‘Sherlock’ Season 4, Episode 2 Spoilers: “The Lying Detective” – Sherlock Meets New Villain Culverton Smith, Forced to Reunite with Estranged Partner Watson

‘Sherlock’ season 4’s episode 2, titled “The Lying Detective,” is set to feature Sherlock meeting new villain Culverton Smith. The titular protagonist will also be forced to reunite with his estranged partner and best friend Dr. John Watson.

The brief synopsis for “The Lying Detective” posted on PBS reads, “Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) faces perhaps the most chilling enemy of his long career: the powerful and seemingly unassailable Culverton Smith (Toby Jones), a man with a very dark secret indeed.”

The trailer for episode 2 opens with Culverton approaching Sherlock with a sinister smile. Sherlock declares with a passion, “This is the most dangerous, the most despicable human being that I have ever encountered. This monster must be ended!”

Promotional images posted on Comicbook.com featured Jones’ latest villain. Culverton comes in the wake of Mary Watson’s (Amanda Abbington) death in the season 4 premiere “The Six Thatcher”, after she sacrificed her life for Sherlock. Dr. John Watson’s (Martin Freeman) wife was shot and killed by a receptionist, who betrayed Mary’s covert military group in exchange for cash. When the elder tries to kill Sherlock after he eggs her on, Mary intervenes and takes a bullet meant for the high-functioning sociopath.

Reeling from Mary’s shocking demise, Sherlock must face one of the biggest adversaries in his career. Although Moriarty (Andrew Scott) was seemingly the most evil of them all, Culverton was described to as beyond despicable. He will have to be reunited with partner Dr. John Watson, who remains guilt-ridden and angry at Sherlock, in order to face off with Culverton who threatens to exposed the dark secrets of the Holmes family.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Steven Moffat promised episode 2 as being the “darkest” they’ve ever done. Moffat said teased, "Anything can happen to anyone. I think it's safe to say we couldn't do Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson without Holmes and Watson. But nobody's safe and consequences are everywhere and there's some emotionally grueling stuff coming.”

He continued, “There's proper humor too. We showed Episode 2 to some people and though it's the darkest one we've ever done there were still people laughing."

‘Sherlock’ season 4’s episode 2, titled “The Lying Detective,” is scheduled to air on BBC One in the UK and PBS in the US on January 8, 2017. It was directed by Nick Hurran and written by Steven Moffat. It will be followed by episode 3, titled "The Final Problem," expected to premiere on January 15.