Holmes for the Holiday

Sherlock craze: round two. Or maybe round three after the initial craze initiated by Robert Downey Jr.'s rendition of the famed sleuth. This time may not be as contagious as the Cumberbatch's Sherlock craze, but it's enough to make me buy a vest just to microscopically copy Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock's sense of fashion. Yep, this craze is generated from my unplanned CSI: Sherlock, or popularly known as Elementary, marathon in my spring break holiday. From now on Downey Jr.'s Sherlock is Exhibit A, Cumberbatch's is Exhibit B, and Elementary's is Exhibit C--or just A, B, and C. In this post, I'll just solely focus on Exhibit C, the latest depiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation, only with a new twist: in America.

It has been a busy decade for Sherlock Holmes himself. With his first re-emergence to the public in 2009, it is quickly followed by a more faithful yet modernized adaptation in 2010, and then both of them gave birth to sequels until finally the most loose and modernized adaptation arrived in 2012. (You can name the titles without me spelling it out for y'all). I have compared and contrasted Exhibit A and Exhibit B last year and now with Exhibit C in front of my eyes, I am very much compelled to compare and contrast again. Starting now!

1. Sherlock Holmes

Jonny Lee Miller stars as Sherlock Holmes in Elementary. Fun fact: he and Cumberbatch once switched roles in Danny Boyle's production of Frankenstein. Anyway, he is Sherlock Holmes that we know like in Sherlock and Sherlock Holmes however, this one was an addict and looks to be more dangerous and intimidating than the previous two. Also, Exhibit C has a more active sexual life than Exhibit B. However, this Sherlock, although resourceful with the internet and stuff, shockingly uses Bing instead of Google--an action which is done by only one person: Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker. Moreover, I feel that Exhibit C lacks the personality and charisma that are present in A and B. Or is it too soon to judge Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock? Or is it because it's Jonny Lee Miller? In Sherlock Holmes and the sequel, the detective is highly enjoyable because of Robert Downey Jr's demanding screen persona, which is the mix of traditional Sherlock traits and Tony Stark and the coolness of Downey Jr himself. In BBC's Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch managed to make Sherlock Holmes himself, because when you watch Sherlock, you cannot compare it with the movie version. Also, Cumberbatch's deep voice and his super crazy fast talk and a superb screenplay supported him. Maybe we are still expecting some surprises in Elementary's Sherlock.

2. Dr. J. Watson

I can't write John Watson because as we all know, it is Joan Watson in Elementary. Yes Watson is a woman in the US version of Sherlock Holmes. This move is a desperate move to put as much distance between this and the two adaptations that came before it. They already move the location to New York and now Watson's gender is altered. Maybe this decision is made to have Watson and Holmes in a romantic situation, a situation that would put the show on the same level with the likes of Castle and Bones. Anyway, Lucy Liu's depiction of Watson is not better than Jude Law and Martin Freeman. Once again, we may be too soon to compare or maybe the screenplay is not giving Liu's Watson enough capacity to develop. However I must say, Holmes and Watson's relationship is quite good in Elementary. No matter how smart Sherlock is, without Watson he would be lost in some cases. Holmes even influenced Watson on her deducing abilities.

3. The Show

Without the characters Holmes and Watson, this show would be just another episode of CSI: NY. It is quite shocking for me to find out that this US Sherlock TV series turned out to be just another procedural drama. But then, the cases are more than your average procedurals. Plus, the Sherlock factor definitely boost its uniqueness. Characters from Doyle have already been featured or hinted or mentioned which doesn't make this show 'stole' Britain's finest detective and put him in New York. Names such as Sebastian Moran, Irene Adler and Sherlock's nemesis himself, Moriarty have already been mentioned in the show. However I'd like to see more surprises and crazy twists in the show because sometimes it's too predictable and a bit boring to keep carry on as a 'CSI with higher IQ'. At least House half-ripped off Sherlock and made it so extremely interesting (so my friends said). I love the opening scenes by the way, it's like some machinery taken out of an OK Go music video. Also, I'd like to say that I don't want to see any more subliminal advertisement in the shows I watch. Once is enough, Microsoft Surface (see Episode 9).

Let's see how Elementary turns out in the upcoming episodes. Can't wait to see Moriarty in New York!
See you next week for A Good Day to Die Hard review along with the late Gangster Squad and Mama reviews.