Sherlock 101: A Study in Pink

Sunday 1 January 2017

Season one of Sherlock kicks off with a case of three oddly connected suicides that soon turn into four even more mysterious murders. If that's not enough to hook you from the get go, the beautiful cinematography and humour certainly will be.

From the very first second of this show you know it's going to be quality - whether you end up loving or hating it you cannot deny that. But what else would you expect from the BBC? The cast and crew - while mostly annoying and problematic - are renowned, the plot is gripping, and it's based off arguably one of the greatest detective novels. Personally, I've never read anything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I can't tell you how accurate the show is, but from pure enjoyment I can tell you it's excellent.

There are some problems, of course. Sherlock, for one, is a complete ass for no apparent reason and it grows old incredibly quickly. As did the whole 'gay thing' regarding Sherlock and Watson; it wasn't funny, it was stereotypical and offensive to turn it into a gag. Female acting was also sub-par, with the majority of the few women in the episode being written as simpering, passive, and pandering to the God that is (apparently) Sherlock Holmes. It's a shame - not only from a more feminist perspective, but because the rest of the acting was so good.

 Issues aside, I liked this. More than I thought I would. Maybe it was because I drew parallels to House, M.D. and Dexter, and their titular characters especially, or maybe it's because I've practically been raised on crime dramas and thrillers and so know how to spot one that's done well. It was funny, though, to see how Sherlock and Watson mirrored House and Wilson when House as a character was based on Conan Doyle's original depiction of Holmes. Add in the fact that Watson is a doctor with a limp and you're almost watching House, M.D, only everyone works for the police instead.

The psychology nerd within me also had fun watching this episode, as there are clearly things going on with both Sherlock and Watson. PTSD seems to be the most likely diagnosis when we meet Watson, but perhaps not, upon deeper inspection. And Sherlock... Well. He might get called 'psychopath' and refer to himself as a sociopath, but he screams autism. Of course, this is just speculation from someone with absolutely no credentials, so maybe don't listen to me.

Overall, though, I can see why so many people rave about this show. Hopefully episode two is just as good/

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