Sherlock, How Could You!?

Spoiler Alert, if you haven't yet watched the Sherlock premiere.  If you haven't seen it yet - what are you waiting for?  Get to it!

Let me go on record as saying, I LOVE Sherlock.  I've been anxiously awaiting the new 3 episodes since the last 3 ended - oh, about 2 years ago.  The writing and directing are top notch.  The stories - weaving in new details to old tales - are clever and engaging.  And of course, the actors are pretty fantastic.  Even a so-so episode of Sherlock (I'm looking at you Hounds of the Baskerville...) is better than a lot of television these days. 

But, at the moment, I'm more than a little miffed at my favorite television show.  Here's the thing, for about 2 years now articles and interviews have been written and conducted on the subject of strong female characters in Sherlock.  The creative team have been ardent supporters of making Mary, Molly and Mrs. Hudson more than just the "girls" that follow the "boys" around.  Gatiss and Moffat gave them backstories with heart and grit.  The girls guide the boys and stand up to them when they need to.  

These girls are fascinating characters in their own right.  And seeing that most girls get written off as one note characters, the people behind Sherlock have been praised for their work - rightly so. And after 2 years of sticking to these principles, they blow it all up in their first episode back by killing their strongest girl for no darn good reason.

Mary's just gone.  She died saving Sherlock which is admirable and still a strong way to go. However, he could have worn a vest.  He could have jumped out of the way.  He could have done any number of things, that would have allowed Mary to live.  The writers didn't have to kill her.  It didn't serve any purpose at all.  

So yep, that's why I'm super annoyed.  I'm still planning to watch the next 2 episodes, in hopes that this is one of their classic bait and switches.  Afterall, Sherlock himself "died" a few years ago and he's back in the land of the living again.  Maybe I've jumped the gun, and I hope I have.  But if not, I'm definitely not going to be as anxious for the next few episodes as I was for the last 2 years.