I was going to absolutely make myself not say anything about this new PBS Sherlock series. I was going to follow Thumper’s father’s advice: “If you can’t say anything nice…” I REALLY was! And actually, if you think about it, I have been very good >>> PBS just aired the third Sherlock episode last night, and I have “don’t say nothing at all” (second part of the quote) until I absolutely could not contain myself anymore!
I tried. Honest, I tried!!!
I tried to watch the first episode, and did pretty well. Of course, it did take me a whole lot shorter than the allotted ninety minutes. I could not keep my remote “trigger finger” off of that doggone fast-forward key. I tried to enjoy the “Jeremy Brett in the 21st century” action. Remember what they say about imitation being the best form of flattery? And I saw a whole lot of flattery going on!
As for the second episode (last week)… after watching Alan Cummings’ introduction, I tried to stay with the show. I simply couldn’t watch any longer than ten minutes. I decided that fast-forwarding through the whole show just wasn’t going to cut it for me.
BUT… Last night I couldn’t even get past Alan Cummings’ introduction: “Gay, straight, or bi?” WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I imagine that Sir Conan Doyle is rolling in his grave! OR… perhaps I missed all of those sexual references when I read Doyle’s works of literature. Good grief!!!
I try to make it a policy not to be negative in my entries. So, I am going to offer a positive solution to this very negative entry. Check with your libraries and see if they have the much superior Sherlock Holmes television movies with Jeremy Brett. If they do, check them out!
Laura says
Danna: I’ve been waiting for you to comment on the new Sherlock. I had a feeling you wouldn’t like it. Hee-hee. I also thought Alan Cummings’ intro last night was really off the wall. Both my husband and I have liked the new Sherlock even though we really love the Jeremy Brett series. You can’t really compare the two versions. Apples and oranges.
Diane says
Couldn’t disagree with you more and I think you are in the minority of those who disliked it.
Got excellant reviews in both Britain and U.S. This was an excellant adaptation. It brought Sherlock into the 21st century but kept the basic elements. Only wish there had been more than three episodes, but BBC has agreed on three more for next year. I liked the Jeremy Brett version also, but think Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock was marvelous.
Marianne says
I, too, enjoyed the new Sherlock with his use of gadgetry and with Watson’s vulnerability. I was very upset with the ending to last night’s episode, however. All of a sudden, just at the point of denoument, we had a commercial for Antiques Roadshow. No transition – most distressing!
Della says
I felt exactly the same way, Marianne!
I do feel that PBS seems to be stretching the “sexuality shocker: thing a bit far – and really, is that so “new” and “shocking” nowadays? It was old news back in the Roman days… yawn!
As a big fan of the Laurie R. King novels about Russell and Holmes, I really felt that these PBS episodes were giving me a peek into a Holmes much like hers (although younger and naughtier…)
Melissa says
I adore the contemporary Holmes and Watson. I wish there was more! BRAVO BBC
Carole says
You and I are probably in the minority, but I totally agree with you. I’m so glad you posted your feelings!
I have watched PBS’s Mystery for years, from back when Vincent Price introduced the series. The British mystery is my favorite genre – from cozies to traditional to police procedurals. I miss the days of Inspector Morse, Brother Cadfael, Prime Suspect, Inspector Lynley . . . I could go on and on.
As for the 21st century Sherlock – I watched all of the first episode and thought, “Well, this is different!” In the second episode, I did a good bit of fastforwarding before I decided to just delete it. And I didn’t even record #3, so I missed the introduction you referred to, and I’m glad I did! But we all have different likes and dislikes, so that’s okay.
Carol says
I have always been a huge fan of Jeremy Brett and didn’t think I was going to watch Sherlock. But I caught part of the first one and found it rather fun. I am enjoying it as an entirely separate series–and not making comparisons. And I really like Martin Freeman. I think he makes a very human and likeable Watson.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I’m one of those who doesn’t understand the need to ‘modernize’ older stories. But I also don’t like “retold” fairy tales either. It’s fine that someone retells them, but I admit–I avoid reading or watching that sort of thing.
Karen Russell says
I guess I’m in the middle. I watched the first episode and liked it more than I expected to, but then I lost interest in the second one and watched football instead of the third!
Deborah says
I haven’t seen the third one yet, but I enjoyed the first two. Watson has been more normal than he ever appeared before to me. I have been pleasantly surprised that Holmes’ drug addictions have not been emphasized.
Mrs. Mike says
Oh, thank you! There is so much here, you and I could talk about, I suspect!
Clearly, there is a market for the updated version, whatever the genre, eh!?
Our local librarian, told me how “well done” this new series was but I could hardly imagine ANYone surpassing the genius of Brett in this role, in the proper period setting.
A few of the newer Poirot episodes struck me the same way: the modern twist or innuendo that, goofy me, clearly missed as I read the book.
