The news from Baker Street continues to roll in! Following the unexpected confirmation of a fourth series of Sherlock, we know now the title of the Mark Gatiss-penned opening episode of the third series: “The Empty Hearse.”
Following the show’s tradition of riffing on titles of classic Conan Doyle stories from the canon, “The Empy Hearse,” is undoubtedly a reference to “The Empty House,” a story which serves as a sequel to “The Final Problem,” and is the first story in the collected volume of what was later called The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
No word yet on guest characters who may appear, but any adaptation of “The Empty House,” will likely contain Moriarty’s right-hand man. In the story this is Col. Sebastian Moran, but who might it be in the show…? Speculate below!
[News via Sherlockology]
Moran was a sniper, and we had a glimpse of at least one expert marksman aiming at Watson in Season 2’s finale. However, while in original canon Mycroft is the only person who knows his brother is alive, the television series seemed to imply Sherlock entrusted his fate to Molly Hooper. Hypothesis: Mycroft does not know because there is a mole inside the British government that Sherlock must take down before revealing himself to the world. This person could be the sniper, or more likely an operative who controls a host of assasins, including the ones who took aim at Sherlock’s friends.
Regardless of whether Moran is in it, I just hope Moriarty stays dead, dead, dead. I’m tired of this series’ (and for that matter other Holmes series) obsession with the guy.
You’re wrong wrong wrong. Wrong. Moriarty is the best thing to every happen to Holmes canon, period. Also, Andrew Scott is my god now.
I think Moriarty and Reichenbach all happened too soon…
freakoutfemme @@.-@: To be fair, the Guy Ritchie version with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law only took two movies for the “Fall.” Its been quite a while since I read the stories so I can’t remember how soon Doyle introduced ‘The Final Problem.’ It is infuriating that it came at the end of the season and we have to wait so long for season 3 to come out.
slybrarian @2: Moriarty is an intriguing character and everyone wants to revisit him because he is Sherlock’s best match intelecually. Even Sherlock, the great-arrogant-one himself, admits this.
This particular Moriarty annoyed me too much. Not sure if that was the intent or not. He wasn’t very intimidating to me tho. I have read a few intervies with Moffat lately stating that he intends for Moriarty to stay dead, that he was never intended to be the super villian for the entire series, so, yay! (Hope its true.)
“Moriarty’s a one-shot deal in the original [books]. I don’t want [Sherlock] to turn into a show that’s about one villain and one hero. Moriarty was great because he was a surprise. Every time you bring him back he won’t be as big a surprise.”
For those interested, here is where I got the snippet about Moriarty.
http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s129/sherlock/news/a368827/sherlocks-steven-moffat-moriarty-wont-return.html
Just so the world knows, it has been confirmed that Moriarty indeed survived and Andrew Scott is indeed coming back. it has also been confirmed that we are to meet Sebastian Moran. Series 3 is going to hold a plethora of surprises and we must be prepared.
I just cant wait for this… Epic series for sure. 15. september is only 4 months from now so not to long :D