BBC's Sherlock

Post by **Elentári** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:35 pm

The new series of SHERLOCK has just finished airing tonight...

but tonight's finale was absolutely amazing! You guys are in for a treat!

[pssst...Martin Freeman was sitting there with bare feet in one scene and I couldn't help but think Bilbo!!)

Post by **WampusCat** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:19 am

I can't wait for Sherlock to air here! I thought the first batch of episodes was amazing.

Post by **Holbytla** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:42 am

I liked the episodes, but they weren't amazing. Ben was a goodly annoying Sherlock, but he was a bit too over the top for my taste. Watson was good. Better than good but not amazing.

Post by **narya** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:51 am

I liked The first one - "A Study in Pink" - for the wild sense of adventure. The others were not as good, IMHO. I watched it on the Internet. So it may be available to you that way.

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:08 am

narya wrote:I liked The first one - "A Study in Pink" - for the wild sense of adventure. The others were not as good, IMHO. I watched it on the Internet. So it may be available to you that way.

Funny, I found the first one the weakest, and enjoyed the second an third more. Yes, Ben's Sherlock is incredibly annoying at time, and it took me a while to accept the modernising of the stories. However, this new season really goes from strength to strength, particularly with the strong psychological focus. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to tell you that the new episodes will feature

Hidden text.

(but just in case

)

Post by **axordil** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:02 pm

I like the current BBC series Sherlock rather more than I've liked previous adaptations for a couple of reasons, any one of which has popped up before, but the combination of which I think is unique to this one:

1) Watson isn't a buffoon. He's the protagonist. That's as it should be, because his struggles are, long-term, more recognizable than the puzzles Holmes solves.
2) The last episode of the first season demonstrates how narrow the moral gap between Holmes and Moriarity is, and their common motivation: to escape the tedium of mere existence.
3) Holmes isn't just smarter than you and me, he's wired differently. Although he's not entirely alien--witness the interplay with his brother. It's a portrayal that doesn't lend itself to easy categorization, psychologically. Not quite Asperger's, not quite full out psychopathy, not OCD, nowhere near normal.
4) The subtlety of that over-the-top portrayal. Saw the third episode of season one last night: a character tells police no one could have been expected to notice something, and Sherlock makes a little noise, less than a cough or a cleared throat, because of course he'd noticed it.

Is this Osgiliating off toward the TV thread?

Post by **yovargas** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:10 pm

axordil wrote:3) Holmes isn't just smarter than you and me, he's wired differently. Although he's not entirely alien--witness the interplay with his brother. It's a portrayal that doesn't lend itself to easy categorization, psychologically. Not quite Asperger's, not quite full out psychopathy, not OCD, nowhere near normal.

This makes the character very unusual and very difficult and IMO the actor pulls it off amazingly well. It's one of the best pieces of TV acting I can recall ever seeing. Despite not generally caring for detective stories, the performances make it worth watching to me.

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:14 pm

axordil wrote:2) The last episode of the first season demonstrates how narrow the moral gap between Holmes and Moriarity is, and their common motivation: to escape the tedium of mere existence.

Word. This is played out big time in the last episode of the new season

axordil wrote: Is this Osgiliating off toward the TV thread?

mea culpa! Perhaps it might be best to adjourn elsewhere?

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:19 pm

It seems about time a thread was started for this acclaimed reworking of Conan Doyle's much-loved detective.

Although most of the world has only seen the first series, Season 2 has just finished airing in the UK, and I have to say you guys are in for a treat!

Whilst the modernization has proved a little controversial among die-hard fans, by-and-large this 21st Century updating has won plaudits from critics and audiences. One of the great joys of this super-cool reboot, masterminded by Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss, has been the way in which it pays homage to the original stories while twisting their plots into smart, up-to-date, psychological thrillers involving the latest technology.

The rewrites are at times "faithful to Sir ACD's originals, then they will wander, taking in mobile phone technology and computer hacking and what have you."

Cumberbatch's Holmes can be an infuriating show-off of a know-it-all, and personally whilst I like the visual display of how he is taking in all the relevant information, I do find the regulation soliloquy of rapid-fire verbal explanation every episode rather tiresome. At least Watson told Holmes off for showing-off in the season finale!

And the good news is that Season 3 has been confirmed by Mark Gatiss on Twitter!

Hobbit fans: Martin Freeman was sitting there with bare feet in one scene of the finale and I couldn't help but think Bilbo!! Watching Freeman, I can certainly imagine several of his mannerisms making their way into Bilbo's characterization.

Post by **narya** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:19 pm

Looks like we can't see it In the US (thru normal, legal means) until May.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2 ... eason-two/

Post by **axordil** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:51 pm

Hmm. Thought I saw a Jan. date for the Blu-ray. Maybe I was looking at the wrong Sherlock.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:10 pm

That's the Blu-Ray of the first series, Ax. There doesn't appear to be any legal way to watch it in the States. It won't be shown on PBS until May.

The first season is being re-shown starting last night

on Masterpiece Mystery (after Downton Abbey, maybe?), and those episodes can be viewed on the PBS website, I believe each one during the week after it's shown on TV.

Post by **narya** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:55 am

Study in Pink, Available on the Internet, but not iPhone

http://video.pbs.org/video/1619685888/
Link expires March 1, 2012. Remainder of series one will be added soon.

Post by **axordil** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:11 am

Got all of season one via Netflix.

Post by **Rebecca** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:12 am

I watched season one on Netflix too. Excited to watch season two.

Post by **Elentári** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:19 am

Ax, you may be right: I just received an email from Amazon UK saying that a "region free" Blu-Ray DVD of Season 2 is released on Jan 23

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005 ... 121_snp_dp

Post by **axordil** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:36 pm

Post by **WampusCat** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:24 am

One thing I like about this version (and I second all of Ax's reasons) is how the updating has not detracted from the essence of the characters. Of course Holmes would be plugged into the Internet. Of course That Character (for the benefit of anyone who hasn't seen the first episode) would be able to track people using street cameras. Of course Watson suffers from PTSD after his injury in (some things didn't have to change) Afghanistan.

It just makes sense.

I'm really eager to see more.

Post by **Pearly Di** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:15 pm

The final episode of Series Two -- The Reichenbach Fall -- was fantastic television.

I also loved A Scandal in Belgravia.

Benedict Cumberbatch's mesmerising, infuriating, amazing Sherlock and Martin Freeman's adorable yet steely John ... my favourite bromance since Frodo/Sam.

Post by **ToshoftheWuffingas** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:02 am

I've been whimpering pathetically in delight at watching this.