Sherlock - The Great Game

[fitchersvogel]

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).

Comments

[fitchersvogel]

Sorry for the late reply!!! Seems I do have a life after all (even if it's only work, haha).

Violin playing: for me this is not only important 'cause, let's admit it, it's very sexy (should be reason enough, actually :)!), but also because it's so big a part of the "Sherlock Holmes enigma". I feel that in this series so far, they have left out much of the melancholic, walking-through-the fog-alone, I'll-just-be-on-my-own-then-with-my-drugs Holmes. Strangely enough, that is maybe the part of his charcter that simultaneously gives me the chills and draws me in. And the violin playing kind of sums it all up for me, in a beautiful (and sexy) way :). Ahem. So, as much as I love petulant small brother scraping his violin, I really hope we'll see proper violin playing which is neither contrived nor soppy (and this is difficult!).

Human element: loved the part at the end, with Sherlock all frantic and the look in his eyes! This show has so many special moments, better just watch it all - it's really magnificent, isn't it? I think this confrontation with Moriarty was a bit of a turning point for Sherlock, and I'm with you that I hope that they will show him "learning from Watson", in fact I'm pretty sure that this is the direction the story arc will take. In this episode, we have seen Sherlock at his most inhuman, IMO. The way they played the (close to) final scenes, it looks like Sherlock is going to reconsider his admiration of Moriarty, and find out what sets them apart - that he's not that devoid of feelings after all (of course we all know that, don't we?).

Molly: I was actually very disappointed in the writers because of the way she was portrayed. Before the 3rd Ep., I also hoped (and waited) for some kind of turnaround, but apparently she really was just a pathetic girl with a crush, and what's worse, she was almost only played for laughs :(. Molly as Moriarty, if they pull this off - hats off to them!!! Can't see it really, though. I could see her as an accomplice, maybe?

[pythia_delphi]

'Tis a shame we have to participate in RL and not be able to roll around in our Sherlock obsession 24/7, right? ;-)

I agree that some of the more complex, enigmatic and philosophical aspects of Holmes have yet to be delved into. This Sherlock is portrayed as still very young, and although clever and accomplished, comes across as a bit of a petulant child that you want to slap some sense into sometimes. I never felt that way about canon!Holmes even when he was young in the earlier stories (late twenties/ early thirties?). Canon!Holmes was brought up a gentleman, in accordance with Victorian times; he thought he was superior to others in terms of intellect, certainly, but was never so openly rude, just a bit brusque. And I doubt he'd deem it gentlemanly behaviour to correct the grammar of someone of the 'lower classes.' It just wasn't done, as it was understood by the more 'genteel' that working classes simply hadn't had the same advantages of education, etc. I guess canon!Holmes expected deferential treatment because of his class, but in many instances, we see him treat his so-called 'inferiors' in a respectful and polite manner. And I'd also dearly love for this Sherlock to develop a bit more whimsy and, oh! what's the mot juste? I dunno, more introspection maybe, a broader outlook on life, the universe and everything, rather than just the minutiae. It happens more and more in later stories as he matures, so maybe these writers will do that too. I hope so, but I kinda think they're going more for slickness and style.

Yeah, I've pretty much given up on my Molly= Moriarty bandwagon. I do hope she grows a spine though, poor dear. I still rather adore her!

[fitchersvogel]

Everything you said, yes, yes, yes :). And, very important: the Sherlockian brand of kindness (as opposed to the more direct Watsonian love of the whole human race), which gets overlooked so easily (I think I've said that before).
Funny enough, when I first read and reread the books, before I'd seen any adaptations, I didn't see Sherlock as an arrogant man at all. Maybe that's my penchant for overlooking faults in men I love (it has happened, haha), but there are so many mentions of him softly laying a hand on a distressed client's arm, or calming them down with a few kind words. I loved the scene at the end of Ep.2, when he released Sarah :).

[pythia_delphi]

I didn't see him as particularly arrogant either. I mean, he knew he was clever, but he repeatedly stated that the abilities he possessed were those anyone could emulate with study and proper observation. He didn't like being falsely modest, because he liked facts, not untruths. So yes, he had pride in his talents and self-taught skills, but not arrogance.

I liked that scene too. He is usually quite sweet to women in canon, if a bit patronising at times.

[fitchersvogel]

Copy-Pasting:

“No, it is not selfishness or conceit,” said he, answering, as was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. “If I claim full justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing-a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of lectures into a series of tales.”

Could be seen as arrogant, perhaps, but I think it's almost the opposite: he has this habit of describing his achievements as something impersonal, something that should be admired without himself being noticed at all. On the other hand, he quite likes the applause :). Well, we never thought he was an easy character, did we?