The Televangelist: ‘Sherlock’ Season 2, Ep 1

• PBS
• Bros before hoes! ... Mostly

The BBC’s “Sherlock,” now blessedly airing on PBS, may be the most difficult series I have ever reviewed. Yes, more so than “Lost” or “Breaking Bad,” because “Sherlock,” with those infuriatingly short seasons, is concentrated London crack. Every line is a quote, every movement or gesture worth a mention, and all of it amid an intoxicating swirl of plots. Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson are so fantastically crafted and updated in their roles, and I even stand behind the more controversial casting and development of Moriarty and Irene Adler, because their “vibe” (if you will) meshes perfectly with the modern Holmes world that show runner Stephen Moffat has created.

And speaking of that emphasis on modernity, has their ever been a show that better incorporates technology? I have often praised “The Good Wife” for illustrating how our increasing dependence on smart phones, laptops, tablets and portable music devices shapes our world and our understanding of communication. Yes it’s something that will eventually date the show, but in the meantime it’s an extremely honest portrayal of how we interact with each other. Watson’s blog, Sherlock’s deerstalker hat going viral (a neat trick to explain the prevalence of that particular bit of his look throughout the various Sherlock incarnations), Irene’s dependence on her camera phone, everybody texting everyone else all the time - it feels very true, and, interestingly, a natural part of Sherlock’s world. But how interested are we in watching someone text someone else? In real life, the patience is almost nil. But what if all of the text was blown up in front of us. Much more interesting. And so “Sherlock” is able to incorporate technology in way that is not only believable but interesting. No small feat.

But I am getting way ahead of myself. Let’s back up to the end of Season One, where a breathless Mexican standoff with guns and explosives and a completely unhinged Moriarty left us unsure of what would happen with a Season Two (if there was to be a Season Two). “A Scandal in Belgravia” picked up exactly where things were left off, with the result being that Moriarty had received a phone call that distracted him enough to allow Sherlock and Watson to live. Because who is the Joker without Batman? Moriarty needs a playmate, someone he can tangle with, and there is no one in the world worthy of it more than Sherlock Holmes.