That first one tallies up with the “Thatcher” tease announced at this year’s SDCC, which had fans theorising about former UK prime ministers, rural roofers and brands of bottled cider (other apple-based alcoholic drinks are available).
The closest Doyle link there appears to be with the story The Adventure Of The Six Napoleons, a Lestrade-heavy case which involves plaster busts of the diminutive French military leader being smashed in search of a hidden pearl.
The second, The Lying Detective, is a take on Doyle’s The Adventure Of The Dying Detective, the story in which Culverton Smith, already announced as the villain of series four, appears. (The episode was teased with the name “Smith” back at SDCC, obviously bringing to mind Toby Jones’ villainous character.)
The third title, however, is still to be announced. But it is obviously another dramatic and suspense filled episode which may lead us to another cliffhanger for the next season (If there is one, that is!).
A little research shows that the first episode’s title was used in a short story published on John’s blog some years ago. Could it be that this episode is an adaptation of this short story? Read on if you want to, but beware, it may contain spoilers. Go to this blogpost by clicking here.
As to the matter of The Lying Detective, it is an obvious nod in the direction of the Sherlock Holmes original ‘The Dying Detective’, which features one of Doyle’s best villains, Culverton Smith.
In the story, Dr. Watson becomes convinced that his friend, the brilliant consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, is dying from a highly contagious disease which is usually found only in Asia. Holmes refuses to allow Watson to examine him. Instead, Holmes tells Watson to bring a man called Culverton Smith to see him. Culverton Smith has no professional medical training but he knows more about the disease which Holmes claims to be suffering from than anyone else in the world. Holmes admits that he and Culverton Smith are not on friendly terms because Holmes suspected that the man had some part in the death of his nephew.
How can this be adapted to fit the modern title of ‘The Lying Detective’? We can sure it holds to the plot of the original story, but in what way?
We would love your comments on this new clue we have been given, post them below!
The post Sherlock S4: Episode Titles Revealed! appeared first on The Empty Hearse.
