Sherlock - The Great Game
Of course I loved it, will watch it again 300 times, pre-ordered the DVD and already unconciously started imitating The Cumb's hand movements (my boss, sitting next to me "What was that?"; really happened, haha).
Still like the first episode best, but I think that has something to do with the surprise element (as in "OMG I hoped this would be good but OMG OMG!!!!"). Third episode felt like the second half of the first, though. Dark, and compelling and witty, not as (stupidly) flashy as the second one.
So, what references to Canon stories were in the Great Game? Bruce Partington, obviously, Five Orange Pips (loved, loved, loved the Pips!), Final Problem, stationary from Scandal in Bohemia, the "list" from Study in Scarlet, bacteria from Dying Detective. Any more?
While watching, I asked myself if all of the puzzles/crimes had a personal connection to Sherlock, or were some reference to his past/future/whatever.
Drowned Carl was obvious as Sherlock's first "case" (and Moriarty was apparently killing people left and right at around 12 years of age). By the way, did anyone else think that these were kiddie Sherlock's shoes? Sussex, 1989, big feet? (he should have recognized them immediately, I suppose. But I still thought for a moment...)
The pretend death was maybe alluding to the hiatus.
Can't really see the connection to Connie Prince (and yes, I was sooo wrong on that one :)!), maybe it's just a reference to the Dying Detective storyline (Culverton Smith killed his annoying sibling, after all).
The Vermeer painting case was a very clever play with Sherlock's supposed shortcomings (Watson: "But it's the solar system!!!" haha).
Some random things:
- Sherlock has an electron microscope at home.
- Watson and Holmes driving by Simpson's-on-the-Strand, lovely!
- Even in disguise as a security guard, Sherlock's collar is allurlingly upturned :).
- Disguise!Sherlock's reaction to the question how he entered the gallery was, well, I don't know what it was, but the "please" and the smirk...
- Sherlock fake-crying looked very fake; like his fake-charming looked fake, I guess. Which was the point.
- Mycroft has the red phone in his office!
- The planetarium scene was absolutely breathtaking and stunning. I really, literally, held my breath :).
- Love the Holmes brothers using antiquated Victorian and complicated words (I had to look up "intransigent").
- Sherlock watching talkshows was absolutely priceless :)!
While I was (not surpisingly) wrong on almost every plot prediction, I am quite proud that I got a lot of the character stuff right. I loved the way they showed us a cold, calculating, unbiased-by-emotion Holmes, who immediately forgets about the hostages as soon as the puzzle is solved. And Watson's reaction was spot-on. I particularly liked this exchange:
"Will caring about them help save them?"
"Nope."
"Then I'll continue not to make that mistake."
"And you find that easy?"
because that's exactly the point, isn't it? Being objective, and able to help people without being immobilized by pity is necessary to Sherlock's work (and the work of every doctor, BTW). What makes it so incomprehensible to Watson is, I think, that it seems to come to Sherlock so naturally. We all know of course that Sherlock has a heart (even Moriarty does :)!), but I guess Watson has his doubts sometimes, especially early in their friendship.
And, Holmes did in a way kill an innocent by postponing the release of the old woman. He knew he could save her, so he let her suffer for hours (and do that completely unnecessary photography stunt). I thought that was a very evil thing to do, but sadly enough, it was completely in character.
On a lighter note, wasn't Holmes cute as a grumpy kid? The way he stepped over the table, and curled up on the sofa (in addition to his hands, cheekbones, teeth, hair, ect. ect. I now have fallen in love with his shoulderblades as well). I also found it very clever how they drew the paralles between Holmes and Moriarty: both are very much like children in this series, too clever for their own good, easily bored, excitable, playing with people, and in a way cruel and hurtful like little kids are. I quite liked this Moriarty (although some of his lines were a little over the top), a spoilt sadistic child.
And of course, the final scenes at the pool, where else. I was not very surprised by Jim being Moriarty (well, Connie was out of the picture, and I read before it would be someone we'd seen earlier), and the water was of course very fitting. I imagine that Moffat and Gatiss will turn the Reichenbach Falls around, and have the water save our heroes, instead of killing them. What happens after the explosion (if there'll be one) - no idea. From the blogs John and Sherlock (and Jim) go missing for a while. Maybe Jim flees the country and John and Sherlock follow? No, don't see Jim as the fleeing type. Maybe they'll go to Tibet for a holiday :).
