It’s Elementary, my dear. Sherlock? What Sherlock? Nope, never heard of that show.

I couldn’t resist! They changed Watson into a woman (which is fine, and can be really awesome, done right), but then basically made her the nursemaid who is folllowing Holmes around taking care of him. Or in Jonny Lee Miller’s word:

“She’s looking after Sherlock, initially,” Jonny said. “She’s the sober companion [who] has to accompany him everywhere, [and] try and keep him on the straight and narrow, but he’s got it in his head that he wants to start work as a consultant – a detective consultant — so he drags her along with him and he starts to see that she has some real abilities to bring to the table.”

You know what’s worse? I bet there are writers and executives at CBS right now high-fiving each other and congratulating themselves for being so darn progressive about gender! and daring to push the boundary! bla bla bla. Bleghhh. Jonny Lee Miller seems to think he’s still playing Mr Knightley in Emma, the same inflection, the same tone of voice. This is not a period drama, Jonny, this is modern day Sherlock Holmes. Did they forget to give you that memo?

Okay, rant over.

Sherlock Series 2 Episode 2 (The Hounds of Baskerville) – “You drugged me!” Edition

John, I need some. GET ME SOME.

By “some”, Sherlock is referring to:
a) cases to investigate
b) drugs
c) …

I honestly thought he was talking about a) at first, because he was complaining about the lack of cases right before that, but apparently it’s b). (I certainly wasn’t thinking of option c), nope, not at all, sir!) I don’t think the show has specified what is his drug of choice, but judging from the concern shown by Mycroft, Watson and Mrs Hudson in the last episode, I’m guessing it’s something more hardcore than pot. It’s strange thinking of Holmes dabbling in recreational drugs, wouldn’t the lost of control bother him? It bothered him A LOT this episode, but to be fair, he was exposed to a drug that literally drives people into being homicidal maniacs. Plus, not to sound all motherly here, but DRUGS CAN DESTROY YOUR MIND! What about your beautiful, beautiful mind palace? Do you want to lose that?!

How high up the British government Mycroft is anyway? The people in the secret facility thought he came for an inspection and that he’s powerful enough they have to let “him” go anywehere inside the facility. And look at Watson, playing up his army credentials! He just “forgot” to add “retired” to the Captain John Watson, heh. It’s disturbing that even the one scientist who can be considered the good guy (willing to help Holmes and Watson find answers to the scary hound mystery) is scary. Her answer to Watson’s query about why she conducted an experiment to make a rabbit fluoresce is “why not?” Really? I thought you’d need a bit more than that, at least for funding purposes, like what is the practical application? Even ethically-challenged, top-secret government research facility must have a budget.

I think it’s actually easier for Holmes to believe that the gigantic, scary hound really exists because of the existence of the secret government research facility nearby. He’s not expected to believe in anything supernatural or other-wordly, just in people behaving badly, like any other cases he investigated. It’s probably the fear, the fact that he FELT afraid, that made him suspect something else is involved (drugs). He’s Sherlock Holmes, why would he had that strong of an emotional reaction to it otherwise?

Mrs Hudson has a suitor! A lying, already-married suitor, but still, at least she has a love life, unlike a certain someone who seems to enjoy breaking up other people’s relationships. I miss the female detective from Series 1 who was always insulting Holmes, she’s is not impressed by him and his ability at all, this time around, everyone seems to be in awe of him, even Lestrade.

When we found out that Henry is rich (nice house!), I thought the show would borrow the ending from the book (it’s all about money and inheritance), but no, just someone with something to hide eliminating witnessess. The criminal is a bit of a letdown compared to Irene Adler last episode, but then, Adler is one-of-a-kind. It’s still an excellent episode, but I can’t help feeling a bit like last season, the first episode was so extravagantly great, it’s almost impossible for the second episode to not be somewhat of a letdown. But OMG, watching that last scene, I can’t wait for Episode 3 now!

I AM SHERLOCKED

The infamous scene from Sherlock S02E01 (A Scandal in Belgravia). I forgot that the woman who plays Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) was also in the final season of Spooks. I was wondering where I had seen her before while watching the episode.

HBO Rejected “Sherlock” – Too Few Episodes

Interesting interview with Benedict Cumberbatch about Season 2 of Sherlock currently airing in the US on PBS. Apparently HBO considered picking up the show at one point, but decided not to because it has too few episodes (3 every season):

But there’s also the complaint of not having more volume or capacity. HBO wanted [to air “Sherlock”], but was like, “Three [episodes]? Come on — we do series.” Although now they’re kicking themselves [for not picking up the show], but there you go. But the thing is, we do one-and-a- half hour films, and if you really want to be pedantic, that’s nine half-hour episodes, so it’s not far off from a 12-episode series.

