This wildly amusing modern take on characters of Sir Arthur Canon Doyle offers impeccably friendly pastiche. The fact that there are only three and a half hours long episode here is a little sad but as successful as it has been there probably be much more. Frankly I would be surprised if exceptional wind up becoming a staple of TV distribution. First Benedict Cumberbatch (Yes, that's his real name) is the great Holmes ever, arrogant and nice but quite modern. I would put this guy on an equal footing with Jeremy Brett. Martin Freeman, soon Bilbo Baggins, is also a Watson wonderfully athletic, insecurity and exasperated. Its history back, implying perhaps the most interesting take on the character never post-traumatic stress. There are a lot of recognizable faces, including Rupert Graves as Lestrade and a particularly nice by Mark Gatiss: Holmes legendary brother Mycroft.
It is useful that the rest of the production is of high quality as well. The suspense is palpable throughout, action is especially well-run and adventures are tightly written. People who tried their hand to add to the Holmes mythology have always more right than the characters. The adventures of involved Doyle of stuff pretty wild, including the Pygmies of reptiles and, more importantly venomous, dogs from hell, the constant threat to the British of characters which is much more difficult to characterize (and idealize) these days.
As fun as for example neither Guy Ritchies thoroughly entertaining Sherlock Holmes (2009) was a moment of credibility, choosing instead to rely on the supernatural ability of audiences to accept as an action hero and a gifted observer of Sherlock. This Holmes is almost completely credible and almost swaggering without losing much lost in his own mind from Holmes character in the process. Extras include an intake interview series, episode 2 comments here and pilot episode.
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