CBS Elementary Season 2 Episode # 1 "Step Nine" - Review

 

A private ceremony of Warren Pendry in London, England is interrupted by Gareth Lestrade (Sean Pertwee).

Back in NY, Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) is on the pursuit of a criminal by following his pigeon (Don't ask).  Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) gets to flex her martial arts skills on the unsuspecting fellow and ensures his arrest.

Soon, Sherlock and Joan are off to London to help Lestrade, who has gone into hiding.

Sherlock and Joan arrive at 221 B and are surprised to find that Mycroft Holmes (Rhys Ifans) currently resides there, after inheriting it from their father.

Sherlock has slept with Mycroft's fiance to prove her materialistic intentions to their family fortune and this causes a rift between the brothers.

Mycroft seems to be taking a strong interest in Joan, which Sherlock takes to be the former's ploy to get even with his brother.

I recommend the readers to check out the episode to find out the resolution.

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Canonical References

1. Sherlock's statement about Gareth Lestrade: “He was the best of the bad bunch” - Holmes remarks about Lestrade in The Hound of the Baskervilles: “He is the best of the professionals...”

2. Sherlock points out that Mycroft Holmes has neither energy nor ambition. Sherlock further states to Joan that Mycroft is lazy. - Sherlock Holmes mentions about Mycroft in The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “But he has no ambition and no energy. He will not even go out of his way to verify his own solutions, and would rather be considered wrong than take the trouble to prove himself right. ”

3. Sherlock never mentioning his brother to Joan – Dr Watson states in The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “During my long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Sherlock Holmes I had never heard him refer to his relations, and hardly ever to his own early life... had come to believe that he was an orphan with no relatives living; but one day, to my very great surprise, he began to talk to me about his brother.”

4. Miller's Holmes more than once points out how Gareth Lestrade takes credit for his work. In the ending scenes, Joan also mentions about Lestrade calling Holmes' bluff about not claiming credit to the case – Sherlock Holmes often takes cases for the sake of mental simulation and is always happy to pass on the credit to the official force.

5. The character of DCI Hopkins is a possible nod to Inspector Stanley Hopkins

6. Miller's Holmes refers to 221 B being full of odd experiments, texts in different languages and articles from previous criminal cases - Dr Watson states in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “Our chambers were always full of chemicals and of criminal relics which had a way of wandering into unlikely positions, and of turning up in the butter-dish or in even less desirable places.”

7. Miller's Holmes leaving 221 B to check out his theory to find Lestrade, while Joan stays back due to jet lag – Sherlock Holmes often works continuously on cases, skipping food and sleep.

 

8. Miller's Holmes mentions about working with Lestrade on the Norwood Builder case – Direct reference to The Case of the Norwood Builder

9. Mycroft speaking French and Sherlock saying “Bon appetit” to Joan – Sherlock Holmes mentions 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. ”

10. Mycroft mentions about Miller's Holmes never making his bed, after sleeping in it – John Watson mentions about Holmes in The Adventure of the Dying Detective: “His incredible untidiness, his addiction to music at strange hours, his occasional revolver practice within doors, his weird and often malodorous scientific experiments, and the atmosphere of violence and danger which hung around him made him the very worst tenant in London.”

11. Mycroft remarking that Miller's Holmes does not have friends – Sherlock Holmes says to John Watson in The Five Orange Pips: “"Except yourself I have none,...”

12. Miller's Holmes passes off Joan Watson as a top home security expert to confirm his theory – Sherlock Holmes is prone to using Social Engineering tricks in many cases

13. Miller's Holmes deduces that acetone was used to get rid of the murder weapon – In A Study in Scarlet, Dr Watson states that Holmes has “Profound” knowledge in Chemistry. Stamford also describes Sherlock Holmes as a “first-class chemist”.
 

14. Miller's Holmes takes help from a certain Langdale Pike – Direct reference to the character of the same name, described by John Watson in The Adventure of the Three Gables: “I saw no more of Holmes during the day, but I could well imagine how he spent it, for Langdale Pike was his human book of reference upon all matters of social scandal. …. Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn.”

15. Miller's Holmes picks the lock to enter Nicholas Ginn's apartment – Sherlock Holmes is an expert in picking locks

16. In his televised interview, Inspector Gareth Lestrade quotes the classic Sherlock Holmes quote from The Sign of the Four: “...when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? ”

17. Mycroft Holmes refers to the US as “the colonies”. - Possible reference to Sherlock's description of Mycroft Holmes in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans: “You would also be right in a sense if you said that occasionally he IS the British government ”

18. “Art in the blood, Watson. Takes the strangest forms” - Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “Art in the blood is liable to take the strangest forms.”

