Automated Attack Monkeys, Scalpel Mines, & Acid

The series so far, barring the gender-and-race-fail which is endemic in television (and which has been amply covered elsewhere - for example here and here), has been excellent. And yeah, I know that's a big thing to be barring, but...

The third and final episode wasn't as bad as the first two (especially not the second) for those things. What it was, was:

• beautifully written by Mark Gatiss, seamlessly slotting in clever references to the source materials with modern twists
• brilliantly directed, pulling the stylistic cues we had got used to from the first two episodes and swirling them around the story in a glorious work of art
• stunningly acted by the Martin Freeman and Benedict Frumious Bandersnatch, and indeed, most of the other actors. I particularly liked the blind old lady
• enjoyable from start to finish

Sure, it wasn't perfect. Nothing ever is. ( spoilery bits under the cut )

But aside from those minor and picky points, I really loved it. And Mycroft. Oh Mycroft. A character I have had a crush on since I first read his name in print. A character I crushed on even when he was played by a very elderly and rotund Charles Gray. And now played by a writer/horror geek/Who geek/actor I have a crush on anyway, and the guy who wrote this very fine episode...

Mystic SB foresees many fandom icons.

Just, you know, Grand Moff? Mr Gatiss? Sort out the gender-and-race-fail for next time. Please? Because then it would be perfect.

I really wish they had cast the gorgeous girl who plays the sergeant who calls Sherlock "freak" and whose name I forget because her character was clearly a tokenistic bolt-on as LeStrade. That would have been awesome.

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