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Few characters are as iconic as Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Consulting Detective has received his fair share of adaptations, ranging from text-accurate, Victorian portrayals to looser interpretations set in the modern world. Though many have popped up over the last two decades, none has received as much attention as the BBC’s Sherlock.
Created by Doctor Who writing veterans Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock follows a modern-day Sherlock Holmes and his friend and roommate, Doctor John Watson, as they solve cases in 21st century London. The series, which premiered in 2009, is made up of four seasons of three ninety-minute episodes each, and one special New Year’s Day episode.
13 The Six Thatchers Tries To Do Too Much (7.6)
An investigation into a rotting corpse leads Sherlock to a mysterious man who has been breaking into houses and smashing copies of a particular Margaret Thatcher bust.
“The Six Thatchers” opens the fourth season of Sherlock with a literal bang in the form of Mary’s tragic death. It sets a mournful mood for the rest of the season successfully, but other than that, the episode fails at everything else it tries to offer. “The Six Thatchers” suffers from doing too much, converging three separate storylines in a way that makes the episode convoluted rather than clever.
12 The Blind Banker Doesn’t Stand Out (8.0)
While investigating the disappearance of a banker, Sherlock notices a strange cipher that keeps reappearing the deeper he goes into the case.
“The Blind Banker” is largely considered to be the least interesting episode of the first season. Its mystery is engaging enough, and the quick looks into John’s life and Moriarty’s influence are great, but the episode’s obvious dip in quality in comparison to the rest is too obvious to ignore. All in all, it functions as a bridge between the season premiere and finale, without contributing much to the show’s overarching plot.
11 The Abominable Bride Should’ve Been A Standalone (8.2)
Sherlock goes back to its Victorian roots in “The Abominable Bride,” a 2016 New Year’s Day special that follows Holmes and Watson as they investigate a ghostly bride looking for revenge.
The reveal that the entirety of “The Abominable Bride” happened inside Sherlock’s mind palace was received with mixed reactions. Fans tuned in to watch a standalone special between seasons and ended up with a continuation of the season three finale with so much terrible CGI and so many ridiculous twists that it makes the last half of “The Abominable Bride” completely unwatchable.
10 No Episode Is As Ridiculous As The Final Problem (8.2)
Now aware of his long-lost sister’s existence, Sherlock, John, and Mycroft are swept up in Eurus’s deadly game inside the maximum security facility, Sherrinford.
“The Final Problem” is as absurd as it is fascinating. The episode gets so ridiculous at times—especially when Euros’ trials cross the Saw and James Bond territories—that the viewer has no other option but to completely suspend disbelief to enjoy it. “The Final Problem” builds suspense well, but the last few minutes fail to bring a satisfying and compelling resolution to such an emotionally charged episode.
9 The Hounds Of Baskerville Is A Clever Adaptation (8.4)
In “The Hounds of Baskerville,” Sherlock and John travel to Dartmoor to investigate the possible existence of a huge, demonic dog that killed their client’s father decades earlier.
The episode takes on one of Sherlock Holmes’s most famous cases, updating it for modern audiences by introducing Baskerville as a top-secret government facility. While “The Hounds of Baskerville” does explore Sherlock’s shortcomings a lot more seriously than other episodes, it suffers from being a transition between “A Scandal In Belgravia” and “The Reichenbach Fall,” easily paling next to them.
8 A Study In Pink Started It All (9.0)
Recently invalided home from Afghanistan, Dr. John Watson joins Consulting Detective Sherlock Holmes to investigate a series of enigmatic suicides, including the death of a woman dressed entirely in pink.
“A Study In Pink” does a great job of introducing Holmes and Watson’s 21st century, much more relatable counterparts, Sherlock and John. Their dynamic is established easily, aided by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s undeniable chemistry, and the case of the murderous cabbie and his pills is interesting enough to keep amateur sleuths focused the entire time.
7 Sherlock Comes Back In The Empty Hearse (9.0)
As a terrorist organization plans to blow up the Houses of Parliament, Sherlock finally makes his way back to England after his supposed death.
