Giving the American Television Series Elementary Another Chance

Sometime ago I compared the two ‘versions’ of a modern day Sherlock Holmes.   That is, the British “Sherlock” to the American “Elementary“.

In a way, it was a bit unfair, for Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock is, as I said, Perfection Plus.  He is the Sherlock Holmes we have always imagined.

In Sherlock, great effort is made to fit it into the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle paradigm.   How Holmes spoke, looked, acted, is intact.  Conan Doyle was interested in the plot, the deductions, the resolution.  His character was kept rather hidden and more of a template than a person.  In the modern version, the character is explained, exposed, and makes sense.

Elementary moved far from the template.   This Sherlock Holmes in in New York City, and very few of the characters of Conan Doyle are kept ‘intact’.    The names may be there, Watson, Gregson, Irene Adler, Moriarity, but the characters are totally different from how they were written; i.e. Watson is female, the police officer Gregson is a New York Cop, Irene Adler turns out to be Moriarity.

However!

If one watches the first season, virtually back to back (without the distraction of Sherlock), the character emerges and the actor, Johnny Lee Miller, does an excellent job. That happens a bit later in the series, for during the first few episodes one is not at all attracted to him.   He is grouchy, unpleasant, selfish, twisted, and thoroughly unpleasant.

It is only in the last three episodes when he encounters his beloved Irene that he becomes human, and vulnerable, and somewhat captivating.

Persons who watch both series in tandem will reject Elementary.   This is due to the excellence of Sherlock.  However, if one gives Elementary a chance, there is a lot to enjoy in the presentations.

As I’ve said before, when watching shows online, the trick is to have the marathon of show ‘A’, (in this case, Elementary) broken by other programs, (i.e. NCIS, BlueBlood, Hawaii 50) which are far removed from the ‘featured’ programme.

One can not watch Elementary and Sherlock at the same time any more than they should NCIS and CSI, for the programmes use the same foundation and compete and contrast with each other.

What is wise is to complete the first season of Sherlock, then watch a week of other programmes, then watch two seasons of  Elementary.    At the end of that marathon, watch the second season of Sherlock, then a week break, back to Elementary so that the third season of Sherlock, (being shot as I write) will be completed.

There are few things more annoying that having to wait a week to see an online episode.  It is too much like television, and defeats the purpose.