and more about sherlock holmes
So, I've read the stories when I was younger. Probably what got me interested in books in the first place, and look where it got me - getting a Language & Literature major. I owe a lot to Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle. My collection of SH books has always been more valuable to me than my Harry Potter collection. I just needed every book. I needed to read every single story, because it was just so interesting.
I can't say I remember most of them. It's been way over five years since I've read any SH, and I've really read them all out of order. I know that The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favorite and that The Valley of Fear is the most boring one. But what has really mesmerized me was Holmes, and how exquisite he's always been.
That's why I couldn't like the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film. I admit it - I am not a fan of Downey Jr. He's a good Tony Stark? Hell yes, he is. I like Iron Man? Yes, I do. I can't really remember most of his older films, before his career went downhil (and then back up)? Nope, I can't. But I've watched his Sherlock Holmes. And the character he played hardly reminded me of the character I was so mesmerized about. Hell, even his Watson wasn't fascinated by him. The duo was reduced to a pair of bickering old men, and Holmes was suddenly way more childish than he usually is. I may have felt a bit insulted. It insulted the little teenage me, taunting it, daring it to remember all the read words, like a big game of Find the mistakes. So yes, I couldn't remember the stories very well. I admit it. But the Holmes feeling I got from the books weren't there. They were missing - no. They were entirely vacant.
And then, I've just watched BBC's Sherlock. And I am so thrilled.
When fizzyopolis told me it was a modern version of Sherlock Holmes, I, somehow, got the idea that it was "yet another adaptation". It didn't dawn to me that it was set in modern times - even though she did tell me Watson had a blog! Herpdep?
It's brilliant! The characters are brilliantly fleshed out. The actors? Outstanding. Holmes is still a cocky son of a bitch, but you can see his brilliance, he puts them into action, and it doesn't sound like he's saying all these complicated words just to confuse you. I love the way they make us follow his trail of thought by adding hints on the screen everywhere. It might be a bit tiring to few, but to me, it's a quick jump into the mind of the detective I love so much. And Watson? Watson's a fanboy again! Still terribly bothered by Holmes' arrogance, but who can really not get past the arrogance and see how he is not like the rest of us? That his skills clearly surpass ours?
So, I'm not a nazi fan - one that condemns adaptations if they are not exactly like the book. I can take changes, as long as the material stays close to the original. I want to see my characters on screen, and not some overly deformed anomaly, adapted and twisted to fit generations that will simply not bother to read the originals because Omg, it's so boring!. I absolutely adored this series, because it was there. The thing that got me hooked in the first place. That lovely element that still dictates my taste in stories. That one mysterious element. That leaves you wanting to know more, even if not for the story, but what is Sherlock going to do? And what is Watson going to do to help him? Are they going to solve the case? Are they in danger?
In the end, I've always been in it for the game.
And the game, ladies and gentlemen, is very present here.
So, watch BBC's Sherlock. And let's all keep cheering for it to shine!
End note: I still cannot accept Holmes/Watson. It's an almost ten-year-old aversion, I am so sorry. The "gay" jokes are particularly funny here, and hell, even appropriate. But I quite believe the actor playing Holmes and the writers have Holmes spot on - that he is all about interest. I wouldn't say it in a bad sense. But Holmes gets intellectually interested in people, and that is where it ends. Watson spends so much time with him, it is obvious he would be dear to him. I believe Holmes cried for him in one of the stories. But romance? Romance is not in Sherlock Holmes. Twisting such a beautiful friendship is still something I cannot fathom and... it scares me a tiny bit? Yeah. Just throwing it out there.