‘Sherlock’ Season 3 Prequel Minisode: The Game is Back On in “Many Happy Returns”

UK 'Sherlock' fans are but one week away from the great detective's epic return for "The Empty Hearse," but what of us US viewers condemned to wait additional weeks for 'Sherlock' season 3's premiere? Languish no longer, as Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return for 'Sherlock' season 3 prequel minisode "Many Happy Returns" right here!

Some two years after the events of "The Reichenbach Fall," Sherlock's more devoted fans have taken to documenting reported sightings and mysterious events all across the globe, even going so far as to present their work to Inspector Lestrade (Rupert Graves), to little avail. But, when Lestrade pays a visit to an old friend, the stars begin to align and signs of the great detective's "Many Happy Returns" seem to be everywhere at once!

Meanwhile, in addition to the footage screened and details gleaned at Comic-Con, we most recently learned of season 3 that Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen (brother to ‘Hannibal”s Mads Mikkelsen) has joined in the villainous role of “Charles Augustus Magnussen,” a character with no direct literary counterpart, but who likely corresponds to the 1904 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.”

Follow-up episode “The Sign of Three” will feature an oft-discussed wedding, while “The Last Vow” will air on February 2. The BBC has yet to commission an official ‘Sherlock’ season 4, though reportedly Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have both signed on for the follow-up, in spite of their increasingly busy schedules.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get your first taste of 'Sherlock' season 3 in the prequel minisode "Many Happy Returns" above, and give us your predictions for the January 2014 premiere in the comments!