Watson, Watson, Watson

[Mel]

Stacy wrote: "My main picture of Watson is Nigel Bruce. I think his character is a bit too bumbling, but he is the one I 'see' when I read the stories. Love Freeman and Law.

The best thing about Watson is that..."

YES, very nicely put. I wholeheartedly agree, Watson is such an important and essential character and portraying him as unintelligent would be unrealistic. And kjnhbg you're right, Jude Law was absolutely fantastic as Watson. My favorite Watson switches between Freeman and Law. I found both their portrayals to be excellent in their own ways.

[Colette]

NO FEMALE WATSON! I'm trying not to sound like a purist because I am far from it, actually. Still, you cannot change a character so much, especially when there is a possibility of involvement between a friendly duo such as Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Excuse the Hunger Games reference, but it's like creating a movie that portrays Rue's character as an attractive male tribute and having Katniss add her to the HG love triangle.

[Karl]

Conan Doyle was not a genius for inventing Holmes, he was a genius for inventing Watson!

[Michael]

I think the Brett-Hardwicke combo was solid. My problem with Elementary is that the personalities seem way off relative to the books. The Holmes is way too neurotic and the Watson way too stoical. There's no chemistry there.

[Ruin]

I liked the Jude Law Watson. He didn't let himself be trod on by Sherlock, and he felt more real too, because he was sort of less tolerant of Sherlock being a jerk to him and everyone else. XD But Martin Freeman will always be may favorite, I think. He's just plain awesome.

I agree, having Holmes and Watson as different genders just seems weird. But I would love to see a completely gender-switched Sherlock!

Watson is very unique. As much as I love Sherlock's character, if I met him I would probably hate him so much. Watson really has a gift, to be able to stand him ;)

-Ruin Holmes

[J.]

My favorite Watson is David Burke, who was in the first season of the Granada series. I don't think that what he brought to the role has been equalled.
A decent second place would probably go to James Mason in the film "Murder By Decree".
And while I had been pretty negative to the notion of a female Watson, I think the working chemistry between JLM and Lucy Liu sells it.

[Bruce]

My three favorites are Colin Blakely in the Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Robert Duvall in The Seven Percent Solution, and Jude Law in the recent films.

I see Watson as younger, a man of action, a ladies man, and intelligent - just a touch less than Holmes. I'm not as much a fan of Holmes and Watson as older men as in the Rathbone/Bruce films and the Brett/Burke/Hardwicke series, or Holmes and Watson as 21st century men (or women) in the BBC Sherlock and Elementary.