Sherlockis a BBC series that follows the story of Sherlock Holmes, a genius detective who solves the most difficult cases alongside his best friend and partner John Watson. Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’sSherlock Holmesdetective stories,Sherlockbrings a new modern twist to the beloved genius detective. The show was subject to commercial and critical success, earning it a number of awards, including a total of nine Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. The series ran from 2010 to 2017 and has left behind a staggering legacy thanks to performances from Martin Freeman who played John Watson and especiallyBenedict Cumberbatch.
Cumberbatch gained a dedicated fan-base thanks to his performance inSherlock. This helped him land roles in big films like that of Alan Turing inThe Imitation Gameas well as the coveted Dr. Stephen Strange in the MCU, getting his own solo filmDoctor Strangeand the upcoming sequelDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While he’s managed to really make a name for himself thanks to the MCU, his award-winning performance inSherlockis what started it all. In fact,Sherlockcreators are eagerto move forward with season five, though nothing concrete has yet been established.As we await further news a possible new season, oreven aSherlockmovieexpanded from the TV show, here’s a look back Benedict Cumberbatch’s best moments in the BBC series.
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7Sherlock Shoots Magnussen (Season 3, Episode 3)
One of the most despised characters over the course of the entire series is Charles Augustus Magnussen, whose crude disgusting behavior was unmatched by any other. While Magnussen insists that the pair have no way out of their predicament, Sherlock soon realizes the only way to protect John, Mary, and himself from Magnussen is to permanently wipe the smirk off his face. Sherlock shoots Magnussen in the head in front of security and his brother Mycroft. While this highlights Sherlock’s tendency to be chaotic good, it also displays his willingness to do anything in his power to protect the ones he loves, undermining his selfish tendencies.
6The Phone Call (Season 2, Episode 3)
In one of the most memorable episodes in the series, Sherlock calls John Watson from the top of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital after Moriarty told Holmes that all his friends would die if he didn’t kill himself. Holmes’ emotional goodbye brought tears to many eyes as Sherlock deems himself incompetent and that Watson should spread the word of his failures. This occurs before Sherlock promptly jumps off the roof of the hospital. This is possibly one of the best moments in the series as the phone call between Holmes and Watson brings out the true nature of their friendship, only adding to the gravity of Sherlock’s actions.
5Buckingham Palace (Season 2, Episode 1)
One of the most beloved scenes bySherlockfans is the Buckingham Palace scene. Sherlock Holmes is brought to the residence of the British monarchy and is asked to take on a case on behalf of the royal family. While this may seem ordinary enough, what makes this scene so great is that Sherlock was dragged from his flat in nothing but a bedsheet and was not given any clothes. John and Sherlock laugh at the absurdity of the fact that he is indeed naked in the royal palace. This laughable moment brings out the potential silliness of the series in contrast with many of the darker scenes.
4Holmes & Watson Meet (Season 1, Episode 1)
One of Cumberbatch’s best moments as Sherlock Holmes is when he meets Watson for the first time. Similar to how they are introduced in the original novelA Study in Scarlet, John and Sherlock are introduced by a man named Stamford, who believes they would make good roommates. From the start, Sherlock deduces a lot about John and his habits based on his mere appearance. Just before leaving the room, Sherlock introduces himself and shoots out a wink. Cumberbatch managed to bring Holmes’ charm out immediately, setting up both Watson and the audience for an amazing journey.
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3The Stag Night (Season 3, Episode 2)
While some would consider this scene to be a little too much fan service, the stag night is a fan favorite among many as John and Sherlock get completely wasted before John’s wedding. After visiting as many pubs as possible, the pair wind up back at 221B, lying on the stairs and wind up playing the Rizla Game. The stag night quickly turns into work as the pair attempts to solve a case for a woman that believes she is dating a ghost before ending up in the drunk tank before Inspector Lestrade comes to release them. This is a perfect example ofSherlock’s versatility to be able to go from deeply emotional moments to the comedic moments between the main characters as they drunkenly bicker.
2Sherlock’s Mind Palace (Season 3, Episode 3)
It’s undeniable that Cumberbatch’s acting shines throughout the entire series, but some moments stand out more than others. One of his best performances can be traced back to when Sherlock enters his mind palace to find Moriarty already there. At this point, Moriarty plays with Sherlock in his own mind, expressing how much Holmes is letting Watson down by dying and how Sherlock won’t be able to protect him anymore. This goading by Moriarty in his mind gives Holmes the power to come back to life. This performance from Cumberbatchearned him an Emmyfor his performance, as the entire scene gives us a glimpse into the mind of Sherlock Holmes.
1The Best Man Speech (Season 3, Episode 2)
Thanks to the strong bond between Watson and Holmes, Holmes does manage to be a decent Best Man, even providing the wedding party witha heart-warming speech. While most would expect Holmes to turn the speech into something about himself, it is in fact an endearing speech dedicated to John and how much Holmes admires him. One of the best quotes from the speech is “John, I am a ridiculous man, only redeemed by the warmth and constancy of your friendship.” After Sherlock finishes his speech, the two tear up and share an embrace, establishing the true bond between friends established through their adventures. Benedict Cumberbatch manages to show Holmes’ soft side here, and rather than have him be his overly witty self who can’t take anything seriously, Holmes manages to pull himself together and express himself at John’s wedding.
