Alright, I know I usually review recent box office hits, so try not to be too disappointed. I simply could not go one more day without reviewing my latest obsession: BBC’s “Sherlock.”
“Sherlock” is a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and the mysteries he solves with his partner, Dr. John Watson. First airing in 2010, “Sherlock” stars the amazingly talented Benedict Cumberbatch as the methodical, calculating and unemotional Sherlock Holmes and actor Martin Freeman as Holmes’ more personable partner, John Watson. Both Cumberbatch and Freeman also starred in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013).
Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, the UK smash hit “Sherlock” is different from many American television programs in that each season only has three episodes, but each episode is 85 to 90 minutes long, so they really are like mini movies in themselves.
Trust me; you want the episodes to be this long. There is so much suspense and action happening that a 40-45 minute long episode simply would not be able to encompass everything that “Sherlock” has to offer.
There are currently three seasons of “Sherlock” that have been made. The most recent third season ended with the finale, “His Last Vow,” on Jan 12. The episode was written by Moffat. I actually have yet to recover from the strenuous emotional rollercoaster that this episode took me for a ride on.
For all of you nerds and geeks out there, you may recognize Moffat’s name because he has also produced some of the newer episodes of the British cult classic, “Doctor Who.” Small world, eh?
Boring, though interesting and note worthy, facts aside, let us get to the fun part! You may be asking yourself why a full-time American student would be so enthralled with a British television show, so let me help explain my enthusiasm. “Sherlock” is flawless from start to finish. The more it progresses, the more complex it becomes.
Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is one-of-a-kind; he gives the character such mind-blowing depth. Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes is quirky, annoying, self absorbed, brilliant and endearing. Watching this show, you want to strangle Sherlock and hug him all at the same time. I am also unashamed to say that Cumberbatch definitely brings sex appeal to the famous Sherlock Holmes.
Martin Freeman really makes John Watson’s character much more intelligent and interesting than how I perceived the Doyle original. Freeeman’s John Watson is the perfect counter character for Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes. Where Sherlock is aggravating, John is soothing and shows just how human he is, considering Sherlock seems inhuman a lot of the time. Cumberbatch and Freeman make a complimentary and dynamic duo.
I honestly find it hard to articulate just how brilliant “Sherlock” is. Every minute of the show has you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out the puzzle while you know that Sherlock is doing the same. Aside from the cases to solve, “Sherlock” has a complex plot between the characters as well.
Though not a film, “Sherlock” is brilliant enough to deserve 9.5 out of 10 on my Most Awesome Rating Scale. In all seriousness, you need to watch this series. The first two seasons are even on Netflix!