DS Forums

 
 

Elementary - UK Pace - No Spoilers Please


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 09-11-2012, 10:22
Alli-F
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DOTS are evil!
Posts: 32,338
Sherlock has to have a challenge or else the show is just him being wonderful every week


Challenge, yes. Getting it wrong, no. When the original Sherlock got things wrong, it was to misdirect, it was a chess game and he was 2 or 3 moves ahead and so got it wrong on purpose to lull the perpetrator into a false sense of security. He didn't get this sort of thing wrong.

If you're going to base these stories on Sherlock Holmes, then you have to understand the character of the man and at least stay faithful to that. If you can't don't call him Sherlock Holmes.
Alli-F is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 09-11-2012, 17:16
LostFool
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 59,670
The show is certainly not bad, but it's not anything special either. Just another run of the mill show.
I like Lucy Liu but there's not enough about the show to keep me hooked.
That's my take on it too. It's OK as a police procedural but it's not something I'm going to go out of my way to watch every week. Like CSI/NCIS etc it's a filler programme to watch once in a while without having to worry about an ongoing story.
LostFool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2012, 14:19
trio1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 163
I'm liking it. It's an easy hour to pass. Neither JLM or Liu is as irritating as I feared. (I was dreading a shrewish Watson spoiling all the fun, or a Holmes full of wierd tics)

But this Holmes does seem like he fits fairly well in the modern world - he's not an anachronism. He's not even that odd. He goes around half naked covered in tattoos, and wears hipster t-shirts with waistcoats.

I do find now after 3 episodes that the Sherlock Holmes conceit is highly tenuous. I am enjoying it as an entirely unrelated thing, and I think you really need to. Otherwise you'd go mad, as there is little or no similarity. He can call himself Sherlock all he wants, but thats where it ends. Similarly Watson. Its nothing at all to do with her gender, she's just an entirely different personality.

But taken in isolation, I'm enjoying it, in a mindless way. Holmes is so incredibly right all the time that the central idea (that he's a consultant for the NYPD) passes. If I were Aidan Quinn, I'd call him in too!

That said, its all a bit like those pastiches of Agatha Christie novels "Ah well you see I knew it was him because I happened to notice the wastepaper basket and there was an envelope in it which had a blob of mud on the corner which had a distinctive scent which could only have come from underneath the dahlias in the front garden of the victim!!"

God knows how they're going to contrive Liu staying on with Holmes (living with him no less!) after the 6 weeks is over.
trio1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2012, 23:23
kazzabeee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 502
I wasn't too keen on the first episode, started to warm to it during the second and loved the third. I do exactly what I do with Sherlock. I sit back and enjoy it for what it is. Although I feel BBC Sherlock is cleverer than Elementary, I'm really warming to Johnny Lee Miller. I still can't warm to Joan Watson though it has nothing to do with her sex, there's just no chemistry between them.

I'll keep watching if only because I love watching detective shows and I'm not a big fan of US TV yet. I'm glad it's different to BBC Sherlock as it's another show to watch and enjoy.
kazzabeee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-11-2012, 10:32
Stansfield
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 5,982

Just wondering if last nights episode, is going to give secretary's ideas....Another great episode and Watson learning from Holmes too, plus Handcuff Practice....that was fun, but I was expecting him needing help, at the end.

It's not just the cases that make this so watch-able....it's the chemistry between Lucy Liu and JLM, it's just perfect.

