‘Sherlock’ Season 3 Premiere: What to Expect from ‘The Empty Hearse’

Grab your magnifying glasses, violins, and deerstalker hats, everyone, because the countdown to ‘Sherlock’s highly anticipated Season 3 premiere has begun (for those who live in the states, of course). Yes, it’s been a long two years since fans last saw London’s brilliant detective plummet to his (fake) death and somehow live to tell the tale. Now it’s time to finally get some answers and see how Mr. Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) have been getting on since then.

I was fortunate enough to catch an early showing of the premiere episode "The Empty Hearse" and am itching to share some juicy teasers with my fellow Sher-locked fans. From surprising guest cameos to the intrigue of a brand new case, this detective drama doesn’t disappoint and further reminds us why it was well worth the wait.

I gather most of you can deduce that spoilers are fast approaching, so if you’re just not in the mood or would much rather be surprised then turn back now. As for the rest of you — the game is on! Let’s dig in.

-Things get a little steamy for our dear detective around the 1:45 mark in a very random and unexpected way. I won’t say anymore about it except that it will have you hitting the rewind button for days to come.

-John’s reaction to Sherlock’s return is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Martin Freeman deserves all the awards.

-Molly’s found herself a new man who looks curiously similar to a certain detective we know. Hmm…deduce away!

-For those of you who have ever wondered what Sherlock would look like while dressed as a French waiter will find one particular scene very interesting. (Just wait until you see why he did it.)

-Fans can take comfort in knowing that Sherlock likes John’s mustache just as much as we do. (Which is not at all, by the way.)

-I won’t divulge much about Sherlock and John’s first big reunion case, but I will say that it involves a train…that can make people disappear?

-We finally get to meet Sherlock’s parents, who are surprisingly normal. And as I mentioned in my latest Facts From a TV Junkie, they are also Benedict Cumberbatch’s real-life parents.

-John finds himself tied up in a very serious situation, which leads Mary and Sherlock to work together. Things get pretty heated.

‘Sherlock’ Season 3 premieres in the U.S. on Sunday, Jan. 19 at a special start time 9:58/8:58c on PBS.