I'm sure this whole topic has been pretty much exhausted by now, but hey. Here goes nothing.
This year we've had two television shows, one from either side of the Atlantic. In the blue corner, representing tradition, story and people who want to write gay slash fiction, we have Sherlock. In the red corner, representing pandering to audience expectations, Hollywood values of making everything bigger and more American, and strict heterosexuality in their fanfiction, it's Elementary. And which is better?
There's only one way to find out.
And having watched them both, I can say they both hit a well-deserved tie. I can hear people sharpening their pitchforks already, so allow me to explain:
First off, the storylines. I love Sherlock because it sticks pretty rigidly to the Conan Doyle stories, which means anyone familiar with the books can settle into the series and enjoy it as a faithful adaptation of Doyle's works. This is where I take umbrage with Elementary: I suppose the American audience is less familiar with Conan Doyle's works, but then what better way to get them interested than by turning them into episodes of this hot new TV show? But no, they decided to go with seemingly random plots, with nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle or in fact anything remotely like it. They may as well have dubbed it another CSI programme.
That, however, is the only fault I can find with it. Lucy Liu and Johnny Lee Miller work well together, the typical Homes/Watson relationship made a little softer but also a little more fun. It's Homes and Watson, laid back. Almost, in fact, the complete opposite to Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Their relationship throughout the six episodes (so far) of Sherlock is reminiscent of Guy Ritchie's own imagining in his 2009 period movie. The two play off each other, antagonising each other and winding each other up in what may well be a very British show of true friendship. They act more like an old married couple than two friends, but it's this prickly relationship which makes it work so well.
Onto the characters themselves, and what a stark contrast they provide. Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock is frantic, full of nervous energy, he never sleeps and he has a way of asking the right questions to solve the case. Benedict Cumberbatch, on the other hand, is far more reserved, observant. He is watchful, for the most part, but you always get the feeling that he is quite ready to swing into action at a moment's notice. Benedict's Sherlock feels effortless, relaxed, like a Victorian gentleman, but when his big breakthrough comes along he springs, unleashing all the energy he has kept reserved for the occasion. Which brings me to point number two: Benedict's Sherlock is less emotional, less considerate. He is so keen to show off his deductive powers that he often forgets he is talking about real people. Perhaps it's because it's too early in the show (CBS's Elementary is reported to have a 22-episode run) but Miller's Sherlock doesn't have that same cockiness. He doesn't swagger around as though he knows he's the smartest person in the room, and I think the increased presence of the police has something to do with this.
Enter Aidan Quinn as Captain Gregson, New York's counterpart to DI Lestrade. In Elementary we see that staple of American crime dramas, the interview room, and Gregson constantly allows Sherlock in with him to talk to suspects, and even grants him the time to talk to them alone. But he is quick to reign in Sherlock if he is asking the wrong questions, or if he is saying the wrong things. Sherlock's DI Lestrade acts rather more as a catalyst to the adventures; he calls in Sherlock when he is needed, often begrudgingly, he fights with him and often (as in The Hounds of Baskerville) he simply comes along to wind him up. But he proves himself a capable inspector, and there's a hesitant respect between himself and Sherlock. They're friends deep down, but they're damned if they're gonna show it. Rupert Graves plays the snarky, streetwise Lestrade well in the show, showing his evolution as a character from the policeman in need of help to Sherlock's friend in the final episode of the second series. Of course this ends up being a weakness, as he is one of the men targeted by the assassins in The Reichenbach Fall.
Of course, where would any Sherlock be without their Watson to back them up? In one episode of Elementary Lucy Liu's Joan Watson even manages to save Sherlock's life, deducing that a text from his phone isn't actually from him but is from the killer. I think Watson is one thing Elementary did better than Sherlock: I get the feeling with Martin Freeman that he never much grows as a character, the two series focus more on Sherlock's development. It's almost as if they deal with Watson in the first episode, throwing off his psychosomatic limp and having him befriend Holmes so they can set off and solve crimes together. Joan Watson, on the other hand, makes a point to learn from Sherlock as he does from her; she follows her gut more often, acts on hunches, and in many cases helps Sherlock crack the case. With Martin Freeman I get the feeling he's there, once again, as Homes's biographer. He takes part in the cases, but the main focus is on the man actually solving them. On the other hand, the friendship between the two feels wholly real and believable, and their bickering is typical of so many friendships. It's one of the things I miss from Elementary; Lucy Liu is more caring, actually trying to get to know Holmes, and it works, just not on the same level. There's no alpha male conflict, no antler-bashing between the two of them, and it feels a little safe sometimes.
Anyway, Sherlock Holmes. In the world of television you've got two to choose from, and they're both very interesting, very good characters, with the shows to back them up. So they'll call this one a draw and back off for now. But they'll have their final confrontation someday, their own Reichenbach, and only one will return alive...
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