Sherlock Holmes
After watching series three of BBC's Sherlock, my dad and I rewatched the two earlier series. Below is my list of favourite to least favourite episodes from series one and two with no spoilers.
1. "A Study in Pink" (series one, episode one; written by Steven Moffat) -- A very strong introductory episode that has a compelling plot, great characterisation, and several nice mysteries. It would be hard to ask for a better opening.
2. "The Reichenbach Fall" (series two, episode three; written by Stephen Thompson) -- I've seen this episode more than any other. This is my favourite appearance by Moriarty; his plan to discredit Sherlock is clever and we really see Sherlock under pressure.
3. "The Hounds of Baskerville" (series two, episode two; written by Mark Gatiss) -- An interesting update to one of my favourite Holmes stories, though I liked this episode less the second time around. One of my biggest problems is the completely unrealistic computer security.
4. "Scandal in Belgravia" (series two, episode one; written by Steven Moffat) -- I was surprised how much I enjoyed my second viewing of this episode as I hadn't liked it much the first time -- Irene Adler's portrayal was completely different from what I'd expected, and I was disappointed by the resolution to series one's cliffhanger. (In general, I think the Sherlock series fit together better when you watch them in a row; the year or more break between seasons builds up too high expectations.)
5. "The Great Game" (series one, episode one; written by Mark Gatiss) -- The first Moriarty episode; I liked this episode more the first time around, and feel it's now completely overshadowed by "The Reichenbach Fall."
6. "The Blind Banker" (series one, episode two; written by Stephen Thompson) -- I thought this was a weird and boring episode the first time around, and had the same reaction the second time.
I've only see the series three episodes once, but if I were to add them to the above, the list would look like this:
1. "A Study in Pink"
2. "The Reichenbach Fall"
3. "The Hounds of Baskerville"
4. "Scandal in Belgravia"
5. "The Empty Hearse" (series three, episode one; written by Mark Gatiss)
6. "The Great Game"
7. "The Blind Banker"
8. "The Sign of Three" (series three, episode two; written by Stephen Thompson, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss)
9. "His Last Vow" (series three, episode three; written by Steven Moffat)
As you can tell, I didn't much like series three. "The Empty Hearse" is my favourite of the three, especially for the Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes interactions. Mycroft is one of the things I like most about the BBC Sherlock; his relationship with Sherlock is complicated and compelling, as is his relationship with John, neither of which are usually explored in other Sherlock Holmes media.
In general, I didn't think the stories in series three were tight enough; there was too much unnecessary drama and too much meandering with not enough focus on strong mysteries. I also didn't like Magnussen, the antagonist of the series, at all, not even in the 'I like to hate him' sense.
[Spoilers]
I absolutely hate the idea of bringing Moriarty back. Please don't. "The Reichenbach Fall" was a great episode and send off; don't muddy it or fall into the comic book habit of reviving characters whenever you feel like it.
I was on board with Mary, even though she definitely changed the dynamics on the show, until her assassin reveal. There was too much focus on Mary and John's issues this series and not enough on actual cases or other character relationships. I especially felt Lestrade had little to do this series, which is a pity.
I would be remiss if I didn't comment on how much I disliked The Dark Knight reference in "The Sign of Three." (Don't remind people of stories that may be better than yours.)
For a two-year wait, even "The Empty Hearse" was disappointing.
[End spoilers]
Besides BBC's Sherlock, I've also been rewatching my VHS tapes of the 1954-1955 Sherlock Holmes series starring Ronald Howard as Sherlock and Howard Marion Crawford as John Watson. They're good fun, and I quite like Howard's more personable characterisation, as well as his chemistry with Crawford's Watson. You really feel like they're good, long-time friends.
Because so many of the Sherlock Holmes series I first watched were in black and white, I had difficulty trying to switch to Sherlock Holmes series in colour. It doesn't bother me when they're set in the present or future, like BBC's Sherlock or Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, but it does when they're set in the late 1800s, which is why I don't think I've seen a single Jeremy Brett episode all the way through.
My dad and I have also watched a few episodes of Elementary, the modern US version of Sherlock Holmes. It's so disconcerting seeing modern Sherlock, John (Joan), Lestrade, and Mycroft, but looking and acting so differently from the BBC's version. We've been watching the episodes out of order and have only seen three, but Elementary just doesn't feel like a Sherlock show to me. It could easily be one of a hundred other crime shows with a quirky detective, and if I'm going to watch one of those, it would probably be Columbo.
My last bit of Sherlock news is that my dad and I are going to see the play Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure performed this Sunday at a local theatre. We used to go to plays, musicals, or concerts somewhat regularly, but haven't been in a long time, so I'm especially looking forward to it.
