This series was incredible! The author/s had truly captured the 'essence of Holmes', so when they set him in the modern era - with mobile phones, the internet and taxis - IT WORKED. To me, this WAS "Holmes with a Mobile Phone" (as I sometimes call the series).

The screenwriting craft that characterizes "Sherlock" is of the highest quality. Incredible to see this standard of writing anywhere on TV these days - the first episode in particular "Study in Pink" was mindblowing.

Did you notice how the author/s had woven themes/ideas throughout the three episode series? For instance, when Watson notices that Holmes wears nicotine patches, Holmes says "Impossible to maintain a smoking habit in London these days." Watson says "It's good news for breathing." Holmes says "Breathing's boring, breathing's overrated." (Episode 1). Now notice what happens in Episode 2 ("Blind Banker"). Holmes is caught in a chokehold by an assassin, fighting for his life as his assailant tries to strangle him. Perhaps breathing isn't so "overrated" after all. The author/s respected Holmes right to smoke (or at least use nicotine patches) BUT at the same time they were well aware what smoking does to one's health. Quite possibly the Episode 2 chokehold was a sort of warning: If you think this is death defying and frightening, think of what tobacco smoke is doing to your lungs generally; you could be fighting just as much for breath if you smoke. BUT again, notice that the author/s aren't forcing a "NO Smoking" message on the audience. As they do with other themes (etc) in the piece, they present it for further thought/contemplation.

Also, notice that the themes are woven through all three episodes of the first series - eg the nicotine patch/smoking theme is raised again in episode 3 where Watson offers to lend Holmes some change for the cigarette machine. Holmes thanks him with the words "I've got my patches." These three episodes stand alone and yet they were also crafted as a set.

Also, notice how the author/s show that they are not 'crime junkies'. Not the sort of people who 'revel' in crime and cheer on the perpetrators. Rather, the author/s share the ethos that surrounds Holmes: Here is the Crime Solver (who also 'has a heart'). Not excusing crime, but fighting it whilst also understanding it. Notice (for instance) in Episode 1 where Watson is forced to shoot (from one building to another) to save Holmes from the "Study in Pink" serial killer. At first, Holmes has no notion who rescued him. So he tries to profile the shooter for the attending police. "A moral man," says Holmes, "Because he didn't shoot until he saw I was in [mortal] danger."

I think this is a good comment on the series as a whole.