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.

Dang, you guys, my memory is lousy. I really don't remember Sherlock's drug use (or references to it) from the previous seasons.

So, I guess it's much less interesting that it was included last night than I previously thought, huh?

Considering how long it's been since there's been new Sherlock, I don't know how lousy that makes your memory.

I think my reaction to the special can be summed up as "Oh look, Moffett's trying to be clever again".

Yeah, that kind of sums it up for me.

I was all for the modern-day retelling of Holmes in the beginning, but when they decided to accentuate the mental instability--and when they made Moriarty an outright lunatic--it lost my interest. I don't see this Moriarty as being able to manage an illustrious academic career. He's the Joker, not the Napoleon of Crime.

Teppy-- one of those scenes has been floating around quite a bit: [link]