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rusty_armourI was afraid that the second episode of Sherlock might not live up to the first one, but I need not have worried. In fact, I think the mystery and overall plot was even more intricate and complex than the one from "A Study in Pink". It certainly took me a lot longer to identify the canon references. Actually, I'm sure I didn't get all of them and the assumptions I've made could very possibly be wrong.
When the first cypher appeared, along with the first body, I found myself going back and forth between The Sign of Four and "The Empty House". I thought The Sign of Four might be a possibility as a "sign" was left with Major Sholto's body, and Jonathan Small scaled up the side of Pondicherry Lodge after Tonga throws down a rope. And "The Empty House" crossed my mind because Ronald Adair is found shot in his room when the door was locked from the inside. Oh, and Sherlock's university friend is named Sebastian, which made me think of Colonel Sebastian Moran.
After we hear Soon Lin Yao's story about her connections to the Black Locust, I was sure the writer was referring to "The Dancing Men" because Elsie Cubitt flees from America to England to escape the mob connections of her family. Then, like Soo Lin Yao, she begins to find coded messages and knows that her past has caught up with her. Finally, when I learned that the cipher involved numbers and the key was a particular book, I decided that we were dealing with The Valley of Fear. Not only that, but we learn at the end of "The Blind Banker" that Moriarty was behind the smuggling operation. Well...I'm beginning to suspect that "The Blind Banker" involved elements from more than one Conan Doyle work and that I probably didn't catch them all.
While all of these mental gymnastics on my part might seem boring, frustrating or, even, maddening, I had fun trying to work out the references. Thanks to
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puckrobin, I was able to listen to a great interview with Mark Gatiss in which he explains that the Basil Rathbone films (which also borrowed elements from canon) were one of the inspirations for Sherlock. Gatiss cited The Pearl of Death as an example, for the movie takes part of its plot from "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons". Of course, fans of Rathbone have a much easier job working out the canon references as any material taken from Conan Doyle is mentioned in the opening credits of each film. *g* Aside from specific references to certain novels and short stories, I found it interesting to watch the continuing evolution of Sherlock and John's friendship. I think it's great that the writers of Sherlock aren't holding back when it comes to the negative traits of Holmes's personality. We see the level of his selfishness as he takes off with Raz and allows John to be arrested. He also keeps John up all night when John starts his new job the next day. In typical Watson fashion, John manages to charm his boss by asking her out on a date. Of course, Sherlock crashes the date and doesn't seem to understand why John would want to romance Sarah when they should be working on the case. I'm wondering if Sarah is going to become the friend who has to take care of John's patients when there's a case -- assuming he hasn't been fired after their disastrous date!
I got a kick out of seeing another one of Holmes's contacts in the form of the graffiti artist. My first thought when I saw Raz was that he might be Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars. In a way, he serves the same function as the eyes and ears of London's street culture. He's able to track down the kind of spray paint that is being used in the ciphers, saving Sherlock some valuable time and energy. It was also cool to see Sherlock displaying his fighting skills. Unless I missed something, I don't think we ever learn the identity of the assailant that shows up at Baker Street. I wonder if he was someone Moriarty sent, or if this mystery assailant is like Kato in A Shot in the Dark and is someone Sherlock hired to keep his fighting skills sharp!
I'm sure there's much more I could say, but I'm getting hungry and people have probably fallen asleep. Besides, I should save some material for the next episode. *g*
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Date: 2010-08-03 12:19 am (UTC)I didn't enjoy this one much because of my embarrassment squick. I had to skip the asking for a loan part, and have paused just before Sarah goes to see what's causing the backlog. I probably won't be able to watch Sherlock crashing the date. Second hand embarrassment for the lose!
The bit attempting to show China town as menacing and mysterious just made me laugh. I kept getting flashes of our version—crowds of families with tiny tiny toddlers and smells and plastic doodads! Not so much with the menace!
So, not my cup of tea as it were,but hopefully the next one will be more to my very specific tastes. At least it would be good if I don't have to skip half of it! Not the episode's fault to be fair. I'm a freak! I loved the first one enough to stick around. I'm going to attempt to watch the rest now, probably though my fingers.
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Date: 2010-08-03 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 02:43 am (UTC)I'm glad you like the background. I was afraid I might have bored people to death with it. Of course, it's possible that I have bored people to death and just haven't realized it yet. *g*
Of course I read the books, but I haven't seen much in the way of filmed versions. You'll have to show me your very favourite versions some time.
