Just as season two was two years after season one, season three is another two years after that! It's too bad we fans have to wait so long in between seasons, but as always, it's well worth the wait for three more, high-quality, 90-minute episodes. They are as follows:

The Empty Hearse: Based on The Empty House, this picks up some time after The Reichenbach Fall. I can't say much without spoiling anything, but there is a new character named Mary, and she is a delight! She helps Holmes solve a mystery when Watson gets himself in trouble.

The Sign of Three: Based on The Sign of Four, there are several interrelated mysteries rolled into one. Holmes manages to solve them all while at a wedding.

His Last Vow: Based on His Last Bow, there's a new threat who claims to have files on many different people in power, and he's using these files in order to blackmail them. Holmes and Watson have to find a way to take him down.

A lot of people don't enjoy this season as much as the others, but I disagree. I think it's a natural progression from past seasons, both in terms of story and in terms of character growth. It's also nice to see another female character introduced, as there really aren't that many in Sherlock.