A Modern Sherlock Holmes That Actually Works

[Sean]

Watson is not and should never be a buffoon or played as less than intelligent. He is a doctor after all. It's just that the deductive method is so far away from his comfort zone that all he can do at times is look on in awe as Holmes applies his logic. The idea is that Holmes' superior mind makes just about everybody else appear to be a buffoon.

[Gob]

Martin Freeman is to play Bilbo Baggins in the "The Hobbit"!

[The Hen]

Martin Freeman is to play Bilbo Baggins in the "The Hobbit"!

Perfect!

[BoSoxGal]

I'm not sure whether to laud or jeer you for turning me on to this series, Gob.

I just viewed the first two episodes. LOVE IT! Yet another distraction from reading, though . . . not exactly something I needed, but there you have it.

[Lord Jim]

I'm not sure whether to laud or jeer you for turning me on to this series, Gob.

Ahem....

BSG, I invite you to check again who started this thread....

[The Hen]

Fear not bsg. They have only made three episodes so far. So you can get back to reading shortly.

[BoSoxGal]

Mea culpa!

Thanks for the recommend. I'm enjoying it tremendously.

eta: I was just looking it up online, and I see that I have only one more episode to enjoy before I have an interminable wait for the next season. Though hopefully it will be released quickly by BBC.

As an aside, has anybody seen Wallander with Kenneth Branagh? It was advertised on my DVD of Sherlock and it looked interesting. Worthy of giving up some reading hours?

[Gob]

New series coming out in November I believe BSG...

[Gob]

Sherlock has taken two prizes at the Bafta TV Awards ceremony in London, including best drama series.


Martin Freeman, who plays Watson in the latest screen version of the stories, was named best supporting actor.

But star Benedict Cumberbatch and Doctor Who's Matt Smith lost out to Eric and Ernie's Daniel Rigby for best actor.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13468256

[The Hen]

YES!

One for the "Everyman".

He can do me wearing his BAFTA now!

[Gob]

If I wear the bafta you can pretend I'm him....

[The Hen]

You're on!

Best keep your mouth shut then. I don't want to have the illusion destroyed by any stray Welsh accent.

[rubato]

Maybe, I've never said that he should be portrayed as buffoonish, and do not believe that he should be, or is that point too subtle for you?

I believe Nigel Bruce's portrayal was the greatest insult to the canon on celluloid, at least Dudley Moore was trying (abet failing) to be funny. Donal Churchill came close to Bruce, Shatner's Stapleton was errmmm interesting too. Edward Hardwicke gave the definitive performance, although he too, and I watched Brett's "The Hound" again two nights ago, did not let the humour of Doyle/Homes at Watson's expense go unoted.

Why not try dealing with what people actually write, or is that still a problem for you? If so, so back onto ignore you go.

"The fact that Watson is often taken in by Holmes's disguises, (also consider "the man on the Tor") and can always be relied on to provide a wrong hypothesis, in order to show Holmes's superior deductive powers, show that he is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree."

I'm glad that I've taught you something. Or were you confused about the meaning of "he is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree" when you wrote it?



yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Maybe, I've never said that he should be portrayed as buffoonish, and do not believe that he should be, or is that point too subtle for you?

I believe Nigel Bruce's portrayal was the greatest insult to the canon on celluloid, at least Dudley Moore was trying (abet failing) to be funny. Donal Churchill came close to Bruce, Shatner's Stapleton was errmmm interesting too. Edward Hardwicke gave the definitive performance, although he too, and I watched Brett's "The Hound" again two nights ago, did not let the humour of Doyle/Homes at Watson's expense go unoted.

Why not try dealing with what people actually write, or is that still a problem for you? If so, so back onto ignore you go.

"The fact that Watson is often taken in by Holmes's disguises, (also consider "the man on the Tor") and can always be relied on to provide a wrong hypothesis, in order to show Holmes's superior deductive powers, show that he is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree."

I'm glad that I've taught you something. Or were you confused about the meaning of "he is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree" when you wrote it?



yrs,
rubato

I don't think he played Watson as a "buffoon", I think he added some humour and pathos to the role, a good foil to Cummerbach's almost Aspergerish Holmes. Let's not forget that Watson was often the but of Holme's humour in the canon.

That's funny rubato confirms everything I stated BEFORE he posted, then considers he has "taught me something"

What an oaf....

[Lord Jim]

Martin Freeman, who plays Watson in the latest screen version of the stories, was named best supporting actor.

Well, I suppose he did a good job of playing the buffoonish updated Nigel Bruce type interpretation of the character that was written for him....

ETA:

In one episode I saw, he winds up getting arrested for graffiting a wall because the actual graffiti artist and Holmes run off when the cop shows up, and leave him holding the bag....

That's not an "everyman"...

That's a schlemiel....

[BoSoxGal]

I disagree. That scene could have happened to me, being honest and trusting as I am. I don't consider myself a schlemiel, but an 'everyman' - or rather, what everymen should be; honest and trusting and always optimistic for a world that would reward those qualities.

I didn't take that scene to show Watson as dumb, but rather to show Holmes as callous and manipulative, like the criminals from whom he receives some of his information.

[Gob]

Seconded, Holmes is amoral.

[Rick]

What do ya expect?

He's a coke addict...

[Timster]

Sorry, but I prefer the classic Holmes. Basil Rathbone style/interpretation. It fits with the original novels and my personal identification with that character. And even though Watson may seem to appear "bumbling"; all in all I see that as a foil to highlight Holmes' brilliance. However Watson proves to be a resourceful, cunning companion in his own right on many occasions.

Have any of you looked into the author's background? Mayhap some insight can be found there...

[Gob]

Have any of you looked into the author's background? Mayhap some insight can be found there...

I have 3 biographys of ACD, and his collected letters.

I own the canon in three different editions, including Klinger (et al) annotated version.

I have all his other books too.

I have many books on the canon, including "Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of the Hound of the Baskervilles" by Pierre Bayard and "The Hound of the Baskervilles: Hunting the Dartmoor Legend", by Phillip Welller, and other studies of the novels. I have Fletcher Barton's (the man who gave ACD the inspiration for "The Hound" ) "A Footnote to The Hound of the Baskervilles".

I have DVD's of all of Rathbone's and Brett's homes, as well as most other modern versions of the tales.

My pride an joy is a bound edition of the original strand magazines.

I was a member of the "Dartmoor hounds" for a couple of year.

I have visited and taken Hen and Hatch to many of the places, named, or sites upon which places in the book were based. (inc the "real" 221b Baker St.)

I'm something of a fan, that's why I find it so amusing when rubato seeks to "teach" me.