Full synopsis for The Lying Detective

thesetison:

sherlocksbestfriend-john:

“Sherlock faces perhaps the most chilling enemy of his long career: the powerful and seemingly unassailable Culverton Smith - a man with a very dark secret indeed. Estranged from his best friend John Watson, Sherlock seems to have descended into hell. Is there any way back from the abyss into which the detective has fallen?”

(What happens in episode 1 that makes Sherlock and John fall apart?)

[source]

This is canon though. In “The Dying Detective”, Sherlock deliberately pushes John away because he knows if Dr. Watson gets too close, he’ll realize Sherlock is faking being sick. So this may be related to the case–Sherlock pushing John away (temporarily) in order to solve a case he thinks John would interfere with (paritcularly if Sherlock is risking self-harm). And they may tie that in with also a strain in their relationship due to Mary/baby/confession? It’s gonna hurt, but hopefully will be resolved by the end of the episode.