1182 replies to this topic

[DamnCoffee]

Has anyone else watched this? It's written by Steven Moffat, the lead writer of Doctor Who. I've just watched the first episode, and it turned out to be a lot better than I expected. It started off quite boring, but it got a lot better as it went on. It's got another 2 episodes left, and if the audience reaction is positive, I think it will be commissioned for a full series.

It's basically Holmes in the present day. Very good stuff.

[terminus]

I thought it was rather good - neat set-up, some fun running jokes. One thing just felt like bad editing. At the start when Lestrade comes to the flat it's broad daylight - but when Sherlock and Watson are in the cab, presumably moments later, it's suddenly pitch black.

Oh, and what's the bet that Moriarty turns out to be a woman? The bit when Sherlock made the guesses about Watson - and presumed Harry was a brother, when it was a sister, just seemed to push that idea forward.

[marktmurphy]

So. So. So. Good.

If you aren't in the UK, download this immediately now: you won't be disappointed. Holmes of our generation. When was the last time you saw a Holmes production with actual tension; or where you actually got a feeling of a real, genuine friendship developing? Or where you genuinely laughed out loud? Utterly superb: the TV show of the year already. And it'll make you want to come to London, most oddly! (i.e. despite the depictions of murders!)

And the David Arnold theme tune is brilliant: that'll be stuck in your head! Bit of a shame that Zimmer and he both went for an Eastern European vibe, but don't let that worry you!

[Mark_Hazard]

I thought it was rather good - neat set-up, some fun running jokes. One thing just felt like bad editing. At the start when Lestrade comes to the flat it's broad daylight - but when Sherlock and Watson are in the cab, presumably moments later, it's suddenly pitch black.

Are you sure about the lack of light? When Sherlock looked out of his window and saw the Police car that had come for him, I thought that the light was fading into evening - but perhaps I'm wrong.

Enjoyed it anyway, although I hadn't realised that there were only three episodes.

[marktmurphy]

Has anyone else watched this? It's written by Steven Moffat, the lead writer of Doctor Who. I've just watched the first episode, and it turned out to be a lot better than I expected. It started off quite boring, but it got a lot better as it went on. It's got another 2 episodes left, and if the audience reaction is positive, I think it will be commissioned for a full series.

It's three movies in a row: what do you want? If they keep the standard of writing up from this first one I'm happy to get three brilliant Sherlock movies a year. Lewis does it, after all!

Oh, and by the way: there's a Sherlock Holmes thread where we've been discussing this rather a lot

[terminus]

Are you sure about the lack of light? When Sherlock looked out of his window and saw the Police car that had come for him, I thought that the light was fading into evening - but perhaps I'm wrong.

Enjoyed it anyway, although I hadn't realised that there were only three episodes.

Just watched that bit again - the agreed meeting time is 7PM. When Sherlock and Watson go and hail the cab - it's still pretty light, obviously not that much past 7PM, then when Sherlock is piddling around on his phone in the cab, it's suddenly much darker. If it's supposed to take place around February/March, I guess that it could get dark quite quickly. Just seemed a bit of a shock.

[DamnCoffee]

I absolutely loved this. It started off quite boring, but it soon picked up. Very enjoyable, and a very interesting score by Arnold! I wish Series 5 of Doctor Who was this good, considering it was written by the same person. Can't wait 'till next weeks.

[Royal Dalton]

It was alright. I'm not completely sold on it yet. I could have done without Gatiss being in it for starters.

[marktmurphy]

Gatiss probably shouldn't have been in it: he's a bit too arch. I loved the reveal of his character at the end, though!
The rest was brilliant; best thing on telly all year probably.

[hilly]

So. So. So. Good.

If you aren't in the UK, download this immediately now: you won't be disappointed. Holmes of our generation. When was the last time you saw a Holmes production with actual tension; or where you actually got a feeling of a real, genuine friendship developing? Or where you genuinely laughed out loud? Utterly superb: the TV show of the year already. And it'll make you want to come to London, most oddly! (i.e. despite the depictions of murders!)

And the David Arnold theme tune is brilliant: that'll be stuck in your head! Bit of a shame that Zimmer and he both went for an Eastern European vibe, but don't let that worry you!

I thought it was great. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to. I didn't realise it was David Arnold until I saw the final credits. I thought the music had a real old fashioned ITC/Randall and Hopkirk feel to it.

[Jim]

The rest was brilliant; best thing on telly all year probably.

It was all rather splendid fun; I agree. How it's ended up buried in the summer is a bit of a mystery in itself, ho ho. Huge fun.

