Anyone who knows me knows that my all-time favorite TV show is Sherlock. No competition. There may be other shows I watch, but those merely serve to fill the gap while Sherlock is on hiatus (which the diligent fans know is ALWAYS). I feel like I often don’t do justice to the show while trying to explain why it is my passion, so in order to mend my failure and also in honor of Season 4 arriving in LESS THAN ONE MONTH, here are the reasons I so cherish Sherlock in the way I do (no spoilers, so no worries).
1. Benedict Cumberbatch.
There's no more I need to say here.
2. It's brilliantly well-written.
The writing is so crisp and pristine and the acting is breathtaking. There’s a plot within each episode and then slowly you find yourself in another overarching plot…but wait there’s another one that seems to be forming… You get my gist.
3. It answers your questions and yet never actually does.
You have a lot of answers to questions arising in the show and yet… when you try to piece things together you realize you actually know nothing. There are countless explanations to things and you'll never know which one fits until you're presented with more information... and then you have more questions.
4. Stevan Moffat and Mark Gatiss are wonderful trolls.
Which is why we love them. They write the show in a way that makes it irresistible to keep trying to figure out what’s going on. We love them in the most hateful way, as is common with all brilliant TV show writers.
5. It's so much more than just "a mystery show."
Those who watch it will definitely agree that there’s a different depth that Sherlock takes (and we’re promised much more of this for Season 4, according to Moftiss, the trolls). There's adventure and action and comedy and drama and mystery all in one. Although undeniably much of what makes it so worthwhile is the mystery aspect, within the crimes and just of the whole show.
6. It's intellectually stimulating.
Throughout an episode it's impossible to not try to guess at what's happening (of course it's also usually impossible to be right). And while it may be impossible to reach Sherlock-level deduction powers, watching the show does make you want to at least try to be more observant.
7. It's placed in modern-day.
I know a lot of people are put off by the original Victorian setting of Sherlock (I don’t quite understand why though, because I personally find it lovely) but this take on the classic is placed in modern day London and as such they take cabs everywhere and text a lot.8. It's actually very entertaining.
While there are parts to the show that are very serious, it usually incorporates quite a bit of humor so contrary to popular belief, it's quite hilarious.9. There are only 9 episodes and a special.
It's just so bingeable and on top of that, it's impossible to watch it too many times. Every time you watch it you pick up on something new.There is so much packed into these 10 episodes and they are all so wonderful. And besides. How many shows can you binge-watch beginning to end in a single day?10. It just . . . is.
It’s very difficult to explain why it’s so wonderful because a lot of the awe factor that makes it so cannot be put into words. It may also be that waiting so long for a new season helps in cherishing it very much. It's very valuable because it's somewhat rare. Whatever the case may be, try it and I promise, odds are you’ll be a Sherlock fan very soon (and just in time for the new season!).