Sherlock
- Thread starter CheadleBeagle
- Start date
A lot of it is holding it to high standards of course. The first season, particularly the pilot, is near faultless prime time weekend TV. The second dipped IMO. I never really liked Moriarty and the Baskerville one was a bit silly, but it became such a big deal that it turned this into a part-soap event show that shunted the "detective" aspect to the back burner. Wrongly IMO. But that's just me.
I enjoyed it. I could barely remember what happened in the last episode mind, so I spent half the episode going "why did he throw himself off the roof again?". It never really was explained? To try and fool the world he was dead so he could go under cover and foil the remains of Moriartys gang?
The episode wasn't great, but I like Freeman and Cumberbatch and the way they interact on the show, so I'll keep watching. I just think they can try to be a little bit too clever sometimes. I still enjoy it, mind.
There's nothing wrong with being too clever, but it's a detective show. A prodecudral who-dunnit. Once you become so self involved you spend a generously huge 90 minute run time mostly ignoring the detective aspect of it in favour of self congratulation, you're going off the rails a bit. By all means be clever, but be clever solving a mystery.
He was also slightly more likeable than usual. I'm watching the Baskerville ep on Netfilx now and he's clearly the high functioning sociopath he calls himself in series 1. Last night he was just "super-clever-man" a slightly odd superhero complete with his own costume ("where is it...you know what" - since when was his coat ever such a big deal?)
Of course I'm picking, but there was a lot to pick at.
He was also slightly more likeable than usual. I'm watching the Baskerville ep on Netfilx now and he's clearly the high functioning sociopath he calls himself in series 1. Last night he was just "super-clever-man" a slightly odd superhero complete with his own costume ("where is it...you know what" - since when was his coat ever such a big deal?)
Of course I'm picking, but there was a lot to pick at.
It was still a really good episode, but like others have said, it was always going to be mostly about him still being alive rather then anything to do with other mysteries. Agree with Mockney, there was a lot of the self congratulations type thing, and he seemed to be more caring for some reason (like kissing molly on the cheek, didn't really suit him), but it was still really good. Just not as good as the previous 2 seasons. It'll probably be back to normal in the next episode though.
The train stuff was quite silly. Sherlock taking so long to realise there was a whole carriage missing wasn't very believable, and the train guy repeatedly saying there was nothing between the two stations, until he remembers there is a whole hidden station even less so. But, it's always had that problem to an extent. I remember in the pilot they telegraphed the taxi driver and then we had to wait half an hour for Sherlock to figure out what the audience had already assumed.
[Sherlock]Bonfire night must've been on a Sunday[/Holmes]
Yeah, it wasn't the best episode but there were certainly weak ones in both the first 2 seasons (that silly painting/chinese acrobat one and the Baskervilles nonsense) so it shouldn't be a big surprise.
I assume this plot to blow up the Houses of Parliment (personally I wouldn't have stopped it) is part of a larger theme to be played out over the remaining episodes which is why it was more of a set up than anything with any real substance.
Yeah that was ridiculous. "There's nothing there. I know everything about the London Underground.....oh wait actually there was a station built there that was never opened. It's on this map here."
I had mixed feelings on the episode. I did enjoy it but I was also disappointed somewhat. I didnt really like the camera effects used, I felt that they over did the slow mo etc but that wasn't a big deal.
I was pretty disappointed by the explanation of how he did it. I don't mind the actual execution but I dont like the idea that he and his brother had planned it all. I dont't think it came across that way at all in the episode and feel it undermines how big a threat Moriarty was. I wouldn't have minded if how he did it turned to be be a bit simple etc, it was never going to be amazing. But saying they were in on it the whole time didnt work for me.
I can also see where Mockney is coming from on the whole self congratulating thing.
But either way I still enjoy it and hope that now they've got the return out of the way the next two episodes will be much better.
I was pretty disappointed by the explanation of how he did it. I don't mind the actual execution but I dont like the idea that he and his brother had planned it all. I dont't think it came across that way at all in the episode and feel it undermines how big a threat Moriarty was. I wouldn't have minded if how he did it turned to be be a bit simple etc, it was never going to be amazing. But saying they were in on it the whole time didnt work for me.
I can also see where Mockney is coming from on the whole self congratulating thing.
But either way I still enjoy it and hope that now they've got the return out of the way the next two episodes will be much better.
Also is it just me but didn't his 'character deductions' used to have a bit of an explanation to them rather just random text ('expectant father') over someones head followed by a clever comment ("Your childs on the way").
Yeah used to be some text of observations, a conclusion from him and then how he got there. It's like they were trying hard to show us how smart he was when most the audience already knew he was smart and that the fun of it is going from observation to conclusion. Hopefully just something that got caught up in the first episode as they had a fair bit to do.
Yeah, but that kind of thing is par for the course with "powered" heroes. They invariably use their powers in an incredible way at the most unimportant part of the story just to demonstrate them, then at the end, when tension is required, it's inexplicably much harder/takes them much longer.
Harry Potter is full of this shit, with every one of the teaching scenes being full of far more incredible magical stuff than's ever used to conclude the plot.
It all depends how they do it really. Interestingly in the actual unaired pilot (they reshot it for TV) he deduces it's a taxi driver right away, but it was changed in the re-shoot to add more drama.
