For any fans of Sherlock Holmes or just of great TV then you need to check out the BBC’s latest offering. They’ve made a three part series called simply SHERLOCK, bringing the character of Sherlock Holmes out of the nineteenth century and in to 2010. Each episode is feature length and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson. The series was co-created and co-written by current Doctor Who show runner and all round genius Steven Moffat along with Mark Gattis who also features as Mycroft Holmes.
Now I’m not the greatest fan of Sherlock Holmes, more someone with a casual appreciation for the character and his history. I’ve never read any of the books but used to really enjoy the Jeremy Brett series from the 80’s and quite enjoyed the recent Downey Jr movie. But I have to say this new telling is truly brilliant. The cast is perfect with Cumberbatch being especially wonderful as an energetically charismatic yet arrogant and socially challenged Holmes. Paul (Lucky Number Slevin, Push) McGuigan directs the first and last episode in a vibrant and stylish manner making great use of central London and its many famous locations.
I’m sure some purists will take offence at Holmes being uprooted from his Victorian origins and moved in to the high tech media and celebrity obsessed world of 21st Century Britain. But the iconic details remain – they still live at 221b Baker Street, Mrs Hudson is still the landlady and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is lurking. So hopefully the naysayers will be a tiny minority because this works brilliantly. Pure and simple.
I’ll leave it up to Steven Moffat to explain:
"Conan Doyle's stories were never about frock coats and gas light; they're about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood-curdling crimes – and frankly, to hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures, and that's what matters."
SHERLOCK has been a big hit for the BBC and so thankfully more episodes will come next year. And thank God for that as it ended on one heck of a cliffhanger.
Steven Moffat should just run all TV in the UK.
Trailer
Short scene of deduction
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