SHERLOCK IS BACK AND HERE'S OUR REVIEW AND RUNDOWN ON EPISODE 1 OF SERIES 4!!

Sherlock returns with a tale of hidden lives and political busts in The Six Thatchers, setting a surprising stage for a darker series to come.

Despite the flip-flopping mind bending teases of Moriarty’s return following last year’s historical mind palace special, The Abominable Bride, the first episode of series four switches focus to a more personal story between the changing lives of Sherlock, John Watson and wife, Mary.

Picking up following Sherlock shooting Magnussen in the head at the end of series three, the detective is quickly let off the hook and thrown back into his usual whirlwind day-by-day antics of cynically, and hilariously, reeling through cases with barely any effort via rampant texts from his mobile.

It isn’t long before seemingly minor cases form a bigger picture however, with a bust of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher concealing another USB stick of secrets from Mary’s former life as an assassin – one of which you’ll remember husband John previously burned back in series three to eradicate the history of her dangerous former life.

The central narrative thrust focuses on these assembling past faces surrounding Mary, and while it’s a perfectly serviceable tale despite lacking the usual twists and turns, The Six Thatchers successes lie in the character surprises which build to Mary’s heartbreaking death over the actual ‘case’ itself.

John Watson seen playing away with another woman was one unexpected surprise which shocked the shit out of me, especially considering he’s the voice of reasoning in Sherlock’s crazy and complicated world. He may have called the romance off, but in the wake of Mary’s death and his current hatred for Sherlock, we wouldn’t be surprised if his emotional downfall sparks even darker things to come for John’s character.

While the climax indicates our rag-tag duo might be in for a grueling time this series, the episode also managed to cram in some of it's usual cutting humour and rapid fire zingers – the introduction of a certain useless pooch being one hilarious standout who will hopefully see the light of a day again in the coming episodes.

The Six Thatchers might not have been an enthralling detective case to rival The Reichenbach Fall, but it was a hilarious, crucial, heartbreaking episode which has twisted the show into exciting territory. As the death of Mary hangs over Sherlock’s shoulders with John in a downward spiral – we can’t wait to see how the show will twist the knife once Toby Jones’ villain Culverton Smith enters the fray.

All in all it was a great episode especially as we have all missed the antagonist that is Sherlock, but truthfully it lacked some of its original humour and felt a little rushed, and in a brutal way I'm kind of glad that that mary is gone she wound the life out of me but in the wake of this tragic death could come some epic storytelling with a dose of extra darkness.

Also before I forget did you catch the brief mention to Sherrinford Holmes aka Sherlock and Mycroft’s older brother at the tail-end? Yep, we’re freaking out too.