I think I had more fun with the episode than you did, but I like how you've worded this.  It's certainly fair criticism.

It's a floor wax *and* a dessert topping.

"John's blog is HILARIOUS.  I think he likes you more than I do."

I loved watching how uncomfortable the attache was at the fraternal bickering.  At that bit, and at Mycroft needling Sherlock about not knowing much about sex.

A hole that can only be filled by Malcolm Tucker or a lubricated horse cock.

He told her *not* to cook barefoot!

Do they give you clothes?  Shoes too?

I think showing the texts this way works.  They're really short and in clear type, so you read them pretty much instantly.  (And certainly much faster than listening to characters tell each other information that would've been in a text.)

This episode taught me British people pronounce "backfire" the way Joel McHale pronounces "Starburns."

@avclub-1922cc1dc1286b56a2d99b7f1aa0630c:disqus Oh, I don't think Mycroft finds the abilities silly; he just has a hard time calling the act of whirling about in a big coat at a crime scene and shouting abuse at the police a profession.

I do think a lot of sex mystifies Sherlock, and I think a lot of the time he's not too interested in it—I couldn't say whether Sherlock is actually primarily asexual, but certainly I think he's usually much more interested in other things.

Also: "I'm not the one you're angry at, so shut up!"  Or whatever the line was.

I would pay money to see Pete Campbell gliding down a mountain on exploding skis.

Heh, it was fun getting those glimpses into Sherlock's room.  He's got his periodic table, he's got his judo certificate, he's got his sock index and fireman costume….

Right, the fact that she solved the mystery was important, certainly.  As was just getting so much attention from her.  He likes being flattered.  I think all the sex stuff in large part just helped keep him off-balance.  I'm sure he wouldn't have been interested if the sex stuff was all she had to offer.

@avclub-1922cc1dc1286b56a2d99b7f1aa0630c:disqus "Mycroft who has similar but less honed powers of observation than Sherlock"

Things I liked:
- the love for Mrs. Hudson
- anything out of Martin Freeman's mouth, or on his face, or about his person—Martin Freeman in general
- Irene Adler
- the way Cumberbatch says "It means I've got a text" while Sherlock tries to act nonchalant
- wee Sherlock's dreams of piracy
- Mycroft adorning his place with…

Thanks for listing this out!  I didn't bother to watch the PBS version.

"I wanted that to be a long-running joke."

Honestly, though, it would make just as much sense as whatever the scriptwriter had in mind.