It's All "Elementary" My Dear Watson

Or is it? With the fall season upon us once again, so too comes the plethora of new shows. And much like new born sea turtles, they must try their hardest to make it out alive. I guess you can consider me a hungry grubbing seagull, because I've locked my eyes on one particular aqueous babe and I'm going in for the kill.

On September 25 at 10pm, CBS will attempt to hop on the Sherlock wagon, because come on let's face it, Sherlock is a complete and total BAMF (I know I'm dating myself, I'm sorry). Though I admire their ambition to help keep the Sherlock torch ablaze, I don't think the results will be quite as they hoped. I quote straight from TV Guide (see, it's useful), "a modern take on the crime-solver with Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock, a recovering addict and NYPD consultant. His Watson is his "sober companion," a former surgeon — and a woman (Lucy Liu)." I'm not sure all of the added elements are needed. What appeal does Sherlock being a drug addict bring to the story? Wouldn't the copious amounts of drugs have effected his intelligence? I feel it's insulting to the character and his integrity.

Next off, tackling cases in New York City? It's seems forced and inorganic. Sure the character mentions that he worked with Scotland Yard, but then why not go to some other European country? It certainly would be closer to home then a trip across the pond. An aside from my beratement, I appreciate how they've tried to modernize Watson by changing his gender. I feel as long as they don't try to pull any romance business then that relationship will work.

Overall I feel that the creators are only using the name "Sherlock Holmes" to try and gain attention, they haven't really done anything with their adaption to commemorate the character and his efforts. Don't worry though, I won't just leave you high and dry. There is a solution, Sherlock.

 From this weird pairing of the BBC & PBS, they've created a wonderful show about Sherlock and Watson in the modern day, but do so with respect to the characters and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Two series (in the UK they call seasons series) have already been produced and filming for the third begins in January. The production design, cinematography, and acting are phenomenal.

Sherlock

In the BBC miniseries Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes is presented as a modern day consulting detective, utilizing cell phones and the internet to solve his crimes. The first season is edited into three 90 minute episodes, ending with the introduction of Jim Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott.

In their own version of Doyle's The Final Problem, Holmes and Moriarty finally come face to face in the third and final episode of the first season. However, Moriarty has commonly been portrayed as a posh old man, the shows creator took some liberties and made Moriarty into a flamboyant man boy with some psychotic tendencies. Often in remakes, fans will be disappointed by how their favorite heroes and villains have been portrayed. They had an image in their minds, which don't usually line up with the direction that the movie or show takes. Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, the producers, took a different route then how Moriarty will be shown in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, where he is played by Jared Harris. When you think of a villain, someone more along the lines of Alan Rickman or James Earl Jones comes to mind. There is an image of a a large, intimidating man with a deep voice standing over us. Which is why I find this portrayal of Moriarty so interesting. Here we have a small Irish man with a high-pitch voice threatening the death of the beloved hero, almost completely reversing the well known role of the Professor.

Game of Shadows comes out later this year and Sherlock is hopefully returning in early 2012. It is amazing how one series of books can manifest itself into two separate remakes coming out at the same time almost a century later. They are even following the same individual plot line of the case against Professor Moriarty. But it's the simple act of changing the location that strings these two stories into completely different re-imaginations.