Sherlock series 3 has come and gone and we are still left wanting more.

So within the space of 10 days we have gorged on Sherlock and are left with nothing. Nothing but a feeling that we kinda want a little bit more. 

With everyone wanting to know how Sherlock survived his fall, there were always people who were going to be unhappy with the outcome. But did we actually get an outcome? Whether it was explained truthfully or not may never come out but what an energetic start to "The Empty Hearse." Any explanation that involves Derren Brown will always be a winner to me. 

As usual Martin Freeman steals most of the scenes with his quiet presence, but this series it seems Sherlock was more up for a laugh. The second episode "The Sign of Three" may have been a bit more hit and miss but it was funny and terribly sweet at one point. Benedict Cumberbatch has been nothing short of perfect again this series. 

To round off the series we had the big bad in the shape of Lars Mikkelsen and shocks plus twists galore. Like an actual snake Lars Mikkelsen was one person Sherlock actually hated. He even had his own “Mind Palace” of sorts, full of interesting facts at the ready to blackmail people. We also had the reveal that Mary has a secret past that could jeopardise her future with John. John however only wanted to look forward, considering she was pregnant was probably the best idea. 

Of course it wouldn’t be Sherlock without a twist, as if killing a man wasn’t one enough, we also had the revelation that Moriarty just might be alive. He was a great villain for Sherlock so this could be a stroke of genius. Steven Mofatt has said his appearance was not a last minute whim and that series 3 and 4 have been mapped out. That’s surely a good sign. Fans were gutted when he (seemed to) kill himself at the end of the last series. Lets just hope we don’t have to wait another 2 years for the next episode. 

Miss you? Yes we did. 

Random Thoughts

• Licking someone's face is completely repulsive Mr. Magnussen.

• Was it just me who thought it was completely brilliant when Sherlock had a girlfriend? He was pretty bad to her though, even by his standards. 

• So we have YET MORE CONSPIRACY THEORIES to enjoy till the show comes back. Great.

• "I've only been gone 4 minutes."

• Not sure how to feel about Mary and her double life. It will surely come up again in the future. 

• Sherlock’s parents. Amazing.

• Benedict Cumberbatch has a real flair for comedy, the guy is funny.

My Year In TV 2012: Byrd, Baker Street and Big Red Balls

My Year in TV contains basically a hell of a lot of reality TV, a Judge, a game show I thought I'd fallen out of love with and everyone's favourite fictional detective. Oh, and zombies. And throw in a funny family too.

My TV year was basically ruined right at the beginning. We were spoiled with Sherlock. Only 3 episodes long, but these mini movies put to shame almost anything else on TV this year. Well written, brilliantly acted and what a cliff hanger. The only problem with it was I wanted more. We are probably looking at the end of the year till we see Sherlock surface, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are pretty busy in Hollywood at the moment, but when Sherlock and Dr Watson do return we are in for one hell of a show. If Benedict isn't a complete out and out total movie star by the end of the year I'll eat my deerstalker.

While Sherlock may have had it's dark moments it was overall pretty fun. That can't be said about my next TV choice The Walking Dead. A show that just gets better and better. You can see the characters actually evolving and it makes the show oh so much better for it. In the best story line of the comics (in my opinion) we have Rick and the group meeting the Governor. And how great is David Morrissery? Who'd have thought? My favourite member of the group is Daryl though. Would anyone have guessed he would have turned into someone so important and awesome at the same time. A little mid season break for season 3 just makes me even more excited for the return.

Let's look at comedy for a moment and for me the only show that is nearly perfect is Modern Family. 30 Rock is past it's best and while How I Met Your Mother, New Girl and The Big Bang Theory are still pretty solid Modern Family is just smile-some. It's one of those shows that won a bag load of awards but took me a while to get round to it. Best DVD I bought this year was the first series. Phil is without doubt my favourite character on the show. A loving husband and great dad, and most importantly funny too. Nobody is dead weight in this series though, go check it out if you haven't yet.

Something which I wasted much of my year on and that I can happily sit and watch for hours is Judge Judy. Even though these episodes are from 10 years ago. This women literally takes no shit off of anybody. And who doesn’t love Byrd, her loyal bailiff. It’s great when he stands in between the plaintiff and the defendant as if these people might actually come to blows, this isn’t Jerry Springer! Not yet anyway. Seriously, you can't lie to her, she knows everything. "THAT'S BALONEY!" "Sounds like a lot of 'Who shot John?'" "You know how I can tell you're lying to me? YOUR LIPS MOVE!!" "'Umm' is not an answer!!" She's a grandmother don't you know. And totally terrifying.

And on to a show I thought I was over. There's just something about those big red balls and people getting smacked in the mouth with a wall that I love. Ladies and gentlemen I am, of course, talking about the majestic and mighty Total Wipeout USA. Another show where I love the hosts; the 2 Johns John Anderson and John Henson, are a great team. I'm not sure but think Anderson might be a proper sports pundit. Or maybe that's what he wanted to be. I know I shouldn't laugh but I do and frequently. There's just something very funny about people getting whacked in the face or seeing what the Johns like to call the scorpion move. That's basically when a contestant has their legs bend so far back they reach their head. Wipeout indeed.

I can't go without mentioning some reality TV. It's been an average year for the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. The Voice started off well but went down hill from there. Only I'm A Celebrity was constantly entertaining, mostly for Ant and Dec, and even The Apprentice suffered from some fatigue. TOWIE nearly finished it's self off with the truly horrendous Live show (Never. Again.) but got back to it's strange self with the Essexmas episode. Just about. 

