Rosella’s Comments (group member since Nov 23, 2012)

Rosella’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

I've just re-read "A Scandal in Bohemia" and re-watched "A Scandal in Belgravia" and I've concluded that the Irene Adler in the TV show is a more formidable opponent than the original Doyle character. Doyle actually gave her very few lines. In her only recorded interactions with Sherlock she asks him to serve as a witness at her hasty wedding and nurses his fake wounds without giving any indication that she saw beyond the façade of the clergy man disguise or the wound. If we can believe her own word, she didn't recognize Sherlock until after she gave away the whereabouts of the photograph and then only because someone else had warned her to look out for him. On the other hand, the Adler in the series, actively seeks Sherlock out, engages him in his own game, seriously unnerves him and nearly beats him to a pulp. The fact that she contracted with Moriaty hardly makes her less capable within the world of the show. Several villains -- male and female -- "consult" with the "world's first consulting criminal." The fact that her "payment" is playing with the "famous Holmes brothers" only proves that, like Moraiaty, she possesses a mind which is a criminal version of Holmes' own. I can see why her occupation in the show may appear problematic to some feminists. However, as the writers point out in the commentary high class prostitution could be one possible interpretation of the very Victorian job description of "adventuress." Furthermore, while I realize this interpretation will reflect sadly on society's association of sexuality with empowerment, I find the idea of a dominatrix who holds on to comprising pictures for use in a power struggle more empowered than a love struck woman who threatens to embarrass her old lover until a new man comes to sweep her off her feet.

In regards to the cocaine use, I was surprised at the detail devoted to describing the injection. I don't recall any of the stories I read as a child describing his drug in so much detail. However, I recall several references to drug use aside from tobacco.

The client had a right to know, but Sherlock's decision certainly made sense considering that the client hadn't been particularly harmed, nor did he have any involvement in the final outcome.

Louise wrote: "Second episode of the first series switched American villains (in the original story 'The Dancing Men') to Chinese ones and filled it with trappings of old school 'yellow peril' and fetishy orentia..."

I stand corrected. I hadn't considered the portrayal of Chinese Londoners and Asian culture. I guess it is an example of my own narrow mindedness that when I read racism, I thought black people.

Francie wrote: "I really enjoyed this first Holmes. I thought tHe countdown of days in part two was an effective suspense devise."

Despite my feeling of disorientation at the sudden shift in setting and narrative style, I did like the device of the countdown. Never knowing where the numbers would appear heightened my overall sense of suspense.

Where was the racism?

Laura, I also like the quote about eliminating the impossible. I feel that deductive reasoning applies to so many situation.

I've read quite a few SH stories and the flashback was like nothing I've encountered in any other SH stories. I actually checked the book to make sure I hadn't picked up the wrong book.

E, I've watched the entire series including all of the commentary. I'd say the other one which most closely resembles the stories is season 2's first episode, "A Scandal in Bohemia." The others, as I've observed and as the writers mentioned in the commentary tend to borrow from several stories and don't closely follow single stories.

Krazykiwi wrote: " I think I appreciate the legacy and the modern (Basil Rathbone and forward to today) pastiches much more than I do the original in the raw"

I've always preferred Doyle's Holmes to later adaptations and I'm thrilled with the how both the most recent movies and the Sherlock series have returned to a closer interpretation of the characters. But then, I suppose it's all in what you're used to. I first read some of the short stories in late grade school. When I later listened to the old radio show on my parents' cassettes, I was less impressed with the radio character than I had been with the original story.

E :) wrote: "Unfortunately the first episode of the BBC series Sherlock gave away much of the plot. Who knew???!"
I appreciated how close "A Study in Pink" stuck to "A study in Scarlet." I suppose it did give away some of the plot, but I didn't think it detracted from my enjoyment. Honestly, I'm so used to Holmes dazzling me at the end, that I felt a little smarter the moment I realized that it was going to be (view spoiler)[ the cab driver in the book as well as in the show (view spoiler)[ .
I particularly liked how closely the producers modeled the first meeting of their Holmes and Watson with the first meeting of the originals. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm about half-way through this. Somebody let me know when you reach the flasback part. I won't say anything else to avoid spoliers, but I'd like to discuss this part.

There's already someone from St. Louis, MO, but I make two.