How to watch Sherlock: Series 2 from the USA (and apparently other countries)!
In response to allisonamazing’s cry for help.
My sister and I are going to use this device here to get ourselves into the BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is a feature offered to citizens of the UK which allows you to watch any BBC programme in lovely reliable high quality after it has been uploaded to the BBC iPlayer website (about 10-15 minutes after the episode airs). EDIT: the iPlayer website also allows you to stream BBC One; but beware that if your proxy server is slow, the video may lag, stressing-out your Sherlock-viewing experience.
Note: although the TV feature of BBC iPlayer isn’t offered to the US, the Radio feature is. Mentioned just in case you’re interested in the BBC’s radio programmes.
TunnelBear (the aforementioned “device”) is a simple, trusted-by-Neil-Gaiman-myself-and-many-others, safe, and free bit of software that tricks the Internet into believing you’re either in the US or the UK, according to how you set the switch. Apparently, TunnelBear has also been known to work for other regions, so if you’re outside of the US/UK then give it a shot and see how it goes.
The above is how I will be watching it and how I recommend that other US residents do as well.
If you want to watch the show live as it airs in the UK, you can probably find a live streaming site of BBC One the night (or afternoon in this case; 5 hour time difference) that it airs in the UK by Googling around. The reason that I don’t recommend this is because most streaming sites are buggy, unreliable, and very, very low quality. A bit disappointing for a show as visually stunning as Sherlock.
Therefore, I recommend that you wait the extra hour and 45ish minutes (off of Tumblr; spoilers will be flying) to watch it on the BBC iPlayer.
^EDIT! (from above) The iPlayer website also allows you to stream BBC One; but beware that if your proxy server is slow, the video may lag, stressing-out your Sherlock-viewing experience.
As for viewers outside of the US or UK, I suggest that you first try out TunnelBear to see if it works for your region. If it doesn’t, search online for a device similar to TunnelBear OR find a livestream of BBC One friendly to your country.
Good luck! Happy freaking out!
P.S. If you know someone who needs to know how to watch Sherlock from the US but has TumblrSaviored everything Sherlock-related to avoid spoilers, please pass this post on to them via their submission or ask box. Otherwise, this post, which is full to the brim with Sherlock tags, will almost certainly not appear on their dash. Thank you!
Reblogging myself to add that TunnelBear not only works in Australia, but the free account limit of 500MB is a moot point because you can just turn off the service after the video from the BBC loads a bit.
No Linux version?…Oh. Well. Okay then.
