NewSherlock (s1ep1): A Study in Pink Sherlock (s1ep2): The Blind Banker Sherlock (s1ep3): The Great Game It’s kind of scary the way this fandom has blown up overnight with just three episodes. |
Sherlock 1×01: A Study in Pink
I’ve loved Sherlock Holmes a long time. That said, caries even though it did well at the box office, I was a bit disappointed in the film that came out last year. So, when I heard about this BBC miniseries, I have to say I was a little reluctant to watch for fear of being disappointed again. But I did anyway, because fan excitement on the internet can be a very convincing thing.
First thing, the directing and cinematography are lovely. Second thing, the characters, actors, and modern setting took me a little bit to get accustomed. But once I got past all that, I loved it.
I loved the use of modern technology like txt messages on screen, use of cell phones, the internet, blogging, etc. These things could have become gimmicky, but actually melded in really well with the new modern setting.
There’s also an exciting number of callbacks to the books that most people wouldn’t even catch. (That cry you just heard were fans *squee*ing around the world.)
One of the things I felt lacking from the movie version was being able to see Holmes leaps of logic as he worked his way through the crimes. I loved the flashes and zooms in this version as you went along for the ride. The first time we see Holmes at work, it is pretty amazing.
And one of the best parts about being smart is being able to call people out on things.
Then, there’s Cumberbatch who does an awesome job as Holmes and subtly showing off all the character’s little quirks. Holmes is smart, knows it, and he has the ego to match. He’s also possibly a little crazy.
But at the same time, there’s these glimpses past his tough know-it-all exterior. It’s clear early on that he lives for the chase, to figure out the crime, otherwise he finds life boring. I love that the writers have given him layers, so we know there is more at stake here with his character.
And Holmes isn’t the only one who needs a sense of purpose. Watson is just looking for a place to fit in and continue on with his life. And that’s why they’re perfect together, one is just a bit more stable.
Thank god Holmes’ isn’t all serious and stuff, too. At least he has a sense of humor. The banter between the two makes a lot of their relationship and the show.
And then there’s the otherside of Holmes and Watson’s newly established relationship. Holmes totally takes advantage of him and gets him to do things, unknowingly, for his amusement. And it is pretty funny. But I also realize he does it as a form of endearment as he really cares.
The bad guy of the week, the cabbie, was so creepy. The idea that he can will people into taking a pill and killing themselves, and then the authorities not being able to see it as murder is a creepy thing.
I find the idea scary that if it wasn’t for Watson shooting him, then maybe even Holmes would have taken the pill. (Did I mention how much I love that through the window shot as Watson realizes he’s in the wrong building?) Holmes has a weakness, his thirst for knowledge and being right, and the cabbie was able to prey on it. It’s going to get him into trouble sooner or later. But I guess I’m like him, I still want to know if it was the right pill to take or not. But on the other hand I’m just glad he didn’t get to take it. So, yeah. First episode, loved it. The game is most definitely on. |
Sherlock 1×02: The Blind Banker
I know a lot of people didn’t care too much for this episode. And I agree it’s not as good as the other two, but I think it’s still worth it just to see Holmes and Watson continue their amusing comraderie and anecdotes.
Apparently this episode had an abundance of stereotypes that people found frustrating. Part of me agrees, then another part of me realizes I’ve heard this complaint before. Characters in stories are always created from a mixture of characteristics and stereotypes. Besides, I find that more often than not, people are a result of their upbringing and conform to these same stereotypes. We just don’t like to point it out. Holmes evading a sword is a lot of win. I love that with each new episode/scene, we learn more about his character quirks and many talents. Now that I think about it, that whole scene wasn’t actually explained, but ah well.
Oh, Holmes and Watson. They’re like an old married couple, arguing over who’s going to get the groceries and why haven’t you done anything all day. I love that the writers continue the homoerotic subtext in this episode. I don’t ship them mind you, but I can still find it amusing.
Sherlock Holmes has no friends. Or so he thinks. As if.
More insight into Holmes and his quest for knowledge. I still find it fascinating that the game is the only thing really moving him to solve crimes. Poor Watson now has to make sure they get paid for it, lol.
Holmes’ acting skills FTW. Another one of his hidden talents. So, amusing to know he’ll do anything to solve a crime.
Deduction skills FTW. One of the things missing from the Holmes movie that I love seeing in the series.
I love that they added another character into the Holmes/Watson relationship. Watson really needs an outside life, well, at least until he realizes he can’t have one with Holmes by his side. And just what are you going to do about it, Holmes? Oh, yeah, that’s right, trick him into going out on a case by offering him tickets to the circus.
