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?
