.jpg "Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes in CBS Elementary Episode 17 Possibility Two") |
| Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes |
Gerald
Lydon (Dennis Boutsikaris) is the victim of a medical condition that is genetic
in nature. He does not have that in the family and believes that he has been the
victim of a deliberate infliction. He tries to hire Holmes to figure out the guilty
party.
Holmes
refuses to take his case and is bribed with a rare species of bee. Shortly, Lydon is taken into custody for the murder of his
driver, Crabtree (Steven Hauck).
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In
the customary subplot, Holmes has started mentoring Joan in the skills of detection.
He lets her do the deductions on crime scenes and advises her to carry evidence
bags all the time.
He
also assigns the laundry work to her and keeps the fridge cleaning duties to
himself. This is another tactic to hone her observation skills.
In
the Canon, Holmes never teaches Watson the methods of deduction. This aspect is
unique to Elementary. Unfortunately, this development does not seem to be a
good omen for the show. As good it is to see Holmes and Watson in a
mentor-student relationship, things seem to be headed in an altogether different
direction. Holmes seems jealous of Joan’s intimacy with her college professor.
 |
| Lucy Liu as Joan Watson |
The
mystery itself was quite convoluted.
I
did enjoy the scenes at the dry cleaning service. They were genuinely funny.
The
scene where Holmes texted Gregson and Bell while they were interrogating a
suspect, instantly reminded me of the press briefing scene in BBC Sherlock’s “A Study in Scarlet”, where
Cumberbatch’s Holmes texts Lestrade and everyone else in the room.
The
scene did have one redeeming feature - Holmes quotes Benjamin Franklin: “You
may delay, but time will not”.
 |
Jennifer Lim as Natasha Kademan
|
Canonical references
- Someone
named Musgrave has recommended Gerald Lydon to contact Holmes – Reference
to Holmes’ college mate from The
Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “Reginald Musgrave had been in the
same college as myself, and I had some slight acquaintance with him.”
- Holmes
receives a bee as a bribe from a prospective client - In the story His Last Bow, Sherlock mentions he
is writing a book on Bee Keeping entitled “Practical Handbook of Bee
Culture, with some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen”.
- Holmes
teaching Single stick fighting to Joan - Watson
mentions about Holmes in A Study in Scarlet: “Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and
swordsman.” Holmes himself states in The Adventure of the Illustrious Client: “I’m
a bit of a single-stick expert, as you know.”
- Holmes
is seen speaking Norwegian language – Reference to this line spoken by
Holmes in The Adventure of the Empty
House: “You may have read of the remarkable explorations of a
Norwegian named Sigerson, but I am sure that it never occurred to you that
you were receiving news of your friend.”
- Holmes
is seen listening to a French song (“La Vieille Chanteuse” by Claire Diterzi) – Reference to this line stated by
Holmes in The Adventure of the Greek
Interpreter: “But, none the less, my turn that way is in my veins, and
may have come with my grandmother, who was the sister of Vernet, the
French artist.”
 |
| Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes |
Elementary
is proving to be a very average adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories. I do
not find anything outstanding in this show.
The
show seems more like a character-driven drama than a show based on Arthur Conan
Doyle’s stories. I am guessing that the show will score very well with audience
who are yet to familiarize themselves with the Sherlock Holmes Canon.
I
do give credit to the show for the Canonical nods that pop up now and then. Even
this aspect of the show is becoming stagnant. The Bee Canonical Nod has been
used in a number of episodes and the Single stick has also made a couple of
appearances.
It
is becoming increasingly tedious to sit through the episodes. That is something
that rarely happens with an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories.
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Image Source: CBS
I agree this episode was not the best, but it was hilarious at times. If Sherlock and Joan do have a romantic relationship, it would be disastrous.
ReplyDeleteFrom a completely un-bias standpoint not comparing Elementary to the original literature, I would say that it is a great series. Maybe its not a good adaptation, but as a TV series it is one of my favorite shows on TV right now.
-James
That's my point exactly, James.
DeleteB2B.
