10 ‘Sherlock’ Season 4 spoilers for those who can’t wait for the premiere

In the Season 4 trailer, it’s teased that “something’s coming.” Whatever that means remains a mystery, but it definitely sounds ominous. Overall, the trailer is extremely foreboding. It appears fans should prepare themselves and possibly get the tissues ready, because it certainly sounds like this season will be going to the dark side.

At 2016 Comic-Con, these three clues were teased. What could they possibly mean? Smith seems to refer to Toby Jones’ villainous Season 4 character. According to IMDb, Jones is playing Culverton Smith, so “Smith” is most likely his character. As for Thatcher, this clue is a bit more mysterious, but maybe it has something to do with John and Mary’s impending child? Is it his or her name? Screen Rant points out that Thatcher was mentioned in Season 2 episode “The Hounds of Baskerville” as a password, but who knows if it directly relates to that? Finally, there are many who think Sherrinford is Sherlock and Mycroft’s other brother. There’s been mention of another Holmes sibling, so maybe Sherrinford will pop up come the fourth season.

In relation to the “Sherrinford” clue, there’s a chance that Tom Hiddleston could finally come on Sherlock as the other Holmes brother. Seeing as Sherrinford just might refer to Mycroft and Sherlock’s brother, well, maybe that also means Hiddleston will play Sherrinford. Also, Mark Gatiss (Mycroft and Sherlock‘s executive producer) tweeted a photo of himself, Hiddleston and Amanda Abbington (Mary) at 2016 Comic-Con. Take note that he captioned the photo, “Blud.” Hmm… that definitely speaks volumes. Plus, it’d be great to see Hiddleston and his real-life best friend Benedict Cumberbatch acting alongside each other.

Gatiss loves giving clues. In February 2015, he tweeted the image shown here. It is a photo for Jabez Wilson’s pawnshop and has the caption, “We Gingers stick together… #Sherlock.” For those unaware, Jabez Wilson is part of Arthur Conan Doyle’s story of The Red-Headed League. That can’t be a coincidence, right? Also, does this have anything to do with the “Redbeard” mentioned in Mycroft’s notebook in The Abominable Bride 2016 special? Who knows at this point, but it certainly seems like Jabez Wilson will play a major part in Season 4.

Details surrounding Jones’ villainous Season 4 role have been kept under wraps, but based on the three clues unveiled at 2016 Comic-Con, he could very well be playing Culverton Smith. For those who have seen the trailer for the fourth season, Jones already has the terrifying maniacal laugh down pat, which proves he’s going to do the role justice.

Could Season 4 be the last? According to Moffat, yes. In a July interview with The Telegraph, he said about Sherlock‘s fate, “I don’t know how long we can keep it going. I’m personally willing, but I’m hardly the main draw. I would be moderately surprised if this was the last time we ever made this show. But it absolutely could be.” Here’s hoping this isn’t the last season.

Based on a 2015 interview executive producer Steven Moffat had with Entertainment Weekly, Season 4 will be all about “consequences.” Well, that doesn’t sound ominous — at all. “[Season 4] is going to be… I suppose you’d say… consequences,” he said. “It’s consequences. Chickens come to roost. It’s dark in some ways — obviously it’s great fun and a Sherlock Holmes romp and all that — but there’s a sense of… things… coming back to bite you. It’s not a safe, sensible way to live. It’s hilarious and exhilarating some days, but some days it’s going to be bloody frightening.” Anyone else nervous to see what “consequences” are ahead?

If this happens, John is going to be devastated. There’s a good chance that Mary will die, just like she does in the books. While chatting with The Telegraph in June 2014, Martin Freeman said, “While we play fast and loose with the original stories, we generally follow the trajectory of what Conan Doyle did. So he [Watson] gets married, and then Mary dies — so at some point presumably she’ll die.” Also, in the Season 4 trailer, it looks like Watson is standing over someone’s hospital bed. Is it Mary?

In April, Moffat released a statement about the upcoming season and said, “Sherlock series four — here we go again! Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street, and it always feels like coming home. Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and terror and tragedy are looming. This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning and it’s about to reach its climax.” What does he mean by “climax”? Does this foreshadow the end? Does this foreshadow something huge? It’s unclear, but it seems like Season 4 is going to be a wild ride.

Based on the Season 4 trailer, Sherlock is getting darker and darker. Actually, it’s also mentioned in the trailer: “The roads we walk have demons beneath, and yours have been waiting for a very long time.” Let the anxiety kick in. It sure seems like “something’s coming,” for sure.