I’ve been a Sherlock Holmes geek since I first discovered Hound of the Baskervilles in the stacks of my junior high school library. After finishing, I eagerly devoured the whole Canon, up to and including the two-volume annotated set by W.S. Baring-Gould. I also tried to regale my junior high circle of friends with tales of Holmes and Watson. In retrospect, this was likely the first neon sign that I was a confirmed geek and not quite like my friends.
Even today, there are few things that make me geek out more than Sherlock Holmes.
At one point, I not only had the stories themselves memorized, I had the notes in the Baring-Gould volumes memorized. Are there two Mrs. Watsons? Was Watson wounded in the shoulder or the leg? Just what really happened to Holmes on his Great Hiatus? What did Holmes mean when he said his brother Mycroft sometimes ‘was the British government?’ Was Holmes really in love with Irene Adler or simply appreciative or having been bested? And just how did that dancing men code work anyway?
And it’s not just Holmes I love. It’s Watson. I adore Watson. I love that he’s so stalwart, that he puts up with Holmes not because he likes being ridiculed but because he sees the inner Holmes, the one who is concerned about justice but is just this close to giving into his demons, particularly drug abuse. Watson is the kind of friend we’d all want to have. Even Holmes, despite his snide comments, knows that.
My gold standard for a good Sherlock Holmes story has always started with a great Watson. Through the years, I’ve read a ton of Holmes continuations, homages, imitators, and adaptations of the characters of varying quality. I want so much to love Murder by Decree. It has Christopher Plummer as Holmes and James Mason as Watson. It should be perfect, especially considering the villain is Jack the Ripper. Alas, Mason’s Watson is a buffoon.
I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes movie last year starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. It had a great Watson, which I loved, but Downey–much as I adore him–wasn’t playing Holmes but some other character.
So when I heard Steven Moffat–the man behind my favorite season of Dr. Who–would be adapting Holmes for the modern day, I was extremely skeptical despite the source. Just because he can write the Doctor, it doesn’t mean he could somehow put Holmes & Watson in the modern day and make it good.
But he and creative partner Mark Gatiss succeeded in making Sherlock not just good, but great.
In the original stories, Watson is a wounded veteran of the Afghanistan wars. There’s more than a hint that Watson craves the excitement of the chase as much as Holmes, evident in Watson’s eagerness to jump in when the game is afoot.
In Sherlock, this idea of Watson as a thrill-seeker equal to Holmes is brought to the forefront, with Watson suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and finding life after the army rather dull and unexciting. Geeky aside: fans familiar with the Canon will realize that the writers are riffing on Watson’s wandering wound in a way that references Doyle and makes perfect sense in the story.
Sherlock is what a reclusive detective starved for intellectual stimulation might be today. He’s rude, arrogant and yet still ten steps ahead of everyone. In some ways, he reminded me of one of Holmes’ modern-day successors, Patrick Jane on The Mentalist, who also doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. He just likes being right. Unlike Jane, however, Sherlock lacks charm. It’s his sheer intellectual brilliance that is his one defining trait. In the original stories, Doyle hints that Holmes is viewed as an eccentric by polite society. In this version, Sherlock (perhaps jokingly) refers to himself as a high-functioning sociopath. He’s certainly a good example of the gifted but maladjusted genius.
The writers avoid giving Sherlock the obvious flaws, avoiding any drug use or other vices clear in Doyle’s stories and instead give provide new ones, such as harassing the police via text messages (Holmes always did love telegrams) and becoming so invested in being right that he nearly lets the villain of the first adventure kill him.
But what really makes this show shine is the relationship between the two lead characters. Outwardly, they seem mismatched but inwardly, they’re perfectly complimentary. Watson understands Holmes’ intellectual curiosity, Holmes quickly discerns another restless soul in Watson. Watching the push-pull between them in a true joy. While there have been numerous suggestions and lengthy discussion about whether Holmes is gay, the show stays with the original Canon version of Holmes as an asexual but that doesn’t stop the writers from having a bit of fun with the idea as everyone begins to assume that they are a romantic couple.
Geeky aside again: Martin Freeman is going to be Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. I am somehow haunted now by a mash-up of Tolkien and Doyle, with Holmes being the one who uncovers where Sauron has hidden the one ring.
The three Sherlock movies were broadcast in three successive Sundays by Masterpiece Mystery on PBS stations and the DVDs are available for pre-order at the PBS website. I highly recommend them for any mystery lover and I’m looking forward to the next set of movies, tentatively scheduled for airing in the UK next August. Hopefully, they’ll again be carried on an American station as well. Quickly.
I see I’m not the only Moffat fan who posted a Sherlock review this week! I think Benedict Cumberbatch is fascinating to watch, but I really think it’s Martin Freeman’s Watson that takes the show to the next level. Cannot wait for the next season (but glad that I’ll be getting new Doctor Who in the meantime :).
I really need to write up a review of Moffat’s Dr. Who, because there’s so much good, crunchy stuff in it, especially for geek girls.
That season had me at “the girl who waited.”
I see I’m not the only Moffat fan who posted a Sherlock review this week! I think Benedict Cumberbatch is fascinating to watch, but I really think it’s Martin Freeman’s Watson that takes the show to the next level. Cannot wait for the next season (but glad that I’ll be getting new Doctor Who in the meantime :).
I really need to write up a review of Moffat’s Dr. Who, because there’s so much good, crunchy stuff in it, especially for geek girls.
That season had me at “the girl who waited.”
Martin Freeman is not only going to be Bilbo Baggins, but he was also Tim on the British Office and Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide movie.