And I could watch Lucy Liu sit on that chair in the Boardroom, for the whole hour.
Stansfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-11-2012, 09:10
Heavenly
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 30,890
Got round to watching the first episode last night, really like it!
Heavenly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-11-2012, 09:55
Porcupine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 21,390
I had three of these recorded on the planner, and i was a little loathe to watch them as I really thought that it wouldn't work. BUT - I love it. I really don't see a lot of Sherlock in it, and i think he is only called Sherlock Holmes to draw the viewers in. Another detective / cop show might not have been as highly anticipated. My husband and I sat down to watch one last weekend and loved it so much we watched all three back to back. I love it.
Porcupine is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2012, 21:56
Callum Collum
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,259
I'm enjoying it. Not a classic but a notch or two above the run-of-the-mill e.g. in the acting and writing.
Callum Collum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-11-2012, 13:18
starsailor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,991
I still can't warm to Joan Watson though it has nothing to do with her sex, there's just no chemistry between them.
I think thats kind of ok at the moment. She's there to do a job, rather than be a friend etc. So the relationship is i think supposed to be teneous and awkard to a certain amount.
starsailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2012, 13:34
Rorschach
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Folkestone
Posts: 10,537
It just continues to be so obvious and the wife and I find outselves saying "twin sister...doctor's helping", "helpful Surgeon or janitor", "it's the secretary" and so on a good 10 or twenty minutes before Holmes get's around to it.

I'm not saying it's not watchable mind, it just washes over you with minimal effort required.
Rorschach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2012, 16:42
MoreTears
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,863
It just continues to be so obvious and the wife and I find outselves saying "twin sister...doctor's helping", "helpful Surgeon or janitor", "it's the secretary" and so on a good 10 or twenty minutes before Holmes get's around to it.

I'm not saying it's not watchable mind, it just washes over you with minimal effort required.
It sounds like you are taking the murder mystery stuff seriously. I don't watch a procedural show like this -- a type of show I hold in low regard -- for any other reason than because I like watching the central character, and I do like watching Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes -- very much so, in fact. Who killed who is something about which I never give a damn (and of course it is usually the most recognizable guest star who is the killer).
MoreTears is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2012, 18:56
Stansfield
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 5,982

It just continues to be so obvious and the wife and I find outselves saying "twin sister...doctor's helping", "helpful Surgeon or janitor", "it's the secretary" and so on a good 10 or twenty minutes before Holmes get's around to it.

I'm not saying it's not watchable mind, it just washes over you with minimal effort required.
Mild mannered Janitor....it didn't bother me I had guest who did it.....but their was a twist, with the Doc.

But how JLM ended up at the Morgue in the first place, with him strangling the Bodies....

And Lucy with her own story, did make for a great episode.
Stansfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2012, 21:06
Batch
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Swindon
Posts: 2,893
Watched this for the first time tonight. Its OK, not overly bothered by it yet. Agree with the post above that its a cop show leant the Sherlock Holmes name.

I think I was expecting it to be more like the British Sherlock, which I really loved.

Will give it a few more episodes to see. I'm finding the acting of the guy playing Sherlock a tad irritating, its not helping.
Batch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-11-2012, 18:13
Virgil Tracy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,011
Just watched the one where the boy who was kidnapped becomes the villain , can't help wondering if he's gonna be the new Moriarty . just speculation , I have no idea whats upcoming .
Virgil Tracy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-11-2012, 07:49
Lady Spice
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 306
I'm enjoying it. I really like JLM as Sherlock. I like him much more than Cummerbatch's portrayal, who I find to be far too dislikable. I've been told that he plays it exactly as Conan Doyle wrote it, which I can't comment on because I've not read any of the literary work, but if that's the case, then I wouldn't like the character at all. Also, I really struggled with the BBC adaptations of the original stories. To me, they were more style over substance, and whilst I can appreciate the quality of the work, I didn't find them particularly easy to watch. The best thing about the BBC version, for me, was the portrayal of Moriarty, who stole the show as far as I'm concerned.

JLM makes Sherlock far more likeable, whilst still being a pain in the butt know-it-all. I like the idea of Watson being female, and the adaptation of her connection to him. So far, the crimes have been interesting - especially the one with the kid being the one that dunnit all along.

At the end of the day, it IS just another procedural, but it wouldn't last 5 minutes if the characters didn't work, and I think they do. I'm glad that the US have made a completely different version to what the BBC did - otherwise it would never have been given a chance.

