Posting Everyday in January Post
Jan. 20th, 2014 05:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baudownWatched the first episode of Sherlock last night. I'd managed to stay spoiler free, and still haven't read any reviews or fan reactions, so I imagine thoughts similar to mine have already been expressed by many, many others, and probably much more incisively. But I'm going to express them, briefly, anyway.
Of the seven episodes I've seen, this was probably my least favorite. Which is not to say that there wasn't plenty to enjoy, or that the show isn't still heads and shoulders above most of what's on television in terms of its quality. Still, I was slightly underwhelmed.
One issue is: I was left feeling a bit conflicted regarding the multiple depictions of the Fall. I mean, I loved seeing them, and they were beautifully shot, and clever. But I do feel like the writers were kind of giving with one hand, and taking away with the other. It was like being told, "Here you are, fans, this is what you wanted. But by the way, all of your wild speculation puts you in the category of Anderson, a disliked character who is now a little nuts. And also, the characters you love -- Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, and most of all, John, don't care about how it happened, unlike you." I felt a bit...toyed with, I guess.
I was also very disappointed in the climactic car/carriage scene. I certainly think it's in character for Sherlock to manipulate John into expressing his feelings, but 1) there was really no tension as to whether or not Sherlock knew how to stop that bomb from exploding; and, more importantly, 2) I think the laughter by Sherlock once his manipulation was successful was OOC. Sherlock has been careless with John's feelings, rude, neglectful, etc., but this was something else entirely. He came off as a nasty jerk -- which yeah, he often is, but it's usually accompanied by something charming. This really lacked charm for me.
--
However, I do like that Sherlock is depicted as acknowledging his need for John's friendship -- both consciously, in his conversation with Mycroft about loneliness, as well in turning to Molly as a proxy, and unconsciously, in his responses to a non-present John.
I dug all the interaction with Mycroft. Playing Operation!! And deductions!! And talking about their childhood!! Yay, and more, please!!
The Holmes parents -- not sure about this. I like the joke of their being ordinary, and especially the call from Mycroft with Les Mis in the background. But I'm not sure if the joke is worth what seemed like a lack of verisimilitude to me.
Greg's hug -- another yay.
Martin Freeman's performance in the scene where he first sees Sherlock -- touching and wonderful. That man's voice breaks better than anyone's.
Mary -- I wasn't looking forward to her, since I'm all about the John/Sherlock lurve, but surprisingly, I liked her. Although, maybe I like her because she's a little too perfect: code-breaking, digging Sherlock, encouraging John to see him, displaying no jealousy about their relationship.
The case -- um, what case?
This may sound like I really disliked the episode, which isn't true. I just wanted more, and maybe I was expecting too much. I'm hoping that some of what happened in this ep was there to lay the groundwork for future developments.
What did you think?
Of the seven episodes I've seen, this was probably my least favorite. Which is not to say that there wasn't plenty to enjoy, or that the show isn't still heads and shoulders above most of what's on television in terms of its quality. Still, I was slightly underwhelmed.
One issue is: I was left feeling a bit conflicted regarding the multiple depictions of the Fall. I mean, I loved seeing them, and they were beautifully shot, and clever. But I do feel like the writers were kind of giving with one hand, and taking away with the other. It was like being told, "Here you are, fans, this is what you wanted. But by the way, all of your wild speculation puts you in the category of Anderson, a disliked character who is now a little nuts. And also, the characters you love -- Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, and most of all, John, don't care about how it happened, unlike you." I felt a bit...toyed with, I guess.
I was also very disappointed in the climactic car/carriage scene. I certainly think it's in character for Sherlock to manipulate John into expressing his feelings, but 1) there was really no tension as to whether or not Sherlock knew how to stop that bomb from exploding; and, more importantly, 2) I think the laughter by Sherlock once his manipulation was successful was OOC. Sherlock has been careless with John's feelings, rude, neglectful, etc., but this was something else entirely. He came off as a nasty jerk -- which yeah, he often is, but it's usually accompanied by something charming. This really lacked charm for me.
--
However, I do like that Sherlock is depicted as acknowledging his need for John's friendship -- both consciously, in his conversation with Mycroft about loneliness, as well in turning to Molly as a proxy, and unconsciously, in his responses to a non-present John.
I dug all the interaction with Mycroft. Playing Operation!! And deductions!! And talking about their childhood!! Yay, and more, please!!
The Holmes parents -- not sure about this. I like the joke of their being ordinary, and especially the call from Mycroft with Les Mis in the background. But I'm not sure if the joke is worth what seemed like a lack of verisimilitude to me.
Greg's hug -- another yay.
