): Sherlock Holmes

[Allison]

Season 3 of the BBC's Sherlock starts next Sunday here in the States!!!! Already have my dvr set in advance :) weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hooray!! So excited!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Starts here in Australia too. However, I have already ordered my dvd set from the UK.

[Andy]

jus got round to watching Sherlock S3 & Yawwwwwwn to episode 1, jus wrong & sooooo long winded - for addicts only i'd say, in fact i prefer Elementary to the beeb version & tis not oft I admit to a Yankee series being better..... mind Lucy liu might be clouding my judgement :D

[Jane]

Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me the old Jeremy Brett/Nigel Bruce series. Sorry to disagree with you ladies, but I think I'll miss S3.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Meanwhile, I am anxiously waiting for my S3 DVDs to ship.

[Allison]

Andy wrote: "jus got round to watching Sherlock S3 & Yawwwwwwn to episode 1, jus wrong & sooooo long winded - for addicts only i'd say, in fact i prefer Elementary to the beeb version & tis not oft I admit to a..."

What? Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. I don't believe you. I can't believe it. I won't! :P

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Allie wrote: "Andy wrote: "jus got round to watching Sherlock S3 & Yawwwwwwn to episode 1, jus wrong & sooooo long winded - for addicts only i'd say, in fact i prefer Elementary to the beeb version & tis not oft..."

Everyone I know who has seen season 3 reckons it is brilliant. And the last episode "His Last Vow" is beyond brilliant from all accounts.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Andy wrote: "jus got round to watching Sherlock S3 & Yawwwwwwn to episode 1, jus wrong & sooooo long winded - for addicts only i'd say, in fact i prefer Elementary to the beeb version & tis not oft I admit to a..."

Elementary! *shudders* Sorry, but that's just a police procedural wearing the borrowed clothes of Sherlock Holmes. The modern BBC reboot at least uses lines from the books, as well as scenarios. It's adored by Sherlockians because of the references to the canon.

[Allison]

That settles it! You and I will have a fabulous, kick-ass Season 3 party and not invite Andy or Jane ;)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Allie wrote: "That settles it! You and I will have a fabulous, kick-ass Season 3 party and not invite Andy or Jane ;)"

I'll drink to that! :D

[Andy]

Party on ladies lol

Loved series 1 & 2 & much anticipated S3 & like i say ep 1 really thought it ordinary (high expectations i guess), still got ep 2 & 3 to watch so we'll see, maybe the series toooo far syndrome OR jus for addicts only. enjoy the nibbles in yer onesies :D

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Episode 2 is heavy on humour, because it includes John's stag night.

Episode 3 is probably the darkest episode to date.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

The thing with Sherlock is that there are 3 writers, each of whom write one episode.

Mark Gatiss who wrote "The Great Game", "The Hounds of Baskerville" and "The Empty Hearse" is given to sometimes over complicated plots. He also likes to get a little tricksy with viewers. Hence the variety of possibilities for Sherlock's survival in TEH.

Steve Thompson wrote "The Blind Banker", "The Reichenbach Fall" and "The Sign of Three". He can be a little more pedestrian in his style, so his episodes aren't usually given to providing memorable quotes. Though I understand that in TST he has excelled himself, particularly with stag night.

Steve Moffat wrote "A Study in Pink", "A Scandal in Belgravia" and "His Last Vow". Steve Moffat is an evil little basket who loves playing with the viewers. His episodes are also the ones with the most references to the ACD canon. His plots are usual complicated, but done so carefully that you don't lose the thread of the narrative. With Steve Moffat you can guarantee one thing...what ever you think is going to happen...it's not going to happen. You NEVER see his plot twists coming.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

And yeah, Steve Moffat's episodes are my favourites. Though I do love "The Great Game" as well. But if I am going to pull my dvds out and watch, the chances are it will be Study or Scandal.

[Jane]

Allie wrote: "That settles it! You and I will have a fabulous, kick-ass Season 3 party and not invite Andy or Jane ;)"

That's ok. We'll have our own party, eh, Andy? :)

[Allison]

Margaret wrote: "The thing with Sherlock is that there are 3 writers, each of whom write one episode.

Mark Gatiss who wrote "The Great Game", "The Hounds of Baskerville" and "The Empty Hearse" is given to sometime..."

I stand by my comment Margaret...you are the Sherlock of Sherlock Holmes Trivia! :) I think I liked Steve Moffat's episodes best too. Three more days to go! Yay!

[Portia]

Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me the old Jeremy Brett/Nigel Bruce series. Sorry to disagree ..."

I am surprised that Margaret did not mention the fact that Jeremy Brett and Nigel Bruce were not in the same Sherlock series.