Coming to the performances, Lucy Liu's Watson continues to be the best part of the show. 

Miller continues his usual routine of grimacing and pouting. This is one of the least enjoyable versions of the iconic detective.

Rhys Ifans makes a fleeting impression as Mycroft. He is no longer the British Government, but a wealthy businessman, who owns restaurants. May be, he will be revealed to be in the service of the British Government in the future.

Sean Pertwee's Lestrade is a letdown. Similar to the changes to Miller's Holmes, Gareth Lestrade is miles away from the Canonical version. Perhaps, we will get to see a better Lestrade in the future episodes, if he does return.

I liked the resolution to the mystery. Elementary has not had this level of quality for a long time.

Trivia

1. The song "London Calling" by The Clash is used in the episode.
2. The song "Hello" by Oasis can be heard, when Miller's Holmes visits Scotland Yard
3. The song "The Village" by Tunng is played in the final scenes between Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes

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BBC Sherlock Season 1 Episode # 3 "The Great Game" - Canonical References (Part I)

It is time for another BBC Sherlock Canonical References post!

As packed as the previous episodes were with nods to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, the real deal starts here. Mark Gatiss deserves credit for the script, which is chock-a-block with easter eggs.

I have split the entire set into 2 posts. Here is the first half:

1. The episode name “The Great Game” – Reference to this line in The Adventure of the Final Problem: “I tell you, my friend, that if a detailed account of that silent contest could be written, it would take its place as the most brilliant bit of thrust-and-parry work in the history of detection.”

2. Sherlocks’s reaction to the convict’s mention of sex – Dr Watson states in A Scandal in Bohemia: “He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer.”

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3. Sherlock shooting at the wall – Dr Watson mentions in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “ … Holmes, in one of his queer humours, would sit in an armchair with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V. R. done in bullet-pocks,..”

4. Sherlock's statement: “I don’t know what’s got into the criminal classes” – Sherlock Holmes makes a similar reference to the criminals in The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax: “and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes.” and in The Sign of the Four: “…a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me,…”

5. Sherlock's further comment about criminals: “It’s a good job I am not one of them” - Sherlock Holmes remarks in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton: "You know, Watson, I don’t mind confessing to you that I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal. This is the chance of my lifetime in that direction"

 

6. John's discovery of a human head in the fridge – Dr Watson states in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “Our chambers were always full of chemicals and of criminal relics which had a way of wandering into unlikely positions, and of turning up in the butter-dish or in even less desirable places.”

7. Sherlock remarks about the human head: “I got it from Bart’s morgue. I’m measuring coagulation of saliva after death” – Stamford explains about Holmes in A Study in Scarlet: “When it comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting-rooms with a stick, it is certainly taking rather a bizarre shape. Yes, to verify how far bruises may be produced after death.”

8. John defending his choice of “A Study in Pink” as the title: “Pink lady, pink case, pink phone. There was a lot of pink” – Sherlock comments about Dr Watson in A Case of Identity: “It is true that you have missed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye for colour.”

9. John going for a walk, after getting irritated by Sherlock's complaining about Watson writing about his shortcomings – Watson states in The Sign of Four: “I confess, too, that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings.”

10. Sherlock comparing human mind to a hard drive – Holmes in A Study in Scarlet: “I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.”

 
11. John arguing about Sherlock's (lack of) knowledge of the solar system – Sherlock Holmes makes this statement in A Study in Scarlet: “What the deuce is it to me?" he interrupted impatiently; "you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work."

12. Sherlock's statement: “All that matters to me is my work. Without that my brain rots” – From The Sign of Four: “I cannot live without brain-work. What else is there to live for?”

13. Sherlock's advice to John to stop writing about their cases - Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier: "..since I have often had occasion to point out to him how superficial are his own accounts and to accuse him of pandering to popular taste instead of confining himself rigidly to facts and figures."

14. Sherlock standing at the window and remarking to Mrs Hudson: “Look at that Mrs. Hudson. Quiet, Calm, Peaceful. Isn’t it hateful?” – In The Sign of Four: “Stand at the window here. Was ever such a dreary, dismal, unprofitable world?... What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material?”

15. John’s comment about Sherlock lying to Mycroft: “Sibling rivalry. Now we are getting somewhere” - From A Study in Scarlet: “…how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself.” (Watson) and “Did you never ask him what he was going in for?" I asked. "No; he is not a man that it is easy to draw out…”  (Stamford). From The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “During my long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Sherlock Holmes I had never heard him refer to his relations, and hardly ever to his own early life.”