Thumbs up from me.
Lady Spice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-11-2012, 17:14
Rollerbabe
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 202
Really love ths - it's my new 'must watch'. Agree with poster about Aidan Quinn - lovely sexy voice and not ageing too badly! Was prepared to hate Lucy Lui but she plays the part perfectly and I think the chemistry between Sherlock and Holmes is spot on. I'm not a great Sherlock fan so this loosely based detective show is fine by me.
Rollerbabe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-11-2012, 10:47
Stansfield
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 5,982
Wasn't expecting a Plane Crash investigation for Holmes this week, any week, turned out very good....and the Dad, not turning up...thought it was going to be Alan Dale.

And did the Americans work out what JLM said, when mentioning a Garage.....they have a funny way, of pronouncing it....and a bit of Yorkshire too.

Irene....
Stansfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-11-2012, 13:32
Chappers67
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 168
Wasn't expecting a Plane Crash investigation for Holmes this week, any week, turned out very good....and the Dad, not turning up...thought it was going to be Alan Dale.

And did the Americans work out what JLM said, when mentioning a Garage.....they have a funny way, of pronouncing it....and a bit of Yorkshire too.

Irene....
At a guess Adler.....probably not a naked Lara Pulver tho...
Chappers67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2012, 02:22
Tourista
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dagenham Essex UK
Posts: 9,713
Yeah, that got me too.

When the "name" bit came up, for some reason I thought it might be Moriarty......
Tourista is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2012, 09:29
00tommo
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Gloucester
Posts: 1,778
Wasn't expecting a Plane Crash investigation for Holmes this week, any week, turned out very good....and the Dad, not turning up...thought it was going to be Alan Dale.

And did the Americans work out what JLM said, when mentioning a Garage.....they have a funny way, of pronouncing it....and a bit of Yorkshire too.

Irene....
Ha ha, I was expecting him too! Thought it would be perfect for him.

Yes, as others have said, must be Irene Adler, don't know if she'll be coming into it anytime soon though?
Also, did the bloke pretending to be his dad have a name? Thinking maybe he could have links to Moriarty in the future?

Really enjoying this though as a procedural US TV show, can't really compare it to Sherlock. JLM is great and Lucy Lui is growing on me.
00tommo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2012, 09:53
MoreTears
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,863
Also, did the bloke pretending to be his dad have a name?
Allistair.
MoreTears is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-11-2012, 23:27
Motthus
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,822
I have to say that I also thought the name bit was going to be Moriarty so I was suprised when it turn out to be Irene!

Last edited by Motthus : 30-11-2012 at 23:28. Reason: Spelling
Motthus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2012, 16:38
qwerty21
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 273
It's no Sherlock but I think Johnny Lee Miller is fantastic and perhaps edges Cumberbatch. I'm glad Irene Adler is being introduced as it felt a bit like Sherlock Holmes had walked into a typical US crime series a good US crime series mind but Holmes just seemed to be there rather than it being about Holmes and Watson and Moriarty and Irene Adler.

I think having a big series is funny because with UK Sherlock you are left wanting more, I've felt a few times watching this that Sherlock needs to get something wrong because it loses any excitement- if Sherlock comes up with a theory and we're past the second ad-break he's probably right.

I also think that they haven't yet matched up to the first episode which had a lot of the character of Holmes and the Watson-Holmes relationship needs developing and Watson shouting at Holmes that he doesn't say enough to her doesn't really cut it.

I'll stick with it because the crimes are interesting and so is Holmes but at the moment it feels like it has massive potential but it's not quite hitting the mark. (However I am comparing it to Sherlock!) Hopefully the introduction of Irene Adler and hopefully Moriarty will help it to fulfill its potential.
qwerty21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2012, 07:31
Lady Spice
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 306
Someone remind me please.....is Irene Adler the one he "fell for" in the UK episode where he ended up saving her, after she faked her own death?
Lady Spice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2012, 08:34
MoreTears
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,863
Someone remind me please.....is Irene Adler the one he "fell for" in the UK episode where he ended up saving her, after she faked her own death?
Yes it is.
MoreTears is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:53.