Martin Freeman's performance in the scene where he first sees Sherlock -- touching and wonderful. That man's voice breaks better than anyone's.
Mary -- I wasn't looking forward to her, since I'm all about the John/Sherlock lurve, but surprisingly, I liked her. Although, maybe I like her because she's a little too perfect: code-breaking, digging Sherlock, encouraging John to see him, displaying no jealousy about their relationship.
The case -- um, what case?
This may sound like I really disliked the episode, which isn't true. I just wanted more, and maybe I was expecting too much. I'm hoping that some of what happened in this ep was there to lay the groundwork for future developments.
What did you think?
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no subject
Date: 2014-01-21 05:27 am (UTC)But more than anything, I'm just happy to see it finally back. More to follow...
no subject
Date: 2014-01-25 08:20 pm (UTC)I have to say that I enjoyed it with a couple of exceptions.
The things I loved are easiest:
Mycroft telling Sherlock that the holiday was over and expounding about learning Serbian
Sherlock not being able to conceive that John could have a life without him
John’s face/reaction when he first sees Sherlock – amazing acting
Mary – I liked Mary, although the number of times ‘Liar’ came up in the captions is ominous
John being in peril – nothing brings the good out in Sherlock like John in jeopardy
Using Guy Fawkes Night and both the history and the popular culture around it as part of the plot – it was a nice acknowledgement of the inherent Britishness of Sherlock
Lestrade saying ‘you bastard’ – perfect reaction
Sherlock’s parents – I really enjoyed their ‘apparent’ ordinariness, and I loved that they were played by Benedict Cumberbatch’s real parents
Sherlock seconding Molly and then referring to her unconsciously as John – sigh
Sherlock and Mycroft’s conversation about the hat while playing Operation – brilliant scene
The mysterious person at the end watching the scene of Sherlock dragging John from the bonfire on a continuous loop – I like the idea that there is a greater game afoot.
Things I was okay about:
The fake outs of what happened when Sherlock fell/jumped/didn’t jump...whatever off St Barts. My first reaction as oh hell, they’re taking the piss out of the fans, in the same way as I started to get grumpy with SPN for doing with the whole fanfiction meta storyline. However, the more I thought about it, the more I think that it’s exactly what half of London would be doing as soon as they knew Sherlock was alive, so why not have some of the people who would want Sherlock’s death not to be true – like Anderson – come up with a series of outlandish scenarios. The production team know that the viewers all know Sherlock isn’t dead, so I saw it more as a gentle tease rather than fan mocking – and also an acknowledgement that it’s exactly that kind of speculation that has kept the series in people’s minds for the two years it has been off the air.
I should also say that I knew before starting that the answer to the riddle of how Sherlock survived wouldn’t be answered in that episode, so perhaps that’s another reason I didn’t mind the fake outs.
Things I felt short changed over…
Really just the one – the pay off in the Tube carriage with the bomb. It was a nice touch to use something as British as the Tube and a station that had never been put into service, but I agree that really didn’t like the way Sherlock seemed so cavalier with John’s feelings. And I didn’t like the white out cut, straight to Sherlock spinning Anderson another ‘how I did it’ tale. (Although I did like Anderson’s little meltdown) But yeah, that scene in the Tube carriage was the one that bugged me – if I’d read it in a fanfic, I’d have thought it was a first draft that still needed a lot of thinking through and polishing to get the scene that the story deserved.
So yeah, lots I loved, stuff I was fine about, and one thing that really jarred for me. But as I think we both agree, still hands down, so much more than most of the stuff that’s on TV. And to be honest, after waiting two years, I don’t think anything was ever going to live up to everyone’s expectations.
However, we have episode two tomorrow, which a friend of mine here who is obsessed with British TV and has already seen it (bad girl…) says is the best written piece of TV drama she’s seen in years – so that’s quite the recommendation. I can’t wait to see if she’s right.
Sorry, hon, I told you I was long winded! *g*
no subject
Date: 2014-01-26 01:41 pm (UTC)Mary -- liar. I know!!! Fascinating! And now I keep thinking of her as the Mary in The Progress of Sherlock Holmes. Have you read it, btw? I know it's a fandom classic, but I didn't read it until a few months ago, and wow.
Guy Fawkes -- Must admit, I didn't get the "guy" references to until the bonfire. American -- what can I say?
I actually didn't mind not having the Fall explained definitively. It was more the feeling of being poked at that bothered me, although I think that feeling has faded a bit after my initial viewing.
I've also been told that episode 2 is fabulous. I can't wait for tonight! It's been so hard to stay spoiler-free.