“The Empty Hearse” had the difficult tasks of resurrecting the show alongside its main character, and explaining how Sherlock actually survived his deadly jump at the end of “The Reichenbach Fall.” The episode effortlessly accomplished the first one, thrusting the show into even bigger popularity than its previous seasons, but it struggled with the second to the disappointment of those who were expecting a clear resolution.
6 The Sign Of Three Is A Fan-Favorite (9.0)
Being John’s Best Man isn’t as easy as it seems. Not only does Sherlock have to organize a stag night and deliver a speech, but he also has to catch a killer who seems to be targeting a reclusive guest at the wedding.
“The Sign of Three” is a fan-favorite for its perfect blend of hilarious comedy, fabulous visuals, and genuine emotion. Funnily enough, despite the episode revolving around Mary and John’s wedding, “The Sign of Three” puts Sherlock and John’s relationship at the center, showing how they’re dealing with the changes to their friendship now that John will be a married man.
5 Moriarty Plays The Great Game (9.1)
After receiving a series of taunting messages that lead him from one mystery to another, Sherlock runs a race against time as he tries to stop Moriarty before it’s too late.
Jim Moriarty makes his stellar, on-screen debut in “The Great Game,” the first season finale. Andrew Scott’s portrayal of the character as a terrifying, slightly off-kilter mobster was praised by fans and critics alike, as it was completely different from other previous interpretations and made him a genuine threat to a 21st century Sherlock Holmes. “The Great Game” also raised the stakes for the entire series, which would continue to escalate in the following seasons.
4 The Lying Detective Is The Darkest Episode In The Show (9.2)
Struggling to cope with Mary’s death and John’s refusal to see him, Sherlock becomes obsessed with Culverton Smith, a well-known entrepreneur who has been accused of murder by his own daughter.
Sherlock faces one of his most frightening enemies in “The Lying Detective.” The episode is mostly led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Toby Jones’ fantastic performances, with the darkest plot in the series functioning as an effective backdrop for everyone’s character development. It’s easily the best episode of season four and has one of the most shocking endings with the revelation of Sherlock’s hidden sister, Eurus.
3 His Last Vow Is Full Of Plot Twists (9.3)
Having taken on a case involving several inappropriate letters, Sherlock gets involved in a nationwide conundrum as he comes face to face with Charles Augustus Magnussen, the Napoleon of blackmail.
Not only does “His Last Vow” have Lars Mikkelsen as an incredible, chilling villain, it also has enough twists to keep everyone’s jaw on the floor for its ninety-minute run. Mary’s true origins are revealed; Sherlock goes undercover, falls back into bad habits, and commits murder on camera; and John can’t seem to catch a break. Oh, and Moriarty is apparently back. “His Last Vow” is Sherlock at its best before its fourth season downfall.
2 Irene Adler Leaves Her Mark In A Scandal In Belgravia (9.5)
An investigation into professional blackmailer and dominatrix, Irene Adler, leads Sherlock and John into an affair of international proportions involving the CIA and the British government.
Sherlock meets his female match in “A Scandal In Belgravia.” The fan-favorite episode is beloved for its acting, visuals, and dialogue, and is widely considered to be the best episode of the show, as it represents Sherlock‘s great balance of drama and comedy perfectly. Lara Pulver received praise for her take on Irene Adler, which made her version of the character a favorite among fans of the series.
1 The Reichenbach Fall Is Iconic (9.6)
As Sherlock’s reputation is put into question, Sherlock and Moriarty finally confront each other and try to solve their final problem.
“The Reichenbach Fall” is as iconic as an episode can get. It skyrocketed the show’s popularity outside of the UK and incited several theories around Sherlock and Moriarty’s unexpected suicides towards the end of the episode. Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Martin Freeman’s acting and the relationships between their characters are the heart of “The Reichenbach Fall,” with Steven Thompson’s outstanding writing exploring the effect of Moriarty and Sherlock’s game on everyone around them.
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