Yeah, it was okay... I guess after all the anticipation and theorizing it was always going to be anti-climactic, I'd recently started watching Elementary, the American effort, and when you get past the fact that they made Watson a woman, Sherlock a twat and general departures from anything Conan Doyle, I maybe like it better.
Hoping now the ice has been broken the rest of this series can return to some of the fantastic efforts in the 1st/2nd seasons.
Hoping now the ice has been broken the rest of this series can return to some of the fantastic efforts in the 1st/2nd seasons.
I enjoyed it. The interactions between Cumberbatch & Freeman are entertaining and work very well.
I'm glad this is back, much better than Elementary.
I'm glad this is back, much better than Elementary.
Which Sherlock is the bigger twat in both shows ? Like you I'd say the American version of him is.
TV shows always use moustaches to indicate that a prolonged amount of time has passed. Classic maneuver.
Yes, absolutely this. People want to watch a clever explanation, not just presented an amazing conclusion and going "well then, wasn't that great?". It's a bit like that magician movie, Now You See Me. The fact that there were a whole lot of things they never even tried to explain ruined it for me. They just sort of went "ta da! Aren't we clever?"
I hope Sherlock doesn't get too far into that sort of business.
Will be telecasted in India tonight on AXN in an hour's time! Can't wait. Have purposefully ignored whatever is written here since 1st Jan. Hopefully it will not disappoint.
They didn't explain it did they, just threw out a load of implausible ideas. First on a bungi rope, being a gayboy and chucking off an effigy, bouncy castles, etc.
The first half an hour or so was really good I thought, especially the intro with Derren Brown. Witty. 
The program has done enough with Sherlock's character and his relationship with Watson to indulge a little in his return and that was nicely pulled off.
That being said, the acting really grated at times. It's in the same style but it seemed more exaggerated and cheap than in previous episodes. Not too worried about a return to form with the plot but that was a real immersion breaker at times. I don't rate the guy that plays Lestrade in this.
The program has done enough with Sherlock's character and his relationship with Watson to indulge a little in his return and that was nicely pulled off.That being said, the acting really grated at times. It's in the same style but it seemed more exaggerated and cheap than in previous episodes. Not too worried about a return to form with the plot but that was a real immersion breaker at times. I don't rate the guy that plays Lestrade in this.
I can see Sherlock telling Watson the real explanation in the season finale.
Yep I think that's what will happen, and as someone said they'll probably lay out all the other scenarios until the real one. Which will rile Mockney up!
I enjoyed it to be fair. Cumberbatch is fecking awesome.
Anyway, I wasn't quite sure why Sherlock faked his death. I thought that he did it in order to save his friends (specifically Watson), but then this episode made it more complicated. It looks like he did it in order to fool the world and go undercover to destroy Moriarty's terrorist group.
Or, as Mel is saying, maybe the real explanation will come later.
Anyway, I wasn't quite sure why Sherlock faked his death. I thought that he did it in order to save his friends (specifically Watson), but then this episode made it more complicated. It looks like he did it in order to fool the world and go undercover to destroy Moriarty's terrorist group.
Or, as Mel is saying, maybe the real explanation will come later.
It was half-decent, it has a lot to live up to after the previous seasons but it was a good if not a gentle start. Every other scene had a moment that would make me laugh. When Sherock and Mycroft were talking in Baker Street it looked as if they were playing Chess and it turned out to be Operation. Little things like that and through the dialogue it was a funny episode. Looking forward to the next one
Yep I think that's what will happen, and as someone said they'll probably lay out all the other scenarios until the real one. Which will rile Mockney up!
Hmmmm, not sure about that. I think (as Weaste puts it) the bouncy castle explanation is the one they're going with isn't it?
I was already bored of it after the first explanation so I don't hope they drag it across the series
Some people are saying Anderson pointing out the potential 'plot holes' in the explanation means it's not the real explanation. Also, Watson asking Sherlock is he ever going to tell him how he did it, also suggests that Sherlock will eventually tell him how he did it.
More than explanation of the jump, I am hoping for a better story/mystery in 2nd episode. The first one was pretty average.
The reason for the jump was self explanatory I thought. Him going undercover to destroy Moriaty's network is perfectly feasible. How he did it we'll never know. They gave you various explanations. The one Sherlock gave was probably the most likely but your not going to be given any more. That parts over now. They never explained it in the books either.
I hope that isn't the case, as that would be pretty stupid.
Yep I think we'll get a better mystery with the new villain, Charles Augustus Magnussen.
Not really. What would be stupid would be to linger on it. Would much rather we just get back to case episodes.
Moriaty was a bit shit really wasn't he? Throughout the whole show I mean. Him shooting himself was completely ridiculous and happened for near enough no reason at all.
Yeah.
Yep. If he didn't jump, John would've been killed. They were pretty clear with that at the time but it's been a while now so a lot probably will have forgotten.
I liked him. He was gay and had a stupid laughing but still I think he was a good character.
Yes, I would also much rather get back to the case episodes. But the episode made the entire Moriarty thing either pointless or stupid. Or both.
It made the entire Moriaty thing huge. Something for him to fake his own death and use British secret intelligence connections to help and go undercover. That's pretty frigging huge.
Okay, then it didn't make it pointless, but it still made it stupid.