[Lachesis]

I was highly sceptical going in, the Victorian age was always a key aspect of the appeal for me, but I confess it quickly won me over, its clever and classy - the spirit of the orginal is there for sure.

Hopefully the next few episodes will retain the same quality!

[marktmurphy]

The rest was brilliant; best thing on telly all year probably.

It was all rather splendid fun; I agree. How it's ended up buried in the summer is a bit of a mystery in itself, ho ho. Huge fun.

Well it got very decent ratings, so not too buried.

[volante]

The rest was brilliant; best thing on telly all year probably.

It was all rather splendid fun; I agree. How it's ended up buried in the summer is a bit of a mystery in itself, ho ho. Huge fun.

Couldn't agree more. Watched it all with a big smile.

Really good; yeah, really enjoyed it!

[Jackanaples]

There are SPOILERS ahead so consider yourself warned.








I loved it and can't wait for the next episode. Cumberbatch and Freeman make a fantastic Holmes and Watson --for once cast as young as the characters are in the first book. In fact, Watson here is in his way just as fascinating a character as Holmes. Something you don't see everyday.

Updating Doyle's creations to the 21st century works like a charm. You don't realize just how modern and up to the minute Holmes was for his time until that historical context has been removed. Naturally Holmes would be interested in technology such as smart phones, texting, etc. I thought that the "three nicotine patch problem" sequence would strike a false note, but no; Sherlock's comment, "Impossible to sustain a smoking habit in London these days" was spot on. He'd never waste his time on an activity so inconvenient. Benedict Cumberbatch is really great as Sherlock Holmes. His mannerisms, his voice, his look. Surely one of the all-time best Holmes renditions of any era.

Next, I love Martin Freeman's take on Watson. This might be the first time that the character of Watson is as interesting as Holmes. It's not simply due to Watson not being portrayed as an idiot. The Brett/Burke/Hardwicke Granada gave us a Watson who was smart and sympathetic. What we get here is a Watson who thrives on danger as much as Holmes. The point is made in terrific fashion during his meeting with Mark Gatiss' Mycroft.

Found all the nods to the canon a pleasure: The introduction via Stamford, Holmes examination and deductions of Watson's mobile, and especially the reversal of 'Rache' from its use in Doyle's 'A Study in Scarlet.' Everything about this production screams that it was made by Holmes fans.

Can't wait till Sunday to watch the next episode. My biggest complaint is that there will only be three, this year anyway. The dvd set comes out the end of August and is already a definite purchase for me.

[Tybre]

Word on the street is the BBC is so overjoyed with 7.4m viewers for "A Study in Pink" that they intend to order more, and Cumberbatch believes there will be more once they find the time to film it. Which I hope is true. For one thing, I thought it was brilliant. For another, even if it was a mediocre adaptation of Holmes, I don't think we've had a proper series since Jeremy Brett. The odd telefilm or cartoon, but no series springs to mind. Have to say though, could've done without Gatiss being that role, but it's whatever.

If I locate the article(s?) again I'll link.

[marktmurphy]

It's not a surprise: they'll often order another series if the first ep does well. Certainly did very well.
It's just a worry that Moffat'll find the time to write another stunner or two.

[Tybre]

It's not a surprise: they'll often order another series if the first ep does well. Certainly did very well.
It's just a worry that Moffat'll find the time to write another stunner or two.

The wise thing to do would be to find more writers than just Moffat and Gatiss, since the former is quite busy with Dr. Who, and the latter always seems to be writing for something or appearing in something. I think, though, we probably won't see them until next summer. Doctor Who's started filming for Christmas, and in a few weeks they'll start the regular series, though writing probably won't be finished for every episode until later, but of course Moffat isn't writing every episode. In fact, if we assume Moffat is only doing the Christmas special, the season opener, and the season finale this year, it's quite possible he'll be finished with writing Doctor Who by the end of autumn. But of course you have to factor in the schedules of everyone else involved as well. Still, I'm sure will see more some day. It's just a question of how soon that day is.

[marktmurphy]

I don't know if he follows Russell T Davies' model of being Who head writer, though: which was to write every single episode. Yes, they had other writers' names on them and they did write the vast majority, but he'd always write at least the final draft himself, with the exception of Moffat's and, I think, Matthew Graham's episodes). If he does then he'll find little time!
And I don't really want them to find other writers beside him: he's pretty much the best writer available to do this stuff. Unless Gatiss' episode has been breathed on by Moffat then I don't think it'll be as strong as he first.
Episode 2 has been written by someone other than Gatiss and Moffat; we'll see how that turns out on Sunday!

There was a story on the radio tonight about Sherlock series 2 taking a while to turn up; apart from Moffat's availability there's Cumberbatch who is apparently wanted in Hollywood (they said)!

