everything.

Now that Irene proved how much power she could wield, she sat down with Mycroft and negotiated how much money and protection it would take to keep her from toppling Britain. While she gloated, Sherlock figured out the pass code to her phone since her body betrayed her when she previously tried to seduce him. Holmes was able to take her pulse while she was attempting to be intimate with him, and he realized that she cared about him which gave him the key to her secrets. He entered the letters "S-H-E-R" into her phone's lock screen which read, "I Am Sher-locked." With all of her leverage gone, and without any protection, it was reported that she was beheaded by a terrorist cell as punishment, but she did have someone looking over her in the end: Sherlock himself.

As you can see a lot happened during Sherlock's first episode back, but the most important development was the introduction of Irene Adler. In my opinion, her debut into this updated universe was flawless, and I got a lot enjoyment out of watching her rival, outwit and frustrate our hero even though he ended up winning in the end. Also, having her be a dominatrix was a fun little twist in spite of some of the criticisms that the move could be interpreted as sexist which I don't really get. From what I could tell, this new Irene Adler still used her smarts to stay one step ahead of Holmes up until the very end, but she also skillfully used her sexuality for some added umph. While I can see how some would view this take on the character as a slight, I for one thought that it was inspired and didn't diminish her at all. Then again, my familiarity with Irene Adler's limited to Rachel McAdams' interpretation, so I admit that my attachments aren't very strong. At least Lara Pulver's performance eclipsed her predecessor's. Since the original only appeared in one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, I'm interested to see if Pulver will show up again, and I truly hope that she does because she was able to hold her own and added a lot to this world.

While it was fun watching Sherlock and Irene dance around for the entire episode, the real draw of the show continued to be the bond between Holmes and Watson. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freemen have a flawless rapport, and it was once again on display during "Belgravia." The two shared so many great scenes together that I lost count, and it's easy to see that they're on track towards becoming one of the best duos on modern-day television. Seriously, anyone who gets a kick out of watching House and Wilson bicker should do themselves a favor and check out Sherlock because Holmes and Watson put them to shame. Not only do these two have great chemistry, but they're also responsible for the lion's share of laughs that are necessary for a show like this. Excellent stuff all around.

Now, I pretty much cherished everything about this episode, but it had its share of mishaps. One complaint that I've had about Sherlock since the beginning has been the length of each installment. Since I'm an American, I'd prefer it if these episodes were cut into six one-hour slivers instead of three two-hour chunks, but I get that the British do things differently. While I do my best to pay attention, I usually find myself losing interest while powering through each chapter because there's so much story to wade through and most of it ends up not being all that important. For example, we really didn't need to have the bit about the backfiring car and the dead sportsman. Sure, that case added some shading to Sherlock and Watson, but it ultimately was just a stepping stone to Adler and the secret plane bombing. Usually, I wouldn't mind such a stall tactic, but it felt like it took up too much time, and I got bored until Holmes popped up in Buckingham Palace in nothing but a sheet. Getting back to the main plot, while it was gripping with all of the twists and turns, it too took a while to pick up steam which was only hurt by the extended run time. Had Moffat trimmed it down to a standard 45-minute time frame, it would have had a smoother pace, but I once again realize that he's playing by a different set of rules.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Moriarty's an odd duck, isn't he?
• Nice nod with the deerstalker cap.
• The dueling scenes of Sherlock and Irene preparing for their first entanglement was brilliant.
• I wonder how long Watson had been waiting to lay into Sherlock like that.
• Now that's how you make an entrance.
• Of course the combination to her safe was her measurements.
• The boys scolding Mycroft for telling Mrs. Hudson to shut-up was great.
• Aw, poor Molly.
• "This is your case, so it's entirely up to you. This is only advice, but give Sherlock five minutes with your crime scene and listen to everything he has to say. And as far as possible, try not to punch him."
• Watson: "Are you wearing any pants?"
  Sherlock: "No."
  Watson: "Okay."
• "John, you might want to put that cup back in its saucer now."
• "I always hear 'punch me in the face' when you're speaking, but it's usually subtext."
• "Look at those cheekbones. I could cut myself slapping that face. Would you like me to try?"
• "I missed something, haven't I?"
• "Somebody loves you. If I had to punch that face, I'd avoid your nose and teeth too."
• "Brainy's the new sexy."
• "Why bother? You can follow her on Twitter. I believe her user name is the Whip Hand."
• Watson: "Tell him you're alive."
  Irene: "He'd come after me."
  Watson: "I'll come after you if you don't"
• "Mrs. Hudson leave Baker Street? England would fall."
• "You think she's my girlfriend because I'm x-raying her possessions?"
• "I make my way in the world. I misbehave."
• Sherlock: "Please don't feel obliged to tell me that was remarkable or amazing. John's expressed that thought in every possible variant available to the English language."
  Irene: "I would have you right here on this desk until you begged for mercy twice."
• Sherlock: "I've never begged for mercy in my life."
  Irene: "Twice."
• "Hamish. John Hamish Watson. Just in case you if you're looking for baby names."
• "He's good isn't he? I should have him on a leash. In fact, I might."
• "Sentiment is a chemical defect found in the losing side."

