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aragarnaThe best thing about the change of year, is when it means a new Sherlock episode. It was only one episode, long awaited, ended too soon, but it was enough to remind me how much I love this show.
I love everything about it. It's clever, so perfectly written, with just the right dose of wit, smart twisted plots which don't forget emotions and great characters served by wonderful actors. There's no other show (beside White Collar) that makes me care so deeply for the characters, their relationships, and that manages to hit that cord inside me with just the right resonance. It's in the way Sherlock and Watson, despite being very different, care for each other, even though they won't admit it, and don't always know how to express it (which totally reminds me of Peter and Neal).
And that one episode didn't disappoint. I just wish I could use the Sherlock tag more often...
So they said it would be a standalone episode. They've always wanted to go back to the Victorian era, and "the hell with it, we don't need to explain, let's just go with it" (paraphrasing a dozen interviews from Moffat and Gatiss over the past two years...). So, like everyone, I was ready to enjoy a promising Victorian transposition of Sherlock. And from the first teaser, it was clear it could totally work.
And it did. It was a great pleasure to see our familiar settings morphing with the original settings of Sherlock Holmes, but without losing the ironical distance from Conan Doyle's canon that makes the show so enjoyable (Mrs Hudson's rebellion was particularly fun). I actually thought for a moment that they could totally do a sort of spin-off series set in the 19th century.
Yes but...
The first hint came right at the beginning. They did a quick recap of the previous seasons. Why do a "previously on" for a special episode that is supposed to take place a hundred years before and that the writers had been saying again and again that it was *not* in the continuity of the regular seasons?! But of course, because they're the least reliable sources when it comes to their own show, and because a standalone would have been way to simple. Of course, they had a very clever and rational explanation to go back to the Victorian era. They had all they needed in their own mythology!
And so... We were in Sherlock's Mind Palace. Which is brilliant and makes perfect sense for the show. It also allows for a great liberty in term of writing, which obviously Gatiss and Moffat enjoyed a lot.
And of course, it allowed them to bring back Moriarty, just to prove he's dead. Moriarty is the show's blessing and curse. From season 1, they got the perfect and unique nemesis. Anyone else seems pale in comparison. Andrew Scott is so good at Moriarty. Yes, Jim, I did miss you. But you did blow your brain off, so, in term of story telling, I'm glad that you're dead. But that they found a way to bring you back anyway. :)
"Dead is the new sexy"
Sherlock wouldn't deny. Nor would Neal, nor Jimmy Pritchard. Guess you're right, Jim.
It all happened within 5 minutes, just the time for the plane to turn around and land. All we learned from it is that Moriarty is, indeed, dead (personally, I didn't doubt it. I was actually mostly afraid that they would ruin everything with some stupid deus ex machina trick to bring back the too valuable Moriarty. So, for me, it's just plainly reassuring). We'll still have to wait for the real season to know what the hell is really going on.
Actually, no, that's not true. We also discovered an interesting and touching side of the relationship between Sherlock and Mycroft.
And it was also an incredible ride into Sherlock's Mind Palace and psyche.
I'm a little worried about Mycroft, though. Just when I was started to actually like him... On first watch I was a little unsettled by fat Mycroft (that seemed quite un-Mycroft to me), but on second watch, it makes sense that it's just Sherlock's brain emphasing that he had put on weight. But then, how about their bet on Mycroft's life expectancy? Has Sherlock noted Mycroft was dying?
Also, I find it interesting the way Sherlock's brain is seeing the opposite sex. We know that Sherlock willingly represses his feelings - thus ignores women - but, when so deeply high, his brain tells him it's a war he should lose? Sherlock, my friend, I think your brain is trying to tell you something...
And yet, in the end, when on the edge of a precipice, it's John who saves the day. ;)
"Why don't you two just elope?"
Ah Jim, again, so glad death didn't change you one bit. :)
There's probably a lot more to say about this episode. It's so intense and dense in plenty of little details. But I've seen it only twice for now. ;) And now I just want to rewatch all the episodes from the beginning.
Now, please, Hollywood, give Martin and Benedict a break. Just a little one, a few months. I know they're both fantastic actors, but I'd very much like them to find the time to film Season 4 sometime this year, so that we could get it on time for the next new year. Also, for the characters' sake, it'd be nice if there wasn't 2 or 3 years in between each season when only 5 minutes passes in the story... Cause that's going to look strange at some point...
I love everything about it. It's clever, so perfectly written, with just the right dose of wit, smart twisted plots which don't forget emotions and great characters served by wonderful actors. There's no other show (beside White Collar) that makes me care so deeply for the characters, their relationships, and that manages to hit that cord inside me with just the right resonance. It's in the way Sherlock and Watson, despite being very different, care for each other, even though they won't admit it, and don't always know how to express it (which totally reminds me of Peter and Neal).
And that one episode didn't disappoint. I just wish I could use the Sherlock tag more often...
So they said it would be a standalone episode. They've always wanted to go back to the Victorian era, and "the hell with it, we don't need to explain, let's just go with it" (paraphrasing a dozen interviews from Moffat and Gatiss over the past two years...). So, like everyone, I was ready to enjoy a promising Victorian transposition of Sherlock. And from the first teaser, it was clear it could totally work.
