New CBS Sherlock Show "Elementary"

[Sabrina]

I finally got to watch the first two episodes. I don't usually watch much TV, but I actually enjoyed Elementary. Although, I don't know why they even bothered using Sherlock Holmes' name. Seems like it would have been a perfectly good show with only a nod to Holmes... like they did in House. I didn't get the feeling that I was watching Sherlock Holmes. He seemed more like a younger version of Monk. It will be interesting to see how, or if they develop Holmes.

I feel like Elementary's version of Holmes is the complete opposite of Sherlock's. They are two extremes in my mind, whereas, Jeremy Brett's version found a balance between coldness and energetic passion.

[Dina]

Someone suggested watching this as a crime show and not as Sherlock Holmes. I enjoyed it much more that way!

[Erin]

Sabrina wrote: "I don't know why they even bothered using Sherlock Holmes' name. Seems like it would have been a perfectly good show with only a nod to Holmes... like they did in House."

That was my thought exactly, Sabrina! It looks like a pretty good crime show, really. It's just everyone is getting caught up on how terrible wrong they've gotten Holmes.

Still...it's probably going to be one of those shows that I just forget to watch. Mostly because I never remember to watch TV during it's actual air-time. And it's on CBS and they don't play nice with Hulu so I have to go directly to their site to watch, which means it doesn't catch my eye while I'm browsing through newly posted episodes of stuff. =P

[Sabrina]

Erin wrote: Still...it's probably going to be one of those shows that I just forget to watch. Mostly because I never remember to watch TV during it's actual air-time.

I'm in the same boat with you, Erin. I will likely watch it if I think about it, but won't go out of my way to watch an episode. Now Sherlock on the other hand...

[Susan]

I have been watching Elementary and have really been enjoying it so far. I haven't watched the Sherlock show before. I have seen the first movie with Robert Downey and enjoyed that as well.

[Alice]

Susan wrote: "I have been watching Elementary and have really been enjoying it so far. I haven't watched the Sherlock show before. I have seen the first movie with Robert Downey and enjoyed that as well."

Do get thee to Netflix or something that will allow you to watch seasons 1 & 2 of Sherlock , Susan. It is so much better than either the Downey films (my personal opinion is they are horrible and so far from Canon as to be ludicrous) and Elementary (the prevailing opinion on all Sherlockian sites).

I know tastes differ, but you can see in every second of Sherlock that it is a labor of love by people who know Canon and respect the character. The production values are amazing and...Holmes isn't an action figure super hero, or a scruffy, addict just out of rehab, but more the man that is in every one of the 56 short stories and 4 novellas...the Holmes of Doyle's creation, brought into the 21st century.

[Elisabeth]

We just started watching Elementary based on my brother's recommendation - he who recommended Sherlock in the first place and is rarely off base with his suggestions. I was skeptical but in fact I quite like it. It's well written, entertaining, with well-built characters and mysteries that twist and turn. It is NOT Sherlock. It uses character names and some characteristics, but makes no effort to 'be' Sherlock Holmes. It's a good show, much better than most cop/detective shows out there, and Watson is one of the best-written female characters I've seen, particularly on American TV.

Also I completely agree with Alice above: Watch Sherlock!

[Rose]

Does anyone know if/when a Season 3 of Sherlock is expected?

[Elisabeth]

A third season is supposedly underway, to be shot this spring assuming Martin Freeman can get free of Peter Jackson. It could air anytime between next fall (in the UK) and never.

[Richard]

I agree, watch Sherlock! On Elementary the dialog is spoken quietly and I have difficulty understanding what is being said. Elementary is a fresh take on the genre but, that is where it stops. If I knew nothing about Sherlock Holmes, other than the name, I might be interested in watching the show. I quit watching the show after 3 episodes.

[Sabrina]

Richard, I watched the whole first season of Elementary. I enjoyed it as long as I viewed it as a well done mystery show. I rarely watch TV shows so that's something that I watched it every week, but then they threw that ridiculous twist regarding Irene Adler and Moriarty into the final episode. I'm not sure I'll watch season 2!

I also had to explain to a number of friends who aren't familiar with Canon that Elementary had very few elements from the original stories. But maybe it will make them interested in reading original stories. Though I recommend Beekeepers Apprentice first.

