Note: This article
contains spoilers
The welcome return of the hit-series Sherlock on New Year’s Day was a marvellous piece of television
drama. Though the series still lives in the shadow of the masterpiece which was
the first episode of series one, A Study
in Pink, the updating of the Conan Doyle novels remain hilarious,
thrilling, wonderfully acted and hugely enjoyable.
However, as is often the way with adored franchises, it has
become controversial. The charge was levelled in
The Guardian that Steven Moffat (the co-creator of the show who also runs Doctor Who) depicts women in a regressive
manner in both of his shows. The trigger for this was the appearance of Irene
Adler, portrayed in the show as a dominatrix, who is fiercely intelligent, but
susceptible to her emotions, ultimately fatally for her plans.
