Okay, I just plain ol’ love BBC’s Sherlock.
This 2010 modern retread of the Sherlock Holmes canon is lovingly crafted, in considering how to make the Holmes tales set in modern London with as much “mood” as the gaslamp / fog / Victorian era that we’re more familiar with.
Doctor Who showrunning Steven Moffat is co-creator, occasional writer, and an executive producer on the show, and there are times when Holmes comes off as a cross between the Doctor and Gregory House.
But there’s more to Holmes here than simple brilliance, arrogance, and/or grumpiness. The show touches multiple times on the ways in which he’s actually not an emotionally / psychologically well man (when accused of being a psychopath, he angrily corrects his accuser that he’s actually “a high-functioning sociopath”). Benedict Cumberbatch does an amazing job as this heroic not-a-hero.
Martin Freeman (who’s on tap to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit) does excellent work as Dr. John Watson — ironically, once again an invalided army medic from the battlefields of Afghanistan (the more things change …). As Holmes’ flat-mate, associate, blogger, and companion, he walks a tightrope between being the less-brilliant foil and more-functional associate of the great detective. He won a best supporting actor BAFTA for the role.
The bringing of the stories to modern times is seamless. The characters are believable; the use of London’s landscapes for exteriors is exquisite (other exterior bits and interiors were shot in and around Cardiff), including the tilt-shift effects; the music and cinematography and story-telling tricks (floating graphics for text messages, plot count-downs, etc.) are all very nicely done.
There’s a single problem with Sherlock, but it’s a huge one. It suffers from typical BBC micro-seasons. The first series of the show is three 90 minute episodes. That they’re 90 minutes is a saving grace, but … three episodes? Three? Dammit, I want more.
More is coming, early 2012, and I eagerly await it.
The first series is available on disc. Highly recommended.
Moffat just announced that S.2 begins 1 January (on BBC1 — not sure about US rebroadcast). Woot!
I’ve been curious about this–I adore watching Benedict Cumberbatch do much of anything, in terms of movement and emotion across his face. I first saw him in Amazing Grace, with a man I feel is rather wooden in movement and in face. I did not see Hawking, so I missed him there, too.
Looking forward to getting the DVD.
@Marina – As indicated, I heartily recommend it. BC is fantastic in the role.