A Descent into Dullness

Finished the third episode from Season 1 for the BBC show yesterday. And I can most definitely say that the CBS one is the superior show. Sherlock isn't terrible in any way, but it doesn't have the character depth Elementary does. Actually, I take part of that back. In one way the former is a little terrible. The mystery in each episode is ludicrously overcomplicated...

But beyond that compare Sherlock, Watson and Moriarty from the two shows. Cumberbatch is an overgrown kid. Yes, hes fun to watch but there isn't really much else there. Jonny Lee's Sherlock is full of depth. Pain and damage and brilliance and halting, stumbling attempts at emotional growth and repair...

The two Watson's are pretty even. But the relationship they have with Sherlock less so. Bilbo Watson meets Sherlock finds him neat and infuriating at the same time and then four and a half hours later is willing to die for the dude. WHY? Joan and Sherlock though. You see their relationship evolve over time, one difficult step at a time. And so scenes like the naming of the bee carry so much more weight to them in the CBS series...

And finally Moriarty. BBC Moriarty is a giddy Joker. A cruel mad criminal genius. Which, again, fun but shallow. The CBS Moriarty though. The reveal on this character is a huge dramatic gut punch. And you're left seeing that there is a real person at the end. One with human motivations and goals. Not just comic book super-villainy...

Perhaps its the larger canvas that lets Elementary really blossom or maybe Moffat and the others are just shallower writers. Either way, Sherlock is a B- mystery show and Elementary is an A+ drama...

It wasn't just re-casting Twoflower as an "American". I mean that was a big part of why this adaptation felt so off. But it wasn't just that. Though I did enjoy the brief moments of Jeromy Irons as Vetinari. Even though the threats made by the Patrician are pretty clumsy for the character, especially as they were meant to be coming from someone based on the latter book's more developed version...

Maybe it will be like the BBC Hogfather and it will grow on me if I watch it again. Or not...

While some of the techie stereotypes were a bit over the top still an enormously funny show. Along with Spaced one of the few BBC comedies that lives up to the praise for it. I especially liked Richmond the Goth, if only because I'm pretty sure I've pretended to be a vampire with the guy...

Taleban militants have blown up another five schools in north-west Pakistan, officials say, despite a government pledge to safeguard education. Also: Diary of a Pakistani school girl

Well that was definitely television. Yep. Thats a sitcom all right. Maybe later seasons have more of that amazing humor I heard about? Because this one is pretty average. Nothing terrible really. But nothing that really makes it better (or worse) than your average American sitcom...

Marathon on BBC America is now ended. Odd to see the central character of a show change partway into the season. Stupid cliffhanger ending. Also I think I'm done with lesbian ghosts for awhile.

...

Thats a lie.

Television needs more lesbian ghosts...

Richard Sharpe is caught up in a game of spy and counterspy with a beautiful young nun caught in the middle. Can the legendary British sol...wait...is that Mark Antony? Holy crap! It is James Purefoy. And Sir Henry Simonson again? That slimy little weasel!