With the new year comes an entirely new season of one of the Internet's favorite shows: Sherlock. The Emmy-winning British series will finally premiere its long-awaited Season 4 at the beginning of 2017 and everything points to this being the darkest season yet. Staying true to form, the mystery series is keeping its cards close to its chest, but the first episode of Season 4 recently screened for an audience in London. Benedict Cumberbatch himself was in attendance and explained to the lucky viewers that the rigid Sherlock will realize that his heart has grown a couple sizes since the show first began.
He is becoming slightly more... well, in a very clear way... responsible for his actions. But I think he understands that it's a slow, slow process that began in the very first instance when he met John [Doctor Watson], who supplies the missing piece of that jigsaw that is him. That friendship, that partnership in crime, has been the humanizing element all the way through [the three seasons], and I think he is now becoming more of a human-being.
That's what Benedict Cumberbatch shared about his character after the screening of "The Six Thatchers," the opening episode of Season 4, in London (via Variety). As one journalist at the screening put it, this basically translates into Sherlock being "slightly less of a dick" than when the series began. Sherlock has never been the nicest person around, never one to deal too deeply in sentimentality or basic human feelings. His friendship with Watson has always been the core of the series and though it hasn't exactly been a fast change, Sherlock is becoming more of a person because of him.
There could also be other elements leading to Sherlock's slowly growing humanity. This season will introduce Watson and Mary's baby and even Sherlock can't hate a baby. Plus, Sherlock will be working with a dog and the combination of babies and dogs is scientifically proven to make a person less of a dick.
Alternatively, being friends with Sherlock is affecting Watson in the opposite direction. Martin Freeman was also on hand for questions after the screening and he revealed that while Doctor John Watson is at is core a loyal and steadfast character, he is complicated and sometimes is at fault. As pointed out at the panel, Doctor Watson becomes "slightly more of a dick." So if you were worried that the being a dick quota would be lower in Season 4, don't be because Watson has got us covered.
Sherlock Season 4 will put Sherlock and Watson through the ringer as the ghost of Sherlock's past come back to haunt him. Toby Jones joins the show as a new antagonist with the possible return of Sherlock's arch-nemesis, Moriarty. The new season of Sherlock will air its first episode on January 1, on PBS. For more returning shows in 2017, check out our midseason premiere TV schedule.
