In Which I Critique
Something I've quickly come to realize about fandoms I feel more appeal to is how intelligent they are. That's not to say all my fandoms contain scholars and those of exceeding IQ numbers. Far from it. I am a hopeless pathetic fangirl after all. But there are occasions where I find myself overjoyed to see people being so analytical and observant.
The second series premier of "Sherlock" has been met with three sides. One- People who loved it to the point where they cannot stop gushing. Two- People who loathed it to the point where they cannot stop gushing. Three- People who fall between these two extremes...and cannot stop gushing.
Now please forgive me as this will not be the most intelligent review or argument I'm going to make. It is simply the result of reading far many too reaction posts and feeling the need to add my own.
This ranted is prompted by a very insightful tumblr user who addresses the matter of sexism in this episode. For your inner critic's pleasure it is here. There are a lot of points in this that I whole heartily acknowledge. There are some aspects I disagree with.
Now a lot of people are either lost in a feeling of disrespect or willing to forgive/forget it. I find myself to be a terrible person, and partial feminist, when I say that I'm not sold on either extreme.
Am I disappointed in how they handled the conclusion with Adler's character? Very much so. But I was more disappointed in the event with Molly. It wasn't Sherlock's dressing down that bothered me. He was preoccupied, it's within his tendency, and as another review pointed out in a way he seemed he was complimenting her in his own way. He thought she honestly had someone, and while he doesn't care for romantic aspects it might have even bothered him a little in that someone he sees as just as or more clumsy/fallible than himself has a better grasp on the subject he's mulling over. His words are pushing it over the edge but I understand the logic.
What bothers me so, SO, much about this is that she RUNS RIGHT BACK. Sherlock, however unintentionally, is emotionally abusive to someone who is enamored with him. I've been a Molly. I just want to grab her and tell her to run--run far away. Because you deserve so much more even if they are a brilliant person underneath it all. There comes a time when you have to realize that you won't be the one to change him.
On to the massive topic of Ms. Adler.
I love her, I bloody love her. Except...I wished she would have (at least) died.
Hear me out. I am not a fan of the original stories. I may have read a total of two in my life. But I thought, despite her profession, she was wonderful. Powerful. Even if she had to achieve this power through an old trope. But I find characters like this to be empowering. Because unlike many feminists I don't necessarily equate using sexual prowess to demeaning yourself. ((Note: No offense intended. I just haven't come across many women who are satisfied with the way female sexuality is portrayed in fiction even when there are females in charge of writing/producing. Which isn't exactly fair as men are only given a limited spectrum themselves. That's another rant.))
I don't feel like she was a tool. She used what she had to her full advantage. She was able to scare NATIONS. While some of the dialogue was cheap and grating in repetition, my reading was that she used this basic weakness of others as her weapon against them not herself. She greeted Sherlock in the nude was a smart move. SHe had been researching him. She knew his strengths. She knew that a disguise would not be her best approach--because she would have to maintain whatever image she chose to the T. That might not be HER strength.
I did not feel like she ever really feel for Sherlock. I do not think he bested her in that way. Her pulse elevated--but was she not still on the chase? I'm reading that people are raving about emotions being the woman's downfall. Well, they didn't do a lot of good for Sherlock either. Now I'm not saying they were treated equally. I would have found the conclusion much more settling if Ms. Adler had escaped while giving a huge blow to the British (and American?) government. It would have hit back home as to the purpose of her character.
When Sherlock asked her to beg, it was a throw back to her own approach to him. This man is exceedingly self assured. His pride and ego are massive. She has broken him down. He is going to be spiteful. Naturally he'd look for her weakness. The tears made me twitch. A lot. That I do feel as being over the top. That felt like weak characterization. It's the only time I was slapped by the feeling of disrespect. Given her previous portrayal I would see her as using the twist for her own anger.
All of that being said, the little things really did irritate me. I think it pushed Irene's profession a little TOO hard. Instead of embedding the traits of a dominatrix into her personality they had to remind the audience constantly. Which, was rather irritating. Again the tears. And I really wasn't a fan of Sherlock saving her. It's not because everyone doesn't need some help. Sherlock's needed saving from time to time I'm sure. I don't see it as her being played equal. If they HAD to pull the faked death again-- I would have preferred that she found her own way. Sherlock already bested her once. That was a blow enough.
She deserved better. Unless there's more to that story and she somehow screwed Sherlock over again, I don't see how he could feel so frustrated by her to maintain the 'that woman' rant.
Mrs. Hudson- I didn't appreciate the 'but please do shut up' from Sherlock. But other than that? I thought this entire thing was beautiful. "The one day of the year the boys have to be nice to me.' I don't know if it was intentional, but my family jokes like that ALL the time.
What I DID love so FREAKIN' much about this episode was the questions it raised about sexuality vs. romance. It's not about shipping for me. It's that this conversation has been opened even if the writers didn't intend to do so. And I'm honestly not sure they were trying to be that insightful. I think it was an accident. I'm pretty sure they were simply trying to shut down all shippers. I'm not willing to give them THAT much credit just yet.
So long story short- Some lack luster conclusions that leave an awkward taste in my mouth. But some of the scenes and dialogue were prime. I loved so much of this episode. I just wish it had ended differently. It would have felt much more solid. They had chances to put even the weaker elements in context which would have maybe brought a little more balance to the shady aspects. They didn't. But, mass media rarely does. So am I disappointed? yes. Raving? no. Will I continue being entertained? yes.