It's good to have Sherlock back. Its take on the standard police procedural is refreshing and breaks up the monotony that's been established by the lesser shows that air on CBS. It's just a shame that the Eye wants to rip-off an already superior remake with Elementary. Let's just hope viewers refuse to accept any substitutions.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 27: Don't You (Forget About Our Podcast)

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 27. After an impromptu hiatus, Kristal and I are back to chat about TV. This time around, we talked about AMC's newest Robert Kirtman adaptation, The Office's revolving door of ideas, Smash's new boss, two Texas boys heading to HBO, plenty of renewals, and of course what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to. As always, check out the breakdown for details.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:26

TV News: 1:27 - 24:05

• AMC adapting Thief of Thieves: 1:27 - 3:36
• The Office reboot: 3:37 - 8:44
• Smash's new showrunner: 8:45 - 12:40
• Woody Harrelson & Matthew McConaughey to HBO: 12:41 - 15:19
• Fringe renewed for 5th and final season: 15:20 - 21:07
• Girls and Veep renewed by HBO: 21:08 - 22:16
• The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and 90210 renewed: 22:17 - 24:05

What We're Watching: 24:06 - 43:27

• Glee: 24:07 - 32:20
• The Vampire Diaries: 32:21 - 39:56
• America's Best Dance Crew: 39:57 - 43:27

What We're Looking Forward To: 43:28 - 45:48

• So You Think You Can Dance: 43:28 - 44:49
• Sherlock: 44:50 - 45:58

Closing: 45:59 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 18: Not ELEMENTARY, My Dear SHERLOCK

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 18. This week, Kristal and I talked about the Oscar nominees and how they'll possible impact the telecast, the fact that The Big Bang Theory beat American Idol in the ratings, the brewing feud between BBC and CBS over Sherlock Holmes, The Office spin-off starring Dwight Schrute, the overabundance of remakes on TV, and of course what we're watching and looking forward to. Check out the episode breakdown below to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:43

TV News: 1:43 - 18:29

• The Oscar Nominations: 1:43 - 6:20
• The Big Bang Theory beat American Idol: 6:21 - 9:57
• BBC vs. CBS: The Battle over Sherlock Holmes: 9:58 - 14:48
• The Office spin-off: 14:49 - 18:29

The Topic of the Week - Remakes, Re-imaginings and Rip-Offs: 18:30 - 25:04

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 25:05 - 42:45

• Chuck: 25:05 - 34:21
• New Girl: 34:22 - 38:10
• Lost Girl: 38:11 - 42:45

What We're Looking Forward To: 42:46 - 45:02

• Chuck Series Finale & Spartacus: Vengeance Premiere: 42:46 - 43:31
• The Walking Dead Season 2, Part 2: 43:32 - 45:02

Closing: 45:03 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 17: COUGAR TOWN, Will You Be Our Valentine?

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 17. This week, Kristal and I chatted about Cougar Town's V-Day premiere, BBC's Sherlock getting renewed for Series 3, Hulu getting into original programming, our thoughts on the Golden Globes, and of course what we're watching and what we're looking forward to.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:21

TV News: 1:22 - 11:43

• Cougar Town's Valentine's Day Date: 1:22 - 4:49
• Sherlock Renewed: 4:50 - 7:42
• Hulu's Original Programming: 7:43 - 11:43

Topic of the Week - Golden Globes Reactions: 11:44 - 16:00

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERTS): 16:01 - 36:42

• The Finder: 16:01 - 22:22
• Alcatraz: 22:23 - 27:11
• Smash: 27:12 - 31:28
• Being Human: 31:29 - 36:42

What We're Looking Forward To - Season 2 of Being Human: 36:42 - 38:30

Closing: 38:31 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents

Show Review: SHERLOCK

With summer being a slow when it comes to television, I usually try to catch up on some shows that I didn't watch the first time around. One show that garnered plenty of buzz earlier this year was BBC's Sherlock.

Now, I'll come clean and admit that I'm a sucker for modern re-tellings of classic stories, so Sherlock was right up my alley, but for some reason I never took the time to seek it out on PBS. Thanks to Netflix Instant, I was able to watch the first series over the weekend, and I was immediately hooked.

Right off the bat, Sherlock reminded me of USA's Psych only good. The funny thing is, I had the same reaction while watching Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes, which makes sense since Psych is nothing more than a cheap knock-off, but I'm not hear to bad mouth that show.

From a narrative stand point, Sherlock wasn't all that different than all of the other crime procedural shows that rely on an outside expert (think Bones, Castle, Psych, The Mentalist, etc.), but the cases in the first three episodes all felt fresh and new. I blame all of the British accents. The modern setting was also a welcomed change that could've been easily mishandled, but it just worked from the get go.

While the murder/cases didn't stray too far from the traditional cop show formula, what made Sherlock special was the two leads, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, who are able to breath new life into the legendary Holmes and Dr. Watson. Of the two, Cumberbatch was something special as he was able to create a character that was brilliant, charming, but also manipulative and sometimes unseemly. Freeman also does a great job at being the classic straight man to Cumberbatch's eccentric, but it's hard to focus on anyone but Holmes whenever he's on screen. Luckily, the two work so well together that it would also be hard to imagine one without the other.

Like all TV shows, Sherlock also had its share of misfires. Initially, I was not too thrilled with the depiction of Moriarty because it was too over the top and could be overkill when combined with Sherlock's equally larger than life presence. I did respect and enjoy how the writers slowly introduced Moriarty, but the reveal was a letdown. I'm willing to withhold judgment until the character gets additional treatment, but it's going to take a lot to make him a credible villain in my opinion.

Underwhelming archenemy aside, Sherlock was a well-crafted, entertaining, and successful update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective. It still has some work to do in order to be the best show of its kind, but give me Sherlock Holmes over Shawn Spencer any day.