You can have a show with male protagonists and still give the female characters a strong personality that doesn't revolve around men.

And it definitely has them, even if they are bossed around by Sherlock. Then again, Sherlock bosses everyone around, including Scotland Yard. I really do adore this version of Mrs Hudson. She's old enough to be Sherlock's mum, and apparently steals his things (it... no, it doesn't even make much sense in context, but it's still funny).