When it comes to keeping the passion of Sherlock Holmes alive, then there is one name that tops all lists; The Baker Street Babes. Formed from a mutual love of the BBC adaptation of Sherlock, the ladies have stormed the fandom with their passionate, intellectual and hilarious dedication to the super detective. Their stellar work does not go unnoticed and now the Babes of Baker Street have a legion of fans, run conventions, create incredible podcasts and ensure that the love for these stories doesn't wane.
I was lucky enough to catch a few words from Kristina Manente, one of the founders of the team to see why their work is so vital.
I tell this story so often these days, I wish it was more exciting. Basically, I made a few friends through our mutual appreciation of BBC’s Sherlock. I made a twitter list and noticed they were all female, so I named it Baker Street Babes, because the name was amusing to me. One of them commented that it sounded like a group name and I had been thinking of starting a podcast for a while, so I took that opening. And then space monkeys attacked.
What intrigues you most as about Holmes?
How his brain works. It’s the question every adaptation and pastiche writer and fanfic author tries to explain and explore. How can someone be so brilliant and logical and rational? He’s a mystery. We don’t know a huge amount about him, just what Watson reveals in the original stories. Every adaptation of Holmes has tried to uncover and discover more and more about him. We’re all obsessed with him as a character, we want to know more. I think that’s great. I’d like his brain occasionally, maybe just for use a few days of the week. I suspect it’d be helpful but it’d be too much all the time. Hrm, that sounded slightly creepy.
So far, the website has had a stellar year, what’s been a highlight?
Oof, so many things, but I’d be lying if it wasn’t thrilling and humbling to be invited to early screenings of Sherlock Series 3. You feel a bit naughty getting to see them first and it’s always so exciting, especially when you can chat/gush to the cast and crew afterwards. It’s a double edged sword though because then you can’t say anything to anyone else risk the BBC throwing you in a basement for the rest of your life.
I don’t think enough people know about the Old Russian series with Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin. It aired in the 80s and is just so much fun and really really well done. It’s very obvious it’s Russia and not England, but that adds to the charm. Their Reichenbach is one of the most heart wrenching portrayals of the event. I can’t recommend it enough and I haven’t even seen all the episodes! I haven’t had a chance to watch the New Russian series that’s out staring Igor Petrenko and the late Adrei Panin, but I hear it’s also very good, though more Ritchie-esque and darker.
How important is the Sherlock fandom?
Incredibly, I think. It’s the new surge in the Holmes world, the new wave of interest and fanaticism. We’re in a Holmesian Renaissance at the moment and it’s lovely. The interest in the stories and the world has had a boom in the past four years since the RDJ movie came out swiftly followed by Sherlock Series 1, and it hasn’t let up. I think the Sherlock fandom has been the largest and most vocal of the new resurgence, and I think that’s great. There’s this stigma that if you’re really enthusiastic about something, you should be quiet about it, and that’s just wrong. It’s shaming of the nerd and geek culture. I think with the birth and rapid growth of social media, that stigma has been lifted a great deal and fandom in general is becoming a more acceptable part of how people enjoy their media. I know many wish that maybe they were left in the shadows of the internet, but people in general are being more open about what they enjoy and I really think they should be proud of that and feel comfortable to be proud of that. I know it’s easier said than done of course, but the Sherlock fandom in particular is so intelligent and well spoken (they freaking love Sherlock Holmes for pity’s sake, of COURSE they’re intelligent!), that I don’t think they should be embarrassed. I’ve never seen a more creative fandom either, the amazing art, fiction, videos, gifs, books, and projects they come out with is extraordinary. I’m very proud to be a part of it.
He’s just such an interesting character. He’s an aloof genius and his relationship with Watson… those are really the two big things driving the stories, I feel. That relationship, however you personally interpret it, is the heart and soul of those stories and what has really kept the fanbase and the legacy going. That and the adventures. Everyone wants to have adventures!
If you could be any character on any Sherlock show or film, who would it be?
I want to be a client I think, because I’d get the best of both worlds. I’d be prominent enough to be important for at least the episode/story and get to chortle around with Holmes and Watson, and maybe just get to have an adventure. It will also be fun to be someone like Kitty Winter, rawr!
What version of Sherlock is your favourite?
I am quite loyal to BBC’s Sherlock, it’s where all of this came from, how I met my friends, and it’s still one of the only shows in the world I get heart palpitations from.
What’s next for Sherlock, in all aspects?
The eternal question. The third RDJ movie is planned and they’re working on scripts right now, Elementary seasons 2 is still airing and I think they’ve been re-commissioned, and we’ll find out if Moriarty is actually alive in seven years. Roughly. And who knows what else will pop up!
Thank you very much for your time!
Make sure you check out The Baker Street Babes!