The first trailer for Sherlock season four dropped at its panel today at the fourth and final day of San Diego Comic-Con 2016. Almost immediately, it became clear to fans that there would be no more games played in this show that could balance both witty humor and shadows in the same triple-set of ninety-minute episodes.
“Something’s coming,” says Sherlock, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. “Maybe it’s Moriarty, maybe not. But something’s coming.” Of course, the opening clip was a flickering message from the psychopathic villain played by Andrew Scott, so that’s really up to fans to decipher.
The video made it extremely clear that the likes of Moriarty, who of course once threatened to skin a person (that person turning out to be Irene Adler) alive in season two, might not be the most dangerous piece of this season’s puzzle after all. It seems as though Sherlock, though having been put on a plane for shooting a man to death, has been brought back by a possible government type to handle an imminent danger. He speaks gravely to John Watson (Martin Freeman) about what they’re going to do, and from that, fans see Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey) screaming that whatever’s happening is not a game. Even Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs), who has always been a more kindly figure to her family types in the past (though she absolutely murdered her husband), is shown venomously throwing Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft (Mark Gatiss), out of her house. Even a horror-movie-like band of nurses march towards Sherlock, who for once, shows fear on his face. It does not seem like a good time.
To describe the abyssal-seeming season to come, Cumberbatch said that it will be, “a real emotional roller coaster.”
Gatiss, who is also executive producer, added, “with jokes.” At least, as dark as things may become, it will still be witty Sherlock.
But on the topic of what Sherlock will become, show-runner and fellow executive producer Steven Moffat told fans that he would be “mildly surprised” if this season would be the end to it all. Therefore, thankfully, it is unlikely that as dangerous as things become, Sherlock and John will likely not be facing certain mortality next year. On the other hand, nothing seemed certain.
Moffat regardless put rumors that had been largely circulating due to his own interviews with the press to rest. He confirmed at the panel that he and Gatiss both had no plans to halt the show after its fourth season, but of course, there is the schedule of Cumberbatch and Freeman to consider. But then again, that’s what one-to-three-year hiatuses are far, right?
Chris Hardwick of the Nerdist podcast, who moderated the event, did at least nudge the creators to reveal something. Three words were given, three clues to hold the fans over until the season airs in 2017: Thatcher, Smith, and Sherrinford.
Thatcher, of course, could easily be former Prime Minister of the UK Margaret Thatcher. After all, it seems as though the British government once again is going to try and intertwine itself with Sherlock to see national action done, so perhaps one of the most influential British politicians of all time might not be too far off. For “Smith,” well, there are millions of Smith options to wonder about.
As for “Sherrinford,” anyone who’s had the wherewithal to consume the original Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes books will know automatically that “Sherrinford” was initially going to be Sherlock’s name. What that has to do with the modern BBC take will be revealed next year, it seems.
Without forgetting Mary, as Amanda Abbington was sitting on stage with her fellow co-star, it seems as though there will be a place for the secret femme fatale in the new year. Gatiss brushed a broad stroke, however, regarding her future, saying that “things get resolved and there are evolving relationships.”
Everything will be revealed in 2017, as Moffat and Gatiss are usually unlikely to reveal anything without heavily toying with the mind first. You can watch the trailer below.