Confession: "The Sign of Three" is my favorite episode of Sherlock so far. I adore it. I've probably watched the ending more than a dozen times. My heart runneth over. Given all that, it might seem odd that I only gave it a B+. I did so because in grading it, I'm trying to distinguish between that which I love, and that which is good. That sounds snottier than I mean it to. How to explain?
While you have a perfectly lovely, well-behaved, beautiful dog, my dog is my favorite. Last night, your dog saved a life. That is awesome, but my dog is still my favorite, even though last night (true story, and hey there were circumstances beyond her control), she piddled on the front hall rug. A few hours later, Sherlock piddled on John and Mary's wedding, but he's getting a biscuit, anyhow.
Within the show, everyone (who matters to Sherlock) largely indulges Sherlock the savant. Likewise, I'm inclined to indulge Sherlock the series. I get three episodes every year or two. Sherlock feels like a good friend who I don't see nearly enough. He blows into town for a weekend during which I'm already overbooked. I squeeze him into my schedule because he's so dear. Doing so makes everything exponentially hectic. We don't get to see enough of each other, and I end up late for everything else on my calendar. Once he's gone, the weekend is over and I fall into bed, with his visit the clear highlight in my memory, even though he made everything more complicated. Reference "The Empty Hearse" recap and the opening scenes of "The Sign of Three." Where this show is concerned, I remain Lestrade.
As much as Sherlock benefits from running for a short season, then breaking for an overly long hiatus, it suffers from same. Witness "The Sign Of Three." All three writers -- Gatiss, Moffat and Thompson -- had a hand in penning it. Why? I imagine for their Sherlock, the significance of John and Mary's wedding (and, more so, marriage) cannot be overstated.
It seems to me the creative team has so many stories it wants to tell that it hand-waved the need to settle on one (or two, or three) and tried to cram in everything they'd give us, if they had six or seven episodes per year. Drunken stag do? Check. Quiet night at 221B? Check. A drunken case? Check. Sherlock cock-blocking, for John's benefit, an old suitor of Mary's who pines for her? Check. Everyone worrying about Sherlock giving an awkward speech? Check. A wedding speech so awkward even Sherlock realizes it? Check. But wait, it needs to be poignant. Does it tug the heartstrings? Check. Let's add a romantic coda to the speech, at the late night do. Check. A murder mystery that interrupts the speech? Check (at least it didn't interrupt the ceremony). A pregnancy surprise? Check. Is Sherlock finally ready to stop playing the odd man out, only to realize he is the odd man out? Check. In this meta season, if Sherlock is an avatar of the writers, perhaps they might admit that while they craft the story so that everyone indulges Sherlock, in the crafting of "The Sign of Three" those same writers (over-)indulged themselves, more than any of their characters (even Molly) ever indulges Sherlock.
Despite all that, "The Sign of Three" is warm, wonderful, and moving. It gave me everything I wanted and needed, and then some. Mary supports John and Sherlock's friendship. Sherlock supports John and Mary's love. In fact, he so desperately wants everything to be perfect for them that he both composes their wedding waltz, and watches YouTube videos on napkin origami. Were I to list everything I love about this episode, this paragraph would be longer than Sherlock's interminable wedding speech. (Isn't that right, Hudders?) I even loved most of the moments I think of as writerly indulgence.
I'll be back ASAP with the recap. In the meantime, please grade the episode at the top of the page, and then come on over to our new Sherlock forum where, unlike John, we know when you're fibbing.