Elementary TV Watching

Rachel and I are big fans of Doctor Who, of course, and appreciate the different sensibilities of British TV.  So when she recently proposed we watch the BBC show, Sherlock, I said, yes.

The three (!) ninety minute episodes of Sherlock are available for streaming on Netflix.  Benedict Cumberbatch (yes, that's really his name) stars as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman is his mate, Dr. John Watson.  Martin Freeman, of course, is playing Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" while Cumberbatch is doing the voice of the dragon Smaug in "The Hobbit".  Very cool.

My immediate reaction to the first two minutes of the first episode was disappointment.  "It's set in modern times?" I asked, surprised; I thought it was a more literal translation.  However, I got over that almost immediately and began to enjoy the modern sensibility, especially since they're taking actual Sherlock Holmes stories and translating them to today.  All the characters are there, including Inspector LeStrade, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft and a certain Professor.  The performances and writing are so excellent (the showrunner being Doctor Who's current showrunner, Steven Moffat), and the episodes so filled with mystery, humor, intrigue and action, that the show draws you in effortlessly. 

One thing I have found fascinating are the parallels to FOX's long-running medical drama, House.  Both the character and show, House, are based on Sherlock Holmes and the shared source material makes the parallels fun to spot.

Rachel and I (and occasionally Carol) powered through the three episodes over three successive nights.  After cursing the British penchant for very small episode runs, we eagerly await more.  (Just so long as it doesn't interrupt filming of The Hobbit.)