16. Sherlock's line: “I would be lost without my blogger” – Sherlock Holmes states in A Scandal in Bohemia: “I am lost without my Boswell”
 

17. Lestrade's remark to Sherlock – “You like the funny cases, don’t you? The surprising ones.” – Lestrade states in The Adventure of the Second Stain: ''a mere trifle, but the sort of thing you take an interest in – queer, you know, and what you might call freakish.” Gregson also makes a similar statement in A Study in Scarlet: “...it’s a queer case though, and I knew your taste for such things”.
 

18. Sherlock makes deductions about the Bohemian stationary from Czech Republic and also the type of pen. - Sherlock Holmes makes deductions about “Best quality paper” and “...paper of native Indian manufacture,” in The Sign of Four as well as in A Scandal in Bohemia: “The paper was made in Bohemia”
 

19. Sherlock's deduction about the feminine handwriting – Sherlock Holmes makes a deduction about masculine handwriting in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, and about feminine handwriting in The Hound of the Baskervilles

20. Sherlock's description of the five orange pips is a direct reference to the plot of The Five Orange Pips: “Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognized shape -- a sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others.”

 
21. The design of the room “221C” is based on the description of the room, where Enoch J Drebber's body is found in A Study in Scarlet: “It was a large square room, looking all the larger from the absence of all furniture. A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls, but it was blotched in places with mildew, and here and there great strips had become detached and hung down, exposing the yellow plaster beneath. Opposite the door was a showy fireplace, surmounted by a mantelpiece of imitation white marble. On one corner of this was stuck the stump of a red wax candle. The solitary window was so dirty that the light was hazy and uncertain, giving a dull grey tinge to everything, which was intensified by the thick layer of dust which coated the whole apartment.”

22. Sherlock remarks in 221 C: “The curtain rises” - Sherlock in The Adventure of the Second Stain: “Excellent!” said he. “Come, friend Watson, the curtain rings up for the last act.”

23. Sherlock accessing “Most Wanted” list on his smartphone, to get details about Golem, the assassin – Sherlock Holmes maintains alphabetically sorted files about  in 221 B. As Dr Watson states in A Scandal in Bohemia: “For many years he had adopted a system of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not at once furnish information.”. Sherlock Holmes himself remarks in The Adventure of the Empty House: “Just give me down my index of biographies from the shelf...My collection of M's is a fine one.”

24.  Sherlock's reply to Lestrade: “You just see, but you just don’t observe” – Holmes makes a very similar statement to Watson in A Scandal in Bohemia: “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room.”

25. Sherlock’s knowledge of astronomy in solving the puzzle of the fake painting – A nod to the inconsistencies in the Canon

26. Sherlock commenting on Molly's weight gain: “Domestic bliss suits you. 3 pounds” - Sherlock Holmes makes a similar observation about John Watson in A Scandal in Bohemia: “Wedlock suits you,... I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you”

28. Sherlock's remark about John's deductions: “You are in sparkling form” – “Excellent, Watson! You scintillate to-day.” from The Adventure of the Illustrious Client and “Really, Watson, you excel yourself,” from The Hound of the Baskervilles and “Brilliant, Watson. You are scintillating this morning.” from The Valley of Fear

29. Sherlock's comment about John's deductions: “You have missed everything of importance” – Sherlock Holmes remarks to Watson in A Case of Identity: “It is true that you have missed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye for colour”

30. Sherlock deducing the mud as belonging to Sussex with London mud overlaying it: “Clear as a map reference to me” – Dr Watson mentions in A Study in Scarlet: “Geology.—Practical, but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.”

32. Sherlock deducing that poison was the cause of Carl Power’s death – Dr Watson documents Holmes' knowledge in A Study in Scarlet: “Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally.”

33. Sherlock's knowledge about the case of Carl Powers – Dr Watson mentions about Holmes in A Study in Scarlet: “Sensational Literature.—Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.”

34. John's remark to Sherlock about his long time interest in solving cases: “You started early, didn’t you” – From The Hound of the Baskervilles: “..though I confess that once when I was very young I confused the Leeds Mercury with the Western Morning News.”. Further, Holmes mentioned about some cases that he handled before Watson’s arrival at 221 B in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “These are the records of your early work, then?” I asked. “I have often wished that I had notes of those cases.” “Yes, my boy, these were all done prematurely before my biographer had come to glorify me.”

35. Sherlock is seen wearing a purple shirt – From The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle: “He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand.”

36. Sherlock's instruction to Lestrade: “Go arrest them Inspector. That’s what you do best” - From A Study in Scarlet: “I have chaffed them so much that they would never have let me hear the end of it.”

