“Sherlock”: Who’s Who Without Spoilers

British shows are known for their sharp wit as well as their amazing casts. “Sherlock” is no exception. Part of the PBS “Masterpiece” series, it comes to the US in three action-filled installments. The characters come across as witty and draw the viewer easily into the intrigue of modern day London.

What follows is an attempt to introduce the reader to the characters with as few spoilers as possible:

Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch): The police consultant of the show’s title… He is a man that some on the police squad find hard to tolerate, but his insights are worth the effort… His reasoning skills break down a suspect and case like nothing I have ever seen before… Sharp of wit, he has little to no words to spare in regards to his family-his brother, Mycroft, in particular… Associate of John Watson (Martin Freeman)…Known adversaries include Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott) and Charles Augustus Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen)…Traded witty remarks with Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) in a hard-to-define relationship

John Watson (Martin Freeman): Former surgeon on the frontlines of battlefields… Medical knowledge makes him useful in investigations...Has deeply hidden feelings of anger and resentment… Not someone to be ignored as his insights have grown as helpful as Sherlock’s …Associate of Sherlock Holmes…Husband to Mary Watson

Mary Watson (Amanda Abbington): Nurse who has the ability to provide medical care as well as occasional insight…She puts herself in peril when it comes to any investigation John Watson is working on…Inserts herself into John Watson’s life when he needs a friend the most…Eventually becomes John's wife…Has a hidden life from before she met John and Sherlock that has not been fully revealed and might never be

 Lestrade (Rupert Graves): Responsible for the organization of London’s police force…Consults with Sherlock Holmes on certain cases…Tries to keep the police force’s tempers low when it comes to the outside interference of Sherlock Holmes

Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gatiss):  Government agent with pride and a sense of his own intelligence…Uses intermediaries to fetch those he chooses to meet with as supposed to personally seeking them out… has resources that assist him in keeping tabs on brother, Sherlock...most of his interaction with his family suggests there are some family issues from the past that have remained under the surface, which makes the series interesting

Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs): Landlady of 221b Baker Street…Her husband ran into legal trouble in the United States…Sherlock Holmes helped her get free of her husband… She takes care of Sherlock and John Watson and genuinely looks after their well-being…There is definitely more than meets the eye with this character

These characters make the cases exciting to watch. After three seasons (“series”), this show keeps viewers waiting and asks “Did you Miss Me?” to them upon its return.