1. "A Study in Pink" (series one, episode one; written by Steven Moffat) -- A very strong introductory episode that has a compelling plot, great characterisation, and several nice mysteries. It would be hard to ask for a better opening.
2. "The Reichenbach Fall" (series two, episode three; written by Stephen Thompson) -- I've seen this episode more than any other. This is my favourite appearance by Moriarty; his plan to discredit Sherlock is clever and we really see Sherlock under pressure.
3. "The Hounds of Baskerville" (series two, episode two; written by Mark Gatiss) -- An interesting update to one of my favourite Holmes stories, though I liked this episode less the second time around. One of my biggest problems is the completely unrealistic computer security.
4. "Scandal in Belgravia" (series two, episode one; written by Steven Moffat) -- I was surprised how much I enjoyed my second viewing of this episode as I hadn't liked it much the first time -- Irene Adler's portrayal was completely different from what I'd expected, and I was disappointed by the resolution to series one's cliffhanger. (In general, I think the Sherlock series fit together better when you watch them in a row; the year or more break between seasons builds up too high expectations.)
5. "The Great Game" (series one, episode one; written by Mark Gatiss) -- The first Moriarty episode; I liked this episode more the first time around, and feel it's now completely overshadowed by "The Reichenbach Fall."
6. "The Blind Banker" (series one, episode two; written by Stephen Thompson) -- I thought this was a weird and boring episode the first time around, and had the same reaction the second time.
I've only see the series three episodes once, but if I were to add them to the above, the list would look like this:
1. "A Study in Pink"
2. "The Reichenbach Fall"
3. "The Hounds of Baskerville"
4. "Scandal in Belgravia"
5. "The Empty Hearse" (series three, episode one; written by Mark Gatiss)
6. "The Great Game"
7. "The Blind Banker"
8. "The Sign of Three" (series three, episode two; written by Stephen Thompson, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss)
9. "His Last Vow" (series three, episode three; written by Steven Moffat)
As you can tell, I didn't much like series three. "The Empty Hearse" is my favourite of the three, especially for the Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes interactions. Mycroft is one of the things I like most about the BBC Sherlock; his relationship with Sherlock is complicated and compelling, as is his relationship with John, neither of which are usually explored in other Sherlock Holmes media.
In general, I didn't think the stories in series three were tight enough; there was too much unnecessary drama and too much meandering with not enough focus on strong mysteries. I also didn't like Magnussen, the antagonist of the series, at all, not even in the 'I like to hate him' sense.
[Spoilers]
I absolutely hate the idea of bringing Moriarty back. Please don't. "The Reichenbach Fall" was a great episode and send off; don't muddy it or fall into the comic book habit of reviving characters whenever you feel like it.
I was on board with Mary, even though she definitely changed the dynamics on the show, until her assassin reveal. There was too much focus on Mary and John's issues this series and not enough on actual cases or other character relationships. I especially felt Lestrade had little to do this series, which is a pity.
I would be remiss if I didn't comment on how much I disliked The Dark Knight reference in "The Sign of Three." (Don't remind people of stories that may be better than yours.)
For a two-year wait, even "The Empty Hearse" was disappointing.
[End spoilers]
Besides BBC's Sherlock, I've also been rewatching my VHS tapes of the 1954-1955 Sherlock Holmes series starring Ronald Howard as Sherlock and Howard Marion Crawford as John Watson. They're good fun, and I quite like Howard's more personable characterisation, as well as his chemistry with Crawford's Watson. You really feel like they're good, long-time friends.
Because so many of the Sherlock Holmes series I first watched were in black and white, I had difficulty trying to switch to Sherlock Holmes series in colour. It doesn't bother me when they're set in the present or future, like BBC's Sherlock or Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, but it does when they're set in the late 1800s, which is why I don't think I've seen a single Jeremy Brett episode all the way through.
My dad and I have also watched a few episodes of Elementary, the modern US version of Sherlock Holmes. It's so disconcerting seeing modern Sherlock, John (Joan), Lestrade, and Mycroft, but looking and acting so differently from the BBC's version. We've been watching the episodes out of order and have only seen three, but Elementary just doesn't feel like a Sherlock show to me. It could easily be one of a hundred other crime shows with a quirky detective, and if I'm going to watch one of those, it would probably be Columbo.
My last bit of Sherlock news is that my dad and I are going to see the play Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure performed this Sunday at a local theatre. We used to go to plays, musicals, or concerts somewhat regularly, but haven't been in a long time, so I'm especially looking forward to it.