My take on Sherlock.. so far **Warning-Spoilers..
While I am thrilled at the return of Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson, I have to admit, I am a bit disappointed in some key elements of the show so far.
Mostly, I think it’s the show’s extreme focus on the bad guys. I do agree, Sherlock & Watson have faced some dastardly, evil opponents in the past (the murderous Cabby, Charles Magnus & of course Moriarty), it was always mixed with an element of fun, romance and humor. While there still is quite a bit of humor in the episodes so far, the dark tone of the show have taken over any humor there might be in it. So far, the two have faced a mountain of madness, drugs, depression and sorrow that leaves me, as the viewer at bit weary. As I said before, there are some lighter moments, Sherlock using a bloodhound to find evidence, the usual odd cases that visit 221 Baker Street, and my all time favorite, Mrs. Hudson driving like a bat out of hell with the cops on her heels, with a drunken Sherlock locked in her trunk. But the vileness of the bad guys this season borders on the uncomfortable. And as I said, the past villains have been equally as creepy, but they didn’t take over the episode. There are so much more mixed in that made it more fun to watch. Side characters that brought Sherlock and John out of the world of serial killers and madmen.
Which brings me to my second point, the lack of interaction with the side characters. Oh some of them were there, but some were not. The ones there, aside from Mrs. Hudson weren’t given much else to do besides stand on the sidelines and gawk. Such as Lestrade, he didn’t have anything to do but show up now and then, but more as an afterthought then as a real part of the show. But the biggest disappointment was Molly Hooper. I am a huge Molly Hooper fan and poor Molly had nothing to do but get mad at Sherlock. Meanwhile, in the second episode, John encourages Sherlock to phone Irene Adler back after she had texted him and then he went on a tirade about Sherlock missing out on a potential for love. All the while I am thinking, “He should be talking about Molly”. It was Molly’s awkward, burning love for Sherlock that endeared her to fans, her joy at any little bit of affection he would show her and her undying loyalty towards him. I really felt that lacking in this season. Not to mention Anderson, Sherlock’s Homeless Network and mostly, his parents (although they may be in episode three). It wasn’t just Sherlock and John that made the show so popular, but all these little side stories that brought the show together. If this is to be the last season of Sherlock, ever, than it needs to include all those characters that made the show special to fans. Now having said all this, these people may be included in the last episode, but I would be very surprised.
Also, the show has a much bigger feel to it than in past seasons. It has strayed away from the intimate streets of London and gone all over the world and taken John & Sherlock out of the cozy inner circle that made this show work. Instead of the duo fighting criminals in their own backyard, the it’s about spies, car chases and other countries
The thing that drew me to the show was the entire ensemble of characters that worked together to make up Sherlock & John’s little family, and viewers really responded to that.
I hope there is a season 5, and that the writers remember what it was that made the show such a fan favorite and return us to the series that we loved so much. Don’t get me wrong, I would watch this show even if Sherlock sat and recited the phone book, but I would love to see a little of what brought be to 211 Baker Street back and I know other fans do too.
And please, let Sherlock play the violin again..
This is just a fans perspective on what I think of the show so far.
