Sherlock Holmes

[grav_ity]

I have read exactly two Sherlock Holmes stories: The Dying Detective and The Final Problem. So, for the first time watching this show, I had some idea about what would happen, even before it started. And then of course John told us everything that would happen BEFORE THE THEME SONG, and we watched it all unfold.

I love this kind of TV. The kind where they completely blow the ending and then you watch as they put the pieces together. I think it was a particularly clever piece of storytelling on Moffat's part, because it shows us the story from the POV of both Sherlock AND Moriarty: they both know what's going to happen, and so do we. It's a welcome departure from all the things I usually don't like about Holmesian stories, because I love TV that lets me follow along.

Which is not to say it was gripping and engaging. There were quite a few moments when I seriously considered turning it off because I was bored and only kept going because I am meeting rj_anderson for tea tomorrow and wanted to see it before we meet. This is something I have found with every episode of Sherlock (except maybe "The Great Game"), and I think it has to do with the structure inherent in the way Moffat has chosen to tell the story. Sherlock takes months to solve these things. "Bohemia" took the better part of a YEAR. If the show had been American (and thank goodness it isn't!), Irene would have been recurring and her story would have been spread out from summer until November sweeps at least. I'm not even sure what I MEAN about this, but it's been bugging me since New Years, so I thought I'd tell you about it.

ANYWAY, what I really want to talk about is HOW MUCH I LOVE MOLLY HOOPER. BECAUSE, REALLY. I LOVE MOLLY HOOPER. I have wanted to love her since we met (and, oh, don't get me started on how pissed I am about Sally), but her character has just been so FRUSTRATING that I couldn't bring myself to. BUT SERIOUSLY: MOLLY HOOPER. On camera, this episode, she was PHENOMENAL. And it wasn't in a way I wanted (or had even thought about), because, once again, she was basically the audience: she can see that Sherlock has figured it out, even though John has not. Except she's actually in the show, so she gets to call him on it.

AND THEN SHE HELPED HIM FAKE HIS DEATH.

I have no idea how. But the medical people got there really fast, and there was a truck! But in the next 18-24 months, you will not convince me otherwise. Because Molly Hooper counts, and Moriarty DIDN'T KNOW THAT and Sherlock did, and I am ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO DEATH AND THERE HAD BETTER BE FANFIC.

ETA: Apparently fandom has figured it out, and yes: truck and too speedy response.

Oh, and also Lestrade! For no particular reason. :)

And the nitpicker in me is forced to point out that I really, REALLY wish they hadn't panned to Sherlock at the very end. At least not his FACE. Maybe...something else? But left it a bit more "OMG, YOU GUYS, DID YOU SEE THAT?" instead of "JUST KIDDING!"

Oh, John. For a moment, just a moment right at the end there, I almost liked you.

In conclusion: MOLLY HOOPER, FTW!

We will now break 2 years for "The Hobbit".

Comments

[fahrbotdrusilla]

And the nitpicker in me is forced to point out that I really, REALLY wish they hadn't panned to Sherlock at the very end. At least not his FACE. Maybe...something else? But left it a bit more "OMG, YOU GUYS, DID YOU SEE THAT?" instead of "JUST KIDDING!"

I enjoyed the episode while it was going on, but the panning to his face kind of pissed me off. We knew it was renewed, and we knew Moffat would have a bundle of plot to explain why Sherlock was alive that probably didn't include a robot this time... BUT THE PAN, why?

In conclusion: MOLLY HOOPER, FTW!

Yup.

eta: I hoped it was going to be a reflection in the headstone.

eta2: sorry i sort of went off in your journal...

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Yes, EXACTLY. This show has such clever framing and that was just so...common! :)

ETA: No worries! That's what we're here for. :)

[halcyon-shift.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay! I wasn't the only one who was ... underwhelmed. The episode, so long. So boring. Stars born and died o_0 I liked elements of it (MOLLY HOOPER \o/) and the rest I was MST-ing in my head from about the 5 minute mark.

And the pan was ridiculous *g*

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

When I was watching Hounds, I got so bored in the middle I stopped for two days! I mean, I love a good "you've got me!" scene...but if two guys are going to talk to each other, standing thisclose the whole time, there had better be an AMAZING soundtrack and some superbrilliantly framed shots. And there was some of that...but not enough.

[eldanna.livejournal.com]

Hounds did get boring more than any of the others. I found it even worse the second time I watched it and took to skipping ahead.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I have always loved Sherlock Holmes. When I was fourteen, I went on a group trip to Disneyworld in Florida and the thing I bought on that trip was a copy of the complete stories of Sherlock Holmes. (Sorry, Mickey Mouse)

I was prepared to hate this show for messing about with the time line and taking one of my all-time favourite characters out of his world and putting him into ours. Having said that, I love the show! I watched it thinking I wouldn't but I adore it. I own season one and just as soon as I can watch it, I want to see season two. (So far, can't get it here in the US)

The one big plus for me is that spoilers, for the most part, aren't an issue. They seem to be running closely with the original story lines and I've read those millions of times so...

For me, it was Martin Freeman who sold the entire thing. His Watson is so clever and so very the everyman. It's a much better version of Watson than some of the ones that have come before him. So many times, they have played Watson as a near idiot but this show does him justice.

I haven't seen this episode you are discussing but I'm looking forward to seeing how they update this one.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

It is very good. It's just also kind of boring. But I'm not sure what I would change, because if it was different, it wouldn't be as good.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

: )

The only thing I would change is, I'd make more episodes per series, but that's the American in me talking. I'm used to longer seasons. I've been watching KINGDOM on Hulu lately and there are only six episodes per series and only three series. I am about to begin series three. It's sad that it all goes so fast. On the other hand, fewer episodes mean there is less chance if all getting to be 'the same old thing'.

[eldanna.livejournal.com]

I didn't see Molly coming this episode, which is what made it awesome. Seriously, she was the only person that Moriarty didn't figure into his figuring, so of course she was the only one Sherlock could ask for help. But the important point is THAT HE DID! I hope she's around next series too and it just as awesome.

The pan was pointless. The pan was for people who were too stupid to either have figure it out or the new people who live under a rock and either a)have never read the original story or b)didn't watch SH2 when it came out last month. I have reached the point where I have noticed that, in everything Moffat does, there is one thing that is always just...stupid.