Sherlock: Clues in Season 3 that set up Eurus Holmes’ shocking twist

The biggest surprise of BBC’s Sherlock Season 4 was Sherlock’s unknown sister Eurus Holmes. Viewers were shocked by the mysterious presence of this character and her terrifying impact on the story. But the seeds of this surprise were sown long ago.

There were some hints in Season 3 that, if observed correctly, viewers could already understand that there was a secret chapter in his life. In this article, we will discuss those important clues from Season 3, which gave a solid foundation for the twists of the next season.

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Sherlock: Clues in Season 3 that set up Eurus Holmes’ shocking twist

“Redbeard”: The shadow of Sherlock’s memory

One of the biggest clues of Season 3 was the name “Redbeard”. When Mycroft mentions the infamous detective's childhood in His Last Vow, he mysteriously mentions Redbeard. At the time, it seemed to the audience that this might be the name of a dog from his childhood.

But in Season 4, it is revealed that Redbeard is not a pet, but the name of a child who was killed by Eurus. This misunderstanding is actually a conscious puzzle created by the storytellers, which makes Eurus' character deeper and darker.

Redbeard's memories created deep psychological wounds within the protagonist. Although Eurus is not directly mentioned in Season 3, this clue indicates to the audience that there is a terrible secret hidden in Sherlock's past. This clue makes the twist in the next season strong and believable.

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Mycroft's unusual behavior and family secrets

Mycroft's behavior was also a big clue in Season 3. He has always been mysterious, but this season, his level of anxiety and caution is even more evident.

He often hints to Sherlock that it is better not to dig up some things from the past. At the time, the audience took this as his usual arrogant nature, but Season 4 proved that Mycroft was really covering up a terrible family secret.

These subtle warnings from Mycroft created a subtle tension in the story. Later, when Eurus' existence was revealed, these warnings suddenly took on new meaning. This proved that the writers had been planning the long-term direction of the story since Season 3.

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Moriarty's mysterious message: "Miss Me?"

The biggest shock to viewers at the end of Season 3 was Moriarty's video message, "Miss Me?". At the time, everyone thought Moriarty might be alive, but in Season 4, it turned out that this was just the first move in Eurus' game. This small scene set the stage for a huge twist to come.

This cliffhanger was written so perfectly that the audience was led astray. While everyone was discussing the possibility of Moriarty being alive, the real villain, Eurus, quietly entered the story. This strategy made the series even more mysterious and brain-teasing.

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Eurus's disguised presence? A myth or reality?

A popular theory among fans about Season 3 was that Eurus might have appeared in disguise in Season 3. However, this idea is completely wrong. Eurus first appears in disguise in Season 4, as John's therapist, the bus lady, or "Faith Smith". He does not appear directly in Season 3.

Fans got really into Sherlock because of the writers' plan. They made the story so gripping that people believed things that weren’t true. Even though this theory isn’t right, it made the show more suspenseful.

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Sherlock's psychological struggle: Truth and misperception

Sherlock in Season 3 is really struggling. Many believe that this is a reflection of his childhood trauma. However, in fact, the detective's struggle in this season was due to his fake death plan, isolation from society, drug use, and facing dangerous enemies like Magnussen. Season 3 did not reveal Eurus' existence.

However, this emotional instability created a kind of unease among the audience, which made Eurus' character more believable in later seasons. The writers skillfully used his emotional fragility for future plots.

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"The Sign of Three" and Sherlock's loneliness

Sherlock’s best man speech in “The Sign of Three” in Season 3 is a big moment. Usually, he acts like a robot, but during the speech, he’s nervous and real. You can see his struggles with people. It’s honestly pretty relatable. Some people online try to say this connects to Eurus, his secret sister, but let me tell you that this scene just shows the protagonist as a person, not just a detective.

The writers wanted to remind viewers that the detective is someone who feels things, too. He can care about others and get uncomfortable. It just helps us see Sherlock in a new way. That’s important because if he were always perfect, the show would get boring fast. This speech makes him real, and honestly, more interesting to watch.

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The storytellers' long-term plan

Sherlock’s story is full of twists and tiny hints. In Season 3, nobody mentions Eurus directly. Still, you can spot clues like Redbeard, Mycroft acting strangely, and Moriarty’s weird messages. These small details help the big surprises later make sense. The writers placed these hints on purpose, starting in Season 3. They did it to make the story feel smart and connected.

This kind of plotting makes viewers more committed to the show. Every scene feels like a rewatch, as old episodes start to take on new meaning.

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The role of misinterpretations and fan theories

Fan theories about the plot of Season 3 also played an important role. Although many of the theories were wrong, they still kept the series a topic of discussion. Fans analyzed every frame, creating new theories about even the smallest characters or dialogues.

This constant analysis and misconceptions made the series even more popular. The writers used the audience's imagination to make the story more mysterious.

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Season 4's explosive surprise is based on the plot of Season 3

The Your Holmes twist in Sherlock Season 4 is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of television. But it didn't come out of nowhere. The small clues hidden in Season 3 strengthened the foundation of the story. Redbeard's name, Mycroft's secret, Moriarty's message; altogether, the writers wove a complex story.