Note, this article may include possible spoilers for the new season of Sherlock.
Production on the highly-anticipated fourth season of Sherlock finally wrapped this year. Following the grim teaser trailer revealed at Comic-Con International: San Diego, and the first official images released recently, the wait for the new season has been increasingly difficult. Finally, it seems Sherlocked fans have their first clues of what to expect from the new season.
The first two episode titles for the upcoming three-installment fourth season have been revealed! For Sherlock alums the two titles, “The Lying Detective” and “The Six Thatchers,” may sound a bit familiar.
Clearly, “The Lying Detective” refers to Benedict Cumberbatch’s title character, but the episode is rumored to be a spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's story, “The Adventures of the Dying Detective.” This particular story saw Sherlock pretending to contract a fake illness in an effort to force a confession from an unstable murderer.
“The Six Thatchers” is also rumored to be based off one of Doyle's stories, in this case “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons,” in which Sherlock and Watson were investigating a murder linked to the destruction of six busts of the famous French military leader. However, the episode title could also suggest the vandalism is targeted toward Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's busts.
The third episode, which title was kept secret, is promising to be one intense episode! Recently, during a fan Q&A, Cumberbatch teased fans by saying “Oh boy you have got a lot coming to you in episode 3!” Now all there's left to do is wait. And wait. And wait.
Sherlock season 4 will premiere sometime in 2017.