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Sherlock - New BBC Drama (Part 2) |
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#2476 |
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Reviews
Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...-2-review.html The second episode of Sherlock (BBC One) saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s otter-faced detective tackle his toughest challenge yet: delivering the Best Man’s speech on Dr Watson’s wedding day. No easy task for a high-functioning sociopath who’s somewhere on the autistic spectrum and simply does not understand trifling matters like love. Metro http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/05/sherlo...f-one-4248141/ Sherlock’s best man speech is initially awkward but ultimately poignant – from his own self-description (‘the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all-round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet’) to his heartfelt praise for John (‘the bravest and kindest and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing’) Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...r-9038017.html Unlike the usual open and shut case, this week was made up of a compelling series of vignettes told via Sherlock’s unorthodox best man speech. All the strands were delicately woven together by writer Stephen Thompson to create a strong story. Like cooking a Christmas roast, this episode requires patience. The central mystery takes a long time to cook and, for its opening hour, has more than a whiff of turkey about it. However, the end result is a pleasant enough filler episode – diverting, but run-of-the-mill by Sherlock’s standards - more stuffing than turkey. But the story is unlikely to top many fans’ favourite episode lists. For me, it took too long to pull the threads together, rendering the narrative shapeless until the closing 20 minutes. Fans upset by a perceived increase in ‘soapy’ and humorous elements at the expense of plot in the opener will have more ammunition here. This is the problem I had with it. Parts of the episode I loved but it really felt like a filler episode, and when you only get 3 episodes every 2 bloody years or whatever, you don't have time for filler episodes! Whereas we're normally shown Sherlock's strengths, this episode seemed very much about his weaknesses. I don't know, it was an odd one for me... That's the first time I've felt disappointed after watching Sherlock. The trailer for next week looks interesting so fingers crossed for that. |
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#2477 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 17,128
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"Pleasant enough filler episode".
Says it all really. We only have 3 films, is there room for filler? |
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#2478 |
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,610
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The comment you quote is more than a fair point though…..
As I've said, I didn't care much for this episode (too sentimental, not enough detecting), but at least I watched the bloody thing in the first place. |
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#2479 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 175
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Disappointed. Was looking forward to the episode but got rather bored. Hope the next one is back on track.
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#2480 |
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Join Date: Aug 2011
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Its a puzzle isn't it?
And for the record I'm no Moffat fan boy. He has made some awful decisions on DW or at least hasn't done what I would have liked. And yes these two episodes of Sherlock have in my opinion bordered on self indulgence and at times have seemed to have played to the gallery in placing the double act of Cumberbatch and Freeman front and centre at the expense of some pure detective action. I'm not deluded about the flaws. But I'm sick of these anti Moffat obsessives who seem convinced he's destroying TV. At least watch the bloody program you're critiquing. Or even better watch something you like and stop with the bizarre personal vendettas against a man who just writes some very successful TV programs. |
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#2481 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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It's like they wrote 3 x 90 minute in-jokes then realised they forgot any actual crime deduction and thew some in in the final draft.
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#2482 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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It's like they wrote 3 x 90 minute in-jokes then realised they forgot any actual crime deduction and thew some in in the final draft.
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#2483 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Essex
Posts: 86,769
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Next Sunday
Sherlock Holmes encounters Charles Augustus Magnussen, the one man he truly hates, through a case of stolen letters. How will he tackle an enemy who specialises in blackmail and knows the personal weakness of every eminent person in the Western world? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pzpgy Radio Times http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cr...3-his-last-vow |
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#2484 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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I thought the main idea of telling a story in flash-backs during a Best Man's speech was really clever, but agree with those who say it was style over substance again, like last week.
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#2485 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Taedet animam meam vitae
Posts: 40,368
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Quote:
Next Sunday
Sherlock Holmes encounters Charles Augustus Magnussen, the one man he truly hates, through a case of stolen letters. How will he tackle an enemy who specialises in blackmail and knows the personal weakness of every eminent person in the Western world? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pzpgy Radio Times http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cr...3-his-last-vow |
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#2486 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
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Johns got his wife and baby on the way, no doubt they will start featuring more heavily. I don't like it.
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#2487 |
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To me it seemed that he left because he was troubled by something, maybe something he saw in Mary's reaction?
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#2488 |
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Hi guys. I haven't read through the thread yet, I'll have a scout when I'm on my laptop.
I wasn't happy. Basically I think this was written for all the fans - it reeked of fanfiction (although in fairness I suppose Gatiss and Moffat are Conan Doyle's biggest fans). It was too cliche. Watson's wedding didn't need an entire episode, Mary didn't need to be pregnant (just too sugary sweet). Overly done sweetness, if I were writing the fanfic it's exactly how I'd have done it... But I'm not Moffat, and I wouldn't be wasting 90 minutes. From the emotional perspective it was great, but we only get 3 episodes every two years and plot wise this has been the poorest of them all. Yes we had a little plot but... Meh. A character I didn't care about. However, it was lovely to see Irene "not now I'm busy" Adler. And drunk Sherlock may perhaps be my favourite thing ever, there was just too much of him. Intrigued about next week's episode, perhaps no Watson, given the end of the episode? Final edit: I think my dad put it best: "It was very good, but it wasn't Sherlock." |
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#2489 |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
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So I'll wade into this then.
