I agree with a lot of the criticism this episode received: it was unorthodox (not having a proper case/deductions and happening mostly in an island), the ending felt very rushed/convenient, plus Eurus being almost a supernatural being and yet another recording of Mary (though I get they were playing on the "miss me" and Moriarty).
However, other than that, I was really impressed and moved by this episode. I was just speaking with a friend the other day about favourite TV episodes and moments and we concluded that sometimes there are scenes that work in a certain way, a combination of the story, the acting, the music, it simply creates pure art. I immediately think of shows like Breaking Bad, Lost, Person of Interest, where some things just click and you are immersed in what you're seeing. This, to me, is Sherlock breaking that coffin when he reaches his breaking point, it is Moriarty's flashback entrance, it is Sherlock having to shoot someone and Mycroft getting ready to die... and probably my favourite here: Sherlock playing the violin with his sister, Eurus.
Most people don't consider that Eurus actually had a mental illness since she was born and did the things that she did because of it, her brain doesn't work like most of ours. That plane was her mind palace, which is chaos compared to what we've seen before, and she is so clever that what Sherlock said in the previous episode (doing things without knowing because he couldn't keep up with his brain at the time) seems to be a constant truth to Eurus, who is both preparing this cruel evil plan and suffering at the same time. It did feel like a bit of a stretch when she was simply in her room, but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes.
As for the backstory that was explained, I was pretty satisfied. It was already sad when we thought Redbeard was a dog, but it being Sherlock's best friend made it so dark that it explains better why he would have been traumatized and forgot all about this time of his life. Combined with the fact that it was the first riddle, the first "case" investigated by Sherlock that went unsolved, it explains a lot about his attitude regarding running around being a detective. And of course his best friend now, Watson (even regarded as family in this episode) was down the well. (Throwing the chain at him was lazy, I have to admit - it would have been better if the water had stopped falling and then we saw the police)
As for Moriarty, I never expected him to be alive. For a while I thought "the final problem" would be a posthumous case he prepared from beyond the grave, but this episode shows us that it was all Eurus. I don't appreciate baiting the audience like that (in particular with that intro, "I'm Moriarty, welcome to the final problem") but it was good to see him being Moriarty in that flashback entrance scene and I personally liked the presence he had in this episode, with his face haunting Sherlock, Watson and Mycroft on top of the already crazy situation they were involved in.
All in all, this might just be one of the best TV episodes I've seen. Perhaps it would have fit in better if we didn't have this "series finale" feeling and continuation was assured, because the jump to the final montage was rather quick... but I just really enjoyed it. I don't believe this is the end, though we might have to wait longer than usual for the east wind to come our direction again.
Review by Lucas MeloVIP 8BlockedParent2017-01-17T10:09:03Z
I agree with a lot of the criticism this episode received: it was unorthodox (not having a proper case/deductions and happening mostly in an island), the ending felt very rushed/convenient, plus Eurus being almost a supernatural being and yet another recording of Mary (though I get they were playing on the "miss me" and Moriarty).
However, other than that, I was really impressed and moved by this episode. I was just speaking with a friend the other day about favourite TV episodes and moments and we concluded that sometimes there are scenes that work in a certain way, a combination of the story, the acting, the music, it simply creates pure art. I immediately think of shows like Breaking Bad, Lost, Person of Interest, where some things just click and you are immersed in what you're seeing. This, to me, is Sherlock breaking that coffin when he reaches his breaking point, it is Moriarty's flashback entrance, it is Sherlock having to shoot someone and Mycroft getting ready to die... and probably my favourite here: Sherlock playing the violin with his sister, Eurus.
Most people don't consider that Eurus actually had a mental illness since she was born and did the things that she did because of it, her brain doesn't work like most of ours. That plane was her mind palace, which is chaos compared to what we've seen before, and she is so clever that what Sherlock said in the previous episode (doing things without knowing because he couldn't keep up with his brain at the time) seems to be a constant truth to Eurus, who is both preparing this cruel evil plan and suffering at the same time. It did feel like a bit of a stretch when she was simply in her room, but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes.
As for the backstory that was explained, I was pretty satisfied. It was already sad when we thought Redbeard was a dog, but it being Sherlock's best friend made it so dark that it explains better why he would have been traumatized and forgot all about this time of his life. Combined with the fact that it was the first riddle, the first "case" investigated by Sherlock that went unsolved, it explains a lot about his attitude regarding running around being a detective. And of course his best friend now, Watson (even regarded as family in this episode) was down the well. (Throwing the chain at him was lazy, I have to admit - it would have been better if the water had stopped falling and then we saw the police)
As for Moriarty, I never expected him to be alive. For a while I thought "the final problem" would be a posthumous case he prepared from beyond the grave, but this episode shows us that it was all Eurus. I don't appreciate baiting the audience like that (in particular with that intro, "I'm Moriarty, welcome to the final problem") but it was good to see him being Moriarty in that flashback entrance scene and I personally liked the presence he had in this episode, with his face haunting Sherlock, Watson and Mycroft on top of the already crazy situation they were involved in.
All in all, this might just be one of the best TV episodes I've seen. Perhaps it would have fit in better if we didn't have this "series finale" feeling and continuation was assured, because the jump to the final montage was rather quick... but I just really enjoyed it. I don't believe this is the end, though we might have to wait longer than usual for the east wind to come our direction again.