Similar to the Hardy Boy’s. When my daughter went to check them out of the library we found they had been modernized- my eleven year old- very disappointed. She wanted Joe and Frank to be bicycling around town, communicating with Morse code not MP3 players.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Let me start with quoting Carole (from a comment above): “But we all have different likes and dislikes, so that’s okay.”
Oh, oh, Laura! I guess I AM pretty predictable! It looks like a lot of people really like this new Sherlock project. You’re right about comparing apples and oranges, but to me, it was more like comparing apples with a watered-down applesauce…
Diane, I have enjoyed Benedict Cumberbatch in other shows and know that he is a very accomplished actor. He was fantastic in the recent Small Island production. However, I would have liked to have seen him take on the role of Sherlock Holmes in a manner that didn’t seem so Jeremy Brett-ish.
Marianne, at least PBS has managed to keep their commercials from interrupting the shows. I remember when PBS would at least run the episode’s credits, and I believe in some cases, the host would come back to wrap-up the episode and invite us to watch a new show the next week, before starting their ads. Hopefully they don’t have to go the same route as the AMC channel had to take.
Melissa, you’re in luck! Looks like there will be more contemporary Sherlock shows next season.
Carole, I remember Vincent Price hosting, also. Wasn’t he good? I remember when the hosts of the Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery! used to fill the viewers in on the episodes’ authors and settings… rather than make small talk that doesn’t seem to pertain to anything other than… small talk. I would have liked to hear about Sir Conan Doyle, how he wanted to discontinue writing about Sherlock Holmes, what was going on in the world at the time, etc.
Carol, Martin Freeman (Watson) is such a wonderful actor. I loved him in The Office. He was terrific!
Maria, that might be my problem… I am not crazy about modernizing classics, although we watched Shakespeare Retold and some of the segments were terrific.
Karen, hmmm… Not being a football fan, I’m not sure which of the two I would have picked…
Debora, I thought the nicotine patches were a very novel approach. We can actually sympathize with someone trying to kick the cigarette habit VS watching someone shoot up…
Mrs. Mike, it’s incredible that the publishers changed the Hardy Boys that much. What a disappointment. I wonder when they are going to feel the need to change Jo in the Little Women? Perhaps she could send her downloaded files to prospective publishers, and receive rejection e-mails from them? Or maybe Amy could learn to play the piano on a virtual keyboard… losing the opportunity of becoming a friend of Laurie’s grandfather? I guess publishers don’t think that children are able to imagine themselves in a different time setting…
Anne says
Usually I am not a fan of Sherlock Holmes at all. The books, the movies, the BBC any of them. But I really liked this version a lot. I knew as soon as I saw the first one that you, Danna, would not like it…how ESP was that! But I loved it. I thought there would be a lot of drug references but found it very responsible for him to shout, I’m CLEAN in the first episode. It is good to know that I’m not in the minority on this…
My daughter is a big fan of all things Sherlock Holmes and she liked it, too. We are both glad to hear that there will be more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, I wonder if they will show Dr. Watson as married… which, of course, he was (later on…)
Laura says
Mrs. Mike (and Danna): I know exactly what you mean. I have an original Nancy Drew book (blue cover with Nancy’s orange silhouette on the front) that was my mother’s. Holy cow! What a difference when compared to the modern version of Nancy Drew.
Kathie says
I love the new Sherlock Holmes, it gets weird but it’s different, and I love the actor who plays Sherlock, I loved Jeremy Brett too. In fact I have loved all the Sherlock Holmes that I have ever seen in the last 40 years…..I missed AC intro on Sunday night, I love Masterpiece Mystery. I wish there were more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I have to admit that I didn’t see the Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie. That was another version that I just wasn’t interested in seeing… although I like Downey, Jr.’s work…
Anna says
I loved the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series SO MUCH that I named my son Jeremy! (He is now 18). Thank you for telling me about the new Sherlock Holmes series. I have been so wrapped up with my studies (I went back to school for additional training when my son left for college), that I had no idea it existed. I will watch the episodes and form my own opinion. Thanks again!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good luck, Anna, on your studies!
Please let us know what you think of the shows after you watch them…
Debbie says
When I tuned in to the first episode, I really didn’t expect to like it – but did! I thought it was unique and had a fun charm to it, with good chemistry between characters. Episode 2 I didn’t like as much, as it didn’t seem to have the same charm; plus I didn’t think Sherlock seemed very smart in it. The 3rd episode was rather odd in many ways, but I liked it better than #2 (though not as much as #1). All in all, beyond generally enjoying it I’m still not sure what I think of the series, but I’ll definitely tune in for the episodes next year.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
After reading all of the posts in favor of the new Sherlock Holmes shows, I might also try them again next year, Debbie.
Carrie says
Danna, I agree with you. I loathed Sherlock. Personally, I think that Jeremy Brett was the definitive Sherlock Holmes and whilst I don’t object to other actors portraying him, I hated the way that they were trying to drag him into the present day. As far as I’m concerned the experiment was a complete failure.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
We are definitely in the minority on this one, Carrie!
