No stranger than those today who believe in ghosts and deities.

I think that's a very fair view. It also highlights the difficulty of doing any kind of 'reimagining' of an original that already exists and is well known - you're never going to meet up to everyone's expectations. A shame, but inevitable - it all comes down to personal tastes.

Haven't seen it. I tend to avoid US dramas because they run for so long and tend to fade. I thought I'd learnt my lesson from X Files, but fell into the trap again with Homeland.

I have never read a Conan Doyle book, and my only previous encounter with Holmes was watching an old black and white film of "Hound of the Baskervilles", so I have no real preconceived ideas of what "Sherlock" should be.

Perhaps that is why I have enjoyed all of the 3 series so much. I can understand those who are disappointed though, because I sometimes watch film adaptations of favourite novels and cringe.

Going off on a slight tangent, does anyone else on here read Dr Watson's blog? Any thoughts on who 'theimprobableone' might be? I've read a few theories, Mycroft, Irene, Sherlock himself, Anderson - I'm unconvinced!

I do, and personally I'm convinced it's none of the above, given the tone and the nature of the input he has provided.

Or in fact, The Bermuda Triangle, Big Foot, Nessie etc.

In the scene where Sherlock and John were drunk and playing the game with the rizlas on their foreheads, Sherlock sounded like he was channelling Alan Rickman.

How dare you !


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066249/

Especially when there exists a straight up, direct book adaptation that is consider the definitive one. Re-doing the Holmes stories as direct adaptations of the book brings you slap bang up against Jeremy Brett and comparisons there. It's no secret I'm not a huge fan of the ITV Miss Marple adaptations. For me, the Joan Hickson BBC versions are the definitive and anything else that just reworks the stories in a similar vein is a waste of time I'd feel the same if the BBC started mucking about with Piorot because the ITV Suchet ones are the gold standard (to me).

At least by bring Sherlock into present day (and making Watson a woman in the case of Elementary) they are taking it away from those direct comparisons.

Anyone who has read the books or watched various adaptations has 'their' Holmes or 'their' Marple (or 'their' Inspector Lynley). I suppose the trick is casting someone who captures the essence enough to be acceptable even though it's different to what's in their heads.

Actually, thinking about it - I'd quite like to see a modern Peter Wimsey ...

Ah the Daily Mail - would this be the same paper who credited the actors as 'Dominic Cumberbatch and Tim Freeman' last week?

You can't share? Definitely a 'he' then?!

With a couple more days still to account for, The Empty Hearse has currently added 3.43m viewers who watched time-shifted via iPlayer, Sky+ etc. The current audience total is 12.61m - massive.

Whatever the debate about quality, the series is still hugely popular. We'll have to see what the audience for eps 2 & 3 are.

Okay, he/she

And I have no idea who he/she really is.

I agree.

I wonder what folk make of the Robert Downey Jr movie Holmes?

I put off watching those movies because I didn't think they'd compare, finally watched them last autumn and the great thing was they didn't compare at all, I thought RDJ was excellent probably because he was so different. Jude Law, I'm less sure about. I've read, and loved, the books and I also watch Elementary although I almost didn't because I couldn't see Sick Boy/Mr Knightley as Holmes! Actually, he's pretty good too. Sherlock remains my favourite.

Ist time I have heard of this. Thanks for link. Interesting info.

According to The Ratings Thread, so far an extra 1 million for ep 2 after one day.

It’s because we have these fixed “definitive” versions of characters and stories in our minds that I’m quite happy to accept different ways of doing Marple. There would be no point in doing a word for word, scene for scene remake of the Joan Hickson ones, so they might as well create new ones by tweaking the story. OK, it is no longer a “Christie” but it can still be worth watching on its own merits, IMO, as a new story, provided you try and forget the old ones. Also, I don’t mind some minor character changes. For example I was comfortable with the back story of the married lover dying in the first world war in the Geraldine McKewan (sp?) version.

I’m less happy with shoe-horning her into completely unrelated mysteries. Over Christmas, I watched Endless Night, “with added Marple”. Its a pity that they feel they have to rely on the name Marple, as all they do is demean both the original story and the brand name of Marple.. I’d prefer it if they would take the bull by the horns and actually “do” Christie stories, covering the ones without Poirot or Marple, and use Christie as the selling point.

I agree about Peter Wimsey, as well.

I loved the RDJ movies - they were fantastic fun! But I'm not a purist in any sense.

Sherlock is (was) a totally different sort of adaptation - I love(d) that, too.

And, in a completely different way, I loved the Jeremy Brett series.

I've not seen Elementary, as I only have Freeview, but if it becomes possible, I will watch it.


(Aggs mentioned Lord Peter Wimsey. As an anti-aristo Socialist I ought to completely disapprove of him, but I'm afraid on my list of fictional characters I love the most, he comes very near the top. I think it's high time for a modern adaptation! )

I haven't seen that film for ages - it was probably rubbish but really want to see it again, now. Perfect afternoon viewing.

Out of all the Holmes I've seen - none of the Sherlocks have bothered me half as much as Jude Law as Watson. It's just wrong!

Probably because you know that <not that> deep down, Wimsey agrees with you

I missed Robert Stephens off my list of favourite Sherlocks! How could I? He's wonderful in that film which I have on DVD and often rewatch. So poignant.

I believe I read somewhere that Gatiss and Moffat watched it before writing their version of "The Woman".

You're right.