[Elisabeth]

Having watched the entire first season of Elementary, I have to say it is one of the best shows on network tv. The character of Watson is extremely smart and well-developed, and the relationship between them is much more interesting than male-female relationships tend to be on television. In addition, Elementary's treatment of the character of Irene Adler was worlds above Sherlock's in terms of interest and strength.

My sister and I discuss this at length, being huge nerds. We conclude that Elementary is excellent television and excellent storytelling, loosely based on the characters and events of the Holmes canon; Sherlock is a dedicated re-telling of the original stories, with twists and updates, but is more concerned with showmanship and in-jokes than either story or character. It's beautiful to watch and gripping, and highly entertaining, but Elementary has much more depth.

I love them both and would recommend any fan of Holmes - or good television - watch both.

(By the way I loved the Adler/Moriarty twist! It was original and extremely startling, and one of the better Moriarties I've ever seen. We definitely plan to watch Season 2 - though I'm not sure where they'll be able to take it after that!)

[C.P.]

I like the writing and the acting on Elementary, but LRK's Holmes is SO much more interesting.

[Sabrina]

Elisabeth wrote: "Having watched the entire first season of Elementary, I have to say it is one of the best shows on network tv. The character of Watson is extremely smart and well-developed, and the relationship be..."

My big issue with the Adler/Moriarty twist was why do they always have to tie Adler to Moriarty? Why doesn't Irene get her own storyline. She deserves a whole storyline to herself IMO. They tied her to Moriarty in the RDJ version, BBC Sherlock, and Elementary. I was just really hoping for something original.

[Emily]

Elementary seemed to me to be, essentially, a police procedural that involved characters with names we know. There is nothing wrong with a police procedural, but I did not feel very much like I was watching a show that was genuinely attempting to engage with the SH canon or tradition. My more fundamental quarrel with the show is that I found the writing clunky and the plotting predictable, but let it be said that the BBC Sherlock has had its own share of transparent moments where the tension fades a bit.

[Erin]

Elementary has the classic problem of facing too high expectations. And, really, they shot themselves in the foot there by pointedly keeping the Holmes character names to ride the Sherlock wave. If they had given everyone different names, viewers would be judging the show on it's own merits and it would probably stand better.

I can't help thinking of all my favorite shows and movies that are loosely based on books, but only the really big fans (or really observant) ever even notice the connections. Like 'Clueless' and '10 Things I Hate About You' and 'The Lion King' and 'House'. You're just begging for comparisons and judgement when you try to mimic the books exactly, no matter how well (or not) you do.

[Lenore]

Erin wrote: "Elementary has the classic problem of facing too high expectations. And, really, they shot themselves in the foot there by pointedly keeping the Holmes character names to ride the Sherlock wave. ..."

I think your observation is spot on!

[Pat]

Watched my first Elementary program this week and confess I had to rerun and watch a second time to pick up all the dialog and complex bits...something which commends it to me as an interesting program. want to go back now and see it from the beginning.

[Misty]

CBS is running a "Season catch up" marathon, and Elementary is one of the options. (http://www.cbs.com/shows/elementary)

That said, referencing the drug addiction discussion from above, I always saw him using it in a similar way to how many bipolar individuals use marijuana now: as a way to regulate their "lows." In truth, and this is just my take (as a bipolar girl, so this may be projecting on my part), I've always seen Holmes as a "manic depressive" individual. If that's your take on our dear Sherlock, then "Elementary" will be a new favorite for you. There is no doubt in my mind that this incarnation of Holmes IS meant to be bipolar 2 evident through multiple examples (such as, in one episode, he stays up for almost three days straight with no lack of energy, classic hypomanic behavior). Repeatedly he points out that Watson's worry over him relapsing is pointless because there is a case to solve.

Much the same as ACD's Sherlock, who only seemed to dabble when there was no puzzle or mystery to keep him in a hypomanic state. Though I don't see how that could be classified as addiction in either case.

And for myself? I LOVE that they use the Holmes characters. The references are often only recognizable to those who have read the cannon (a local street kid as an irregular, references to the monologues, Ms. Hudson recognized as a former client as well as the oft used housekeeper, ect.)

Overall, I find the series fun, and on par with Sherlock in it's own right in regards to writing and brilliant characters. They are just two very different takes on the characters in two very different settings.