‘Sherlock’ season 4: Martin Freeman discusses a possible end

The first thing that we should note is that “Sherlock” season 4 is not meant to be seen as the final season. However, at the same exact time it does appear as though it will be the last one for a rather long time. Whether it be the producers or the cast, nobody seems to be particularly optimistic that a fifth season will be coming over the next several years. Actor schedules are such that there is really only so much time in which these people have to work on other projects, and there’s a comfort that comes in getting to travel from one series to the next, trying on a wide array of different masks and seeing where your career takes you.

In many ways, “Sherlock” is comfort. No matter where these actors and writers go in their career, this series will be around for them to take another look at. It’s the sort of dream that almost any performer wishes that they had at their disposal.

If it doesn’t continue, the show gets to go out while it’s still at its peak. This is something that Martin Freeman himself expressed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly:

“Everyone involved in the show is acutely aware of how well-written it is and how well-produced it is. If you are on a show that is well-written, well-shot, well-scored, and you’re lucky enough to have chemistry with the person, that’s pretty cool. And that doesn’t come along every day. But at the same time, we do want to do other stuff. And thank God we’re all busy. [Co-creators] Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are busy. Everyone’s busy. I wouldn’t want to make any promises either way on that.

“I think things ending is not a thing to be afraid of. Can you imagine the Beatles now? Jesus. Certain things should end. I think everything is supposed to be finite. Who knows? I never really know once we’ve finished a series, because it takes a long time to make another one.”

This is ultimately a good problem for “Sherlock” or any series ultimately to have, given that our sentiment here is that if the cast and crew felt as though they were locked into this and couldn’t do anything else, the show would suffer. The creativity would be inhibited in some sort of way, and there would be more of an air of depression around that end product.

For some other news regarding “Sherlock,” head over here to see the latest trailer! Season 4 will begin come New Year’s Day. (Photo: BBC One.)