Cumberbatch on the reaction of his fellow actors to his current success (and being self-deprecating about his looks, heh):

Maybe that’s the case, but most of my friends who are actors are just really, really thrilled with what I’ve got. It’s kind of humbling, actually, just to be that supported by people. People say, “It’s really nice it’s happened to somebody we’ve watched be good over the years.” And at least, you know, I’ve started at the same level with everybody. And it’s nice because I’m not as good-looking as James and there’s an awful lot I can’t do that they can do. And it’s great that just by craft you can get where I’ve gone. That’s really thrilling. I’m very grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given.

Cumberbatch encouraging people to watch Sherlock instead of Game of Thrones:

 You’re in the middle of the season of “Game of Thrones” now. Take three weeks for a watercooler moment, give yourselves a break from slaving through 12 episodes of quality, and just look at three films of quality. Then you can get back to watching your recordings. And you’ll need something to look forward to after the three [episodes of “Sherlock”] because you’ll be craving for more. How pompous does that sound? [Laughs.]

On how damaged Sherlock Holmes is or isn’t:

I don’t think he’s damaged at all. I think it’s all self-inflicted. I think what this [season] is about is humanizing him, making you realize there’s actually an adolescent that is being repressed from childhood purposely in order try and become the ultimate, calculating deduction machine. And he can’t actually do that. These three challenges [in Season 2, one in each episode] humanize him through love, horror and the ultimate thriller, I suppose, through his faceoff with Moriarty. I think what we try to do anyway is remind the audience that somebody that they have fallen in love with for being heroic is somebody who had to let vulnerability into his life, as he sees it, which is emotion, a moral compass of some sort, honor, defending your friends and what you hold dear, and actually being on the side of the good guys.

On what “happines” means to Sherlock Holmes:

[Sits up, contemplates.] I think happiness for Sherlock is knowing that he’s right. It’s really that simple. [Another pause.] He gets solace out of the violin, he gets solace out of intellect and talent. I don’t think he finds happiness in that. I think the only time he’s truly joyful is when the game is on, the hunt’s afoot and there’s something to be solved — and then when he’s solved it. And during the in-between he gets very frustrated with things, with the process. Not his inadequacies, because he doesn’t see himself as having many. But it’s the beginning and the end of things he loves. That’s what makes him happy. Having a problem and solving it. 

Link: http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/article/1142298–benedict-cumberbatch-the-uncensored-sherlock-interview

NPR Fresh Air’s Interview with Sherlock’s Co-Creator Steven Moffat

On embracing current technology on Sherlock:

Well, the thing about Sherlock Holmes in the original is that he’s very, very techno-literate. I mean to a contemporary Victorian reader he was a sort of cutting-edge scientist. He was well up with all the stuff. He was also born for the Internet age because he loves research. He loves acquiring knowledge. So I just imagined that, you know, the Sherlock would be lurking on the chat rooms and forums and finding out what’s going on. So far from being a difficult thing to embrace, it was a joy because he would love it.

Moffat insulting Cumberbatch’s name. Hah! Not very diplomatic, sir.

That’s his name. Benedict Cumberbatch is actually his actual real name. I know, isn’t that great? How often is Sherlock Holmes played by someone with an even stupider name?

On Watson’s importance to the show:

Because if you look at the stories, you look you look at any good version of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson is every bit as important a character as Sherlock Holmes, and some would argue more so because he’s our conduit to Sherlock Holmes. He’s the person to whom the story in a way happens. We are more emotionally resonant with Dr. Watson that we are with Sherlock Holmes because Sherlock Holmes is, you know, a hard man to empathize with.

On Sherlock’s future, now that Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbath are bigger stars, busy with other projects:

Yes, but we have their families trapped in a cellar. (Laugh) They are both, I can honestly say, very, very keen to carry on with “Sherlock” as it stands. Thing is, we do a limited amount of “Sherlock.” That’s the way we do it. Every year or so we get together and do three movies. So you are free to do other things. And I think it’ll do them both good to descend from their mighty star status in L.A. and New Zealand and get back in a small caravan in Wales and make some more “Sherlock.”

Listen to /download the interview here: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/03/151938002/the-man-who-revitalized-doctor-who-and-sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch Wants to be in “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”

Aghhhhhh, if only this would really happen! Alas, the film adaptation of Michael Chabon’s novel has been stuck in development hell for years. Joe or Sammy? Or is he too old for the two main characters, since they started as teenagers in the story? The shallow part of me wants him as Tracy Bacon the handsome actor (and Sammy’s love interest), hehe.

