Sherlock S1 (2010) Review

 

Sherlock S1 (2010)

Sherlock follows Sherlock Holmes as he unravels mysteries all over London with his reluctant, new flatmate, Dr. John Watson, in this contemporary take on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is perhaps the only show I’ve ever watched multiple times and that’s due in part to it’s format and pure excellence in storytelling and characters. In this take, John Watson is an war vet who unknowingly seeks excitement in his mundane life. And he gets that in high-functioning sociopath and detective Sherlock Holmes, who manages to be royal pain in the ass to everyone but John. That’s due in part to Sherlock being a cocky, arrogant, & often times selfish know-it-all who seemingly functions on a completely different plain of existence than all of humanity. His science in deductive reasoning makes him an excellently driven detective and I love the way that the show shows his thoughts & internal monologues to give us a glimpse into his thousand-mph mind. 

As I mentioned before too, its 3 episode format is done really well, with each nearly hour and a half episode seeming like a movie in itself, where all of the cases capture their own tones and follow a modernized version of classic A.C.D. stories, but with the intelligence to connect them all with the link of one man—Sherlock’s ultimate foil, Jim Moriarty. Having all 3 episodes cover various unrelated cases, but connecting them to him makes his reveal at the end of the season even better.

The cast is also a treat, featuring Rupert Graves, Mark Gatiss, Andrew Scott, Martin Freeman, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch and Freeman’s energy and relationship drive this show with his Watson being the level-headed realist that Sherlock needs. Benedict as Holmes is also too perfect with his deadpan, wittiness highlighting his superior intelligent and ability to solve anything presented in front of him. And I gotta say, though brief, Andrew Scott is devilishly great as Moriarty, seemingly being the only one to match him in smarts.

Sherlock is a classic story, retold for the modern world but expertly adjusted so that the stories maintain all the mystery and suspense as the works they’re based upon.

9.4/10