Looking forward to this year we've got the return of Arrested Development, more Sherlock, Celebrity Big Brother and hopefully some great reality TV. Splash! sounds like something straight out of ITV2. I look forward to it. 

I've Just Remembered It Was Benedict Cumberbatch's Birthday Yesterday!!

Benedict Cumberbatch turned 36 yesterday so in celebration, here's a lovely photo.

I can't wait for Star Trek 2, The Hobbit, Parade's End and of course, lots more Sherlock. Loads to look forward to for fans of The Batch (nobody calls him that really).

Review of National Theatre Live's Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature

The National Theatre have been putting on encore screenings of Frankenstein, Danny Boyle's take on the Mary Shelly classic. I watched the version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein.

My Year in Books- 3 Months in

At the beginning of the year I set myself a target of reading a book a week. I wanted to read some classics which I think I really should have read more of; maybe some Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen. I also wanted to read some Sherlock books, more of Philippa Gregory, Game of Thrones among many others and some great suggestions from Twitter. So we're on week 10 and I'm quite chuffed to say I've read 12 books. I've read 4 thrillers, 3 Sherlock Holmes books, a couple of girly reads and a picture book (I think that counts), among others.

I've already talked about Sweet Valley Confidential (which I HATED, just in case you wanted to know). I loved Caitlin Moran's book How To Be A Woman; brilliantly funny and very honest. I laughed out loud most of the way through it. It's on my other half's "to read" pile especially after I told him about what she used the word "China" for.

Finally got round to reading Jurassic Park. Anyone who knows me knows it's my favourite ever film so there wasn't really much excuse for me not to have read it. It was great, quite different in places and book John Hammond isn't as lovely as Richard Attenborough's John Hammond but it's still a great read. I'm allowed to say I prefer the film though, right?

The Sherlock Holmes books have been fun, easy reads too. Made me wish I had read them earlier. Watching RDJ and Benedict Cumberbatch's versions make me feel like I know some of the stories already so that probably helps.

With some of the other books that have turned into films; the problem I had was that I remember the film's ending so vividly I end up waiting for certain things to happen. Gone, Baby, Gone was one that really suffered from this. The end of the film is strong, I knew most of the story was just empty build up. A great book it's just I remembered too much of the film.

Philippa Gregory really has a beautiful way of bringing history come alive. Highly recommend trying some of her books, I'd start with The Other Boleyn Girl and try the rest of the Tudor Court novels.

Also I've read a couple of Charlaine Harris' new herorine Lily Bard. The stories are set in the town of Shakespeare (I know, just go with it) and are more crime than supernatural. In fact, if you're looking for more vampires and werewolves and fairies you're best off with Sookie. But if you're willing to try another girl, you won't be disappointed. Quick and easy to read, they are perfect holiday reads. The books are called Shakespeare's... And range from Landlord to Trollop. Interesting, no??

One other book I wanted to mention was the amazingly fantastic picture book, I Want My Hat Back. Go into Waterstones, find it and buy it. Any kids book that has a character going red with rage is going to be alright with me.

My to-read list for the next quarter:

• A Charles Dickens book, probably Great Expectations.
• Start, and hopefully this time finish, Game Of Thrones.
• Pick up something totally random just because the cover is nice.

Englishman (Sherlock) in New York

So it was announced yesterday that Jonny Lee Miller would star in the much talked about CBS pilot Elementary. We’ve already had Sue Vertue, producer of BBC’s Sherlock (and wife of Stephen Moffat) say that she is “extremely worried” about another modern take on the famous detective. She’s got a point, it had been a little while since there have been any Sherlock adaptations then 2 come along at once in the shape of Robert Downey Jr.’s Hollywood vehicle then the slick and ultra modern BBC version with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Holmes and Watson the BBC version. 

In some bizarre “circle of showbiz” (as I’m going to call it) Jonny Lee Miller starred along side Benedict Cumberbatch in the National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein, where each night they played alternate roles of Victor and the monster. Again, Sue Vertue has been quoted as saying that Jonny Lee Miller is a “very fine actor” but says “Let’s hope their pilot script has stayed further away from our Sherlock than their casting choice.” I wonder what Benedict thinks of it all.

It seems a bit unfair to lambast a show before anyone has even seen a pilot and I know I will at least watch that. The thing about the BBC version is that it seems such an obvious choice, setting it in modern day London and one I can’t believe hasn’t been done before. He is quintessentially British though so having him as an American (I assume) will be odd. But if you are going to have the world’s most famous detective star in another show, you could be in worst cities than New York. The thing the BBC version has going for it is the lack of fog and horse drawn carriages plus the amazing casting of Benedict and Martin Freeman as Watson. No word on the casting of Watson yet but that will be just as important as Sherlock.

I had reservations about the BBC version. I thought they were just jumping on the band wagon of Guy Ritchie’s film but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I also thought the score was VERY similar (although I’ll happily admit I prefer the BBC version).

Holmes and Watson the Hollywood version. 

There is a place in the world for both RDJ and Benedict’s Sherlocks. RDJ is fantastic as an eccentric Sherlock, a lot more likable and maybe slightly easier to get on with but he still likes to show off. Benedict’s Sherlock is a lot harder to like first off. He takes his time to soften; very much a loner he doesn’t realise it automatically that he actually appreciates having Watson around. But that’s just scratching the surface of each actors’ performance.

They are two quiet different takes on the same character but they complement each other really well. I just don’t know if there’s room for a third Sherlock Holmes in as many years.

Well, there was that The Asylum version...