Fun is a solid place to start with the episode, which brims with gags and outstrips even A Scandal in Belgravia for cheekiness. Mark Gatiss’ script offers up laugh after laugh, deftly arriving at punch lines via nods to canon and fandom both. Unlike The Empty Hearse’s immediate predecessor, laughter outweighs tears in the episode, though it’s worth saying that watching an episode of Sherlock in a theatre of excited fans acts as an amplifier for comedy: every tip of the hat to canon is met with applause and every punch line with a roar of laughter that muffles nuance. In a less thigh-slapping environment perhaps, the story’s quieter moments may well rise to the surface. At this stage, it’s easy to take for granted just how strong the casting and performances are in Sherlock, but it would be a disservice to do so. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are every inch Sherlock and John in The Empty Hearse, as if they’ve been kept in costume and in storage for the last two years instead of out and about headlining Hollywood’s biggest releases. Even in this, the week The Hobbit sequel is released, all Freeman has to do is stand in front of Sherlock’s gravestone, and it’s Bilbo who? Cumberbatch has only to put on that coat, and his beefier Star Trek Into Darkness counterpart evaporates. The variety packed in to the ninety minutes is both a boon – the thing moves along at a fair whack, at no point dips in energy – and a potential weakness. With more catching up, regrouping and track-laying to do than most episodes of Sherlock, there’s a sense perhaps that The Empty Hearse is a succession of good bits rather than a complete story. Highly enjoyable, cleverly constructed good bits it must be said (when the cast were asked to name their favourite scenes in the post-screening Q&A, there were so many to choose between that each one mentioned nudges you to think ‘Oh yeah, wasn’t that good?’), but a compilation all the same. A couple of elements may have contributed to that sense, the first being that The Empty Hearse sets up some mysteries to be solved in later episodes. A shadowy threat drives the action-thriller side of things, and it’s far too early for that villain to fully show their hand. The episode’s most important parts – its relationships and emotional stories – are affectingly realised, but there’s a to-be-continued when it comes to the action. As if there was any doubt then, Sherlock will return on New Year’s Day with every bit of the excitement and talent with which it went away. Welcome back to Baker Street, boys, you’ve been sorely missed. Sherlock returns on Wednesday the 1st of January at 9pm on BBC One and January 19th on BBC America. Come back afterwards to read our spoiler-filled review. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all news updates related to the world of geek. And Google+, if that’s your thing!