You might wish you hadn't said that... *g* If you're really interested then I'd be very happy to
subject you toshare my favourite versions with you. Oooooh! We could have ourselves a Holmes marathon! :-) *Tries to contain her giddiness and fails miserably*I didn't enjoy this one much because of my embarrassment squick. I had to skip the asking for a loan part, and have paused just before Sarah goes to see what's causing the backlog. I probably won't be able to watch Sherlock crashing the date. Second hand embarrassment for the lose!
Oh, no! I hadn't even considered your embarrassment squick! I'll admit that I cringed a tiny bit at a couple of parts, but it wasn't a problem for me beyond that. I didn't really have a problem with the loan part because Sherlock didn't look particularly surprised or put out. He acted as if it were a perfectly natural question to ask and didn't have a problem with it. There were a couple of awkward moments with the date, but I think I was okay with it, once again, because Sarah didn't seem particularly put out or bothered. The same thing goes for the patient backlog. However, I'm not entirely immune to the embarrassment squick. I bought a copy of The Worst Week of My Life (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401995/) and couldn't get through the first episode because the awkward embarrassment quotient was so high -- and this is a series starring Ben Miller!
The bit attempting to show China town as menacing and mysterious just made me laugh. I kept getting flashes of our version—crowds of families with tiny tiny toddlers and smells and plastic doodads! Not so much with the menace!
Were they trying to show Chinatown as menacing? Or do you mean in terms of the characters? Maybe I didn't see it as menacing because I've been through part of London's Chinatown before. Of course, when you think of our own Chinatown, I can see why you'd find this idea funny.
So, not my cup of tea as it were, but hopefully the next one will be more to my very specific tastes. At least it would be good if I don't have to skip half of it! Not the episode's fault to be fair. I'm a freak! I loved the first one enough to stick around.
I'm sorry this was the case. However, you can't help having an embarrassment squick. Besides, the fast forward button was designed to skip past the parts of a program we don't want to see. If you end up getting the DVD, you'll be able to skip whole scenes easily. *g* Anywaaaaaay, I hope the next episode is a more enjoyable experience for you.
I'm going to attempt to watch the rest now, probably though my fingers.
Well, don't do anything that's going to upset you. Considering the kind of ratings the show is getting, I think they'll be okay if you miss an episode. ;-)
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Date: 2010-08-03 03:23 am (UTC)Yay for Holmes marathon! The series has renewed my giddiness toward Holmes and Watson in general! I finally finished watching and I did enjoy the look of horror on Holmes face when he realized that John and Sarah had been kidnapped. I'm such a pushover for the angst.
"and this is a series starring Ben Miller!" Wow! Remind me never to watch it! If you couldn't watch it for Ben Miller...
"Were they trying to show Chinatown as menacing?"
I think so. They had the menacing music going, etc. with shadowy type people. If we watch it again, we'll have to check. I'm definitely buying the DVDs if only to watch the pilot episode which I understand is only going to be shown on the DVD. Plus I want the first episode regardless. But, yes, fast forward was invented for people like me!
Ooooh, I haven't checked out the recs you sent me yet! Guess what I'll being doing until way too late tonight? Oh, and I can't remember how big of a Miles fan you are. I know I did inflict the books on you. Bujold is finally releasing the next Miles book in November. She posted a sneak peak at the first five chapters if you're interested:
http://www.webscription.net/chapters/A1439133948/A1439133948.htm
I'm off to fan the fic!
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Date: 2010-08-03 07:29 pm (UTC)Yay for Holmes marathon! The series has renewed my giddiness toward Holmes and Watson in general!
Well, I've got a lot of Sherlock Holmes movies, so there would be lots of material for a marathon. Oh, and that isn't even including the Jeremy Brett episodes if you have any interest in those. You might prefer to stick to films for now.
I also have a ton of pastiches if you're ever looking for any reading material. *g*
I finally finished watching and I did enjoy the look of horror on Holmes face when he realized that John and Sarah had been kidnapped. I'm such a pushover for the angst.
Yes, that was good. I mean, it's one thing letting John get arrested but kidnapped is another matter entirely. *g*
"and this is a series starring Ben Miller!"
Wow! Remind me never to watch it! If you couldn't watch it for Ben Miller...
Yeah, you would definitely have problems with it. I hope to make another attempt at some point when I'm feeling a little braver and possibly less sober. *g*
"Were they trying to show Chinatown as menacing?"