I greatly enjoyed episode two and think its one of the most brilliantly constructed bits of television I've seen for a while. It was also filled to the brim with the visual style and pacing that has marked Sherlock out since day one and I've really enjoyed the greater focus on the characters and their interactions with this series. However, I can fully understand why not everyone has enjoyed that shift in focus and the changes its brought to the series and as a result the series has become somewhat more polarising than it was. Not everyone will enjoy that shift. Some people want those slick 90 minute mysteries and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It might also be worth mentioning that episode two of Sherlock has a bit of a history of being the weakest of the bunch. |
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#2490 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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Quote:
So I'll wade into this then.
I greatly enjoyed episode two and think its one of the most brilliantly constructed bits of television I've seen for a while. It was also filled to the brim with the visual style and pacing that has marked Sherlock out since day one and I've really enjoyed the greater focus on the characters and their interactions with this series. However, I can fully understand why not everyone has enjoyed that shift in focus and the changes its brought to the series and as a result the series has become somewhat more polarising than it was. Not everyone will enjoy that shift. Some people want those slick 90 minute mysteries and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It might also be worth mentioning that episode two of Sherlock has a bit of a history of being the weakest of the bunch. |
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#2491 |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
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Is it me or did Molly seem different? She was more confident and not as awkward around Sherlock, well, I say not as - she wasn't really awkward around him at all. Telling him that she and Tom are having "lots of sex" especially surprised me.
Am I missing something here? Is she just using this new boyfriend of hers and telling Sherlock about the sex to try and make him jealous? |
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#2492 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
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I agree.
Quite liked this episode, but agree with the comments about Mary getting in the way. Maybe she'll be gone in the last episode ![]() As another poster said Cumberbatch is a big star now who appears in major films and this series may be the last. |
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#2493 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Not Kansas anymore...
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Hmmm, would be something sombre if Mary dies as a result of childbirth. I'm certain she passes away in the books, but not sure if it's specified.
Spoiler
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#2494 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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hello, sorry
Last edited by abercrombie : 06-01-2014 at 01:46. Reason: changed my mind, sorry |
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#2495 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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I thought the main idea of telling a story in flash-backs during a Best Man's speech was really clever, but agree with those who say it was style over substance again, like last week.
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#2496 |
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^^ I love Molly
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#2497 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
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The key is the location of the blow. A wound to the abdomen is most likely to be fatal and is generally relatively slow (particularly if you believe the belt thing - I don't know enough about such things to dispute this), giving the killer time to slip away. A stab to the heart is faster and more effective, but instantly observable.
![]() I know what they were trying to do, and it's quite a nice idea. It just doesn't quite work. It could if it was more like a fantasy set thing, like some Wuxia film, but this is based in the real world. The belt thing where you only die when you take your belt off reminded me very much of The Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique from Kill Bill where the victim only falls down dead after taking 5 steps. ![]() I like the idea of what they were trying to do, it's just that it doesn't really work. |
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#2498 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2,194
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In episodes past we've had stuff like Moriarty setting off a bomb and killing a blind old woman + many other innocents. Now we have 'Elephant in the room' and drunk Sherlock... the tone of the show is completely unrecognisable. I'm all for the humour, but tonight's episode was verging into a full blown sitcom at times.
The final episode will really make or break this season imo. Thankfully all the signs indicate that it will be plot driven, dramatic and possibly even tragic. I kind of hope they don't end on a cliffhanger again though, especially since the resolution of both season ending cliffhangers have been poor. |
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#2499 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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In episodes past we've had stuff like Moriarty setting off a bomb and killing a blind old woman + many other innocents. Now we have 'Elephant in the room' and drunk Sherlock... the tone of the show is completely unrecognisable. I'm all for the humour, but tonight's episode was verging into a full blown sitcom at times.
The final episode will really make or break this season imo. Thankfully all the signs indicate that it will be plot driven, dramatic and possibly even tragic. I kind of hope they don't end on a cliffhanger again though, especially since the resolution of both season ending cliffhangers have been poor. |
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#2500 |
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Not actually very accurate. The people who disliked the episode have provided reasons why, those who claim to have liked it have not.
I liked the programme because it teased with a lot of mysteries at the start - the bank robbery, the young soldier being spied upon and attempted murder, the major being targeted. I really liked how Sherlock had to find a common thread connecting all the dots and finally working out how the two crimes were connected. The sequence in the courtroom / chamber was excellent, clearly figments of his mind and showed how he works things out in an inquisitorial way. The 'race against the clock' to discover the murderer at the wedding do was gripping and full of suspense. It subverted last week's race against the clock story (the bomb) by revealing the attempted murder had long since been perpetrated by the photographer. Aside from the mystery there were great forays into the characters with some classic exchanges between Sherlock and Mrs Hudson, and with Mycroft. Sherlock's caring for his friend by interogating the ushers, exes etc was funny and endearing, as was the whole stag night scene, which again was a mixture of touching and very funny repartee. It wasn't as good as last week's and I would liked to have seen the pace quicken at the start because we dwelt a little too long on the set-up. I'd say pacing is an area for improvement. Happy? |
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