Sherlock: Season Four

Episode 1 "The Six Thatchers" = 1 hour, 27 minutes, 44 seconds on PBSEpisode 1 "The Six Thatchers" = 1 hour, 31 minutes, 34 seconds on Blu-RayEpisode 2 "The Lying Detective" = 1 hour, 28 minutes, 24 seconds on PBSEpisode 2 "The Lying Detective" = 1 hour, 32 minutes, 17 seconds on Blu-RayEpisode 3 "The Final Problem" = 1 hour, 28 minutes, 20 seconds on PBSEpisode 3 "The Final Problem" = 1 hour, 32 minutes, 11 seconds on Blu-RayBlu-Ray/DVD has the uncut BBC version.My timings do not include the closing credits, which were longer on PBS Masterpiece.WARNING: EDITED VERSIONS ARE ALSO ON AMAZON VIDEOUnless there is a mistake in their listing, it would seem that Amazon Video downloads are the edited PBS versions:Episode 1 "The Six Thatchers" = "1 hour, 28 minutes" advertised on AmazonEpisode 2 "The Lying Detective" = "1 hour, 29 minutes" advertised on AmazonEpisode 3 "The Final Problem" = "1 hour, 28 minutes" advertised on AmazonSeason Four was the work of the same team that created the first three-and-a-half seasons:-- Written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, who are responsible for eleven of the thirteen episodes of "Sherlock" broadcast since 2010.-- All supporting characters return for Season Four:---- Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes---- Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade---- Una Stubbs as Mrs. Hudson---- Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan Watson---- Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper---- Andrew Scott as Moriarty (he just won't stay dead - this is not really a spoiler: Moriarty never stays dead. Basil Rathbone killed him off three times to no avail).Despite this pedigree, a lot of reviewers on Amazon hated Season Four, especially "The Final Problem"This is in contrast to the three previous seasons, which were greeted with Universal Rapture.Amazon Ratings (March 2017):-- Series 1 = 95% positive, 2% negative (4,700 reviews)-- Series 2 = 97% positive, 2% negative (3,500 reviews)-- Series 3 = 92% positive, 5% negative (2,500 reviews)-- Series 4 = 65% positive, 28% negative (186 reviews)-- Abominable Bride = 83% positive, 8% negative (400 reviews)[positive = four or five stars , negative = one or two stars (not many three star reviews for Sherlock)]-- No commentary tracks, but the Blu-Ray/DVD includes ten bonus features totaling 1 hour, 49 minutes, 25 seconds.-- All four-and-a-half seasons of "Sherlock" are English SDH subtitled for the hard-of-hearing.-- The first publicity photos for Season Four show new cast members Baby Watson and Toby the Bloodhound.Despite it's title, "The Final Problem" is the only one of thirteen "Sherlock" episodes not based (at least loosely) on a Conan Doyle story.The Season Four finale veered strongly in the direction of horror/science fiction.As an elderly gentleman, I prefer my mysteries straight.Nevertheless, as mystery/horror/science fiction, it was extremely well done.No regrets about giving the fourth season five stars.OBSCURE REFERENCES:There are a lot of references to the original stories.The most obscure one ever is @ 57:01 of Episode One "The Six Thatchers":Two Norwegian fishing boats are moored at a dock.Freeze the picture and zoom in.The boats are named "Flekkete Band" and "Lovens Manke" ("The Speckled Band" and "The Lion's Mane")Movie reference: In the 1970 Billy Wilder film "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes", a mysterious Belgian woman, Gabrielle Valladon, begs Holmes to find her missing husband.As part of the investigation, Sherlock and Gabrielle pose as husband and wife: "Mr. and Mrs. Ashdown"."Gabrielle Ashdown" is the alias on the forged passport used by Mary Watson in "The Six Thatchers".In the final scene, Holmes and Watson emerge from a building labeled "Rathbone Place".Rathbone Place is an actual street in LondonIt's been there since the Eighteenth Century, so it wasn't named after Basil.The building used in "Sherlock" is actually somewhere in Wales.Watch the bonus feature "Behind 221B The Final Problem":@ 21:45 you can see a woman gluing a "Rathbone Place" sign to the building.SPOILER - DON'T READ THIS PARAGRAPH UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE VIEWED THE FIRST EPISODE:The second biggest controversy seems to be the death of Mary Watson in Episode One.The TV writers are getting a bum rap here:It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's idea to kill her off.Watson met Mary Morstan (not an assassin/secret agent) in 'The Sign of Four' (published 1890).They married, and for the next several stories Watson moved out of 221B Baker Street.Readers were not happy.Conan Doyle noticed.By the time 'The Norwood Builder' was published (1903), it is revealed that Mary has passed away (off-stage) and Watson has moved back into 221B.---------------Sherlock: Season 1 [Blu-ray]Sherlock: Season 2 [Blu-ray]Sherlock: Season 3 (Blu-ray) (Original UK Version)Sherlock: The Abominable BrideSherlock: Season 4: REVIEWED ON THIS PAGESEASON FIVE?Guarded Optimism.I will let you know more when I find out more.See the first Comment (dated August 20, 2016) for the latest developments.Click on "sort by oldest"WEASELS:Six months after Season Three was released on Blu-Ray/DVD, The Season 1-3 Limited Edition Gift Set was released:Sherlock Limited Edition Gift Set (The Complete Seasons 1-3 Blu-ray/DVD Combo)In addition to tiny statues of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman,Season Three also included commentary tracks (not on the original Season Three Blu-Ray) for "The Empty Hearse" and "His Last Vow" (with Stephen Moffat and Martin Gattis).Plus an additional bonus disc of extras from Season Three.I assumed that BBC Home Entertainment would eventually issue a separate Season Three Deluxe Edition with all the commentaries and bonus features.After three years I am still waiting.All is not lost:-- The commentary tracks (audio only) are available on-line.You can synchronize them with your home video.-- Printed transcripts are also available.See Comment One, dated August 30, 2016 (click on "Sort by oldest").Soon we will be treated to a "Season 1-4 and The Abominable Bride Gift Set".What are the odds that those weasels at BBC Home Entertainment will include new commentaries for Season Four?And will they remember to include the commentaries for Season Three in the new gift box?Aargh.

