Now that is what I call a clever, original and absorbing TV police drama. Looking forward to the next two episodes. Both lead actors were superb I thought.

Is Mycroft Holmes, Moriarty ???

Very good, apparently only 3 episodes to look forward too though - very Doctor Who-esque portrayal of Sherlock.

So, which pill would you have taken ?

Agree with the sentiments above. Fantastic opening episode, great performances. Great to see Phil Davis back in action.

You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

Or have I got it wrong?

But seriously folks......

great piece of TV. BBC doing what it does best.

I hope they commission more.

Expected to hate it but thought it was great.

Only problem was that Mr Clever couldn't see the bleeding obvious that it was a cab driver and then took an hour to work out who was the gunman at the end.

EDIT - potential spoilers put in small font to avoid putting anyone off a good show

Mycroft is his brother more talented but lazy.

Moriarty is a criminal mastermind - a sort of mad mathametician

Well I am actually quite pleased I am a bit of a thicko because I never work these things out for myself. It must spoil things if you suss things quickly! Potentially it could have been really cheesy and awful, but as already said, the BBC know how to produce TV like this, and I really hope it is something that can run for a good while after these initial 3.

One thing I would like to add. Try not to post any spoilers in here for the thicko's amongst us!

Back in action? Isn't it compulsory that he is in every TV show made these days? He was in Identity a week or so ago for starters.

Now Identity is what Sherlock could have turned out like. A good idea but not quite there. Only Keeley makes it watchable. It's all a bit too clichéd and over acted.

Aaah, but are they one and the same - If I'm right in my thinking Moriarty never reveals himself in any of the books & Sherlock never catches him ?

Rumbled, i don’t watch much TV.

Did he not meet in the "Final Problem" when Doyle tried to kill off Holmes

Moriarty actually only appears in 2 of the 60 odd stories he is a pretty minor character. He is thrown to his death at the Riechenbach (excuse spelling) Falls by Holmes I think he would have noticed if it were his brother + I think that he appeared in stories post Moriarty's death (not checked).

If you think the TV series is good you should try the books!

They are wonderful, my fav books of all time never tire of reading them. Should be mandatory for all kids at school to read

Bright kids may read them anyway, and making it mandatory will only discourage thick kids from reading them.

Thought it was good, but the moriaty dude was a bit poorly cast compared to the one in star trek.

Moriaty wasn't in it???

If you mean Mycroft, he wrote it so I doubt much casting was done!

I was reading it as moriaty is mycroft...sherlock dont know it...

why the clash with top gear tonight.

i do sometime think the beeb has not got a clue.

Poor man's Dr Who for me.

Whose daft idea was it to get useless knob from The Office in?

And the chicks are not up to Dr Who standard.

I missed the first one but am rather enjoying this one - especially Martin Freeman as it happens!

Each to their own, blahblah, but Martin Freeman is a star in thism IMHO. Oddly, once I found out it has the same writer as the current Dr Who series, I enjoyed it less and found it a bit of a Dr Who clone this evening. In my view, nowhere near as enjoyable as the first programme, but still good.

I did wonder if it was by the same writer, and the odd Tardis noises in the background did(n't) help.

Freeman just seems to try to recreate his Office role (IMHO), and is too often on the radio espousing his glorious taste in music - and it is shit

The actress I went out with said how few actually act on tv (all those years being an acorn growing into an oak tree totally wasted ) and he is just an unfunny geek

Thoroughly enjoyable hokum, as the original Holmes stories were meant to be. SACD would have approved...

... with one exception, Moriaty turned out to be Duncan "Chase Me" Norvelle.

I can only hope they write out the atrocious actor who was supposed to be Moriarty with some plot device that allows the real Moriaty to reveal himself.

Good enough for now however.

Thought episode 2 dipped a bit (different writers?) but 3 picked up despite the let down of the poor 'showdown' at the end - how many gunmen did Moriarty have!

Sounds like it is coming back for more, they are just deciding when they can do it.

Yes I thought episode 2 was a pretty huge dip, but a big pick up for episode 3. It will have to come back, but fit in between Dr Who I imagine.

Didn't like moriarty character, bit of a weiner. Not a likable vilain acting like the joker. Ending was a bit lame, but otherwise it was good show and look forward to future episodes.

Thoroughly enjoyed first series.

Second series just round the corner.

Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia
Sunday 1 January
8.10-9.40pm
BBC ONE

BBC One’s much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited second series of three, 90-minute films – A Scandal In Belgravia, The Hounds Of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall.
The contemporary re-imagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, caused a sensation in the summer of 2010, delivering an audience of more than nine million viewers who tuned in to watch Sherlock and John Watson navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers in three thrilling, action-packed adventures.

In episode one of this new series, compromising photographs and a case of blackmail threaten the very heart of the British establishment but, for Sherlock and John, the game is on in more ways than one as they find themselves battling international terrorism, rogue CIA agents and a secret conspiracy involving the British government. But this case will cast a darker shadow over their lives than they could ever imagine, as the great detective begins a long duel of wits with an antagonist as cold and ruthless and brilliant as himself: to Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler will always be THE woman.

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as John Watson, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, Andrew Scott as Moriarty, Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper and Lara Pulver as Irene Adler.

SOURCE

Quality series and I think Moriaty is just fine As said above, very clever TV.

What with Mrs Brown's Boys back, all we need is another Not Going Out for the Beeb to reign supreme again.