So we are two-thirds of the way through Series Four of Sherlock, and although hinted at, James Moriarty has still not made an actual appearance. So how do we think Sherlock’s nemesis yet guilty pleasure will worm his way back in?

Firstly, those who keep an eye out for ‘Setlock’ pictures will have seen Andrew Scott filming as Moriarty on a beach for Series Four. The back of his head (which is instantly recognisable for us stalkers fans) is also included in the Comic-Con trailer so we can assume he must be appearing soon. However, over the past couple of episodes, Sherlock has been having flashbacks of himself as a child and Redbeard (his childhood dog and emotional weakness) on a beach, therefore is Moriarty just appearing within Sherlock’s mind? We already know Moriarty exists in Sherlock’s mind palace, locked in a prison, as we discovered in ‘His Last Vow’. Has the villain managed to escape and intrude other areas of Sherlock’s mind?

Another comment which brought Moriarty to mind was when Euros said that a ‘mutual friend’ had enabled her and ‘The Lying Detective’’s Culverton Smith to come to an arrangement and provide her with Faith’s note. Well, I think Moriarty is a common mutual friend to many of these individuals with criminal intent, so I would not be at all surprised if Euros and Moriarty are in cahoots with each other, whether he is alive or dead. Speaking of which, did anyone else expect Euros, when revealing her true identity, to take off a wig and a mask and for it to be Andrew Scott? I know it’s far-fetched, but come on, he was in a wedding dress in ‘The Abominable Bride’! Nothing is implausible when it comes to Steven Moffat’s writing.

So the notorious ‘Miss Me?’ has been plastered all over the promotional material for Series Four, it has been mentioned in both of the episodes so far, so surely this must have a greater relevance than we currently realise. Okay so Mary used it on her disc in ‘The Six Thatchers’, and it was on Faith’s/Euro’s note in ‘The Lying Detective’, but surely Moriarty has been meddling in all of this? Or is Sherlock right, and he is definitely dead and gone after blowing his own brains out? Let’s face it, Sherlock is usually right.

So I may be clutching at straws here, but continuously throughout episodes, Sherlock has had to remind John that “it is never twins!” But what if – finally – John is right? What if Moriarty is an identical twin, one carrying on the legacy of the other? I wouldn’t hold your breath but as I said, nothing is too far-fetched for this show.

So we can deduce that Moriarty is returning in one form or another; whether it is in body, spirit or flashback. Hopefully we won’t have to miss him for much longer, and our issues are resolved in #’The Final Problem’.

Is Moriarty really alive? Have your say in the poll below!