Sherlock: 10 reasons The Reichenbach Fall was the show’s peak

BBC’s Sherlock had no shortage of standout moments. From wild deductions to cheeky banter, Benedict Cumberbatch’s modern Holmes redefined the detective genre for a new audience. But among all the twists and turns, one episode continues to hit hardest: The Reichenbach Fall. Airing as the explosive finale to Season 2, it wasn’t just the emotional gut punch that landed - it was how everything felt earned. This wasn’t just a case-of-the-week, it was a reckoning.

Inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Final Problem,” the episode flips the mythos on its head: Sherlock isn’t just outwitting criminals - he’s fighting to keep control of his own narrative. The stakes are deeply personal, the villain is uncomfortably charming, and the ending leaves just enough unease to haunt you long after the credits roll.

So here are 10 reasons why The Reichenbach Fall wasn’t just good TV - it was the defining hour of Sherlock!

10 reasons The Reichenbach Fall was Sherlock's peak

1) Moriarty Finally Steps Into the Spotlight

From the shadows of earlier episodes, Jim Moriarty becomes the full-blown puppet master here, and he’s nothing short of unnerving. Andrew Scott plays him with manic unpredictability, shifting from flirty to terrifying in seconds. He breaks into the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace not to steal, but to prove a point: he can. The way he taunts Sherlock isn’t about physical power, it’s psychological chess. This was Moriarty in full chaos mode, and it was impossible to look away.

2) The Fall of a Hero (Literally)

Sherlock’s “death” on the rooftop is one of the show’s most memorable moments - not just because of the fall itself, but how it’s framed. There’s no slow motion. No dramatic score swelling. Just quiet devastation, followed by the stillness of John Watson standing over a grave. It’s not overacted, it doesn’t scream for attention. It just hurts. That quiet pain gave the show a gravity that stuck far longer than any twist.

3) Sherlock’s Reputation Is Weaponized

One of the cleverest aspects of the episode is how Moriarty doesn’t attack Sherlock physically - he attacks his image. He manipulates the public and media to believe Sherlock is a fraud. It’s a slow, terrifying unraveling, because for someone like Holmes, being believed is everything. Watching Sherlock’s carefully cultivated persona crumble is like watching a magician have to explain the trick, exposing the genius to be just a man, and that’s what makes it tragic!

4) The Fairy Tale Code

That innocent-sounding line - "Once upon a time..." - turns chilling in Moriarty’s mouth. The code, which supposedly opens any locked system, is a neat concept. But the twist is even better: it’s fake. Moriarty doesn’t need a code - he has influence, manipulation, and fear. The “fairy tale” bit becomes a metaphor for the whole episode: illusions, stories, and the power of belief. It’s childlike on the surface, but deeply sinister when you realize how many people buy into it.

5) Molly Hooper Gets Her Moment

For once, someone outside the Sherlock-John orbit gets real emotional weight. Molly Hooper, often sidelined as comic relief or awkward affection, becomes crucial. Sherlock humbles himself enough to say, “I think I’m going to die. I need you.” No deductions. No games. Just raw honesty. It’s a subtle moment, but one that shows Molly’s quiet strength and deep trust. She doesn’t ask questions - she just helps. In a show obsessed with cleverness, this was pure heart.

6) John Watson Breaks Down

Martin Freeman’s performance as John in this episode is arguably his finest. The man who’s always kept it together - through chases, threats, explosions - finally cracks. Watching him plead at Sherlock’s grave, whispering “Don’t be dead,” is brutal. It’s not theatrical. It’s deeply human. You feel the disbelief, the betrayal, the overwhelming grief. For all of Sherlock’s sharp writing, this scene worked because it stopped trying to be clever. It just told the truth.

7) The Rooftop Showdown Is Shakespearean

The scene between Sherlock and Moriarty on the hospital roof plays out like two rival kings meeting on neutral ground before war. But instead of swords, they’re trading threats and philosophy. Moriarty’s smug satisfaction, Sherlock’s last-ditch reasoning - it’s intellectual sparring with emotional stakes. And when Moriarty ends things on his terms, the game flips again. The hero is forced into a checkmate that’s not physical, it’s existential!

8) The Small Clues That Sherlock Might Still Be Alive

Even though we see the fall, Sherlock plants just enough hints to suggest things aren’t as they seem: the cyclist crashing into John, the suspicious lack of blood at the scene, and Molly’s earlier conversation. These details aren’t spoon-fed; they’re breadcrumbs. The show trusts viewers to piece things together, sparking debates and rewatches. That balance between closure and curiosity is tough to hit, but this episode nailed it with just the right level of ambiguity.

9) The Soundtrack Hits Differently

David Arnold and Michael Price’s score hits home. Tracks like “Prepared to Do Anything” elevate already tense scenes into emotional sucker punches. The music doesn’t tell you how to feel, it underlines what’s already bubbling. During Sherlock’s farewell call to John, the swelling chords do just enough to tug without drowning the moment. It’s cinematic but restrained, and it makes those silences land even harder. Great music doesn’t shout, it lingers.

10) It Changed the Game for the Series

Before The Reichenbach Fall, Sherlock was clever, stylish fun. After it? The stakes were real. This episode forced every character to grow up. It wasn't about mysteries anymore, it was about consequences. Trust was broken. Faith was tested. It was the moment the show stopped being a procedural and became a story about people, not puzzles. And that shift echoed in every season that followed - even when the show stumbled, this episode’s ripple effect stayed strong.

The Reichenbach Fall didn’t rely on shock value or plot twists alone - it earned its emotional impact. By blending tension, grief, and moral ambiguity, it gave us a version of Sherlock that was bigger than mysteries. This wasn’t just about solving cases. It was about proving identity, holding onto belief, and the pain of letting go. Whether you believe it was the show's “peak” or not, there’s no denying this episode left an emotional bruise that still hasn’t faded.