Elementary, Watson?

So recently I've started watching CBS new show Elementary, and I find I simply cannot but help being drawn into the inevitable Sherlockian comparison. It is the truth of the human condition that we make absolutely everything and anything into a competition. There is absolutely no way that theses two shows should not be compared, contrasted and dissected into microscopic detail to determine which one is 'the real one'. Anyone who tries to say otherwise needs to have a healthy dose of reality knocked into them, preferably with a large stick.

Having had nothing better to do with my time than to peruse the various screaming matches on the fansites (pff who needs to get a degree?), the crux of the argument seems to be 'Ah sure, we'll give the (new) new one a chance'. Very reasonable.

And yeah, I've watched it so far. It's alright. Very American. And I mean that in a nice way. Personally I've always been fond of Jonny Lee Miller since realising it was him in Trainspotting (don't watch if you're in anyway squeamish, or easily offended, or get upset at the thought of gastroenteritis or dead babies). But, yeah, fantastic actor. And at least they had the good sense to leave him British, because it just would not have worked any other way. But then you sit down to watch Benedict Cumberbatch do his thing with his collar and his cheekbones. And you know your heart has already made it's choice.

There is of course the point that Moffat and Gatiss are not the only ones allowed to make a new adaption, and it is true that it is hard to say that it is their own idea....except for the fact that the Sherlock writers were approached, and turned down the offer to have a hand in the new adaptation...only to have an announcement not long after that Sherlock Holmes was going to the US.... eyebrows were raised and snarky comments made *coughmarkgatisscough*

Of course the decision to cast a hot asian woman to play the traditionally very much male war veteran Doctor John Watson has obviously provoked a... reaction. The bromance between Holmes and Watson, which is done disgustingly well in Sherlock, is without a doubt one of my favorite parts of the whole shebacle. It's guy love between two guys. And even though Lucy Liu is grand, and the genderswap seems to be the only original idea the CBS led with, it does call into question whether or not it was merely done just to avoid the awks of of any homoeroticism on what is very probably going to be quite a widespread show. Though I've read that they have no plans to turn it into a romantic relationship in Elementary, you can't help but wonder. And seeing as they recently revealed that Holmes most consistent love interest, Irene Adler, has already shuffled off this mortal coil (which after being utterly mesmirised by Lara Pulver's portrayal as the semi villainous, superawesome Woman, I was not a happy camper. At all). So with no prospect of The Woman any time in the future (unless they pull off a 'hey your girlfriends not dead, you were hooked on drugs for no reason' twist), we're faced with the inevitability of the aforementioned hot Asian chick becoming the only viable option.

This woman is a bamf.

And Moriarty. Oh Moriarty. Andrew Scott has ruined you for all other actors. The sharp dressing, subtly camp, psychotic beast, he's the sort of villain you were secretly cheering for. It will be nigh impossible to beat that. And we all know it.

he is not amused

I've read in an interview Stephen Moffat subtly dissing it  "I don't want it to sound like Mark [Gatiss] and I don't want other people to try this. We welcome it, but don't damage the brand,"

which could be read as petty but the guy has a point. Sherlock Holmes is awesome. He has to be to have lasted this long. Therefore adaptations need to be worthy of his legacy. Sherlock is. It's got the perfect combination of heroics, humour, intricate plotlines, intriguing characters and Martin Freeman in jumpers. And from what I've seen of Elementary... it's okay. Not bad. Of course, when dealing with this level of popularity, and the amount of prejudice it has for daring to encroach on Sherlock's 'territory'.... I don't think it's enough. Elementary seems more of a generic crime drama, following a basic and rather predictable fomula each week, rather than anything distinctly Holmsian. If the names of the characters were different, I don't think anyone would be able to detect any elements of Conan Doyles original works.

So I think my main point is... Sherlock is amazing. Everything about Sherlock is amazing. The only possible flaw is that the series are too damn short. So Elementary, you're gonna have to raise your game quite a bit, because season 3 is coming, and you need to be ready when it does.