Yay for M making his first semi-appearance (through the computer). |
Sherlock 1×03: The Great Game
Another excellent episode, and it leaves us off with a bang. Well, hopefully not a bang.
Holmes’s whole talk with the inmate was priceless. That’s the Holmes we know and love, completely frustrated by iwhen there’s no
Holmes has a point. When you’re solving crimes left and right, what’s the use of that extra knowledge. Unless, you know, he comes across a case that needs planetary knowledge. Then, he might have to go ask for some advice again. ;)
+1 to using a reference from the books. (Apparently there’s tons of them throughout the series.) And lol, Watson having a blog and writing about Holmes’ cases is awesome. Holmes doesn’t seem to like that Watson is getting a lot of recognition, does he?
However ridiculous it might have been, it was priceless seeing Holmes explaining why Molly’s new boyfriend is gay. And the kicker, he left me his number under this dish. Everyone is smitten with Holmes, huh? Oh, Molly, you’re not going to make him jealous and you’re never going to get him. Give up.
Even though Holmes’ ego can get the best of him, I do enjoy seeing seeing him get fired up when he solves a crime.
Things just got serious. More interesting background into Holmes’ character where letting people in is a mistake. And showing compassion or empathy is a flaw. Using David Duchovny’s words about Mulder from The X-Files, Watson is Holmes’ "human creditential". Watson makes Holmes a human being because people think, "If, well, if [he] can stand him, he must have some humanity within him." Well, we haven’t quite reached that part of their relationship yet, but yeah. And oh god, this is sounding shippy.
Moriarty finally really appears. I’ll admit it, I was really wondering what was goign on when Watson came out during the pool scene. And I was also taken aback at Moriarty’s personality, but it’s really grown on me.
Holmes and Moriarty. They’re like two sides of the same coin, and that’s what make their rivalry fascinating. He’s a crime solver for hire, and he’s a crime creator for hire. They have similar thoughts on the world and people, but there’s a fine line that stops Holmes from becoming Moriarty.
Now here’s the real archenemy. Yes, please.
See, Holmes does care about people. Well, at least Watson. Dun, dun, dun. Evil cliffy. This episode and the first one are going to leave me with good thoughts for the next….year? Why aren’t we getting anymore episodes for a year? |
NewSherlock (s1ep1): A Study in Pink Sherlock (s1ep2): The Blind Banker Sherlock (s1ep3): The Great Game It’s kind of scary the way this fandom has blown up overnight with just three episodes. |
Sherlock 1×01: A Study in Pink
I’ve loved Sherlock Holmes a long time. That said, even though it did well at the box office, I was a bit disappointed in the film that came out last year. So, when I heard about this BBC miniseries, I have to say I was a little reluctant to watch for fear of being disappointed again. But I did anyway, because fan excitement on the internet can be a very convincing thing.
First thing, the directing and cinematography are lovely. Second thing, the characters, actors, and modern setting took me a little bit to get accustomed. But once I got past all that, I loved it.
I loved the use of modern technology like txt messages on screen, use of cell phones, the internet, blogging, etc. These things could have become gimmicky, but actually melded in really well with the new modern setting.
There’s also an exciting number of callbacks to the books that most people wouldn’t even catch. (That cry you just heard were fans *squee*ing around the world.)
One of the things I felt lacking from the movie version was being able to see Holmes leaps of logic as he worked his way through the crimes. I loved the flashes and zooms in this version as you went along for the ride. The first time we see Holmes at work, it is pretty amazing.
And one of the best parts about being smart is being able to call people out on things.
Then, there’s Cumberbatch who does an awesome job as Holmes and subtly showing off all the character’s little quirks. Holmes is smart, knows it, and he has the ego to match. He’s also possibly a little crazy.
But at the same time, there’s these glimpses past his tough know-it-all exterior. It’s clear early on that he lives for the chase, to figure out the crime, otherwise he finds life boring. I love that the writers have given him layers, so we know there is more at stake here with his character.
And Holmes isn’t the only one who needs a sense of purpose. Watson is just looking for a place to fit in and continue on with his life. And that’s why they’re perfect together, one is just a bit more stable.
Thank god Holmes’ isn’t all serious and stuff, too. At least he has a sense of humor. The banter between the two makes a lot of their relationship and the show.
And then there’s the otherside of Holmes and Watson’s newly established relationship. Holmes totally takes advantage of him and gets him to do things, unknowingly, for his amusement. And it is pretty funny. But I also realize he does it as a form of endearment as he really cares.
The bad guy of the week, the cabbie, was so creepy. The idea that he can will people into taking a pill and killing themselves, and then the authorities not being able to see it as murder is a creepy thing.