The second series premier of "Sherlock" has been met with three sides. One- People who loved it to the point where they cannot stop gushing. Two- People who loathed it to the point where they cannot stop gushing. Three- People who fall between these two extremes...and cannot stop gushing.
Now please forgive me as this will not be the most intelligent review or argument I'm going to make. It is simply the result of reading far many too reaction posts and feeling the need to add my own.
This ranted is prompted by a very insightful tumblr user who addresses the matter of sexism in this episode. For your inner critic's pleasure it is here. There are a lot of points in this that I whole heartily acknowledge. There are some aspects I disagree with.
Now a lot of people are either lost in a feeling of disrespect or willing to forgive/forget it. I find myself to be a terrible person, and partial feminist, when I say that I'm not sold on either extreme.
Am I disappointed in how they handled the conclusion with Adler's character? Very much so. But I was more disappointed in the event with Molly. It wasn't Sherlock's dressing down that bothered me. He was preoccupied, it's within his tendency, and as another review pointed out in a way he seemed he was complimenting her in his own way. He thought she honestly had someone, and while he doesn't care for romantic aspects it might have even bothered him a little in that someone he sees as just as or more clumsy/fallible than himself has a better grasp on the subject he's mulling over. His words are pushing it over the edge but I understand the logic.
What bothers me so, SO, much about this is that she RUNS RIGHT BACK. Sherlock, however unintentionally, is emotionally abusive to someone who is enamored with him. I've been a Molly. I just want to grab her and tell her to run--run far away. Because you deserve so much more even if they are a brilliant person underneath it all. There comes a time when you have to realize that you won't be the one to change him.
On to the massive topic of Ms. Adler.
I love her, I bloody love her. Except...I wished she would have (at least) died.
Hear me out. I am not a fan of the original stories. I may have read a total of two in my life. But I thought, despite her profession, she was wonderful. Powerful. Even if she had to achieve this power through an old trope. But I find characters like this to be empowering. Because unlike many feminists I don't necessarily equate using sexual prowess to demeaning yourself. ((Note: No offense intended. I just haven't come across many women who are satisfied with the way female sexuality is portrayed in fiction even when there are females in charge of writing/producing. Which isn't exactly fair as men are only given a limited spectrum themselves. That's another rant.))
I don't feel like she was a tool. She used what she had to her full advantage. She was able to scare NATIONS. While some of the dialogue was cheap and grating in repetition, my reading was that she used this basic weakness of others as her weapon against them not herself. She greeted Sherlock in the nude was a smart move. SHe had been researching him. She knew his strengths. She knew that a disguise would not be her best approach--because she would have to maintain whatever image she chose to the T. That might not be HER strength.
I did not feel like she ever really feel for Sherlock. I do not think he bested her in that way. Her pulse elevated--but was she not still on the chase? I'm reading that people are raving about emotions being the woman's downfall. Well, they didn't do a lot of good for Sherlock either. Now I'm not saying they were treated equally. I would have found the conclusion much more settling if Ms. Adler had escaped while giving a huge blow to the British (and American?) government. It would have hit back home as to the purpose of her character.
When Sherlock asked her to beg, it was a throw back to her own approach to him. This man is exceedingly self assured. His pride and ego are massive. She has broken him down. He is going to be spiteful. Naturally he'd look for her weakness. The tears made me twitch. A lot. That I do feel as being over the top. That felt like weak characterization. It's the only time I was slapped by the feeling of disrespect. Given her previous portrayal I would see her as using the twist for her own anger.
All of that being said, the little things really did irritate me. I think it pushed Irene's profession a little TOO hard. Instead of embedding the traits of a dominatrix into her personality they had to remind the audience constantly. Which, was rather irritating. Again the tears. And I really wasn't a fan of Sherlock saving her. It's not because everyone doesn't need some help. Sherlock's needed saving from time to time I'm sure. I don't see it as her being played equal. If they HAD to pull the faked death again-- I would have preferred that she found her own way. Sherlock already bested her once. That was a blow enough.
She deserved better. Unless there's more to that story and she somehow screwed Sherlock over again, I don't see how he could feel so frustrated by her to maintain the 'that woman' rant.
Mrs. Hudson- I didn't appreciate the 'but please do shut up' from Sherlock. But other than that? I thought this entire thing was beautiful. "The one day of the year the boys have to be nice to me.' I don't know if it was intentional, but my family jokes like that ALL the time.
What I DID love so FREAKIN' much about this episode was the questions it raised about sexuality vs. romance. It's not about shipping for me. It's that this conversation has been opened even if the writers didn't intend to do so. And I'm honestly not sure they were trying to be that insightful. I think it was an accident. I'm pretty sure they were simply trying to shut down all shippers. I'm not willing to give them THAT much credit just yet.
So long story short- Some lack luster conclusions that leave an awkward taste in my mouth. But some of the scenes and dialogue were prime. I loved so much of this episode. I just wish it had ended differently. It would have felt much more solid. They had chances to put even the weaker elements in context which would have maybe brought a little more balance to the shady aspects. They didn't. But, mass media rarely does. So am I disappointed? yes. Raving? no. Will I continue being entertained? yes.