Lucy says
I LOVE the contemporary Holmes and Watson, as I enjoyed Jeremy Brett´s role.
I wish there was more! BRAVO BBC
I can’t wait for more episodes. Sorry you didnt like them…happily, many ppl did and there´ll be a new season 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I always enjoy seeing that the PBS is still willing to buy BBC series. In most cases, I await (rather anxiously) for new seasons to begin.
So, I second your “BRAVO BBC” and would like to add BRAVO PBS for the countless hours of enjoyment! Now that A & E is out of the business of showing us the wonderful British mysteries, it sure is great that PBS still is.
Eveline says
Why there is such a need to make this Sherlock super hyper-active is beyond me. He talks a hundred miles a minute and the words run into each other. I watched all three episodes, but I can’t say that I truly enjoyed them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Eveline,
There sure is a polarization on this series, isn’t there?!? I think this Sherlock show is the first time I’ve ever posted about a PBS Masterpiece Mystery show >>> and gotten this diverse a reaction.
Berenice Weber says
Danna, I finally came across your blog, I love it! as for the ‘New Sherlock’, even though I am a huge fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of course of Jeremy Brett’s interpretation, I actually really liked the New Sherlock, I think the BBC writers did a very good job in updating Sherlock to the 21st Century
As for Alan Cummings opening, YES, it was a disgrace!! and even though I don’t think it’s Alan’s fault but the horrible writer who wrote those opener’s lines, if I were Alan C. I would’ve refuse to read that opening piece!! No wonder you didn’t want to watch ahead…
I am a fan of Masterpiece Mystery too, I love the opening cartoons of Edward Gorey, but lately the pieces are written so weakly! Good example is Sherlock. Even the latest episodes of Inspector Lewis they have these awful openings, they read as if the writer wants to sound “hype” and they just sound disrespectful and ridiculous, now remember that’s just PBS, don’t punish BBC with your cold shoulder, give the New Sherlock a try, you won’t be as disappointed…
And since I am new to your blog, I am not sure if you have read Julian Barnes wonderful book on Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur & Georg, one of my favorite mysteries ever!
Congratulations on your wonderful blog!
btw I am a native Spanish speaker and I grew up reading Sherlock translated into Spanish, Estudio en Escarlata and so on 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Berenice,
I think that with a lot of things these days, the writers in charge of the Masterpiece Mystery shows’ introductions think that they have to “hook” people in with some type of sensational tidbits. (Actually, my husband skips the introductions when he watches the Masterpiece shows with me… He thinks of them as empty filler.)
However, the reason I didn’t watch the shows was that they just didn’t appeal to me. I would gladly have overlooked the introduction if I had thought that the particular episode was going to be something I enjoyed. Based on the first episode, I knew that I simply didn’t want to waste my time with the show… especially if the introduction needed to be so… “sexy-sensational-tabloidy”…
debbie k says
I love the fact that I just discovered this cozy website!!!! Guess my mind had previously been a bit ‘shackled’ by my librarian training, always trying to look for some LC (Library of Congress) subject headings that could lead me to cozy mysteries—shoulda just used Google—duh!
As far as the Sherlock Holmes, I’ll forever be a Jeremy Brett fan, and have very mixed feelings about the recent 1st & 2nd episodes. To Maria (of Bear Mtn. Bks.), I recommend seeing the Broadway show “Wicked: the Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”, or reading the original book by Gregory Maguire, which is different from the musical, and includes a lot of serious discussion on the nature of evil, politics prejudice, & suppression of freedom.
debbie k (to differential from the previous Debbie)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Debbie K!
Abby says
Interesting review…
Despite being a massive Sherlock Holmes fan from a very early age, and of Jeremy Brett’s version, I felt that the BBC adaption was very well done and, more than anything, true to the books, despite its contemporary setting. Gatiss and Moffat are both big Holmes fans and I think it came through in all the reference made to the original Holmes cases.
As for Alan Cumming’s introduction, I thought it was fair enough to say. The new series drew attention to an aspect of Holmes and Watson that has drawn questions pretty much since its conception – is there more there then frienship? I very much enjoyed the ambiguity, the what-ifs.
It was nice to read an alternative opinon, though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Abby. I didn’t know that there have always been questions about their friendship. I wonder what Watson’s wife would have thought about those questions…
vanie says
I do not like the bbcs modern sherlock because it is the wrong era for Sherlock. This is a cheap way out for them. It is harder to do the settings in victorian times with settings and clothes etc. cheap cheese!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You raise a very good point, Vanie. It is a whole lot cheaper to produce “modern-day” Holmes shows…
Patrick McIntosh says
I love both Sherlock and Elementary. Both are proof that Holmes and Watson are timeless and great fun to watch solve baffling crimes.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patrick, I’ll agree that it’s always interesting to see new interpretations of classics… though in this case I’ll admit it wasn’t quite to my taste.