I find the idea scary that if it wasn’t for Watson shooting him, then maybe even Holmes would have taken the pill. (Did I mention how much I love that through the window shot as Watson realizes he’s in the wrong building?) Holmes has a weakness, his thirst for knowledge and being right, and the cabbie was able to prey on it. It’s going to get him into trouble sooner or later. But I guess I’m like him, I still want to know if it was the right pill to take or not. But on the other hand I’m just glad he didn’t get to take it. So, yeah. First episode, loved it. The game is most definitely on. |
Sherlock 1×02: The Blind Banker
I know a lot of people didn’t care too much for this episode. And I agree it’s not as good as the other two, but I think it’s still worth it just to see Holmes and Watson continue their amusing comraderie and anecdotes.
Apparently this episode had an abundance of stereotypes that people found frustrating. Part of me agrees, then another part of me realizes I’ve heard this complaint before. Characters in stories are always created from a mixture of characteristics and stereotypes. Besides, I find that more often than not, people are a result of their upbringing and conform to these same stereotypes. We just don’t like to point it out. Holmes evading a sword is a lot of win. I love that with each new episode/scene, we learn more about his character quirks and many talents. Now that I think about it, that whole scene wasn’t actually explained, but ah well.
Oh, Holmes and Watson. They’re like an old married couple, arguing over who’s going to get the groceries and why haven’t you done anything all day. I love that the writers continue the homoerotic subtext in this episode. I don’t ship them mind you, but I can still find it amusing.
Sherlock Holmes has no friends. Or so he thinks. As if.
More insight into Holmes and his quest for knowledge. I still find it fascinating that the game is the only thing really moving him to solve crimes. Poor Watson now has to make sure they get paid for it, lol.
Holmes’ acting skills FTW. Another one of his hidden talents. So, amusing to know he’ll do anything to solve a crime.
Deduction skills FTW. One of the things missing from the Holmes movie that I love seeing in the series.
I love that they added another character into the Holmes/Watson relationship. Watson really needs an outside life, well, at least until he realizes he can’t have one with Holmes by his side. And just what are you going to do about it, Holmes? Oh, yeah, that’s right, trick him into going out on a case by offering him tickets to the circus.
Yay for M making his first semi-appearance (through the computer). |
Sherlock 1×03: The Great Game
Another excellent episode, and it leaves us off with a bang. Well, hopefully not a bang.
Holmes’s whole talk with the inmate was priceless. That’s the Holmes we know and love, completely frustrated by iwhen there’s no
Holmes has a point. When you’re solving crimes left and right, what’s the use of that extra knowledge. Unless, you know, he comes across a case that needs planetary knowledge. Then, he might have to go ask for some advice again. ;)
+1 to using a reference from the books. (Apparently there’s tons of them throughout the series.) And lol, Watson having a blog and writing about Holmes’ cases is awesome. Holmes doesn’t seem to like that Watson is getting a lot of recognition, does he?
However ridiculous it might have been, it was priceless seeing Holmes explaining why Molly’s new boyfriend is gay. And the kicker, he left me his number under this dish. Everyone is smitten with Holmes, huh? Oh, Molly, you’re not going to make him jealous and you’re never going to get him. Give up.
Even though Holmes’ ego can get the best of him, I do enjoy seeing seeing him get fired up when he solves a crime.
Things just got serious. More interesting background into Holmes’ character where letting people in is a mistake. And showing compassion or empathy is a flaw. Using David Duchovny’s words about Mulder from The X-Files, Watson is Holmes’ "human creditential". Watson makes Holmes a human being because people think, "If, well, if [he] can stand him, he must have some humanity within him." Well, we haven’t quite reached that part of their relationship yet, but yeah. And oh god, this is sounding shippy.
Moriarty finally really appears. I’ll admit it, I was really wondering what was goign on when Watson came out during the pool scene. And I was also taken aback at Moriarty’s personality, but it’s really grown on me.
Holmes and Moriarty. They’re like two sides of the same coin, and that’s what make their rivalry fascinating. He’s a crime solver for hire, and he’s a crime creator for hire. They have similar thoughts on the world and people, but there’s a fine line that stops Holmes from becoming Moriarty.
Now here’s the real archenemy. Yes, please.
See, Holmes does care about people. Well, at least Watson. Dun, dun, dun. Evil cliffy. This episode and the first one are going to leave me with good thoughts for the next….year? Why aren’t we getting anymore episodes for a year? |
Fall season is here. Thank god, eczema finally. In celebration I’ve been working on a post, hemorrhoids well before and after my laptop was gone, with some ‘where are our favorite writer/director/creators’ right now. These might be suggestions on what to watch or it might be just for fun, you decide.