We have our DVR set as well. Looking forward to it.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Portia wrote: "Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me the old Jeremy Brett/Nigel Bruce series. Sorry..."

*coughs* I wasn't going to embarrass Jane by mentioning it.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Allie wrote: "Margaret wrote: "The thing with Sherlock is that there are 3 writers, each of whom write one episode.

Mark Gatiss who wrote "The Great Game", "The Hounds of Baskerville" and "The Empty Hearse" is ..."

Awwww. Thank you. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Margaret wrote: "Everyone I know who has seen season 3 reckons it is brilliant. And the last episode "His Last Vow" is beyond brilliant from all accounts. ..."


Spot the hardcore fan in the room??

Other people thinking something is brilliant, doesn't mean it is brilliant to everyone.
Just had to drop that in to the fray.

You know, due to the whole, everyone's right, nobody is wrong, thingie we like to nurture in A&M..:]

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Everyone I know who has seen season 3 reckons it is brilliant. And the last episode "His Last Vow" is beyond brilliant from all accounts. ..."


Spot the hardcore fan in the room??..."

I agree. Haven't seen them yet myself, I may be disappointed.

But the point I was making, is that everyone I know who has seen the episodes have raved about them - and they aren't all hardcore Sherlock fans. In fact, the majority of them aren't. Actually, I've been a little scared by the praise in case it raises my expectations too much and I don't enjoy them as much as I would without the rave reviews.

Even the Sherlockians (generic term for Sherlock Holmes fans - Holmesians got dropped about 30 years ago) have praised the final episode to the skies. They, as a group, are usually the harshest critics of anything that uses Sherlock Holmes & John Watson. The fact they are have praised it so extravagantly suggests that "His Last Vow" at least, is something incredibly special.

[Jane]

Margaret wrote: "Portia wrote: "Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me the old Jeremy Brett/Nigel Bruce..."

In a way, that was my mistake: I misread the tv schedule in the paper. I should have known it would be the updated Sherlock Holmes by the one-word title of the program and also didn't the title say 'Hounds' plural.
I kept explaining that this was Sherlock Holmes updated for the 21st century to my husband.
I guess we are both old fogies. :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Jane wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Portia wrote: "Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me the old Jeremy ..."

It's an easy mistake to make. The ACD novel was "The Hound of the Baskervilles" whilst the Sherlock episode is "The Hounds of Baskerville".

Not my favourite Sherlock episode, but I did like the idea that the Hound could be the product of a government research lab... and I loved the way they did Henry Knight's breakdown with the garden lights and the wolf howls. Excellent piece of staging and direction.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

I think, too, I need to make clear my position. Yes, I am a Sherlock fan.

But first and foremost I am a Sherlockian. I have been a dedicated reader of the ACD canon since I was 10 years old. The thing that gripped me from the first story was the strength of the friendship and love between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

I have read the canon so many times that I have lost count of the number of copies of the books I have literally read until they fell to pieces. I read every pastiche and anthology I can get my hands on. I watch every movie and television adaptation I can. Always looking for someone who can capture that friendship the way ACD did.

The reason I love the BBC's Sherlock so much is that, finally, there is a combination that has the chemistry of the books. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have brought that most wonderful of friendships to life.

To me the friendship is summed up by a couple of lines from the story "The Three Garridebs" - 'It was worth a wound, indeed, it was worth many wounds, to see the depth of love and loyalty that lay behind that cold mask.' John Watson's words when he is shot by the villain, and Sherlock Holmes nearly breaks down.

That strength of friendship and love is why I love Sherlock Holmes and John Watson so damn much. They will always be my favourite literary characters.

[Darcy]

Margaret wrote: "Jane wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Portia wrote: "Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our taste. Give me th..."

It wasn't my favourite either, but the scene at the picnic table is worth it's weight in gold.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Darcy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Jane wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Portia wrote: "Jane wrote: "Husband and I watched a rerun of the Sherlock Hound of the Baskervilles last Sat. evening. It was absolutely not to our t..."

Oh yes. That was a beauty. :D

[Portia]

As our friends in the I-Love-Shakespeare thread will attest, a true work of classic literature will endure over centuries and through time setting changes -- modern day London, England to NYC, Watson to female, etc. Even though ACD's work is 100 years old not 400, the fact that it is bearing the test of time in the original as well as newer interpretations in the 21st Century, proves to me that it will still be enjoyed in future centuries.

[Portia]

For the Sherlockians in our midst:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/art...

[Portia]

And:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...

The part about Sherlock is in the second half of the article. Some people ... I'll tell ya!

