TV Blog: Sherlock

Blog by Chris Lindsay | 09 Aug 2010

“Elementary, my dear Watson!” I thought I'd better get the clichés out the way as you'll find precious little staid in the BBC's superb modernisation of Sherlock. By setting the story in the present day, Doctor Who writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have reclaimed Conan Doyle's hero from the gaslight and fog, stripping Holmes of the trappings of historical drama and presenting the stories for what they were in their day – clever, ballsy adventures.

Just as in the books, the series is viewed through the eyes of Afghanistan war veteran Doctor Watson who begins lodging with freelance “consulting detective” Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, played to Asperger's tinged perfection by Benedict Cumberbatch, is sexy, charming yet massively detached – an addict to his own genius and need for adventure. Martin Freeman is excellent as Watson – subverting Tim-from-The-Office expectations by playing a quiet yet credible action hero. Cleverly sidestepping questions about the duo's sexuality by cheekily facing it head on, it pairs them as an odd couple, not of equals, but who need each other to negotiate the world.

Well balanced between intricate mysteries, buddy-movie banter and some stylish thrills, two weeks in the show has manged to pull off the rare act of having its second episode be even better than its first. My only gripe is the use of on screen graphics to illustrate Holmes' deductions but as these are being lauded in other circles, it’s perhaps just the clever clogs in me who likes to pretend I worked things out myself that is offended here. With a third adventure due to broadcast, it doesn't take a genius to deduct that Sherlock will be a mainstay on our screens for the foreseeable future.

Catch the whole series on the BBC iplayer.