Sherlock was one of the most groundbreaking TV series of the past few years. Its complex and thought-provoking script, coupled with its feature-length run time and movie quality cinematography truly helped to push the series to iconic level status. The series also garnered a cult following worldwide and helped catapult Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman into Hollywood, with both of them starring in Marvel movies since their time in 221b Baker Street.
That being said, the final season of the show was divisive among fans, with many claiming that it represented the end of the series. This begs the question, should Sherlock have another season? This article will list 5 reasons why we need another series of Sherlock and 5 why we don't.
Need: Make Up For Season 4
It was almost a universal belief that season 4 of Sherlock was disappointing. Many believed that series was trying to imitate its earlier seasons, though without the actual storyline to do so. The series relied on several cliches including mysterious pasts and unknown siblings, while also departing from Sherlock's actual purpose of solving crimes and making him more spy-like than a detective.
With this in mind, we need another season in order to correct these mistakes. The show should return to what made it so good in the first place and hone in on those virtues.
Don't: No Memorable Villains
The death of Moriarty in season 2 put the show in a very precarious position as it removed Sherlock's main adversary from the equation of future seasons. This isn't even akin to a Batman series killing off the Joker, as Batman has several other notable and memorable villains who could take his place.
While some of the villains were interesting, it is hard to think of a returning or future villain that could be as appealing as Moriarty in Sherlock.
Need: The Series Still Has Promise
Despite the fact that the show hasn't lived up to its first 2 seasons, it still has that early promise that was ever-present in the first two seasons. The fantastic performances of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are still there, as well as their chemistry with each other, and the talented writers are still there.
The writers simply have to return to its roots as a detective show and stop trying to go 'bigger' with each season. It is this constant need to make the following season better than the last that has turned the show into a spy thriller.
Don't: Overreliance on Moriarty
Despite the fact that the show killed off Moriarty in its second season, it continued to rely heavily on the character throughout its latter two seasons. The third season even ended with a cliffhanger that heavily implied the iconic villain was still alive, only for this to be an elaborate fake-out.
If the show needs Moriarty in order to be successful then perhaps we've seen enough from Sherlock, there are only so many fake-outs you can attempt with a long-dead character.
Need: Sherlock's Sister
While some didn't like the inclusion of Sherlock's sister in the fourth season of the show, it still certainly opened up a number of mysteries that would make for compelling future seasons of the show. The next season could even explore the character more, perhaps even offering something of a redemption arc for the character.
Sherlock's sister could even allow for more parallels to the first season, in which we had a more anti-social Sherlock prior to John Watson's introduction.
Don't: The Dracula Season Finale
While Dracula may appear to be unrelated to Sherlock, the two are actually connected. Not only does Dracula hint at its own version of Sherlock in its universe, but Dracula is also written by Doctor Who writers, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, the two writers behind Sherlock.
Much like Sherlock, though condensed into one season, Dracula showed early promise but then missed the landing completely. Perhaps, if Sherlock is to return, a new writing team may be in order.
Need: So Many More Arthur Conan Doyle Stories
Sherlock is heavily based on the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, though it simply updates the time and settings of the story. While the early seasons stuck to its Conan Doyle roots, the later seasons started to break away from its roots, making its own, modern stories.
It would be a breath of fresh air for a future season to return to the original stories, updating them for modern audiences. Tales like the Adventure of the Speckled Band would be perfect for a new episode.
Don't: The Final Season
While the earlier seasons do show that there is some fantastic about the series as a whole, the final season might hint that the show has run out of ideas creatively. Introducing stories and long lost siblings from Sherlock's past only serve to complicate the narrative and make the plot seem overly complex.
If another season is simply going to be a repeat of the final season, then perhaps a reboot may be in order. While this may require new actors to step into the role, it may lead to a more compelling TV series.
Need: Chemistry Of The Actors
One of the few things that remained consistent and compelling about Sherlock, regardless of the season, was the chemistry between Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. The performances of those two actors and how they interacted with each other were the driving force behind the success of the show.
Another season would allow fans to experience the amazing chemistry and performances of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman afresh.
Don't: Style Over Substance
One of the best things about the first few seasons of Sherlock was its incredible, movie standard visuals. This not only set the show apart from other detective shows but also set it apart from almost every other TV show airing at the time. However, towards later seasons, it appeared as though the show was prioritizing style rather than substance.
If the show is to continue with its trend of prioritizing the visuals rather than constructing a compelling plot, then season 4 should be its last season. The visuals should be there to further the plot, rather than replace the plot.