Sherlock Holmes, out of character.

Dear internet:

Moffat told those of us who love Sherlock (which, for the record, is bloody fantastic and gorgeous and you should watch it as soon as you can) that the key to the last few minutes lies in something out of character that Sherlock did.

I don't like spoilers.

But.

Molly?  Anyone?  That was out of character.  But it fit in with the story itself.  It was well-written, but out of character for Sherlock.
That scene.... Along with what we know from Irene's life....


M.

Now watch.  I'll be totally wrong.

Dear Sir: you would be so proud.

"Sir" here refers both to a man of distinction I would like to be respectful towards, and also Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

He would be so proud of what's been done. And no, there should be NO irony read in that statement.

Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who) and Mark Gatiss developed a show for BBC One entitled Sherlock.

Unlike most newer Holmes stories (Young Sherlock Holmes and Downey's Holmes, for example), Sherlock is set in 2010. Surprisingly, there isn't much that needs to be updated.

[Side Note: I do now have a minor issue. For my entire life, I've referred to the man by "Holmes," but now "Sherlock" seems to be how it's done, and I'm at a loss. So please, preemptively forgive my switching between the two, since I know I'm going to.]

Sherlock uses everything that's at his disposal, which now includes the internet (he has a bloody website), GPS, and a BlackBerry (which he never uses to call, only to text. Yes, Sherlock Holmes texts now. Although...even though he has a phone of his own, it seems he uses Watson's iPhone to do most of his texting). But he's still got his brain and over-inflated ego and relative lack of social skills.

Afghanistan is still relatively Afghanistan (history...repeating...), and Watson keeps a blog as opposed to a journal. The violin is still around, as is the fireplace (for some reason, it is vital that 221B Baker Street have a fireplace); Mrs. Hudson's not the housekeeper but the landlady, thank you very much; the pipe has been replaced with nicotine patches; Lestrade is now "Detective Inspector"; and 221 B Baker Street has, of course, not moved.

I am quite impressed with the cast they've gotten. Martin Freeman (Arthur Dent in Hitchhiker's Guide, and soon to be Bilbo in The Hobbit) is quietly brilliant as Watson. I must admit, it took me at least half an hour to be convinced that they cast the right man--he's just so damn normal. He is awed by Holmes, but still gets annoyed by him, and isn't afraid to call him out on some of the shit that he pulls. Freeman is, in essence, exactly what a guy would be who ended up living with the mastermind. There's an utter simplicity and honesty to his performance--zero overacting and amazing acting make him appear as if he's not acting at all. And then I remembered that often, the hardest parts to play are the most simple.

According to Moffat, Freeman "finds a sort of poetry in the ordinary man. I love the fastidious realism of everything he does."

Sadly, the first season only has three 90-minute episodes, courtesy of Steven Moffat, Stephen Thompson, and Steve Gatiss. Although it's updated, what they're interested in is telling stories the way Doyle did--fast as a handgun and irreverent as drawing mustaches on political posters. And of course, using his characters. I think Moffat said it well:

"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 crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures, and that's what matters."

However, the bulk of my praise must go to one place. Yes, the supporting actors are spot-on and the writing couldn't be much better, but if you don't have the man, you don't have anything:

Benedict Cumberbatch (I dare you to try to say it out loud four times without laughing, poor man) was born to play Sherlock Holmes, and I don't say that lightly.

Robert Downey, Jr. was an impressive Holmes; I enjoyed the movie well enough, and none of my complaints had to do with him. Rupert Everett, Jeremy Brett, and Matt Frewer were all good, too.

But you know how you can just look at Basil Rahbone and know he was born to play Sherlock Holmes? Cumberbatch is just like that.

Yes, he was good in Atonement and Amazing Grace, he's done plenty of Shakespeare for good companies, he's played Vincent van Gogh and Stephen Hawking.

But his Sherlock...his Sherlock is incandescent.

He is elegant and effortless, spouting minutes worth of observation at a speed that would impress the cast of West Wing.

All at once, you want to hate him, break his BlackBerry, punch him in the face, love him, call him a genius and an idiot, be him, and, of course, have the chance to best him, even though you never will.

m.

title image courtesy of http://tortsh-coed.livejournal.com/tag/bbc%20sherlock

Sherlock texting: http://aparejodefortuna.wordpress.com/

Moffat on Freeman from the DVD commentary of "A Study in Pink," but I lifted it from the wikipedia page.

Moffat on his general dislike of crinoline from http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4pgh

"Really. There's a huge amount of running involved."

I want to be clear up front: I am a dichotomy, and some days I can even be a paradox.

That being said:

Doctor Who.

Now, I'm not talking about the old Doctor from the 70's who could be restrained with corregated cardboard and duct tape.

I'm talking about the new, smart-assed, slightly ego-centric Doctor who talks just as fast as Lorelai or Rory Gilmore.

I'm talking about the man who has relationship issues with everyone he meets, is far too clever for his own good, and, in his newest form, happens to have a spectacular head writer and be one of the best looking (in the quirky sense) men I've ever seen.

Molly, one of my best/oldest friends, introduced me to it a couple of years ago, and that was the end of me being able to pretend I wasn't a complete geek.

Matt Smith (newest incarnation), although he wasn't my first Doctor (that distinction falls to David Tennant), is my favorite--similar to having a favorite Bond. He really, really knows what he's doing.

In his performance, there's a spectacular mix of old and new (Smith's only in his mid twenties, but the Doctor's over 900); his dialogue is sharp and witty and slightly distracted and usually deadpan, his monologues are elegant, and he both looks like he could be your older brother (the kind you got along with) and the oncoming storm.

Steven Moffat, the new head writer, is phenomenal, too. He won a Hugo for a previous episode ("Blink," which will pretty much make you live in fear of angel statues), and his new episodes are just as good.

Although he didn't write it, I think my favorite episode from the latest season (aired summer 2010) is the one where the Doctor and Amy (his companion) meet Vincent van Gogh.

Yes, you read that right.

They did a great job of getting his personality to come through, part (certifiably) insane and part artist. And completely human.

This is van Gogh, explaining himself:

"It seems to me there is so much more to the world than the average eye is allowed to see. It believe if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could eve have dreamed of. It's colour! Colour that holds the key! I can hear the colours; listen to them. Every time I step outside, I feel nature is shouting at me. Come on! Come and get me! Come on! Capture my mystery!"

And the Doctor's response...

"Maybe you've had enough coffee now, how about some nice, calming tea? Let's get you a cup of chamomile or something, shall we?"

m.

Original classic Matt Smith/Doctor shot (aka image 1) found at http://www.toplessrobot.com/2010/02/

the Doctor and Amy take a coffee and...script...break: http://www.comicmix.com/news/2010/04/17/doctor-who-the-eleventh-hour-open-thread/

Doctor and semi-non-threatening Dalek image courtesy of http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/timein/meet-the-new-doctor-who--matt-smith.aspx (which also has an interview with the new Doctor)

The gallery's newest exhibit: Doctor, in towel, holding toothbrush on loan from http://blastr.com/2010/06/bbc-says-matt-smith-was-not-naked-on-doctor-who.php

And let's please everyone remember: Bow ties are cool, fezzes are not.