Tuesday, April 17, 2012

No Sh*t, Sherlock

I don’t watch a lot of TV. I wish I had the time to watch my favorite shows, but I don’t. I watched the first episode of Smash and loved it. I even programed the DVR to record it every week, but haven’t found the time to watch the rest. NCIS was always a must see for the family and me, but even that has fallen by the wayside this year.

This year I’m writing for two publishers and am contracted to write five books (two down, three to go) in fifteen months. Between writing like a mad woman; trying to keep up with blogging and twitter; trying to pick up after, ferry around, and feed three teenagers; and dealing with a husband who is on a huge project at work which has entailed working most nights and every weekend for the last twelve weeks, I just don’t have time.

This past weekend however, I was almost all caught up and my husband was home—a rarity these days. I got home from my critique meeting on Sunday, we had a wonderful family dinner, and DH (dear husband or damn husband depending on my mood) suggested watching TV. I thought what the heck. Frankly, I was just happy to see him when he was not sleeping.

He scrolled through NetFlix, which brought about a sigh of relief on my part. DH is the type to want to watch things like Hoover Dam – The American Experience—over and over and over again. I watched it with him and I fell asleep every time. It was the same with Building the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s not that I don’t love the Brooklyn Bridge, but really, watching it being built is just not my cup of tea. Anyway, and we came upon the BBC show Sherlock and I mentioned that I’d wanted to watch that ever since I heard about it. We tuned in and were held spellbound for three hours. (We watched the first two episodes)



It was amazing! The acting, the cinematography, the writing—everything was awesome. Wow! I’m in love with this show! I thought I would miss the steampunk feel of the Sherlock Holmes I knew and loved since this is a modern-day telling of Sherlock Holmes, but I didn’t.




When Robert Downey Jr. made the first of his Sherlock Holmes movies with Jude Law I wanted to see it.



I’ve been a big RDJ fan for forever—I love his acting, and I adore his music. I think he’s one of the best actors out there, and well, Jude Law is always fun to look at too.



I wish I had been able to see it in the theater, but we almost never go to the movies—taking a family of five out to dinner and a movie with drinks and popcorn would result in me having to get a second mortgage...or a third. Sigh. Plus, we’re all so busy; going out at all is a scheduling nightmare. I think we saw it on NetFix when it came out and were awestruck. RDJ made the most wonderful Sherlock, but what really impressed me was how well Jude Law played Watson. When the second movie came out, I stole away with my DH and we actually saw it at the theater. I felt a little guilty because we left the kids home, but hey, I figured we deserve a night out for once and I’m so glad we went. The big screen really made the movie spectacular.

I never read the Sherlock Holmes books, something I think I’m going to have to remedy since I’m turning out to be such a big fan.

So what about you? Have you watched the show? The movies? Which do you like better? Discuss...

18 comments:

Samantha Henry said...

I love RDJ as well and will watch just about anything he's in. The movie was great, but I too saw it at home and had a hard time understanding/hearing the dialogue which I think was more about the accents. Overall, I love that Sherlock was a bit of a mess and a total PITA for Watson! I have not seen the T.V. show yet, but I think I'll put it on the list.

Samantha Henry

Anonymous said...

Robin...i am a huge fan of both. I've made my way through most of Conan Doyle's work...and someday..she says mysteriously....this will all make sense. ;) LOVE rdj and jude law's work...thanks for the fun post

Angi Morgan said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE BOTH

Accidentally found SHERLOCK on NetFlix, just like you Robin. What an amazing concept. A world with no Conan Doyle's character is introduced to an absolutely brilliant mind.

Season two of SHERLOCK is in May--Masterpiece PBS Sundays. >>just in case you want to DVR<<<

~Angi

Isis M. Nocturne said...

The show is on my MUST WATCH list (when I get the time - and this is WITH the excuse that I have to watch good tv for my major in TV Arts), and I LOVE RDJ as Sherlock. Having read the original stories and novels, I've always believed that Sherlock was autistic. I think nowadays, it would be an interesting way to take the character and send out a positive message at the same time.