I initially wanted to quote all my favourite bits and lines from Canon but there were just too many. It was everything a Holmes-obsessed person like me could wish for (except for some decent violin playing, dammit!!!).
Still like the first episode best, but I think that has something to do with the surprise element (as in "OMG I hoped this would be good but OMG OMG!!!!"). Third episode felt like the second half of the first, though. Dark, and compelling and witty, not as (stupidly) flashy as the second one.
So, what references to Canon stories were in the Great Game? Bruce Partington, obviously, Five Orange Pips (loved, loved, loved the Pips!), Final Problem, stationary from Scandal in Bohemia, the "list" from Study in Scarlet, bacteria from Dying Detective. Any more?
While watching, I asked myself if all of the puzzles/crimes had a personal connection to Sherlock, or were some reference to his past/future/whatever.
Drowned Carl was obvious as Sherlock's first "case" (and Moriarty was apparently killing people left and right at around 12 years of age). By the way, did anyone else think that these were kiddie Sherlock's shoes? Sussex, 1989, big feet? (he should have recognized them immediately, I suppose. But I still thought for a moment...)
The pretend death was maybe alluding to the hiatus.
Can't really see the connection to Connie Prince (and yes, I was sooo wrong on that one :)!), maybe it's just a reference to the Dying Detective storyline (Culverton Smith killed his annoying sibling, after all).
The Vermeer painting case was a very clever play with Sherlock's supposed shortcomings (Watson: "But it's the solar system!!!" haha).
Some random things:
- Sherlock has an electron microscope at home.
- Watson and Holmes driving by Simpson's-on-the-Strand, lovely!
- Even in disguise as a security guard, Sherlock's collar is allurlingly upturned :).
- Disguise!Sherlock's reaction to the question how he entered the gallery was, well, I don't know what it was, but the "please" and the smirk...
- Sherlock fake-crying looked very fake; like his fake-charming looked fake, I guess. Which was the point.
- Mycroft has the red phone in his office!
- The planetarium scene was absolutely breathtaking and stunning. I really, literally, held my breath :).
- Love the Holmes brothers using antiquated Victorian and complicated words (I had to look up "intransigent").
- Sherlock watching talkshows was absolutely priceless :)!
While I was (not surpisingly) wrong on almost every plot prediction, I am quite proud that I got a lot of the character stuff right. I loved the way they showed us a cold, calculating, unbiased-by-emotion Holmes, who immediately forgets about the hostages as soon as the puzzle is solved. And Watson's reaction was spot-on. I particularly liked this exchange:
"Will caring about them help save them?"
"Nope."
"Then I'll continue not to make that mistake."
"And you find that easy?"
because that's exactly the point, isn't it? Being objective, and able to help people without being immobilized by pity is necessary to Sherlock's work (and the work of every doctor, BTW). What makes it so incomprehensible to Watson is, I think, that it seems to come to Sherlock so naturally. We all know of course that Sherlock has a heart (even Moriarty does :)!), but I guess Watson has his doubts sometimes, especially early in their friendship.
And, Holmes did in a way kill an innocent by postponing the release of the old woman. He knew he could save her, so he let her suffer for hours (and do that completely unnecessary photography stunt). I thought that was a very evil thing to do, but sadly enough, it was completely in character.
On a lighter note, wasn't Holmes cute as a grumpy kid? The way he stepped over the table, and curled up on the sofa (in addition to his hands, cheekbones, teeth, hair, ect. ect. I now have fallen in love with his shoulderblades as well). I also found it very clever how they drew the paralles between Holmes and Moriarty: both are very much like children in this series, too clever for their own good, easily bored, excitable, playing with people, and in a way cruel and hurtful like little kids are. I quite liked this Moriarty (although some of his lines were a little over the top), a spoilt sadistic child.
And of course, the final scenes at the pool, where else. I was not very surprised by Jim being Moriarty (well, Connie was out of the picture, and I read before it would be someone we'd seen earlier), and the water was of course very fitting. I imagine that Moffat and Gatiss will turn the Reichenbach Falls around, and have the water save our heroes, instead of killing them. What happens after the explosion (if there'll be one) - no idea. From the blogs John and Sherlock (and Jim) go missing for a while. Maybe Jim flees the country and John and Sherlock follow? No, don't see Jim as the fleeing type. Maybe they'll go to Tibet for a holiday :).
I initially wanted to quote all my favourite bits and lines from Canon but there were just too many. It was everything a Holmes-obsessed person like me could wish for (except for some decent violin playing, dammit!!!).