By Helen Fulton
So over the pond in America, a little known channel named CBS is broadcasting a popular crime drama about an incredibly smart detective who is solving crimes with his ex-surgeon assistant and the NYPD. Sounds like any other cop show right? WRONG! This is the amazing series of "Elementary" based on the characters Sherlock Holmes and Joan (yeah you saw that right) Watson.
I say based, some of the deeper storylines do revolve around some of the elements of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original books, but mostly the story differs. For example, and this is a pretty obvious point, it is not set in London. Many fans I know don't like the series simply because it strays away from the original location. It would be like Harry Potter being set in America instead of in England. That would definitely not work, however, Sherlock Holmes in America seems to work.
So over the pond in America, a little known channel named CBS is broadcasting a popular crime drama about an incredibly smart detective who is solving crimes with his ex-surgeon assistant and the NYPD. Sounds like any other cop show right? WRONG! This is the amazing series of "Elementary" based on the characters Sherlock Holmes and Joan (yeah you saw that right) Watson.
I say based, some of the deeper storylines do revolve around some of the elements of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original books, but mostly the story differs. For example, and this is a pretty obvious point, it is not set in London. Many fans I know don't like the series simply because it strays away from the original location. It would be like Harry Potter being set in America instead of in England. That would definitely not work, however, Sherlock Holmes in America seems to work.
It makes it stand out from the other Sherlock Holmes TV and film re-makes (Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jnr inTV's "Sherlock" and Cinema's "Sherlock Holmes" respectively) in that it brings a whole different look to Holmes, in a new area, which allows the writers to do so much more with it. Sherlock Holmes is a classic character, who is very traditional and "sticks to the script", but with this series, it has the opportunity to branch out into a whole new entity. It has taken something so common as a cop drama, and transformed it into this witty, smart and fantastic 24-part series, with a deeper storyline.
What I like to call the "Elephant in the room" is that Joan Watson is, well...a woman. Played by Lucy Liu, she transforms the John Watson we all know, an ex-military doctor, into Joan Watson, an ex-surgeon turned sobriety "companion" for Sherlock. What makes her character very interesting is that she isn't the traditional sidekick. Where writers want their female sidekicks to be wholly dependent on their lead MALE character, or being a "strong, independent woman" who "don't need no man!", they make Watson a very down-to-earth, average woman.
It's so good to finally see a female character who can think for herself and defend herself, but at the same time have the flaws and problems of a human being. She is not some piece of arm candy for the series, she has her part to play and is as important as the lead. It's refreshing to see on such a high platform at the "Sherlock Holmes" series.
It's so good to finally see a female character who can think for herself and defend herself, but at the same time have the flaws and problems of a human being. She is not some piece of arm candy for the series, she has her part to play and is as important as the lead. It's refreshing to see on such a high platform at the "Sherlock Holmes" series.
She draws all the best points about the original John Watson: his pride in what he is now doing, his friendship with Sherlock (purely platonic, sorry fangirls), his medical history, his strength in troubling situations, and the ability to put up with Sherlock's weird ramblings. I think it's good that they didn't stray too far from the medical background of Watson because that is the background of the original character. It's enough that you've changed the gender of the supporting character, but to change their back story too is another thing. I know that in the original, John Watson is an ex-military doctor, but you need to make it more modern, and so a surgeon seemed like the next best thing.
Moving onto the main man, Johnny Lee Miller is, quite frankly, an amazing actor. He plays such a huge role in a country that probably isn't as Sherlock mad as we are, but does it with such skill that it's like he was born to play that role. I think it was wise they chose a British actor to play Holmes, rather than giving the role to an American who pretends to be British. (No offence Robert Downey Jnr) With the TV series, you need someone who can keep up the British elements of the characters for a prolonged period of time, so who better than a Brit?
Miller brings the modern day Holmes back, but the difference is that you get a whole different angle to Sherlock, compared to Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal. Miller's version of Sherlock shows a deeper understanding into his drug problems, which is little touched on in the British version. You learn why he turned to drugs, how he started to get sober, and how his relationship with Watson develops. He adds an edge to Holmes that the other actors don't. He makes this Holmes seem "cool", with the tattoos, the snappy dress sense...and his openness about his sexual experiences, which is very different to the others. Prime comparison here of Cumberbatch's interpretation is isn't emotionally available at all (much to the shame of Molly)
Miller brings the modern day Holmes back, but the difference is that you get a whole different angle to Sherlock, compared to Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal. Miller's version of Sherlock shows a deeper understanding into his drug problems, which is little touched on in the British version. You learn why he turned to drugs, how he started to get sober, and how his relationship with Watson develops. He adds an edge to Holmes that the other actors don't. He makes this Holmes seem "cool", with the tattoos, the snappy dress sense...and his openness about his sexual experiences, which is very different to the others. Prime comparison here of Cumberbatch's interpretation is isn't emotionally available at all (much to the shame of Molly)
Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu are supported by an amazing group of actors. At this point you step right into the middle of a stereotypical cop drama from America. You have Captain Toby Gregson, (played by Aidan Quinn), and Detective Marcus Bell (Jon Michael Hill). I feel like these two characters embody the best bits of Lestrade from the TV series version of Sherlock Holmes. They are both higher ranked than Holmes, but seem to equal it out when it comes to solving crimes. These guys know Sherlock is their best chance of helping them solve their cases, so they let him do his thing, but don't mistake that as them being pushovers. They provide Sherlock with a team of people he can rely on and trust, much different to the other series'.
So...I bet you're wondering what I've forgotten to mention about this series, and if you aren't thinking that, you should be. One of the big elements of this series, in fact with every Sherlock series spin-off I've seen, has one major character that is a constant. Yes, I am talking about the big cheese that is Moriarty (cue dramatic music)...
Much like the rest of the series, Moriarty is not what you can expect. I won't be giving too much away in case you haven't seen the series, but all I can say is...brace yourself for the mother of all Moriarty portrayals. I mean I actually had to pause the TV just to get over what had just happened...yeah it's that big!
But that is all I have to say on the matter. If you want to want to find out what happens, watch the series....or Wikipedia it....but the series is way more interesting.
Much like the rest of the series, Moriarty is not what you can expect. I won't be giving too much away in case you haven't seen the series, but all I can say is...brace yourself for the mother of all Moriarty portrayals. I mean I actually had to pause the TV just to get over what had just happened...yeah it's that big!
But that is all I have to say on the matter. If you want to want to find out what happens, watch the series....or Wikipedia it....but the series is way more interesting.
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