Oddly enough, I agree that I can see a few more steps in the development of Sherlock's side of the friendship. I honestly can't see it, even when you point it out, in the first three episodes (except a little bit in The Great Game) — but I do see much more evidence of that side of the development in the last three episodes.

Still, while I see his views changing — and Cumberbatch's interpretation of Holmes' bewildered realization that he cares is fascinating and top-knotch — I don't see him showing enough solid proof of the change that Watson could believably see, and then respond to.

And I simply did not see that growth mirrored in Watson. Freeman made me believe in John's slightly irritated fascination with Sherlock, and in a growing, very wary and reticently amiable affection — right up until he then made me - forced me to believe — in a depth of affection that did not have a believably organic bridge back to the earlier, much less deep, affection.

That, I believe, was the fault of the writer and producer, who didn't handle the emotional pacing as well as they handled the plot. In this, I think they did a disservice to the stellar job Freeman did with what he was given. He just wasn't given enough.

So, while Sherlock's journey was better sketched in, I can't agree that John's was as well served.

But as I said in the cut comment: Of course I'm going to watch the next series, because I think I'm being presented with good quality entertainment despite what I think of as its flaws.