Martin Freeman is not only going to be Bilbo Baggins, but he was also Tim on the British Office and Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide movie.
Okay, now I’m imagining Bilbo in space. 🙂
That’s where he finds Leonard Nimoy. It all makes sense now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
Okay, now I’m imagining Bilbo in space. 🙂
That’s where he finds Leonard Nimoy. It all makes sense now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
I grew up reading the Sherlock stories and I pretty much read them year round as an adult now. I’m a fan of this show because it’s done so well on all levels. It adds a new youthful energy while interpreting the classic Sherlock cases very well. It’s accurate in terms of setting and detail and reinforced by strong believable acting. The modernization is done extremely well. This show deserves to become a long-standing series!
I grew up reading the Sherlock stories and I pretty much read them year round as an adult now. I’m a fan of this show because it’s done so well on all levels. It adds a new youthful energy while interpreting the classic Sherlock cases very well. It’s accurate in terms of setting and detail and reinforced by strong believable acting. The modernization is done extremely well. This show deserves to become a long-standing series!
Try “Goodnight, Mr. Holmes” by Carol Nelson Douglas. A Scandal in Bohemia is retold from the point of view of Irene Adler.
Try “Goodnight, Mr. Holmes” by Carol Nelson Douglas. A Scandal in Bohemia is retold from the point of view of Irene Adler.
The Chinese mafia episode was really enjoyable! While I don’t think this series is quite up to the level that the recent movie relaunch has set, frankly it’s great tv fare and I think any Holmes fan who has liked anything recent out of the BBC’s mystery/suspense lineup will find a lot to like here.
The Chinese mafia episode was really enjoyable! While I don’t think this series is quite up to the level that the recent movie relaunch has set, frankly it’s great tv fare and I think any Holmes fan who has liked anything recent out of the BBC’s mystery/suspense lineup will find a lot to like here.
the reboot *is* great – so glad to see it getting some love here.
the reboot *is* great – so glad to see it getting some love here.
I haven’t finished writing my post on Sherlock, but I hope to post it within the week. I find it interesting that you find Watson so intriguing. Personally, I find Sherlock’s personification in this new series is almost spot on to my first boyfriend, I love it! I’m so thrilled with Moffat’s work and the actors as well. I do hope the next season is also broadcast on PBS.
I haven’t finished writing my post on Sherlock, but I hope to post it within the week. I find it interesting that you find Watson so intriguing. Personally, I find Sherlock’s personification in this new series is almost spot on to my first boyfriend, I love it! I’m so thrilled with Moffat’s work and the actors as well. I do hope the next season is also broadcast on PBS.
Holmes is definitely very good as well and Benedict Cumberbach definitely wins the prize for the best name.
But it’s a fantastic portrayal because you get the sense that Holmes is sometimes genuinely baffled by people. And you get the sense that he’s wondering (along with the audience) if he really does have a heart.
I love that small nod between Holmes & Watson in the last scene of the last movie. Perfect.
Holmes is definitely very good as well and Benedict Cumberbach definitely wins the prize for the best name.
But it’s a fantastic portrayal because you get the sense that Holmes is sometimes genuinely baffled by people. And you get the sense that he’s wondering (along with the audience) if he really does have a heart.
I love that small nod between Holmes & Watson in the last scene of the last movie. Perfect.
I totally agree with every last thing you said here, but I most particularly am just really glad to know that I am not the only Dr. Watson fangirl in the world. I would happily marry Dr. Watson. Of course there’d be that inevitable wife-feels-husband’s-best-friend-is-a-bad-influence-who’s-always-getting-him-into-trouble issue….
I totally agree with every last thing you said here, but I most particularly am just really glad to know that I am not the only Dr. Watson fangirl in the world. I would happily marry Dr. Watson. Of course there’d be that inevitable wife-feels-husband’s-best-friend-is-a-bad-influence-who’s-always-getting-him-into-trouble issue….
Watson fangirls unite! 🙂
I always thought the stories wouldn’t have the impact they do if Holmes were not viewed through the lens of Watson. Holmes is very eccentric and odd and hard to understand. Having him viewed through the lens of someone more human makes Holmes both more interesting and adds that air of mystery as well.
EXACTLY! So exactly that just last week I had a breakthrough with a book I’ve been attempting to write for, um, decades, that involves two outwardly very different boys who become best friends, one of whom is definitely the… uh, more eccentric one; and I somehow couldn’t get the plot or tone or anything cohesive, until, just last week, I suddenly thought, “Wait: Ian=Watson,” which was basically my brain’s shorthand for exactly what you just said, and IT ALL BECAME CLEAR. Will you be my best friend? 🙂
🙂
Glad it helped. I tend to dissect stories a lot because I especially need to know how and why the good stuff works so I can steal…er learn from them.
Watson fangirls unite! 🙂
I always thought the stories wouldn’t have the impact they do if Holmes were not viewed through the lens of Watson. Holmes is very eccentric and odd and hard to understand. Having him viewed through the lens of someone more human makes Holmes both more interesting and adds that air of mystery as well.
EXACTLY! So exactly that just last week I had a breakthrough with a book I’ve been attempting to write for, um, decades, that involves two outwardly very different boys who become best friends, one of whom is definitely the… uh, more eccentric one; and I somehow couldn’t get the plot or tone or anything cohesive, until, just last week, I suddenly thought, “Wait: Ian=Watson,” which was basically my brain’s shorthand for exactly what you just said, and IT ALL BECAME CLEAR. Will you be my best friend? 🙂
🙂
Glad it helped. I tend to dissect stories a lot because I especially need to know how and why the good stuff works so I can steal…er learn from them.