Lots of other interesting tidbits from this io9 article, basically a write-up of the Q&A session with Cumberbatch, Steven Moffatt and some other producers. No Martin Freeman, sadly. Executive producer Rebecca Eaton? Wait, is this the same Rebecca Eaton the executive producer of Downton Abbey who was complaining about Maggie Smith being “difficult” on set? Turns out she’s not a BBC producer, she works for PBS Masterpiece in the US, so was she even on the set of of Downton Abbey to see how “difficult” Maggie Smith is being??  Serves them right if Smith does decide to leave the show.

Back to Sherlock and Cumberbatch, BC is very gracious about the CBS show Elemntary (there’s enough space for multiple Sherlocks), and wishing the best of luck to Jonny Lee Miller. Awwww, that’s so sweet of him. But see, I don’t think the problem is with having multiple Sherlocks, it’s the fact that CBS DID initially approach Moffat and co. to adapt the series, and then went on to create their own show so close to Sherlock’s concept and basic premise. (Hey, we changed the city and Watson’s gender, what more do you want?) It’s soooooo not believable that this is an idea they came up on their own, uninfluenced by Sherlock’s success.

Moffat has no plans for Dr Who-Sherlock crossover. Really, why would anyone think that’s even a possibility? The rules and logic of the two shows are so different. Cumberbatch thinks the extent of Holmes’ drug use has been overblown (“It’s about someone who operates at the highest level of his function, and you can’t do that if you’re inebriated.”) His strangest fan experience? Someone sent him a whip in the mail. Hah! Have you been naughty, Sherlock?

Link: http://io9.com/5907824/benedict-cumberbatch-and-steven-moffat-share-secrets-of-sherlock-season-2

Andrew Scott and Ben Whishaw Behind the Scene in Cock

Behind-the-scene is probably not a very accurate way of describing it. It’s a project by photographer Simon Annand called “The Half”, basically taking photographs of the actors in a play thirty minutes before the actors go on stage. I had no idea Jim Moriarty was in a play with Keats, heh.

BAFTA TV Nominations

Benedict Cumberbatch nominated for leading actor, while Watson and Moriarty will duke it out in the supporting actor category. Hmm, seems unfair to Martin Freeman, Moriarty is not in the show that much. But Andrew Scott was a very memorable Moriarty, so I can’t complain too much. Only one nomination for Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith for supporting actress. It’s tricky with Downton Abbey, I don’t think anyone would qualify as leading actor or leading actress, based on screentime or importance of storyline.  I’m tempted to say Mary-Matthew, but only because that’s the storyline I’m most invested in. No best drama series nomination for Sherlock or Downton Abbey, but Sherlock is nominated for YouTube audience award.  Spooks is nominated for best drama, but the final season is pretty boring and all over the place (really, Russia as the enemy again? The Cold War is over, guys!), I suspect it’s nominated partly because it’s the final season,

Full list of nominations: http://www.bafta.org/television/awards/nominees-winner-2012,3256,BA.html

Sherlock-Inception

Cobb in Inception:

What is the most resilient parasite? A bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient, highly contagious. Once an ideas has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate.

Sherlock Holmes in BBC’s Sherlock “The Reichenbach Fall”:

He planted that doubt in her head, that little nagging sensation, you’re going to have to be strong to resist. You can’t kill an idea, can you? Not once it’s made a home, there.

Awesome people on youtube made Sherlock as Inception trailers. The first one is hilarious because of Watson-as-Ariadne (slightly less awesome than Watson-as-Keira-Knightley, hihi). But overall I prefer the second one, especially Irene-Adler-as-Mal and Moriarty-as-Eames (“You musn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling”) Hmm, I forgot how full of exposition the Inception trailer was – this is who I am, this is what I do, this is how it works, etc etc. And how much the HONK! soundtrack annoyed me.

This quote still give me chills:

Mal: I’ll tell you a riddle: you’re waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don’t know for sure. But it doesn’t matter. How can it not matter to you where the train will take you?
Cobb: Because you’ll be together.

Happy April Fool’s Day

Completely forgot about this, until a very, very serious and proper co-worker started posting a lot of  jokes on his FB page, to the amazement and shock of the rest of us. Apparently that’sthe practical joke, him being funny (and not so serious, like he usually is) all of a sudden, hehe. I was laughing so hard at this one (“The past, present, and future walk into a bar. It was tense.”), but sis said it’s just the kind of nerdy humor that would appeal to me. It’s a little bit funny, right?

Can’t wait for Game of Thrones Season 2. From http://www.gameoflols.com/

Somebody should send this to CBS. Apparently “Elementary’ has cast Lucy Liu as Watson. A female Dr Watson! See, we’re not copying BBC’s Sherlock after all. Riiiiiiiight. I believe you … NOT.

I can’t believe I actually haven’t seen X-Men First Class …