You touch on one of my biggest fears about S4, and that's the "It was all a dream" scenario. It was fine in TAB, but if it stretches into S4, it's going to seem like some cheesy 80s show. As a writer yourself you know how frustrating it is when you write y

 Hey, sorry for the delay in answering this, keeping up with setlock has been a challenge! ;)

I do understand folk’s frustrations about the ‘it’s all a dream’ scenario- cliché, it’s been done before, and just really personal preference that they’d rather not see it again.

But, for me, Mofftiss deliberately play around with cliché- and, just because something is cliché doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t make it ‘work’ or put your own unique spin on it.

Plus, I honestly would not worry about them ‘writing themselves into a corner.’ (And believe me, I’ve done that so many times and had to start again ;) ) They have had the plots and arcs and where they want to take the story they’ve telling planned out far in advance. Obviously, it’s unrealistic for them to have every single detail painstakingly mapped out, but they have all the major factors there. I’d particularly watch @softsons video on The Blind Banker, as all the talk about mirroring and the heavily foreshadowed villainous Mary arc is explained there, and highlights how the writers really did have a ‘Great Game plan’ from Series One.

But, back to the dream/ surreal mind palace idea. Yes, it’s already been done in The Abominable Bride, but I personally don’t think it would lose the ‘surprise’ factor because of this. I mean, I was so convinced by @inevitably-johnlocked‘s Mind Palace theory, and read it before TAB aired… and yet, you should have heard my shocked gasp and “OH MY GOD” when Moriarty said “It’s the landing,” and the episode transitioned back to the modern timeline. Never underestimate the power of new Sherlock material to completely erase your memory(!) ;)

And, that brings me to the opening of The Empty Hearse. That absolutely plays on what is real and what is fantasy, and for a moment, you’re completely fooled- well, at least I certainly was. ;) You’re so caught up on the fact that this is a new series, this is the beginning, oh my gosh, what is happening, what are they doing… and the writers absolutely take advantage of that in the best way! For a heart-stopping moment I was left desperately scrabbling for an explanation of why Sherlock would kiss moment– like, he just faked his death, maybe he’s just really relieved, I would probably kiss the first person I saw, too?!

So, if they do go down the route of another mind palace/dream scene- or even just play around with teasing us about a “fake reality” in another way- rest assured, it won’t be a cop out. Rather, like The Empty Hearse opening was, it’ll be a way to play on some of the audience’s expectations, and then point out why that’s happening, why that’s far from the story that’s being told.

For more on the “fake” setlock scenes speculation see:

The Empty Hearse Fanclub Returns?

Sharks and driving in tunnels

The Abominable Bride Car scene continues- does Sherlock fall asleep?

The ‘Mr and Mrs Psychopath’ Nightmare