[Tybre]

I don't know if he follows Russell T Davies' model of being Who head writer, though: which was to write every single episode. Yes, they had other writers' names on them and they did write the vast majority, but he'd always write at least the final draft himself, with the exception of Moffat's and, I think, Matthew Graham's episodes). If he does then he'll find little time!

I'm not sure that he does, though. The non-Moffat episodes didn't really have anything to them that made it seem like Moffat rewrote them, where even in the episodes where minimal changes had been made, you could tell RTD was having a go. So either Moffat is a far more deft hand (probable) or he just doesn't touch the others' works and leaves it to the script editors.

And I don't really want them to find other writers beside him: he's pretty much the best writer available to do this stuff. Unless Gatiss' episode has been breathed on by Moffat then I don't think it'll be as strong as he first.

Oh yeah, Moffat is definitely the best man for the job, but if you're going to turn Sherlock into a full series, trying to balance that and Doctor Who is just really fricking hard. If you can find just one or two more writers and have the three/four of them do two episodes a piece, it balances the load a bit.

Episode 2 has been written by someone other than Gatiss and Moffat; we'll see how that turns out on Sunday!

Was it really? I thought Episode 2 was Gatiss and Episode 3 was the Moff again. But wherever I got that notion from it was a while ago, and my memory is not always the best with this sort of thing.

Edit:
Also I know a lot of people have been questioning why it's just airing now, which is understandable, but I have to say I quite like Sherlock airing in late summer as opposed to autumn or spring with every other good show.

[marktmurphy]

Was it really? I thought Episode 2 was Gatiss and Episode 3 was the Moff again. But wherever I got that notion from it was a while ago, and my memory is not always the best with this sort of thing.

Yes, it's by Stephen Thompson. I think it was going to be ep 3 but they swapped them.


And how about this for a crossover?

[Tybre]

Was it really? I thought Episode 2 was Gatiss and Episode 3 was the Moff again. But wherever I got that notion from it was a while ago, and my memory is not always the best with this sort of thing.

Yes, it's by Stephen Thompson. I think it was going to be ep 3 but they swapped them.


And how about this for a crossover?

Part of me has been toying with the idea since they announced a Sherlock series by Moffat, but really for the most part I think it's best kept to the Virgin novels. Unless it were a one-off comic relief special or something.

[marktmurphy]

Well, Gene Hunt would have to turn up for that as well, then

Oh no: Merlin! Yes, Merlin'd have to appear! Robin Hood's dead though, sadly.

[Tybre]

Tomorrow's episode is by a man with no previous screen writing credits, who may or may not have any writing credits at all (thanks to his common name making him hard to track down), and is supposedly based on The Dancing Men, but given both the last episode and this episode's synopsis, based more than a touch loosely. I, for one, am excited.

[marktmurphy]

I've seen good reviews and asked a fella who's seen it if it's as good as the first, and he said yes; so it's hopeful.

[DamnCoffee]

Well that was a bloody stupid episode. Entertaining, but stupid. Who was the guy Sherlock was fighting at the beginning?

[marktmurphy]

Not up to last week's and tonally a bit of a shift: but if I hadn't seen last week's I'd be saying that's the best new TV series of the year. Loads of fun, but dragged a little in comparison.

The direction was pretty pedestrian when you compare with the previous week's. Happily Paul McGuigan is back directing the next one and those who have seen the series say tonight's is as bad as the series gets: and tonight's was pretty good fun. It was like a new Rathbone movie, really: campy, B-movie adventure fun.

[DamnCoffee]

My girlfriend read a review for the 3rd episode, today. It's awful apparently, makes no sense at all, and is the worst episode of the series.

[marktmurphy]

Where did she read that? I've heard from about three people that it's up with the first again (although the one who said this week's was as good as the first -who isn't one of those- hasn't raised his head again!).

[Tybre]

The direction was pretty pedestrian when you compare with the previous week's.

Not surprising. Euros Lyn was one of the better directors of the RTD era, but was nothing special. Hopefully McGuigan will be free for at least some of the episodes whenever they get round to making more.

As to being campy fun, eh, I can live with that. I would prefer it to be sort-of serious, but a bit of romp is good once in a while, long as it's done well. re:episode 3, have only seen one short review, wherein it was praised, but Mark Gatiss isn't exactly the best writer known to man, so I wouldn't expect it to be brilliant. Still, awful? I mean it's possible but bar two episodes of Doctor Who, everything I've seen of his has been pretty good. Still, I guess it could end up the worst of these. Haven't seen episode 2 yet, as the source I used to watch live TV died and all the replacements I've found are dead as well, so I'm waiting on someone to upload.