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BBC's Sherlock is the reimagination of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective novel series.
It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the genius detective and Martin Freeman as his loyal sidekick, Dr. Watson. The show isn't your typical adaptation, which features a pipe-puffing detective solving crimes; instead, he is a high-functioning sociopath with a knack for solving mind-bending cases.
From locked-room cases to villains who claim to read minds, Holmes dealt with each impossibility with wit and grace. He, along with Dr Watson, tricked every trickster, foiled every plan, and solved every mystery that came their way. But now and then, came a case that would even make Sherlock scratch his head.
The twists in these cases left fans reeling and questioning the very fabric of reality. Some episodes might let you pat yourself on the back for cracking the cases early on, while others will have such audacious revelations that will make you switch off the TV and stare into oblivion.
The most mind-bending cases on Sherlock, ranked
When it comes to mystery and thriller, nothing boggles the mind like BBC's Sherlock TV series, the modern-day reinvention of the legendary detective series. And this time, the thing that makes the TV series unforgettable isn't just Benedict Cumberbatch's charm but the cases themselves.
The twisted, layered, and borderline impossible-to-crack cases dare the viewers to play detective, only to knock the legs out from under them at the very last second. Sherlock is a master at transforming logic into spectacle and turning "whodunnits" into "how is that even possible?"
Here are some mind-bending Sherlock episodes that put the M in mystery and will leave you gasping for air.
1) A Study in Pink (Season 1, Episode 1)
The first episode of the first season sets the foundation for everything that is to come. The episode follows a series of apparent suicides across London that seem unconnected, that is, until Detective Holmes shows up and identifies a pattern. In the end, the culprit is identified as a cab driver who loved forcing his passengers into playing a deadly game.
He would pull a Morphius from Matrix and offer them two pills, one harmless, one lethal. The most chilling part about the cases is that they don't involve any high-tech weaponry or complicated master plans. It is just plain coercion and the power of persuasion.
2) The Great Game (Season 1, Episode 3)
The Great Game was a great episode for two reasons: one, the storyline, and the other, Jim Moriarty. The episode introduced Sherlock's equal and opposites, as well as one of the greatest TV villains of all time. Instead of a single crime, the episode sees Holmes race against time as he tries to solve a chain of puzzles, each tied to an innocent civilian who is threatened by explosives.
Moriarty goes through all this trouble to test Holmes's wit and brilliance. Their final standoff at the pool becomes the basis of a long-standing rivalry that would soon become legendary. More than the mystery, the scale of this episode keeps Holmes and the viewers on their toes.
3) A Scandal in Belgravia (Season 2, Episode 1)
A Scandal in Belgravia is the TV adaptation of A Scandal in Bohemia, one of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The case begins with Holmes and Watson being tasked with retrieving compromising photos of a female member of the Royal family - Irene Adler.
However, the case soon evolves into international espionage, involving government codes and political blackmail. Irene outwits Holmes, and his sweet revenge when he uncovers the mystery in the end is the cherry on top.
4) The Reichenbach Fall (Season 2, Episode 3)
The episode was inspired by Sir Conan Doyle's short story The Final Problem. When plans to defeat Holmes become mundane for Jim Moriarty, he changes tactics and decides to go after his reputation. The evil genius decides to orchestrate multiple robberies at some of Britain's most secure locations and frame Holmes for it, and weaponize public opinion against him.
After being caught by Moriarty in a dilemma and in a desperate attempt to clear his name and save his friends, Holmes takes matters into his own hands and "commits suicide."
5) His Last Vow (Season 3, Episode 3)
In his episode, Sherlock is against media mogul and "king of blackmail" Charles Augustus Magnussen. Magnussen is known for manipulating governments and people by collecting their secrets and hiding them in his vault. Lady Elizabeth Smallwood recruits Holmes to recover stolen letters written by her husband.
The turning point comes when Holmes learns that the vault only exists in Magnussen's mind. The stakes are raised when Holmes discovers that Watson's wife, Mary, was a former assassin. In the end, Holmes kills Magnussen to protect Mary and Watson, despite knowing this could result in his downfall.
6) The Abominable Bride (Special Episode)
The Abominable Bride is a special episode that premiered on January 1, 2016, and is inspired by two of Sir Conan Doyle's stories, The Five Orange Pips and The Final Problem. Set in Victorian-era London in the 1890s, the episode follows Holmes and Watson as they investigate the eerie case of Emilia Ricoletti.
Emilia Ricoletti is the infamous 'Abominable Bride,' carrying out a murderous rampage even after her apparent death. Eventually, it is revealed that the case is actually occurring inside Holmes' drug-induced mind. He figures it out and learns that he needs to solve the case to wake up in the present world.
7) The Final Problem (Season 4, Episode 3)
Just as the series started with a bang, it ended with one too. The Final Problem, the series finale, was a nail-biter. After encountering various challenges and mysteries throughout the series, the last one proved to be the most brutal as Holmes finds out that he has a sister.
Eurus Holmes, Sherlock and Mycroft's brilliant sister, who had her brothers' intelligence but no emotion, had been locked away for her sociopathic abilities. She escapes the prison and forces John, Mycroft, and Sherlock to go through deadly trials. In the end, Holmes connects with his sister through understanding, and the torture ends.
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The best part of Sherlock isn't how creatively the makers have recreated Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories; it lies in how brilliantly they hook the audience to their stories. Whether it's Jim Moriarty, Irene Adler, or Eurus Holmes, the series reminds the fans that the mystery does not lie in hidden clues and encrypted codes. Instead, it's the people and their love for deception that make cases unforgettable.
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