Steven S. DeKnight
+ Producer, Writer, and Director for Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel. He also wrote “Swell” in the Buffy season eight comic series and served as a Consulting Producer and onetime Writer for Dollhouse.
+ Wrote Buffy episodes: Seeing Red (2002), Dead Things (2002), All the Way (2001), Spiral (2001), Blood Ties (2001)
+ Wrote Angel episodes: The Girl in Question (2004), Shells (2004 and directed), Why We Fight (2004), Damage (2004), Destiny (2003), Hell-Bound (22 October 2003 and directed), Inside Out (2 April 2003 and directed), Release (12 March 2003), Calvary (12 February 2003), Awakening (29 January 2003), Apocalypse, Nowish (17 November 2002), Deep Down (6 October 2002)
+ Wrote and directed Dollhouse episode: The Target (2009)
+ Now an Executive Producer and Writer for Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. I’ve only seen the first couple episodes, but I hear the show gets better and better. Plus, season two is on the way.
Jed Whedon; Maurissa Tancharoen
+ The dynamic (and married) duo co-wrote Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, and won an Emmy and Streamy Award for it, and were then writers for Dollhouse. Together they also cowrote the songs ‘Remains’, which she also sang, and ‘Drones’ which were featured in Dollhouse episodes.
+ With Felicia Day, Jed Whedon also co-wrote the song ‘(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar’ for her webseries The Guild and directed the video. Jed also just came out with an album of 12 tracks called History of Forgotten Things (Felicia Day plays violin and sings backup on a few tracks) and includes one track from Dollhouse.
+ They wrote some of the best Dollhouse episodes: Epitaph Two: Return (2010), The Attic (2009), Meet Jane Doe (2009), Belonging (2009), Epitaph One (2009), Stage Fleft (27 February 2009), Haunted (24 April 2009)
+ As of season 2, they will now be writers on Steven S. DeKnight’s series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Just another reason to watch and catch up.
Jane Espenson
+ Did a five-year stint as writer/producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Also worked on The Inside, Battlestar Galactica, and co-created Warehouse 13.
+ Wrote/co-wrote 23 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Band Candy” through “End of Days“; Angel: Guise Will Be Guise (2000), Rm w/a Vu (1999); Firelfy: Shindig (2002); four for Tim Minear’s The Inside; Dollhouse: Briar Rose (2009), Haunted (2009); five for Battlestar Galactica; and two for Caprica.
+ With Drew Goddard she won a Hugo Award in 2003 for Buffy episode “Conversations with Dead People.” She also won a Streamy Award for a Dramatic Web Series: Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy (2009).
+ She is currently working on Caprica, as showrunner and writer for the series and SyFy just announced it’s coming back early on Oct 5th. She’ll also be writing for the fourth season of Torchwood.
Marti Noxon
+ Producer, writer, and director for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oh, and that’s her singing in BtVS episode ‘Once More With Feeling’.
+ Wrote/co-wrote 22 episodes of Buffy including: What’s My Line?: Part 1 (17 November 1997), What’s My Line?: Part 2 (24 November 1997), Surprise (19 January 1998), The Wish (8 December 1998), Wild at Heart (9 November 1999), Into the Woods (19 December 2000 and directed), Forever (17 April 2001 and directed), and Bring on the Night (17 December 2002).
+ Won the WGA Award for Best Drama Series (after being nominated for the second consecutive year) in 2010 for the third season of AMCs Mad Men. And co-wrote a second-season episode of Mad Men, “The Inheritance”, for which she was nominated for a 2009 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series.
+ She wrote the screenplay for the upcoming remake of Fright Night.
Zack Whedon
+ The third brother of the Whedon clan, Zack graduated from his older brother’s alma mater Wesleyan University. He followed that up with a production assistant stint on his older brother’s show Angel. He was also an assistant on Deadwood and even wrote an episode.
+ He then earned his wings and helped to co-write Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, which won Streamy Awards and an Emmy. And of course along with his brothers, he provided one of the voices to Bad Horse from the musical.
+ He has since worked on Fringe, writing episodes Unleashed (2009), The Transformation (2009, and The Dreamscape (2008).
+ He’s the writer of the new Terminator comic book series told through Kyle Reese’s point of view. He is now a writer on staff for AMCs Rubicon and wrote the series’ sixth episode, Look to the Ant (2010).
Howard Gordon
+ Supervising Producer on The X-Files and wrote/co-wrote 20 episodes from season 1 through season 4. After co-writing one episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, What’s My Line?: Part 1 (1997), he created his own short-lived show Strange World in 1999 with fellow Whedon alum Tim Minear as a writer. He and Tim then went to work for two years on Angel and he wrote three episodes: The Ring (2000), Expecting (2000), Hero (1999).