[happy]

Thnx for those links Portia

Good articles

[Andy]

S3 Ep2 in the bag AND much much better, borderline OTT for a few moments but came back on track & very funny.

[Allison]

Ooooo you're a fan again, eh Andy? Nice try but you still can't come to the party!!! ;) :D

[Andy]

lol fickle I be :D

[Mark]

Andy wrote: "lol fickle I be :D"

Allie wrote: "Ooooo you're a fan again, eh Andy? Nice try but you still can't come to the party!!! ;) :D"

:D

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Portia wrote: "For the Sherlockians in our midst:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/art..."

That was a very interesting article. Thanks Portia.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Andy wrote: "S3 Ep2 in the bag AND much much better, borderline OTT for a few moments but came back on track & very funny."

Yeah, Steve Thompson can be a little loose in the writing at times.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Portia wrote: "As our friends in the I-Love-Shakespeare thread will attest, a true work of classic literature will endure over centuries and through time setting changes -- modern day London, England to NYC, Wat..."

I'll agree with all of that EXCEPT the changing of sex. The changing of the sex of one character changes the friendship dynamic. That dynamic is, to me, what the stories are all about.

[Portia]

I agree, Margaret, though I do like watching Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu interact and deliver the wonderfully funny lines their script writers provide for them.

Here is a question. Has anyone watched the TV series "House"? It is another "based on" spin-off: brilliant diagnostician addicted to prescription pain killers. What bothered me about the character House was that he couldn't stand to see another person happy. In every episode, he was either ruining a date his Watson (Dr. James Wilson) had or spoiling the adoption hopes of his boss (Dr. Lisa Cuddy) or reveling in his ability to tell some hapless couple that the man wasn't the father of his wife's baby.

I NEVER got the idea that Holmes was into the serious nasties.

What do other people think?

[Mark]

I use to watch House, but got bored with it. It never seemed to go anywhere.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Portia wrote: "I agree, Margaret, though I do like watching Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu interact and deliver the wonderfully funny lines their script writers provide for them.

Here is a question. Has anyone w..."

I did NOT like House. I thought the character was just downright nasty. Not my cup of tea at all.

[Allison]

Its here Margaret! Its here! I only have to wait a couple more hours! Todays the day! lol.

I loved (and miss) House. Hugh Laurie was fantastic. And I loved Watson. Oh, I mean Wilson :)

[Darcy]

Is Wilson the Australian? He's on some Chicago something show now. Fire, Police, EMS or some such.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Allie wrote: "Its here Margaret! Its here! I only have to wait a couple more hours! Todays the day! lol.

I loved (and miss) House. Hugh Laurie was fantastic. And I loved Watson. Oh, I mean Wilson :)"

Breathe, Allie, breathe!!!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Darcy wrote: "Is Wilson the Australian? He's on some Chicago something show now. Fire, Police, EMS or some such."

Yup. That's the one. If I can be bothered scurrying through the halls of my Mind Palace, I may even remember his name. :p

[Portia]

Robert Sean Leonard (James Wilson) was born in New Jersey. Since NJ is where Chris Christie (is he a bully or is he not a bully for shutting down that bridge?) [how do you make a crossed eyes emoticon?] is the governor .. say no more ;-)

But now you've got me wondering who from "House" is from Australia and is now on some Chicago thing.

[Dawn]

No, Wilson was played by Robert Sean Leonard and was born in New Jersey.

You are thinking of Jesse Spencer, who played Robert Chase on House and is currently starring in Chicago Fire. He was born in Melbourne.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

My Sherlock season 3 dvds have shipped from the UK - along with CDs of the music from seasons 1 and 2.

*does happy dance*

[Portia]

We saw S1 E1 last night and it was absolutely delightful. The scenes in the restaurant were some of the funniest I've watched in a long time. Benedict Cumberbatch excelled as Sherlock, reminding me of John Cleese in the Python's "Waffer Thin Mint" sketch in the scene where he was playing a waiter. Really showed BC's comic range.

Martin Freeman -- well, who doesn't love Martin Freeman, especially when he is trying to kill Benedict Cumberbatch? Even the over-the-top parts were satisfyingly over-the-top. If I were using GR stars, I'd give this episode five -- will read -- in this case watch -- again.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

A friend of mine who is half French said Benedict's French accent was perfect in that episode.

Both Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch have excellent comedic timing. Though Benedict swears everything he knows about comedy he learned from Martin.

[Jane]

Margaret wrote: "Portia wrote: "I agree, Margaret, though I do like watching Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu interact and deliver the wonderfully funny lines their script writers provide for them.

Here is a question..."

I thought House was a creep, too. I saw that show once or twice, and that was it.