I think so. They had the menacing music going, etc. with shadowy type people. If we watch it again, we'll have to check.
I probably just forgot. I'll have to re-watch that scene at some point. Well, re-watching the whole episode numerous times is probably a given for me. *g*
I'm definitely buying the DVDs if only to watch the pilot episode which I understand is only going to be shown on the DVD. Plus I want the first episode regardless. But, yes, fast forward was invented for people like me!
The pilot episode is only available on the DVD? That seems pretty silly, but I suppose it provides more incentive for people to buy it, not that I'll need any incentive. *g* Anywaaaaay, I'm sure the DVD will contain items you like. I'm hoping there will be some special features, such as commentary. :-)
Ooooh, I haven't checked out the recs you sent me yet! Guess what I'll being doing until way too late tonight?
I have to confess that I only got around to reading two of the new stories on my list. Have you read the one where John convinces Sherlock to go on Twitter? It's absolutely hysterical!
Oh, and I can't remember how big of a Miles fan you are. I know I did inflict the books on you. Bujold is finally releasing the next Miles book in November. She posted a sneak peak at the first five chapters if you're interested:
http://www.webscription.net/chapters/A1439133948/A1439133948.htm
I think I'm about two or three books away from reading the entire Miles series. However, I suppose I could skip ahead...
I'm off to fan the fic!
I hope you had fun! I came across a fic on A03 last night that I quite enjoyed. It's rather fluffy, but clever and funny too:
Safe (http://archiveofourown.org/works/104773)
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Date: 2010-08-04 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-04 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-08 01:02 pm (UTC)Of course, after reading the first 5 chapters, I'll still think that November is a long way away.
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Date: 2010-08-08 01:54 pm (UTC)The five chapters are from the advanced reading copy, so not the final edited version. I understand that you can actually already purchase an electronic version of the entire ARC from Baen! I'm going to hold out for final edited version in November. If she wasn't something I lent out to other people on a fairly regular basis, I probably would buy her in electronic format then though. So, no need to wait until November unless you want the final polish (which I do). Or, you want her in hard copy (which I do).
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Date: 2010-08-08 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 03:59 pm (UTC)By the by... did you ever check out these two sites:
http://www.thescienceofdeduction.co.uk/
http://www.johnwatsonblog.co.uk//blog/28march
I just started reading #2 - esp. the comments. *g*
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Date: 2010-08-03 11:42 pm (UTC)Why, thank you! That's very nice to hear! :-) Knowing me, I'll end up adding some background information for my next review. *g*
By the by... did you ever check out these two sites:
http://www.thescienceofdeduction.co.uk/
http://www.johnwatsonblog.co.uk//blog/28march
I just started reading #2 - esp. the comments. *g*
No, I haven't, but I'm certainly eager to check them out now. I'm curious about these comments in #2!
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Date: 2010-08-04 03:04 am (UTC)I see in the blog she's talking about her new boyfriend Jim. According to Molly's blog, Jim is in IT but I wonder if her boyfriend will turn out to be a professor of mathematics. Or possibly a colonel.
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Date: 2010-08-04 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-04 08:40 am (UTC)Also, hope you're enjoying my recs list :)
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Date: 2010-08-04 04:52 pm (UTC)Thank you very much,
Also, hope you're enjoying my recs list :)
I have to confess that there are still some stories I haven't read from it. However, I've really liked what I have read and I did share the link with
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Date: 2010-08-04 06:16 pm (UTC)For some of us, it's not too far off from life.
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Date: 2010-08-04 03:14 pm (UTC)Moffat did say that this one was based on 'The Dancing Men', so well spotted!
I'm looking forward to the final, Gatiss-penned, episode.
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Date: 2010-08-04 05:00 pm (UTC)I'm sorry you found the episode a bit boring. I'll admit that I feel warmer towards "A Study in Pink". I think it's because there was more humour in the first episode, not to mention some wonderful characters, such as Mycroft and Lestrade. I think "A Study in Pink" appealed most to my heart, while "The Blind Banker" appealed to my brain.
Your insights are very interesting.
Thanks,
Moffat did say that this one was based on 'The Dancing Men', so well spotted!
Well, "The Dancing Men" was only one of about four guesses. However, it's nice to hear that I was at least partially right. *g*
I'm looking forward to the final, Gatiss-penned, episode.
Me too! I'm sure it will be good! :-)