A Spontaneous TV Digest

Atelier · Mon 26/07/2010 21:19:16

Did anybody see the modernisation of Sherlock Holmes last night, on BBC? It was so excellent it warrants its own thread; tension, action, outstanding adaptation, and brilliant actors. I hope it gets good reviews.

Holmes himself was well portrayed. Although a modernisation, the scriptwriters managed to keep his character zany and unusual, making for a nice clash of old and new. It wasn't without its jokes either. (For example, Holmes taking nicotine patches instead of smoking opium: "It's so hard to sustain an addiction in cities these days.")

If you missed it, or are overseas, I implore you to find some free time and watch it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t8wp0/Sherlock_A_Study_in_Pink/
(Just to warn, might take a while to load, it's an hour and a half).

What's best about it, there are two more on their way!

Edit: Watch the second episode here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tc6t2/Sherlock_The_Blind_Banker/

Or the third:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tffft/Sherlock_The_Great_Game/

GarageGothic · Mon 26/07/2010 21:35:41

Watched it and thought it was excellent. I loved the actor playing Holmes in particular. In the beginning I had the small problem that House has already done the modern-day Holmes and Watson pairing in a very similar way, but overall it works and I thought they'd updated the Study in Scarlet plotline pretty well. Looking forward to the next couple of episodes.

BTW, he didn't take nicotine patches instead of smoking opium (which Holmes never did, he was a cocaine addict), but instead of smoking tobacco - her refers to the case as a "three patch problem", whereas in one of stories it was a "three pipe problem". It is suggested during one scene that this Holmes also keeps illegal drugs in the house, though we've yet to find out which.

Calin Leafshade · Tue 27/07/2010 00:07:37

I've just finished watching it and I also think it was excellent.. I love BBC miniseries.

Bring on episodes 2 and 3

Anian · Tue 27/07/2010 16:02:18

Quote from: AtelierGames on Mon 26/07/2010 21:19:16
If you missed it, or are overseas, I implore you to find some free time and watch it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t8wp0/Sherlock_A_Study_in_Pink/
(Just to warn, might take a while to load, it's an hour and a half).

The BBC does not agree with your "overseas" audience should watch this policy...stupid country checkers.

Will try to get it some other way and since I actually have one BBC channel on my cable tv at home, this won't even be illegal.

Chicky · Tue 27/07/2010 16:39:52

Screw Sherlock and Watson, watch Moss and Roy in the new series of The IT Crowd, hilarity guaranteed!

Err, sorry. I missed the modernisation, i will check it out.

Stupot · Sat 31/07/2010 23:03:52

I just watched it. And I'm bloody glad I did. Great piece of TV.

Ali · Sun 01/08/2010 00:30:17

Yes, it was really rather good wasn't it? I didn't even mind the flashy-texty-mobile-phone-hipness. If do enjoy the stuff Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are up to at the moment. Their Dr Who episodes are consistently the darkest and funniest.

Kweepa · Sun 01/08/2010 04:13:45

Thanks for the recommendation.
Very good!

Atelier · Mon 02/08/2010 09:26:00

If anybody's interested, you can catch the new episode here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tc6t2/Sherlock_The_Blind_Banker/

In my opinion both so far have been excellent, but the second installment definitely has a much more developed plot line (and more mystery to boot). Personally I can't wait for the third, for being the last one, you don't know whether he'll meet a sticky end

.

Spoiler

The part when he's being garroted in the apartment really made it clear Sherlock is, after all, only mortal. In the previous episode he manages to dodge death numerous times.

I got a little frustrated at the scene in the sewer, when Holmes turns up heroically, and fumbles about trying to untie Watson's date. Sure it was only a drama... but in real life you'd just kick over the goddamn chair!

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Atelier · Mon 09/08/2010 11:05:54

Sorry for the double post.

But the third and final episode of Sherlock was shown on BBC last night. Catch it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tffft/Sherlock_The_Great_Game/

Spoiler

How can they be so brutal to us? That ending was cruel!

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One of BBCs best series this year. Perhaps it will be rewarded with a BAFTA?

Stupot · Mon 09/08/2010 13:22:44

Agreed. I'm not exactly what you might call a proponent of BBC television series... they're usually cheap and tacky compared to my Americanised expectation... but recently they've pulled tehir fingers out.. With 'Being Human' last year, and now Sherlock, which is just good solid television, I think Auntie has my respect again.

InCreator · Mon 09/08/2010 13:46:54

UK only

why!

straydogstrut · Mon 09/08/2010 17:43:55

Glad to see i'm not the only one who thought it was fantastic=)

Haven't had decent writing like that in ages and, for me, the lead actors played it brilliantly. I was completely shocked to find out it was only a three part thing when I sat down to watch it last night: I was expecting a whole series.

Surely they're just testing the reception to a modernisation? I mean, they have to continue after an ending like that!

Buckethead · Mon 09/08/2010 17:47:41

Quote from: InCreator on Mon 09/08/2010 13:46:54
UK only

why!

Because it's the freakin BBC they always anoy you with stuff like this

Khris · Mon 09/08/2010 18:23:40

Just go to eztv.it and search for "Sherlock". They have torrents of all three episodes in good quality or even 720p.
Will watch the first one later tonight.

Anian · Mon 09/08/2010 20:45:39

Quote from: Khris on Mon 09/08/2010 18:23:40
Just go to eztv.it and search for "Sherlock". They have torrents of all three episodes in good quality or even 720p.
Will watch the first one later tonight.

That is true...lack of seeds is another matter though.

Vince Twelve · Mon 09/08/2010 20:59:01

I have only had a problem with lack of seeds from eztv when trying to download a show from more than six months ago. And even then, I've still managed to dl most shows I've wanted to watch. Sherlock will be fine.

On a note completely unrelated to "downloading television from the internet in regions where you're not supposed to": The first two episodes of Sherlock were great. Haven't watched the third one yet, but will do so soon. I had no idea that this was only going to be a three episode gig! Are they hoping to be popular enough to get an order for more? I thought I had just found a new addition to my regular watching schedule! :'(

Atelier · Mon 09/08/2010 21:17:40

There definitely won't be any more for this year Vince $:-\$ But given the reception from critics, it's highly likely there'll be a second series come Summer 2011!

Spoiler

Although, that all depends on how explosive that explosive ending really was =3.

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Calin Leafshade · Mon 09/08/2010 21:57:37

I demand you all assist we honest license payers financially!

demand i tells ya!

Ali · Mon 09/08/2010 23:19:00

Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 09/08/2010 20:59:01
I had no idea that this was only going to be a three episode gig! Are they hoping to be popular enough to get an order for more? I thought I had just found a new addition to my regular watching schedule! :'(

Three is pretty short, but recent financial catastrophes have meant drama budgets have been slashed, and they were already low in the UK relative to the US.

Also remember that UK seasons (or series-es-es-es as we call them) are a lot shorter than US ones, usually 6, 8 or I think sometimes 12 episodes.

But we make up for this in repression and the understanding of irony.