This Season’s Theme: "I would say that the chickens are coming home to roost this season… but without real chickens," jokes Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss, who also portrays Holmes's brother, Mycroft. "No real chickens are harmed in the making of this season. That's an exclusive."



Where We Left Off: Last year's "The Abominable Bride" took us on an extended tour of Sherlock's mind palace and confirmed that his and Watson's longtime nemesis, Moriarty, is dead as a doornail. Or is he? "People assume that we're fibbing every time we say he's definitely dead," Gatiss says, laughing. "But he is dead. Believe me!"



Coming Up: Moriarty may not be a corporeal threat anymore, but his reach will definitely be felt from beyond the grave. "The shadows of the past are coming back to haunt them, along with the consequences of their actions," Gatiss teases. For more specifics, fans could apply their deductive reasoning to the three Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories that are being loosely adapted this season: "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons," "The Adventure of the Dying Detective," and "The Final Problem."



Two Men and a Baby: Watson is embarking on a whole new journey this season: fatherhood. He and his wife, ex-CIA agent Mary, are the proud parents of a baby girl, and, naturally, Uncle Sherlock will be on hand to administer child care. "He treats the baby like a case, says Gatiss. “She's a real mystery to him.” — Ethan Alter



(Credit: PBS/Masterpiece)