Sherlock: Will Another Holmes Brother Be Revealed In Season 4?

BBC's Sherlock has long kept fans guessing about some of its biggest secrets. Fans continue to put their own sleuthing skills to the test when it comes to Moriarty and Sherlock's mysterious mind palace, but there is one question audiences have failed to deduce an answer for. For some time now, fans have questioned whether a third Holmes brother would be introduced to viewers, and those rumors only multiplied tenfold ahead of the drama's Season 4 premiere. Now, the episode has aired, and fans are now desperate to know if one of Mycroft's lines from the premiere was a nod to his other brother.

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Last night, "The Six Thatchers" brought Sherlock back to homes across the world, and fans were left stunned by its turn of events. However, it was one of Mycroft's last lines that had conspiracists pointing fingers. During the episode's final moments, Mycroft is seen plucking a take-out menu off his fridge before noticing a post-it note with "13th" written on it. Pausing, the man then dials an unknown number and asks, ""Put me through to Sherrinford, please."

Of course, this phrase sent off alarms for fans. At San Diego Comic-Con, the cast of Sherlock teased fans with three words which alluded to the story of each episode in Season 4. The third word announced was "Sherrinford," and the word has a particular history with Sherlock.

Originally, the name was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the author had considered calling his detective such. However, the great deducer was eventually named Sherrinford, and the latter name faded into obscurity. However, it was then revived by noted Sherlock scholar William S Baring-Gould after the expert queried whether Sherlock and Mycroft had an elder brother. Since Doyle's stories confirmed the boys' family were country squired, the scholar reasoned that the pair must have an elder brother whose birthright it was to manage the estate. After all, Sherlock and Mycroft were off on their own; Someone would have to take care of the family's name.

The theory caught fire, and Gould brought Sherrinford back to life in Sherrinford Holmes. The fictional biography assigned the name to the other Holmes brother as he looked after things at home.

Last season, fans were first teased that another Holmes brother may be in Sherlock after Mycroft dropped a conspicuous line. The government head told Sherlock, "I'm not given to outbursts of brotherly compassion. You know what happened to the other one." The teaser sent fans into a frenzy, and it seems as if Season 4 may address the controversy. After all, the intro reel to last night's premiere did feature Mycroft talking to Sherlock about the 'other one' so anything is possible.

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Of course, fans must remember that Sherlock is not meant to be taken at face value. Showrunners Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are smart, and they know what their hints are doing to fans. The entire mention could be a red-herring, but right now, it seems more than likely that Sherlock Season 4 will address the other brother in the room.

Sherlock Season 4 continues with "The Lying Detective" on January 8th and "The Final Problem" on January 15th.

[H/T] Radio Times