Sherlock (BBC) Series 3

We waited and waited and finally, Series 3 of the excellent BBC show, “Sherlock” arrived (I’m using the term “series” in the BBC sense. Here in the states we usually use “season.”) Was it worth it? I would have to say that it was not. I am a huge fan of the entire show, with it’s excellent and sly references to the canon (in fact, the first episode back was “The Empty Hearse”, a very well done play on the literary return from the death of Sherlock Holmes, “The Empty House.”)

The three episodes of this Series (“The Empty Hearse”, “The Sign of the Three”, “His Last Vow”) were like a poorly designed cake… 90% frosting and 10% cake. “You know my method. It is based on the observation of trifles.” The unique component of this modern take of the Great Detective has been the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. We relish the brief moments of human emotion assigned to Sherlock and even when there’s a scene between brothers (Mycroft) there is a heretofore element of drama and personality. In the first two Series, we were treated to these glimpses into a more fully realized human Sherlock Holmes. BUT, in the long run, what has made Sherlock Holmes a giant in literary history is the actual act of deduction and combating of crime/evil. This delicate balance, as so expertly designed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is important to his longevity.

In this third Series, we are treated to the imbalance. We delve deeply into the relationship and emotions between Sherlock and John, Sherlock and Mary, Mary and John, Sherlock and Mycroft, and so on. And then there’s some crime solving. In fact, in the second episode (“The Sign of the Three) it is almost 40 minutes until there’s actual deduction or a mystery. It’s too much frosting. You might enjoy frosting on a cake, but it’s just a addition to the cake not the cake itself. (this metaphor is terrible. I think my personal prejudice against cupcakes is showing.)

Anyway, in summation, I was a bit disappointed in this Series. While I enjoyed the last episode the most, it had to overcome the dismal first two. It does seem like the entire team is dedicated to turning out more shows in quick succession so I have high hopes for more quality Sherlock in the future.

In the meantime, please enjoy this wonderful musical homage to the Sherlock series:

House of Silk & A Slight Trick of the Mind

The House of Silk was written by Anthony Horowitz. It's almost a Sherlock Holmes story by way of Law & Order: SVU. The crimes described within are instantly recognizable to us, a modern audience, but not to the Edwardian characters who are trying to solve them.

Perhaps it's a credit to the author to remain true to the time period but it does end up leaving the reader ahead of the Great Detective and we end up reading and waiting for Holmes to catch up... which is no fun.
Well-written but ultimately pedestrian and sadly, a bit boring.














A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullen. This novel takes place several years into Holmes' retirement. 93 and unable to walk without the assistance of a cane, Sherlock writes in his journals, tends his apiary and deals with his (new) housekeeper and her son. As his physical and mental strength begin to flag he remembers a journey to Japan he took and the narrative switches back and forth.

This is an exceptional book, but not really Sherlock Holmes story... it's a story of aging and coming to terms with one's mortality, but there is little of the qualities we look for within a Holmes story-- no deduction, no Watson, no England, no turn of the century, etc. If you start reading with this in mind, you might have a better experience than I.

By the way, this book is being turned into a movie starring Ian McKellan. While, that may be fun, I hope the film is more... let's say lively, than the book.