OK, I've rewatched the 2nd episode of the 3rd season "A Sign of Three" and I can say this is, so far, my most favorite episode.
It is exhausting to watch though as so much is going on.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS Sherlock has learned in his 2 years gone that he values his friendships, such that he has. And so he is attempting to be more human, to reach out more and he is trying hard to understand the emotions of people around him even as he realizes that he may not always be successful and much of the success he does have is due to John. He even reaches out more and more to his brother.
So though Sherlock knows now how much values John, he's not quite sure how much John values him - until John announces his impending marriage and asks him to be his best man.
The episode shows Sherlock going into overdrive, emotionally and rationally, trying in his manic way to live up to his role as John's best man - and surprisingly to him his role as John's best friend - at his wedding.
With hysterical results.
The episode is a crazy quilt of pre-wedding adventures, mystery, emotional rollercoasters and revelations in short, exactly the sort of wedding Sherlock would preside over. It's exhausting because Sherlock is a narcissist of sorts, and the wedding reception monologue veers crazily between Sherlock wanting attention, but having to keep pushing the attention back to John and his bride.
And at the end, unable to help himself, Sherlock includes himself in their marriage, by making his own vow.
The episode has everything, laughter, intrigue, sadness, joy, friendship and love.
And it even has a little homoerotic bit - if you take it that way, and I do.
At one point, John is falling out of his seat, and he reaches over to Sherlock who is sitting across from him and props himself up awkwardly - his hand staying longer than necessary - on Sherlock's knee. Sherlock looks at him. John takes his hand off, starts to fall again, puts his hand back on to balance himself, then hurriedly raises his hand again, holding it up as if to say 'Nothing personal'. Sherlock's only reaction is to say, "I don't mind."
And I did like the jab they did at Madonna.
Incredibly enjoyable episode. You see how not only Sherlock has grown, but the people he calls closest, do support him very loyally, no matter what. You even find out about the executed husband of Mrs. Hudson and who exactly he was and why he was executed. Mrs. Hudson used to be quite the party girl, apparently.
So it's a fan's dream, and I can see Moffat and Gattis wanting to please fans by showing Sherlock actually growing and warming up. During the break between seasons, many many fans were very open in their desire to see emotional growth and said quite clearly that if Sherlock didn't when he returned, then the show was going to be boring and static with his unchanging character.
So they had to walk a thin line. Canon was deviated from incredibly. In the stories, Sherlock never showed up at all for John's weddings, and he never talked personal matters with John. So it is strange to see this Sherlock not only friendly with John's wife, but helping out with the wedding plans.
I am interested to see where they take this.