And it did. It was a great pleasure to see our familiar settings morphing with the original settings of Sherlock Holmes, but without losing the ironical distance from Conan Doyle's canon that makes the show so enjoyable (Mrs Hudson's rebellion was particularly fun). I actually thought for a moment that they could totally do a sort of spin-off series set in the 19th century.
Yes but...
The first hint came right at the beginning. They did a quick recap of the previous seasons. Why do a "previously on" for a special episode that is supposed to take place a hundred years before and that the writers had been saying again and again that it was *not* in the continuity of the regular seasons?! But of course, because they're the least reliable sources when it comes to their own show, and because a standalone would have been way to simple. Of course, they had a very clever and rational explanation to go back to the Victorian era. They had all they needed in their own mythology!
And so... We were in Sherlock's Mind Palace. Which is brilliant and makes perfect sense for the show. It also allows for a great liberty in term of writing, which obviously Gatiss and Moffat enjoyed a lot.
And of course, it allowed them to bring back Moriarty, just to prove he's dead. Moriarty is the show's blessing and curse. From season 1, they got the perfect and unique nemesis. Anyone else seems pale in comparison. Andrew Scott is so good at Moriarty. Yes, Jim, I did miss you. But you did blow your brain off, so, in term of story telling, I'm glad that you're dead. But that they found a way to bring you back anyway. :)
"Dead is the new sexy"
Sherlock wouldn't deny. Nor would Neal, nor Jimmy Pritchard. Guess you're right, Jim.
It all happened within 5 minutes, just the time for the plane to turn around and land. All we learned from it is that Moriarty is, indeed, dead (personally, I didn't doubt it. I was actually mostly afraid that they would ruin everything with some stupid deus ex machina trick to bring back the too valuable Moriarty. So, for me, it's just plainly reassuring). We'll still have to wait for the real season to know what the hell is really going on.
Actually, no, that's not true. We also discovered an interesting and touching side of the relationship between Sherlock and Mycroft.
And it was also an incredible ride into Sherlock's Mind Palace and psyche.
I'm a little worried about Mycroft, though. Just when I was started to actually like him... On first watch I was a little unsettled by fat Mycroft (that seemed quite un-Mycroft to me), but on second watch, it makes sense that it's just Sherlock's brain emphasing that he had put on weight. But then, how about their bet on Mycroft's life expectancy? Has Sherlock noted Mycroft was dying?
Also, I find it interesting the way Sherlock's brain is seeing the opposite sex. We know that Sherlock willingly represses his feelings - thus ignores women - but, when so deeply high, his brain tells him it's a war he should lose? Sherlock, my friend, I think your brain is trying to tell you something...
And yet, in the end, when on the edge of a precipice, it's John who saves the day. ;)
"Why don't you two just elope?"
Ah Jim, again, so glad death didn't change you one bit. :)
There's probably a lot more to say about this episode. It's so intense and dense in plenty of little details. But I've seen it only twice for now. ;) And now I just want to rewatch all the episodes from the beginning.
Now, please, Hollywood, give Martin and Benedict a break. Just a little one, a few months. I know they're both fantastic actors, but I'd very much like them to find the time to film Season 4 sometime this year, so that we could get it on time for the next new year. Also, for the characters' sake, it'd be nice if there wasn't 2 or 3 years in between each season when only 5 minutes passes in the story... Cause that's going to look strange at some point...
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Date: 2016-01-04 04:00 pm (UTC)And yes, Hollywood, give them enough time to film Season 4 please! I mean, it's great that you want them and I wouldn't want them to lose roles... but surely there can be some arrangement made? Please?!
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Date: 2016-01-04 05:24 pm (UTC)What reassures me is that everybody seems very determined to keep going. And given the success of the show, I doubt BBC would cancel it on its own any time soon.
I guess we'll just have to be patient...
The wait is long, but I'm glad it's always worth it. I know some people didn't like S3 as much. Ppersonally I loved it, especially ep 1 and 2, maybe 3 a little less. And this special was made of awesome (and I love that they misled us about it, so it was quite a surprise). Granted, 2 years to write one episode, the least you can ask is that it'd be solid. ;) But since we can't get quantity, I'll settle for high quality.
Benedict has said that he would love to see how Sherlock and Watson grow old. I can see myself enjoying a yearly date with my favorite british duo. :)
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Date: 2016-01-05 06:34 am (UTC)Jim Moriarty
Quote of the century
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Date: 2016-01-05 10:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-05 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-05 03:57 pm (UTC)Or maybe people thought that it wasn't useful enough in term of story? I think to remember that was their issue with the wedding episode too (Which, personally, I love).
Anyway, I really thought it was a great episode. I love that they kept us in the dark regarding the true meaning of it. And I was happy to see Moriarty again (I think no other villain will ever replace him), without having to bring him back from the dead.
I am super excited about S4, too! I like the way it seems to be going - with a possible Moriarty army (which is where I wanted it to go after the S3 cliffanger).