2.2 The Hounds of Baskerville

Synopsis:

Sherlock is starving for a case, when a young man arrives : 20 years ago, he saw his father die, killed by a monster, a "gigantic hound", as far as he can recall. Now, the monster may have come back, where all happened, in Baskerville. But there is a high-security military base nearby, performing genetic experiments, which could have a responsibility in this mystery.

The force of this episode rely on emphasising human behaviours and doubts, more than the "fantastic" point of view. Russel Tovey, who performs Henry Knight, is excellent ! Sherlock, really scared -for once !- and under pressure, shows his dark side. He may behave cruelly, even with his best friend. After harsh words ("I have no friends"), he barely makes excuses ("I have only one"), and straightaway manipulates John, using him as a subject for an experiment about fear. 
But there are also funny moment, and some of the best "domestics" between Sherlock and John. Highly stimulated, Sherlock is more eccentric than ever. Even John seems lost : "Did you break into a military base to investigate a [lost] rabbit ?".
It may be my favourite episode (expecting series 4).

My favourite moments :

• Amazing views of Dartmoor's beautiful, magic landscapes !
• Excellent dialogs between Sherlock and John.
• Benedict Cumbercatch's most impressive fast line ! (more than 300 intelligible words in 1 mn)
• A touching Henry Knight, strong and fragile altogether.
• The arrival of Lestrade, so "beau gosse".

What do we learn ?

• Sherlock can experiment doubt, when he cannot trust his own senses. But he still trust his own judgement : "once you have ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true".
• John and Greg make an allusion to Sherlock Asperger's syndrome.
• Mycroft's power (in UK) has virtually no limits.
• Sherlock's pride has virtually no limits.
• Moriarty is obsessed with Sherlock.

Characters :

Henry Knight - Professor Stapleton - Professor Frankland - Commandant Barrymore - Dr Louise Mortimer - Fletcher - Gary and Billy.
See the casting.