Sherlock motherfucking Holmes, or: This is not a primer. Well, not really.

[zarah5]

Sherlock motherfucking Holmes!
(or: This is not a primer. Well, not really. Maybe a little.)

So, maybe you are like me and vaguely remember Sherlock Holmes from your childhood or early teens. If that is the case, you probably remember him as this genius detective, very precise, more than a little conceited yet rightfully so, and maybe you

Comments

[arkanefyre]

THIS POST IS RELEVANT TO MY INTEREST.

I loved the beginning where you talked about the original, because the movie's characterization is closer to the original than a lot of people think.

Also, I think you might want to check out indeedtheydid. <3

Great post! I didn't realize there was a Holmes Big Bang!

[zarah5]

It is! Holmes is just as much of a desperate, needy addict, and yet brilliant and quick and sharp, and Watson isn't just a loyal watchdog; he's also the better shooter of the two, and really, the move might have a little more action, but overall, it's not so different from the books.

I will totally give indeedtheydid a look tomorrow, hee!

[cognomen]

An excellent primer, and if I may continue on the points of the books - of which there are more than just the ones Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, of course. I will try to limit myself to within the scope of original canon, but as I have read so many sherlock holmes stories I may occasionally stray and I apologize for that. (I will gladly accept correction

[zarah5]

Please elaborate for as long and as much as you like, for this is brilliant! I've read the books when I was much, much younger, and have only started to reread, so there is so much I don't remember.

They show Holmes abusing medicine for eye surgery in the movie, so the addict part may definitely be of some relevance. (And he also appears drugged in other instances, like when he solves the puzzle.)

I am of course put to mind of the one or two vacations to the country which Watson seems to think should probably do Holmes good, but Holmes stubbornly drags his feet the entire way to, and then finds that he does enjoy it, at least a little.
I do not remember there being vacations! But Watson would so totally do this; he cannot abandon Holmes when he's small and needy and his genius is spiralling out of control. Although in the movie, it's interesting that the one to suggest the vacation is Holmes, and partly to get him away from Mary. In many ways, they've taken the usual dynamic and twisted it around.

[cognomen]

Hahaha, the 'medicine for eye surgery' is cocaine, in fact. That was one of it's (many) original uses, as well as being the 'cure' for alcoholism. As an aside, Holmes' line in the movie, 'My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work...' is a direct line from the Sign of Four

[meredyth_13]

This is all, frankly, rather brilliant. Thank you so much for adding this to Zarah's already wonderful post. :)

[acari]

On my first try I fell asleep in the middle. Maybe I should give this movie another try. *ponders*

[zarah5]

Do give it another try, please! If you're into detective movies and mysteries at all, into solving puzzles, then it's an awesome movie. The slash is a plus.

[nova33]

You're awesome. And that is all.

[zarah5]

Why thank you, Madam! It is highly appreciated.

[torakowalski]

Thing the 1st: Yay! This primer is a thing of love :) (As are all things with pictures of topless RDJ, shh.)

Thing the 2nd: You signed up for Holmes big bang?! Please note that I am available for all the cheerleading in the world!

[zarah5]

It basically wrote itself. And if I can drag one or two people down with me? It will be so worth the effort!

And, um. I kind of possibly did. It is-- They said it was the provisional sign-ups! Tentative! Declaring an interest! We'll, uh. We'll see. I don't have a definite idea yet, either; just a lot of thoughts floating around my brain. (But if you were willing to take a look at kid!Holmes, a shorter thing of maybe 5'000 which I may or may not finish tomorrow, that would be most awesome. I also owe you mail, hee.)

[torakowalski]

Ahaha, kid!Holmes? I will definitely take a look at that, whenever you finish it. :D

[torakowalski]

Sweetie, are you having problems with your email account? It's bouncing back my email!