1182 replies to this topic

[quantumofsolace]

Radio Times Top 40 TV Shows of 2012

28 dec 2012

 

1. Sherlock BBC1
An opening episode in which Sherlock Holmes visited Buckingham Palace dressed only in a bed sheet, and (almost) met his match in the form of whip-smart dominatrix Irene Adler, helped prove that “brainy is the new sexy” as Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat's superlative detective drama triumphantly returned in January. Next came a hi-tech spin on Conan Doyle classic The Hound of the Baskervilles; and then the best 90 minutes of TV this year, packed with twists and subtle clues. Benedict Cumberbatch smouldered throughout but later admitted that he, like us, had been reduced to tears by Martin Freeman’s performance as the grief-stricken John Watson, who thought he saw his best friend die. A searing turn from Andrew Scott as criminal genius Moriarty – by turns camp and deadly – completed a mesmerising climax, ending in a cliffhanger that will go down in television history. Just how did Holmes survive that plunge from the roof of St Bart’s Hospital? We'll find out in 2013 but, for now, Sherlock is top of our critics' poll by a mile.

Edited by quantumofsolace, 29 December 2012 - 08:29 AM.

[Vauxhall]

Only just got around to reading Anthony Horowitz's The House of Silk, despite it idling away on a bookcase for the best part of a year, and I polished it off in half a day as it was so compelling. I don't know what the consensus is among Conan Doyle purists, but I found it gripping and intelligently plotted, and a really excellent stab at channeling the tone and style of the original work. Very impressed.

[quantumofsolace]

http://www.radiotime...series-3-return

[Matt_13]

Very exciting!!!

[SecretAgentFan]

While I liked the "Sherlock" re-boot, I must say that the end of the last episode of season 2 is one of those shock endings that just cannot be resolved in a satisfying manner.  It will always resort to some trickery that cheapens the whole thing.

 

I´m still looking forward to series 3 but I would have hoped for the creators to stay away from this sleight of hand.

[Vauxhall]

I'm also intrigued to see how they resolve the Season 2 ending. I have an inkling, but I'm hoping it's something that most of us haven't even considered yet.

 

Excited to see Lars Mikkelsen (brother of our very own Mads, aka Le Chiffre) as the new villain.

[quantumofsolace]

Ian McKellen to play Sherlock Holmes http://www.theguardi...es-slight-trick

New film set in 1947 portrays a tortured, elderly Holmes haunted by an unsolved case

A Slight Trick of the Mind, is set in 1947 and finds the sleuth living in retirement but still haunted by an unsolved case from half a century before. Variety reports that the film is being scripted by Jeffrey Hatcher, the writer of The Duchess, and is billed as a co-production between AI Film, an offshoot of Icon, and BBC Films.

[Vauxhall]

A few new, behind-the-scenes photos from filming for SHERLOCK Series 3: http://www.bbc.co.uk...leries/p01dj7k3

 

Nothing too revealing, but hopefully it means the publicity drive for the next series is moving into gear.

[Matt_13]

I'm also intrigued to see how they resolve the Season 2 ending. I have an inkling, but I'm hoping it's something that most of us haven't even considered yet.

 

Excited to see Lars Mikkelsen (brother of our very own Mads, aka Le Chiffre) as the new villain.

 

My guess is that Sherlock made use of the rhododendron ponticum referenced earlier in the episode to stop his heart, had his homeless network manipulate the site of the fall in some way, and that Molly Hooper was responsible for reviving him afterwards. Not too long to wait now!

[Vauxhall]

Synopsis for THE EMPTY HEARSE (Sherlock Season 3 Episode 1):

Spoiler

Two years after the devastating events of 'The Reichenbach Fall', John appears to have got on with his life. New horizons and romance beckon. But, with London under threat of a devastating terrorist attack, Sherlock is about to take John at his word, staging his resurrection with all the theatricality that comes so naturally to him. If Sherlock thinks everything will be just as he left it, though, he's in for a very big surprise...

Can't wait.

[Double Naught spy]

Although I've read all of Sir ACD's literary works of Sherlock Holmes, I admit to only seeing a fraction of the above-choices.  But for sheer book pages-transformed-into-celluloid, I believe that the Jeremy Brett TV shows are THE definitions of "labors of love."    

 

As a 007 fan, whenever I watch a Brett episode, I always end up lamenting why we can't honor the Fleming novels with the same loving and dedicated treatment. :(  Just like the many incarnations of Sherlock,  I'm convinced that there's enough room for more than just the Eon's version of 007.

 

PS - Although a different medium - the Clive Merrison BBC radio dramas are equally worthy of the praise that I bestow upon the J. Brett TV shows.

Edited by Double Naught spy, 05 November 2013 - 09:05 PM.

[Vauxhall]

New teaser trailer for SHERLOCK Series 3: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=4Vq4s8n8vxw

 

This shot looks familiar from somewhere...

 

[SecretAgentFan]

Oh, yes.  Well, at least Bond is influencing others again... 

[stromberg]

Just a reminder, as the first new "Sherlock" episode airs on BBC tonight: if you're discussing it, please avoid spoilers or make use of the

Spoiler

spoiler

tags.

[Vauxhall]

No spoilers from me for now. A really strong episode, handling the two years of speculation particularly smartly.

Also, a fair few SKYFALL locations reused!

[Vauxhall]

THE SIGN OF THREE definitely wasn't the usual SHERLOCK episode, but it's stood up much better on repeat viewings. Given how light it was though, I sense the season finale will be a very dark affair.

