Sherlock ran from 2010 to 2017, and was a modern-set version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes stories. The show starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as John Watson. They formed a great duo who solved a variety of complicated crimes. It received praise for its cast and writing, and is considered the best Sherlock Holmes adaptation by Collider. With only three episodes per season, Sherlock may not have given us a lot of episodes, but the ones it gave were largely excellent. Here are the best episodes of Sherlock, ranked.

9 The Hounds of Baskerville (S02 E02)

Martin Freeman as John and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

While it’s not a majorly puzzling episode, this one does a great job at adapting a classic Holmes mystery. Being in the countryside brings a change of setting and tone, as Sherlock and John help Henry Knight (Russell Tovey), who has been haunted by visions of a hound since his father’s death. It keeps a more straightforward storyline – except for the twist that the hound is really a hallucination – and is grounded by its great performances. It also really develops Sherlock and John’s relationship, as they deal with fear.

Related: Best Sherlock Holmes TV Series, Ranked

8 The Blind Banker (S01 E02)

Martin Freeman as John, Louise Brealey as Molly, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

With such short seasons, the plots move fast, and this episode is effective as a midpoint of the first series. After the fast-paced first episode, this one slows things down; we really get to see more of Sherlock and John as characters, as they investigate a smuggling ring. The show finds its groove here, and the main duo starts a routine together. It may not be as action-packed as other episodes, but it’s a great character study and set-up of the show’s format.

7 The Abominable Bride (Special Episode)

Martin Freeman as John and Benedict Cumberbatch in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

This special episode is best known for being set in the stories’s original Victorian England, as Sherlock tries to find out how a dead woman killed her husband in an unsolved case. The reveal that the mystery is unfolding as a fantasy in Sherlock’s mind mostly works well as a twist, though it does fall into the “just a dream” trope. However, it’s still fun for taking the characters and putting them into the classic era and costumes, bringing a whole new atmosphere.

6 The Lying Detective (S04 E02)

Toby Jones as Culverton Smith in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

Sherlock was well-known for its villain performances, and this episode features an excellent Toby Jones as billionaire serial killer Culverton Smith. The mind games between Smith and Sherlock are thrilling, especially when Sherlock uses Smith to get John to forgive him for his wife’s death. It explores the darker aspects of the show and the main character, particularly with the ending twist of Sherlock’s unknown sister shooting John. The result of his sister wouldn’t live up to the reveal, but it’s excellent in this thrilling episode.

5 The Sign of Three (S03 E02)

Amanda Abbington as Mary and Martin Freeman as John in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

“The Sign of Three” may be one of the show’s tamer episodes, as John and Mary (Amanda Abbington) are getting married. Sherlock is tasked with giving the best man speech, which morphs into him using the speech as a way to solve a crime. It’s one of the show’s funniest episodes, from Sherlock being paired with a bridesmaid, to drunk Sherlock at John’s stag party. It’s also one of its most emotional, as Sherlock’s speech becomes a tribute to his and John’s relationship, and its importance to them both.

4 The Great Game (S01 E03)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

Another episode that owes a lot to its villain, this one lets Andrew Scott take center stage as Moriarty, Sherlock’s archnemesis – one of the best TV villains of all time, per Looper. It finally reveals all the Moriarty clues from previous episodes, and brings them together with danger and suspense. Moriarty kidnaps John and holds him hostage, instantly raising the stakes of the show. It also shows the depth of Sherlock and John’s relationship, as Sherlock desperately races to save him. Packed with suspense, emotion, and a great villain, it remains a standout.

Related: Benedict Cumberbatch’s Best Dramatic Performances, Ranked

3 A Study in Pink (S01 E01)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock (1)
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

The show’s first episode gets things off with a breathless bang. It effectively introduces Sherlock while still keeping him mysterious. It shows John, and how he’s drawn into Sherlock’s path. It produces an intriguing mystery in the case of linked suicides. It lays the groundwork for the show, and it does so in an almost overwhelming way, with visuals of Sherlock’s thought process and his quick pace in working. It remains one of the show’s best, with performances and a mystery that instantly pulls you in.

2 A Scandal in Belgravia (S02 E01)

Lara Pulver as Irene and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

This episode marks the introduction of Lara Pulver as Irene Adler, and it’s all the better for it. Irene meets Sherlock, and instantly proves his equal. He tries to investigate her for a series of scandalous pictures, but she matches his every tactic. Pulver’s performance is incredible; she nails the mystery, and it’s fully believable that she’s one of the few people to ever match Sherlock. It also has great visuals, like the different explanations of the gunshot, or the transitions between scenes.

1 The Reichenbach Fall (S02 E03)

Andrew Scott as Moriarty and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in a scene from Sherlock
Hartswood Films/BBC Wales/WGBH

This episode grabs you from the start, as John tells his therapist that Sherlock is dead. We then watch Moriarty attempt robberies and use them to frame Sherlock. Moriarty pulls this further when he meets Sherlock and says he must kill himself, or John and his friends will die. After a heartbreaking phone call with John, Sherlock falls off the hospital roof, while John watches in shock. Overall, it’s a shocking, heart-pounding episode that creates stakes and danger the show had never seen, while still keeping the emotions between Sherlock and John. Though Sherlock’s death was faked, the emotion and fear in the moment were genuine, and make this the show's best.