Sherlock doesn’t return to the airwaves until January , but until then fans of the hit BBC One/Masterpiece series can at last stare at an official screengrab from season three:

First Sherlock Season 3 image, released by BBC One.

It’s hard to draw inferences from a single image, especially without the deductive powers of the world’s greatest detective, but the scene portrays a glum Watson and a pensive Holmes, presumably unseen by his forlorn Boswell. While there could be any number of explanations, the most obvious is that it takes place prior to Watson discovering that (spoiler alert) Sherlock faked his own death at the end of season two. Accompanying the image, BBC One’s press release explains, “It’s been a long time since Sherlock Holmes jumped off that roof – it’s time to reveal the truth about what happened between him and the pavement.” It goes on:“The question on everyone’s lips will finally be answered when Sherlock returns with three brand-new action-packed adventures. How did he do it? And how will John take the news that his best friend faked his own death? What will Sherlock think when he finds out John has fallen in love with Mary Morstan? She’s sensible, quick-witted and not at all taken in by Sherlock’s posturing. Once again, the game is on for Sherlock and John in the first episode of the new series, The Empty Hearse written by Mark Gatiss.”Via Bleeding Cool

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