Written by Lauren Shultz
As every Sherlockian knows, nothing is ever as simple as it appears at first sight in this show. At the end of ‘His Last Vow’, a video of Jim Moriarty, who is presumed dead, was shown on every television screen in London. Now, the immediate assumption of everyone watching was “Great Grimpen Minefields! He’s back!” But is everything as it seems? This article suggests some possibilities as to what that video could have really been about and who we should be watching out for in Series 4.
5. Janine
BBC
Magnussen’s secretary/Sherlock’s ex-fiancée Janine seemed suspicious from the very start. Could she be tied to Moriarty in some way? Magnussen clearly knew some dark secrets about her, which is the only rational reason she would work for him and tolerate his abuse to her. Now that Magnussen is dead, she could be free to be reunited with Moriarty and help his return – and maybe even create a video announcement about it?
4. Sherlock Holmes
BBC
It was pretty obvious at the end of ‘His Last Vow’ that Sherlock did not want to leave. I mean, who would? But is that enough for Sherlock to have created a fake video of Moriarty to convince Mycroft to let him stay? That Moriarty video did look suspiciously more like a photo-shopped picture with someone else’s voice over. That totally seems like it would be in Sherlock’s skill range. Plus, Mycroft would use anything to keep his little brother safe. However, all this wouldn’t exactly make him the villain, just desperate.
3. Mary Watson
BBC
We know from ‘His Last Vow’ that Mary has a lot of secrets and a pretty dark history. Could she have worked for Moriarty in the past? If so, she would have been free to start a whole new life with John after Moriarty “died”. If Moriarty is alive, it would be completely possible for him to threaten John to get her to work for him again. Even with a baby on the way, there is nothing she wouldn’t do and no secrets she wouldn’t protect to keep her new life as a Watson safe.
2. Molly Hooper
BBC
If Molly Hooper turned out to be the bad guy who made the Moriarty video, so many people would surely be in tears. Molly is the sweetest, nicest, and most helpful character on the show; however, there are some potential reasons for her turning to the dark side. First of all, Molly loves Sherlock. Practically more than anything. If everyone believes that Moriarty is alive, the government would refrain from exiling Sherlock so he can end Moriarty once and for all. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume Molly would do anything to keep Sherlock around, perhaps even create a phony video clip.
Secondly, there are some theories that Molly is actually Moran (Moriarty’s right-hand man). There isn’t much basis on this theory, but could someone really be as kind as Molly is all the time, or is it just an incredibly clever act? We shall have to see.
1. Jim Moriarty
BBC
This is definitely the most popular option out of the five. No matter how much you like Magnussen, Moriarty will always be the most amazing villain, mostly due to the fact that he’s completely insane. Because of the video clip of Moriarty, the vast majority of fans assume that Moriarty, like Sherlock, faked his death at the end of ‘The Reichenbach Fall.’ Some fans, however, are slightly doubtful of the assumption that he’s alive because seriously? All of us, including Sherlock, saw him shoot himself in the face. How are Moftiss going to bring him back? While Moriarty returning would be expected, it might not be what those clever writers have been planning all along.
Do you have any other ideas about who could be the true villain of the next series of Sherlock? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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As I read in the book by A
C. Doyle, Watson mentioned that Jim moriarty’s brother colonel James Moriarty has appeared after the “Last case”, so I think he is the new villain.
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Isn’t Jim a nickname for James? Could they be the same person? But I haven’t read all of the books, so I can’t really say anything about that.
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Moriarty planned it all years ago. The video’s have been shot, the criminals have been paid; nothing can be done to stop them from doing Moriarty’s will……..
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That’s a good point. Do you think Mary could be working for Moriarty? I’m trying to see if anyone actually supports this theory.
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Has anyone else considered the possibility that Jim Moriarty wasn’t the REAL Moriarty and merely the “face” of him? We may have yet to see the real Professor Moriarty.
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I was thinking that too! That’s definitely an option but I kind of want him to be Moriarty because I think Andrew Scott does such a good job of it 🙂
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Maybe the Jim Moriarty we know (aka Richard Brook) really IS an actor, and the REAL Moriarty was using him as a puppet. I’ve suspected it since the Reichenbach Fall. Either way I hope we get to see more of Andrew Scott, he is the best kind of crazy.
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That’s definitely an option. I was originally thinking that before Season 3, but I discarded the idea because an actor wouldn’t kill himself for someone. But now that we’re pretty sure he’s not actually dead, it’s a possibility!
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Sherlock as a villain, really? Honestly- I think the only probable options out of all of these are Moriarty and Mary in particular. MAYBE Janine. Sherlock won’t be the villain of his own show and Molly isn’t even a canon character so I doubt it would be her.
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They did say it only refers to the possibility that SH created the video not that he’s the villain.
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Thanks for pointing that out! It took me a while to decide to even put him in.
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And also It could be none of them, no one know for sure. Either way for me the most probable villain is still Moriarty.
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It was more that Sherlock would make the video because he’s desperate, but not really making him the villain. You’re right, he wouldn’t be the villain in his own show. And I almost forgot that Molly isn’t even a canon character, so that’s a good point.
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maybe jim moriarty did a fight club. shot himself but really missed anything to kill himself. we saw that holmes didn’t check for vitals. But it would be cool if irene adler came back.
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That could be, but it would be really difficult to not die after shooting yourself in the face. Irene Adler is a great character and it would be amazing if she came back.
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actually I have a sight. Jannine is the closes supect if there’s next villain. but I still believe J.M is faking his own death. and HE IS BACK!
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I really hope so 🙂
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New villain. Why Professor James Moriarty. Who had 2 brothers ….all first named James.
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Molly can’t be Moran (or so I deeply hope). In season 3 episode 1, there was a guy named Moran. The one who almost blew up the whole parliament house.
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That’s a good point. I don’t know if that’s the same Moran though. I think Moran is a code name. It’s not actually mentioned in the show.
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I just wish Molly wouldn’t be the new villain. It would be so sad to see a beloved friend turn hostile. I’d rather the new villain be Janine or Donovan. 😀
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I totally agree I love Molly I think she’s a great friend and I think Janine would be a better villain anyway
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I do not know if you guys noticed it.. But remember that christmas after Sherlock came out of coma. There mycroft first told him about “going to east europe” and describes him as “dragon slayer”. Then when sherlock wanted to take the offer he said ” Let here be dragons”. Could it be that mycroft planted this moriarty video? So that his little brother stays safe in england?
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I think that’s a very probable option for the Moriarty video. That’s actually like number 2 on my list of possible outcomes in Series 4 so we’re on the same page 🙂
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I like your name though.. but is that arm on sherlock’s fridge(just wondering.. since he is dead and you know how an alibi depends on exact time of…….. you got the point).
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Ok.. now Ifeel ashamed cause I read your name as “dumbledores ARM at 221b”
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That’s ok 🙂 I do that all the time
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Well, it can’t be any of these after it was announced that Toby Jones is to be the next big villain of series 4. However, it’s interesting to guess which of Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters he shall play, such as Sebastian Moran or John Clay. I suppose we won’t know until series 4 though!
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