37. Sherlock getting information from a victim’s wife by pretending to be the friend of the deceased – Sherlock Holmes uses Social Engineering tactics in a number of cases to gather information

38. Sherlock explains his strategy to get information from the aforementioned subject: “People don’t like telling you things. They love to contradict you” – From The Sign of the Four: “The main thing with people of that sort, … is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. If you do they will instantly shut up like an oyster. If you listen to them under protest, as it were, you are very likely to get what you want.”. Dr Watson uses a similar method to get information from Frankland in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

39. Sherlock's statement to John, when examining the corpse: “Give me data”

1. “No data yet…” from A Study in Scarlet
2. “There are hardly any data…” from The Sign of Four
3. “I have no data yet” from A Scandal in Bohemia
4. “Data, data, data. I can’t make bricks without clay” from The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

40. John does not seem to like Sekhmet, the cat in the late Connie Prince's house – Possible reference to Watson mentioning about having a bull pup in A Study in Scarlet: “I keep a bull pup,..”

That concludes the first part. Click here to read the second post.

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CBS Elementary - Season 2 Teaser "London Calling"

Dear Readers,

Check out the latest teaser for the second season of CBS Elementary.

We get out first look at Sean Pertwee's Gareth Lestrade and Rhys Ifans' Mycroft Holmes.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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Movie Review: You're Next (2011)

The movie opens as most horror movies usually do: The initial set of victims making out and getting killed by the movie's villain/monster. In this case, the killer is a man wearing an animal mask.

Continuing the usual horror tropes, the main set of victims arrive right next door to the aforementioned killings. Paul Davison (Rob Moran) and Aubrey Davison (Barbara Crampton) are looking forward to this family reunion. Their 3 sons and a daughter arrive shortly and the hunt begins just as the family members are catching up over the dinner.

What separates You're Next from other run-of-the-mill horror movies is the screenplay (credited to Simon Barrett) and the black humor. The character building moments have been executed very well and they make sense as the movie reaches its climax. I enjoyed the plot twists and am sure fellow horror fans will do too. Simon Barrett also plays the Tiger Mask killer.

Another strong point of the movie is the excellent soundtrack, which is made up of three different recordings of "Looking for the Magic" performed by Dwight Twilley Band. While movies of any genre depend on the soundtrack for increasing the effect and ensuring maximum immersive experience for the viewers, this is especially true for horror/suspense movies.

Another example is Sinister, which had one of the best soundtracks that I have heard so far.

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Last but not the least, the tone of the movie is another strong point. The kills are good and there is no gore involved. I personally like such horror movies, that focus more on building the suspense, rather than take the lazy route of over-the-top violence.

There are some scenes in which characters deliver lines about killing other characters. The actors did a good job with the deadpan delivery and deserve credit for taking the movie to a level above the usual cut.

Speaking of the cast, special mention must be made of Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci and A J Bowen. As good as the rest of the actors are, these three make the best impression.

A highly recommended watch for fans of horror movies.

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Please ADOPT a Shelter Animal and help stop Animal Cruelty

Dear Readers,

Every day, thousands of animals are killed in "rescue" shelters, presumably for lack of space. Please do NOT buy your pet from a pet store or an online store. Pet stores/online stores are supported by the barbaric puppy mill industry.

Please ADOPT your pet from a rescue shelter. You will earn a loyal and loving companion forever.

Click here to know more about the No Kill Revolution. Please help make a positive change to stop Animal Cruelty.

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Ian McKellen to play Sherlock Holmes

It has been announced today that Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings Trilogy, X-Men movies) will be playing Sherlock Holmes in Bill Condon's adaptation of "A Slight Trick of the Mind" by Mitch Cullin.

McKellen is an actor with an amazing ability to disappear into his roles, whether heroic or villainous in nature. I enjoyed his turn as the Master of Magnetism in the X-Men movies and that is one of the main reasons, I am looking forward to the upcoming Bryan Singer movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Equally great was his performance as Gandalf the Grey/White in the Lord of the Rings movies.

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This is one of the best casting choices for the legendary detective and I am very excited to see McKellen's take on the iconic character.

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CBS Elementary - Season 2 Teaser Trailer

Dear Readers,

The trailer for Season 2 of CBS Elementary has arrived.

Correct me if I am wrong, but most of the clips appear to be from Season 1. Except for the scenes featuring a man being chased by Miller and thereafter being stopped by Liu's Watson and the bomb blast, I have seen all the remaining ones in the first season.

We do not get our first look at Sean Pertwee's Gareth Lestrade or Rhys Ifans' Mycroft Holmes. Well, the season premiere is less than a month away.

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