Before watching this show, I was merely a casual fan of Sherlock Holmes, although my favorite mystery novel was The Hound of The Baskervilles. But other than that, I hadn't read much from Doyle's original works. So when I heard about this I naturally thought "Ah, it can't be as good as the original stuff." Not even the knowledge that Steven Moffat wrote it could persuade me. And then a friend finally insisted we put it on, and I've been hooked ever since. Right from the start it distinguishes itself by showing Watson as a shell-shocked veteran, depressed and alone. I knew from that moment that this show would be different from any Holmes adaptation I had seen before. And the detective himself? I've rarely seen such a dynamic and interesting character. True, he may not be that likeable, but he was so different I had to keep watching. And the mystery? I was hooked from beginning to end, even if I did guess the culprit. But everything about this show was so different and exciting, I had to keep watching. So far I've enjoyed every episode, even if 'The Blind Banker' was sub-par. But every minute I was hooked. One of the greatest things about this show is that while the mysteries are incredibly well-plotted (most of the time), they're not the main attraction. Moffat, Gattis, and Thompson know that what we really love is the characters, and that's really where the show shines. Lestrade is a very understandable person, who you couldn't help expecting to meet on an actual police force, and Mycroft is always a good presence (props to Gattis for proving he can act as well as write). While some might find their choice for Moriarty off-putting, I was genuinely frightened by just how off his rocker he was, and was glad to see them try something new. Before, Moriarty was always a mustache-twirling mastermind, and it just got bland and uninteresting. But those words can never be used to describe this show. Another great thing about is how faithful it is to Doyle's works. References, plot elements, and jokes about the stories show up all the time. It's a true sign that what Moffat and Gattis wanted was not Sherlock Holmes in a modern crime drama, but Sherlock Holmes in the modern day. It works brilliantly, and is a must-see for any fan of the books.
One of the Most Surprising Shows I've Ever Seen.
Before watching this show, I was merely a casual fan of Sherlock Holmes, although my favorite mystery novel was The Hound of The Baskervilles. But other than that, I hadn't read much from Doyle's original works. So when I heard about this I naturally thought "Ah, it can't be as good as the original stuff." Not even the knowledge that Steven Moffat wrote it could persuade me. And then a friend finally insisted we put it on, and I've been hooked ever since. Right from the start it distinguishes itself by showing Watson as a shell-shocked veteran, depressed and alone. I knew from that moment that this show would be different from any Holmes adaptation I had seen before. And the detective himself? I've rarely seen such a dynamic and interesting character. True, he may not be that likeable, but he was so different I had to keep watching. And the mystery? I was hooked from beginning to end, even if I did guess the culprit. But everything about this show was so different and exciting, I had to keep watching. So far I've enjoyed every episode, even if 'The Blind Banker' was sub-par. But every minute I was hooked. One of the greatest things about this show is that while the mysteries are incredibly well-plotted (most of the time), they're not the main attraction. Moffat, Gattis, and Thompson know that what we really love is the characters, and that's really where the show shines. Lestrade is a very understandable person, who you couldn't help expecting to meet on an actual police force, and Mycroft is always a good presence (props to Gattis for proving he can act as well as write). While some might find their choice for Moriarty off-putting, I was genuinely frightened by just how off his rocker he was, and was glad to see them try something new. Before, Moriarty was always a mustache-twirling mastermind, and it just got bland and uninteresting. But those words can never be used to describe this show. Another great thing about is how faithful it is to Doyle's works. References, plot elements, and jokes about the stories show up all the time. It's a true sign that what Moffat and Gattis wanted was not Sherlock Holmes in a modern crime drama, but Sherlock Holmes in the modern day. It works brilliantly, and is a must-see for any fan of the books.