Sherlock

[Augustus]

I'd take Downton and Sherlock over a lot of mediocre crap that is put on TV, not to mention some of it is so much better than the overpriced, mandatory 3D + extra charge, utter crap that comes out on the big screen. It may not be perfect, but it sure is entertaining, original, cheaper and a lot shorter than most movies. So even if I think it's a real disappointment, I won't feel like I've wasted hours of my life.

[Malle Babbe]

Today is Hounds of Baskerville ! But that means we are a week from Reichenbach...

[Deleted]

Jan 8, 2012 12:25:46 GMT -4 Augustus said:

I'd take Downton and Sherlock over a lot of mediocre crap that is put on TV, not to mention some of it is so much better than the overpriced, mandatory 3D + extra charge, utter crap that comes out on the big screen. It may not be perfect, but it sure is entertaining, original, cheaper and a lot shorter than most movies. So even if I think it's a real disappointment, I won't feel like I've wasted hours of my life.

I'll cop to being one of those whose effusive praise for this series may not include much discussion of its flaws. Shouldn't all television be like this, though? Not too smartypants that the idiots can't follow but not so stupid as to cause breakable items being thrown at the television.

I actually have an alarm set to inform me via email when the torrent pops up on eztv so I can remotely queue it for download and be ready to watch this afternoon.

[tszuj]

Mark Gatiss got into a (very politely worded, being Mark Gatiss) spat with someone on Twitter recently because they described Sherlock as being a period drama.

[Deleted]

And WHY am I not following Gatiss? Considering I'm on the Mark Gatiss' Nose Facebook page, it's unconscionable! Brb.

[Augustus]

This ep was definitely better than the first. It actually managed to spook me a couple of times, and while it does depart completely from the original story, the conclusion was easily spotted from afar, it still had me on the edge of my seat for some time.

I thought the Morse code 'plot' was hilarious, nice tie in to the original. And again, the quibbles are what makes it so fine. Heee, Holmes's intro is quite something and poor John.

[Babycakes]

My thoughts and notes on the premiere (as if any of you care):

Far too long. I'm not sure if it aired as a two parter, but it felt overly long in a single sitting, and needs to be edited down.

While this Irene Adler was a vast improvement over a terribly miscast Rachel McAdams, I found her overly overtly sexual act too OTT, and her resemblance to Robin Tunney distracting.

Also, less Mycroft is more. He was (blasphemous!) overused.
Although, I loved all his interactions with Sherlock. I'd give my left nut to see some Holmes' family dynamics at the homestead. And is his Girl Friday being played by a new actress, or has she recently given birth or gained some weight? She looked so different to the point where I didn't recognize her.

Have they ever addressed Sherlock's drug use before the subtle way they mentioned it this episode?

More John please. I guess this was filmed while he was still making The Hobbit, but he was criminally underused.

I was disappointed in the explanation of how the lake watcher died. I thought it was going to be flying geese or swans.

And seriously, to tease us with scant minutes of Moriarty is just cruel. CRUEL.

Speaking of cruel, Sherlock to Molly. Jebus. Serious character flaw. I cannot forgive him for that. Not even throwing the CIA agent out of the window makes up for that. And yes, Molly should cut her losses, but his cruel indifference and pointed taunts or so fucking mean and unnecessary.

And finally, I knew that Sherlock saved Irene from beheading, but they should have left it vague with no flashback. The scene was lame.

Can't wait for Hound of Baskerville tonight.

[Deleted]

Sherlock's drug use was definitely referenced last season, when Lestrade undertook a search of Holmes' residence under the pretense of a drugs search. Watson scoffed at the absurdity that Holmes would have drugs on the premises and Holmes shot him a "SHUT IT" look.

[Babycakes]

Jan 8, 2012 18:43:42 GMT -4 @bstewart said:

Sherlock's drug use was definitely referenced last season, when Lestrade undertook a search of Holmes' residence under the pretense of a drugs search. Watson scoffed at the absurdity that Holmes would have drugs on the premises and Holmes shot him a "SHUT IT" look.

They sure did. Forgot about that. Thanks bstewart. I do wonder if Sherlock is currently supposed to be a functioning addict, or in recovery?

[kostgard]

Jan 8, 2012 20:20:03 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

They sure did. Forgot about that. Thanks bstewart. I do wonder if Sherlock is currently supposed to be a functioning addict, or in recovery?

It seems he is mostly in recovery, but can fall off the wagon when he has a bad day (taken from the fact that John, Mycroft, and Mrs. Hudson had their "Keep Sherlock Safe" plan and it clearly wasn't the first time they had to run it).


Okay, I just finished "Hounds" and I'm about to spoil the crap out of it, so if you haven't seen it yet, look out below!






Good, entertaining episode, and I'm proud of myself for guessing most of it. I knew that since Sherlock and Henry saw the hound and John didn't, it was because they were down there in the hollow and John wasn't, so it was something in the air (and the fact that Sherlock was still super-shaky after he was logically safe back at the inn confirmed it for me). I knew overly-friendly doctor was in on it, and I knew that Henry was being gaslighted, but I wasn't entirely sure why. I knew Sherlock was trying to drug John with the sugar, and I knew that John probably breathed in the fumes while in the lab, but I didn't guess that Sherlock had arranged it all.

And at this point, I think someone needs to nominate John Watson for sainthood. Tearing up the flat in a nic-fit would be enough for me, but trying to drug me and then intentionally making me go through hell in that lab? If I were John I'd smother my flatmate with a pillow while he slept. At least he got to have fun by pulling rank at the base.

There were so many lens flares in the first lab scene I was wondering if they were trying to acclimate Benedict Cumberbatch to the working conditions on a JJ Abrams film.

Two things that didn't make sense to me -- when they first got to the base and the soldier swipes Mycroft's ID card, why the hell did he let Sherlock in? A picture of Mycroft popped up on his screen and they clearly look NOTHING alike. It makes sense that he could move through the doors and was let in on the second visit (which was arranged by Mycroft), but they never should have let him in the first time.

Also? If you're working on a secret CIA project, they would probably frown upon you making sweatshirts about it.


Nice little build-up to next week's Reichenbach. I'm guessing the cliffhanger there will match the one in the original (though it feels kinda early in the life of the show -- we're just getting to know these guys and they may be killing (or "killing") Sherlock off already?). Of course, I'm assuming there will be more seasons of the show. I know it is very popular and both leads are interested in doing more, but I guess it will be a question of when since MF is tied to "The Hobbit" movies at least through next year and BC seems to have a ton of projects lined up. If we get a third season it might be a long wait.


ETA: I was SO hoping that Sherlock's "Mind Palace" would be like Professor Farnsworth's "Chamber of Understanding" and I was very disappointed when I saw that disco balls would not be involved.


ETA Again: Looks like Moriarty hacked John's blog and left a super-creepy video. Here's the YouTube version in case you can't see it on the BBC site.