Let’s take a look back at all 13 episodes of Sherlock so far, ranked from worst to best…

 

9. ‘The Final Problem’

Flashes of brilliance do not help save the fact that this story, though entertaining and nail-bitingly gripping in places, is terribly messy, and sadly Sian Brooke is wasted on a rather one-note portrayal of Euros Holmes.

 

8. ‘The Six Thatchers’

Boasting some very strong aspects, such as a musing on predestination and free will, the sharks and skulls being used as memento mori, and Rachel Talalay’s direction, Season 4’s opener nonetheless gets a little bogged down in Mary’s super-spy past and the slight melodrama of her self-sacrifice.

 

7. ‘The Great Game’

As we move into the upper tier of Sherlock stories we reach ‘The Final Problem’ done the first time – and done better. Moriarty’s evil mind games with Sherlock provided a suitably thrilling conclusion to that still-iconic first season.

 

6. ‘A Study in Pink’

Too low a placing for some, no doubt, and the series’ first-ever episode probably still remains one of its most iconic, successful and effective. The only thing holding it back from a higher placing is slight lack of ambition and thematic interest in comparison to some more developed later efforts.

 

Continued on next page…