+ But Gordon jumped ship in 2001 for FOX’s successful ‘24‘, where he would write several episodes in Seasons 1 & 2, and then crafted the entire story arcs for Seasons 3 and 4. He temporarily left 24 to re-join with Tim Minear, this time as co-creator of another FOX series, The Inside.
+ Starting in 2006, Gordon is 24‘s executive producer, show-runner, and sometimes writer. It is said that Gordon is now working on a show about a US soldier and prisoner of war in Iraq called Homeland with fellow X-Files writer Alex Gansa.
Tim Minear
+ Wrote episodes for several series including The X-Files and Lois and Clark. He then later went on a midnight stroll creating and joining a bunch of our short-lived but highly loved tv shows: Strange World (writer), Wonderfalls (writer), The Inside (creator, writer, director), Drive (creator, writer).
+ Plus, directed 7 episodes and wrote 12 episodes of Angel including: Hero (1999), Somnambulist (2000), Sanctuary (2000), Darla (2000), Billy (2001), Lullaby (2001 and directed); Firefly: The Message (2003 and directed), Out of Gas (2002), Bushwhacked (2002 and directed), The Train Job (2002); Dollhouse: Getting Closer (2010 and directed), Belle Chose (2009), Omega (2009 and directed), True Believer (2009).
+ He’s working as a writer/producer for FXs show Terriers. He’s also supposedly working on a remake of Alien Nation for SyFy. Oh, and he’s been tapped to lead Gene Roddenberry’s (Star Trek) scrapped series The Questor Tapes.
Elizabeth Craft; Sarah Fain
+ Fellow Pembroke Hill alums are making a pretty good career for themselves by hopping from show to show. They started off as writers for Dawson’s Creek, next Angel, and then The Shield.
+ They then created and ran their own show Women’s Murder Club, but parted from ABC due to creative differences. Whedon then hired them back for Dollhouse. And Shawn Ryan then hired them back for Lie to Me.
+ The next step of course was to come full circle and be hired by the creator of the first show they’d worked on for Vampire Diaries‘ second season.
+ Angel: Underneath (2004), Harm’s Way (2004), Unleashed (2003), Shiny Happy People (2003), Players (2003), Release (12 March 2003), Soulless (5 February 2003), Supersymmetry (3 November 2002); Dollhouse: Echoes (2009), Gray Hour (2009)
David Fury
+ Writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Inside, Lost, and 24. He won a WGA Award in 2006 and Emmy in 2005 for his work on Lost, and an Emmy in 2006 for his work on 24. And yeah, he was also the Mustard Man singing in BtVS episode ‘Once More With Feeling’.
+ 17 episodes of Buffy including: Helpless (1999), Choices (1999), Fear Itself (1999), Crush (2001), Bargaining: Part 2 (2001), Grave (2002), Gone (2002 and directed), Showtime (2003), Lies My Parents Told Me (2003 and directed); 12 episodes of Angel including: Lonely Hearts (1999), Parting Gifts (1999), You’re Welcome (2004 and directed).
+ He’s joined Steven Spielberg, Brannon Braga, and Peter Chernin as producers for FOXs upcoming Fall 2011 series Terra Nova.
Drew Goddard
+ Known for his collaborations with Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) and J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Cloverfield).
+ He won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2006 for his work on Lost and was nominated for an episode he wrote in the third season.
+ Espenson and Drew Goddard co-wrote the Buffy seventh season episode “Conversations with Dead People,” which won a Hugo Award in 2003.
+ Buffy: Dirty Girls (2003), Lies My Parents Told Me (2003), Never Leave Me (2002), Conversations with Dead People (2002), Selfless (2002); Angel: The Girl in Question (2004), Origin (2004), Why We Fight (2004), Damage (2004), Lineage (2003).
+ Most recently he co-wrote The Cabin in the Woods with Joss Whedon and then directed it. No release date has been set yet due to MGM’s financial woes. He’s since been hired to adapt the script for the novel Robopocalypse to be directed by Steven Spielberg for Dreamworks.
Drew Greenberg
+ Worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, The O.C., and Dexter. He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for his work on the first season of Dexter.
+ Firefly: Safe (2002); Buffy: Empty Places (2003), The Killer in Me (2003), Him (2002), Entropy (2002), Older and Far Away (2002), Smashed (2001)
+ Probably the most ‘meh’ writer on the staff, he was working as a writer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and has since moved onto Warehouse 13.