I agree with you. Elementary feels more like a character-based adaption than a story-based one. Though I'm only really attached to one of the characters...
ReplyDeleteI can guess which one :)
DeleteB2B.
:)
DeleteI have to agree with most of the points made by James C.
ReplyDeleteThe way I am looking at it at the moment is the fun we are having exploring present or missing bits of Sherlockiana in 'Elementary'.
Look how much it is putting our knowledge or lack of knowledge to the test.
Not Brett by any means, but fun non-the-less.
Thanks John for stopping by.
DeletePlease check out my reply to James C.
I do not find Elementary to be much of fun. I think it is just a halfhearted attempt (motivated by purely financial motives) to cash in on the current pop culture fame of Sherlock Holmes. If I remember correctly, CBS' initial attempt was to remake the BBC Series. When they failed to do so, they came up with some changes to Watson's character, shifted the characters to NY and bang! We have a Sherlock Holmes based show up and running.
But again, these are my personal views and I definitely do not expect anyone else to share the same thoughts.
To each his own.
B2B.
I look forward to your posts on the show, and love the Canonical references you provide.
ReplyDeleteThanks John.
DeleteB2B.
James - an interesting point that you could blame Moffet for the changes to watson - I'd never considered that but I always thought any legal battle was doomed - Holmes does not belong to Moffat nor the BBC. That said I think Watson being female changes the dynamic of the team and that Elementary is Holmes in name only. I love Miller's performance but I stopped watching Elementary after six or seven episodes - it is much too lightweight for me, much too mid-afternoon slot generic detective show for me, and I saw it as a Moonlighting derivative after it's first few episodes and commented somewhere that - "the sleuthing will become seducing."
ReplyDeleteTo my mind Elementary was hoping to cash in on Sherlock's success but it contains none of the charm, wit or style. Whilst Sherlock is also a modern day retelling it feels like period despite all the tech gadgets used in the series. The world around him may be ultra modern but Sherlock is very much a man out of time. Watson is also excellent in this series but Elementary's Watson is just boring and, dare I say it, the wrong sex.
Of course I've only watched the first six episodes, or maybe seven and none of them were particularly memorable so the show could have improved since I stopped watching, but I wouldn't wager on it. Such a pity because I prefer Miller as Holmes to Cumberbatch but the show is just not up to standard. That said Elementary did have possibilities but it seems to have squandered them.
Great comment, Gary.
DeleteI too think that Elementary writers/producers made the changes to Watson in a desperate attempt to differentiate their show from the BBC series and not from fear of legal repercussions. After all, the character of Holmes has been in the public domain for quite some time.
"the sleuthing will become seducing" - things do seem to be headed in that direction.
I completely agree with your opinion that Elementary was made with the intentions of riding on BBC Sherlock's coattails, but lacks the charisma and wit of the far superior British series. You once again nailed it with your comment about how Cumberbatch's version strongly echoes the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle, but has his own distinct style and personality.
Yes, Elementary had the potential of becoming an unique take on the legendary detective, but has unfortunately squandered them.
B2B.
One reference to canon might be missing: When talking about the Norwegian professor in his house, Sherlock states that he has bought a home near the Geiranger fjord - which surprises Holmes given the fact that he is publicly paid. To me, this seems to be a direct reference to Holmes's analysis of the expensive painting hanging in Moriarty's office.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maximilian for pointing that out.
DeleteB2B.
IMO (and in agreement with many of you), this show isn't meant to be about the original Sherlock Holmes. It's simply a crime drama (with comedy) about the former best detective of Scotland Yard. As it happens, he now has a companion/trainee/paramour named Dr. Joan Watson. It is a TV show, the point you are making, and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteBut what a show! It's fun, entertaining, well acted and interesting.
No one watching should walk away from it mind-numbed or less intelligent...with the possible exception of Sheldon, from The Big Bang Theory.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
DeleteUnfortunately, I do not find the show as entertaining as you do. Still, I respect your opinions. As the saying goes: "To each his own"....
B2B.