And I was pissed about Mycroft shoving food into his face

It made me laugh, because Sherlock is SUCH a dick.

I turned it off as soon as I realized it was a dream sequence.

I turned it off as soon as I realized it was a dream sequence.

Not all of it, though. In fact, I was super confused as to why they would show the "previously on" if the story was set in the 19th century. (And then it made sense.)

I disliked Moriarty less, but I still don't like him. (And is it just me, or was him sticking the gun in his mouth and licking it SUPER gay?)

And I am fascinated, looking at the show from outside, that the show decided to introduce Sherlock's drug use after all, and I can't help wondering if that's, even in part, a response to how well Elementary has done with it.

Because, honestly, from inside the show, it was ridiculously abrupt to just be like "Oh and by the way here's a list of the many drugs I just took even though it's never been an issue before kthxbai."

I was only interested in it because I thought it was going to be a traditional Holmes tale told by this particular crew. I stopped watching the regular Sherlock series when they introduced Moriarty, because I just don't like that version of him.

I didn't turn it off as soon as I realized it was a dream sequence/memory palace, but when they revealed the killer, I did turn it off. Thought parts of it were legitimately creepy.

And I am fascinated, looking at the show from outside, that the show decided to introduce Sherlock's drug use after all, and I can't help wondering if that's, even in part, a response to how well Elementary has done with it.

Having not seen the special (not sure if I'm going to bother: ah, the sensation of waiting so long between canon that YOU ACTUALLY SLIDE OUT OF THE FANDOM), but they have made reference to it (and shown it at times) previously in all three series.

As I recall (also have not seen the special b/c I didn't even know it was going to be on/available and now I'm actually kind of angry at PBS/BBC/whomever makes these decisions for going with the livestream option in an on demand world), in Sherlock it's more recreational use than addiction and accordingly gets casual mention

I'm substantially confused. We watched the Sherlock special last night, not even really knowing it was a special. It just was after the Vienna Philharmonic special, so we watched

We have never watched Sherlock or Elementary.

So confused might be a bit of an understatement.

And I am fascinated, looking at the show from outside, that the show decided to introduce Sherlock's drug use after all, and I can't help wondering if that's, even in part, a response to how well Elementary has done with it.

To be fair, it's been referenced all along, including Lastrade's assertion that he'd find narcotics if he searched Sherlock's home in the first season, to Watson finding Holmes "working" in a flophouse. His assertion that he's a "user" and not an "addict" may be basically correct, but it's clear that he's had a periodic more-than-recreational relationship with drugs.

they have made reference to it (and shown it at times) previously in all three series

Yes, including the first ep which this one referenced.

in Sherlock it's more recreational use than addiction and accordingly gets casual mention

Because, honestly, from inside the show, it was ridiculously abrupt to just be like "Oh and by the way here's a list of the many drugs I just took even though it's never been an issue before kthxbai."

One thing addicts are really really good at is lying about how many / how often drugs they take. I actually found this ep powerfully accurate in that respect, that Watson wouldn't notice until Mycroft pointed it out (because Sherlock's probably been high a lot in Watson's presence, and Watson's written it off every other time too).

I think my reaction to the special can be summed up as "Oh look, Moffett's trying to be clever again". Gary fell asleep part way through.