[Matt_13]

I've really enjoyed both episodes so far, and found The Sign of Three to have the most devastating ending of any episode to date. That being said, it was a genuinely funny piece of TV which leads me to believe that you're on the right track, Vaux. I think we're in for something grim for the finale.

[univex]

The spoiler-free review does seem to indicate that. Quite the eclectic season, I´d say. So far so good.

 

http://www.sherlocko...w-review-090114

[Vauxhall]

A dark finale, but a superbly compelling piece of television. Fantastic.

 

Plus at least two more Bond references that I spotted.

 

Spoiler

Mycroft: "As my colleague is fond of remarking, this country sometimes needs a blunt instrument."

[Gothamite]

I honestly thought 'His Last Vow' might have been the worst episode of 'Sherlock'. Unlike the maligned 'The Blind Banker' and 'The Hounds of Baskerville' which are just drab, dull and not as inspired the surrounding episodes of those various series; this episode was actually bad with bad ideas and a shallow structure, with too much of an emphasis on fan-service and Emotional Character Moments TM than on story. Very few of the ideas were connected as well as they could have been, so many of them basically amounted to not really anything and the villain wasn't one. 

 

I look forward to Series Four, but unlike last time, I don't mind waiting the two years.

[Matt_13]

Very enjoyable finale, though The Sign of Three remains my favorite of the new series. Some truly wonderful moments, a tremendous musical score, and a great villain made for some seriously entertaining TV (I would even go so far as to say this was the most Bondian episode of Sherlock we've gotten). Not a massive fan of some of the more deceptive/manipulative character beats and story threads (Redbeard hurt, but it was absolutely manipulative) and the ending has left me with severely mixed feelings (we obviously don't know what's truly going on, but I thought that it was an easy route to take as far as cliffhangers go). All the same, Sherlock is still far and away the best show on TV as far as I'm concerned, and I seriously hope Martin Freeman gets some love from the awards shows. His work this season has been his best.

[Vauxhall]

Very enjoyable finale, though The Sign of Three remains my favorite of the new series. Some truly wonderful moments, a tremendous musical score, and a great villain made for some seriously entertaining TV (I would even go so far as to say this was the most Bondian episode of Sherlock we've gotten). Not a massive fan of some of the more deceptive/manipulative character beats and story threads (Redbeard hurt, but it was absolutely manipulative) and the ending has left me with severely mixed feelings (we obviously don't know what's truly going on, but I thought that it was an easy route to take as far as cliffhangers go). All the same, Sherlock is still far and away the best show on TV as far as I'm concerned, and I seriously hope Martin Freeman gets some love from the awards shows. His work this season has been his best.

Agreed on pretty much all of that, Matt, although I'd put HIS LAST VOW as probably the best episode of this season overall.

 

As for the ending:

Spoiler

The one thing I'm sure of is that Jim Moriarty as we know him is not alive; I have too much faith in the writers for them to resurrect a clearly dead character. It might be another villain using his old image and mystique, but I think the writers are likely to be riffing on the Doyle reference to a brother of Moriarty, also apparently called James. It's a way for them to get the excellent Andrew Scott back into the series, albeit technically playing a different character.

[stromberg]

Seen episodes one and two (twice, which is absolutely necessary in case one is not an English native speaker...). Enjoyed them both very much, even though I think that some things in "Hearse" were a bit much. Getting "Last Vow" tonight. Can't wait...

 

As to Bond references: stumbled upon this entry in Watson's blog, referring to one of the "uninteresting" cases from "Sign":

http://www.johnwatso...uk/blog/23march

[glidrose]

While I liked the "Sherlock" re-boot, I must say that the end of the last episode of season 2 is one of those shock endings that just cannot be resolved in a satisfying manner.  It will always resort to some trickery that cheapens the whole thing.

Exactly. Tho' I will give the filmmakers credit for at least having the sense to show us

Spoiler

multiple explanations tricking us at first into believing each one is the real deal.

[quantumofsolace]

mr holmes

 

trailer   

clip   

berlin opening    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_M9SoQSWI

[David_M]

 

 

Exactly. Tho' I will give the filmmakers credit for at least having the sense to show us

Spoiler 

 

 

Yes, but note that by doing so, 

 

Spoiler

...they ultimately offer no explanation AT ALL. Various theories are put forth, and all are slapped with a "Hmm...could be" label. So in the end, it's a complete cheat.

 

Things get great again after that,but this was the low point for me.

[glidrose]

Exactly. Tho' I will give the filmmakers credit for at least having the sense to show us

Spoiler
 
 
Yes, but note that by doing so, 
 

Spoiler

...they ultimately offer no explanation AT ALL. Various theories are put forth, and all are slapped with a "Hmm...could be" label. So in the end, it's a complete cheat.

 
Things get great again after that,but this was the low point for me.

Exactly. As SAF said, it's "one of those shock endings that just cannot be resolved in a satisfying manner."

[Vauxhall]

Entertainment Weekly interview with Steven Moffat about SHERLOCK Series 4.

 

http://www.ew.com/ar...son-4-interview

 

"Frightening, tough, emotional upheaval" suggests the rest of the Mary story is probably on the way.

[Call Billy Bob]

"Frightening, tough, emotional upheaval" suggests the rest of the Mary story is probably on the way.

I'm of two minds on this: yes, I want to know more of Mary's life pre-Watson... but I also don't want it to intrude upon new adventures and adaptations of Doyle stories.

[quantumofsolace]