Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch Interview

Sherlock's season two US premiere last week brought in a staggering 3.2 million viewers on PBS stations around the country, double that of member stations' average primetime broadcast, confirming that the clever British interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic sleuth story may be the best yet.

During a fan preview of the season, we sat down with creator Steven Moffat, producer Sue Vertue, and Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, to talk loyal fans, the wonders of the Internet, and which animals are the detective and Dr. John Watson's spirit animals (hint: they're not otters or hedgehogs). Read on for musings from the crew responsible for the wittiest mystery TV's ever seen.

On the Show's Geeky Credibility

Steven Moffat: I'm the resident geek; me and Mark (Gatiss, Sherlock co-creator) are the geeks. We started all this because we admitted to each other that we liked the Nigel Bruce/Basil Rathbone movies; you're not meant to like those ones, but we loved them.

On Fans Watching Sherlock Before Its US Debut

Steven: People aren't going to wait anymore.

Benedict: It's a carrot and stick thing. You know real fans do it because they just really want it and they don't want to ruin it [with online spoilers].

Check out what the trio have to say on those oh-so-plentiful Sherlock Internet fan memes after the jump.

On the Best of YouTube

Sue: Have you seen on YouTube "Vatican Cameos," at the Finnish shopping center? [In reference to a scene in the season opener "A Scandal in Belgradia"]

Steven: Where someone shows Vatican Cameos and everyone ducks?

Benedict: Are you serious?!

Sue: They've done a flash mob with about 20 people.

Steven: The highlights of YouTube are extraordinary.

Benedict: I'd love to see that!

Steven: I imagine that sometime during the Vatican Cameos case [not depicted on the show] he had to tell John, Dr. Watson, to duck. It's a rather obscure moment that everyone's fallen in love with.

On the Otter and Hedgehog Internet Memes

Benedict: Is John a hedgehog? I haven't seen the hedgehog. When did that happen? Is it due to Martin's hair? Because if it is, I'll be really happy about that.

On More Appropriate Sherlock and Watson Spirit Animals

Sue: Sherlock to me feels like a Great Dane, you know, those dogs where the legs are too big.

Benedict: Yes! Yes. Except, more like a meercat, or a hybrid between a meercat and a Great Dane. A Great Dane on speed. A Great Dane that's just had a bowl of coffee.

Sue: What would John be?

Benedict: He's a big dog. He's sort of angular; there's something more predatory about him. A kind of creature of the night. Not the most sociable. Not a cat, but something very independent. Removed.

Sue: British Bulldog. Ha.

Benedict: That would be about a bulldog, I guess.

Watch episode two, "The Hounds of the Baskervilles," this Sunday on PBS Masterpiece at 9 p.m. ET. Or, catch up on the previous Sherlock mystery on PBS Masterpiece Theatre online.

Source: PBS Masterpiece