Like this TV series a lot never owned it until now I found it on Blu-ray works great great shape

Who doesn't love Sherlock Holmes? Acting is superb and storyline is unique. Great Entertainment!!

Absolutely love this show.

Really like Sherlock

When Sherlock premiered in 2010 I had my doubts: how could the quintessentially gaslit, hansom cab and train riding detective and his faithful assistant possibly transfer to the 21st century with charm and suspense intact. It only took the first episode of the first season to convince me that not only could it be done, it was done in the classiest and most-faithful-to-Doyle's-original style possible. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were born to play Holmes and Watson in their 21st century incarnations, assisted by some of the cleverest scripts and cinematography available. Long may the series continue!Season 4 consists of three ninety minute episodes: The Six Thatchers, The Lying Detective, and The Final Problem. Astute students of Holmes will recognize the titles as take offs on Doyle's original titles. The three episodes are all interconnected, linked by a tragedy that occurs in the first and reverberates through the rest of the season. In this season we see much more of Sherlock's brother Mycroft as well as glimpses and hints of the rest of their family. We also see more of John Watson's own life, with his complex relationship to Sherlock holding center stage. The season is over all too soon, but there are hints dropped of future developments which leave us panting for more.Besides the three episodes this DVD set also includes a number of short bonus features, including tours of 221B, interviews with writers and cinematographers, and video diaries of the filming process. As in the episodes themselves, a lot happens very quickly, and it pays viewers to be alert and as keenly observant as Holmes himself while watching.

I wish they made more of this show but I know that the actors got super busy being big Marvel characters. Loved this show!

"Sherlock" has always been a series that makes you think, and it's one that you need to watch more than once to catch every clue. That's what I love about it. I see something new every time I watch it; and now that I've seen season 4, I'm going back and watching the earlier episodes to see what else I may have missed that would tie it all together with season 4. Season 4 is the climax for of the Moriarty arc of the Sherlock Holmes and John Watson story. As Mark Gratiss and Steven Moffat have pointed out in interviews, the first four seasons are a prequel to the Sherlock Holmes and John Watson of the Basil Rathbone movies or the Jeremy Brett's series of Sherlock Holmes. How did Sherlock and John become such good friends? What were they like as younger men? How did they meet, etc.? Season 4 is action packed and takes us all on a true emotional roller coaster ride. It has so many twists and turns in it that it always keeps you guessing. In the end, Sherlock finally realizes that it's his humanity that actually makes him strong. Not the absence of sentiment. I absolutely loved it! And I hope that they will be able to coordinate everyone's schedules soon to come back for a season 5. Because I would love to see where it goes from here. There will always be cases for Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to solve! And I can't wait to see them!