Grace Burrowes said...

I keep asking myself: How does this guy work as a romantic hero, because he's begging for that role? How does Jude Law work as a sidekick, because that works brilliantly too?

Must watch, darn you.

Gail Hart said...

I've read some of the books, but haven't seen the movie or the TV series. I'll have to check out season two in May.

Robin Kaye said...

@ Samantha- I've been a huge fan of RDJ for years and years, if you haven't before, check out his music on iTunes or whatever, he's an amazing songwriter, singer and pianist too. Sherlock is a PITA for Watson on the show too--he asked Watson to get his phone, and Watson asked where it was, he said, my jacket--the jacket he was wearing while looking through a microscope. Watson actually rifled through his pockets to find it.

@Chaptmansmythe - I was hoping you'd see the blog! I'm so glad you liked it. Can't wait to see you on Friday!

@ Angi - Oooh.. I can't wait! We watched the third episode last night. It was sooo good, and I'm all... "That's it? There's no more?!"

@Isis - After seeing the TV show, I have to agree with you, maybe asbergers. And yes, it would be a great message.

@ Grace - Mwah ha ha--I'll get you my pretty, and take you to the dark side of TV watching yet...

@ Gail - Definitely, but you might want to see if you can watch season one first. It's soo good!

Anonymous said...

I've read all the books and seen most of the movies and TV series. My favorite interpretation is Jeremy Brett on the Masterpiece Mystery series some years ago. They also have the ultimate Poirot in David Suchet. Those Masterpiece people really know what they're doing.

Brandy said...

I hear you on the cost of tickets to a movie these days! I read all the Sherlock Holmes books when I was younger. And now I've seen the movie (still haven't seen the second one), along with the very old BBC movies. I've yet to see the new tv show and may have to remedy that soon!

Jacqui said...

Glad to hear someone besides me loves the new BBC Sherlock. When it didn't return to Masterpiece Mystery last year, I thought they abandoned it. (Case Histories was a delightful substitute, but I was still bummed out.) Season 2 is available on DVD and I'm tempted to buy it instead of waiting for it to hit Masterpiece.

Jackie

Robin Kaye said...

@Joan - Yes they do!

@ Brandy - You have to see the second, it was as good if not better than the first! I was amazed because sequels usually suck, but then Iron Man 2 was great too, so maybe it was all RDJ's part in both.... And I certainly hope you watch Sherlock, I think I'm going to re-watch them and I almost never do that.

@ Jacqui - I'm with you, Jacqui, I want to go out and get the DVDs too!

Kate Forest said...

I have been a Sherlock fan since middle school. In fact, I was not much of a reader before I found the stories. I credit Doyle for sucking me into the world of books. I also love the new series. Mostly because I can use the name Cumberbatch when discussing it. But even though they are set in modern time the writers stay true to Holmes' personality. I can't say the same for the RDJ movies. I love the actor but can't stand the movies. Not at all authentic.

fOIS In The City said...

I am a huge fan of Sherlock since forever. Loved Jeremy Brett in the original PBS Mystery series and I love the new one on PBS.

I also think Robert Downey, JR. does a great job and I wish they had left him alone without all the special effects.

Gregory Payne/Alex Carreras said...

I am in love with the BBC series! It blows away American television any day. Actually, most programs in the U.K. make ours look sophomoric.I watch Brit t.v. mostly.

Anna said...

The new tv show didn't do it for me at all. Something about it felt constructed, and I found it obnoxious in one episode when they made him not connect something that the audience was meant to connect first. And the actor playing Holmes looks really strange. The RDJ movie was a little over the top for me, but I still liked it, mostly because I'd watched all the Jeremy Brett renditions and could name from which stories they'd taken certain things for the screenplay. :)

Eliza Watson said...

I love RDJ but have to admit I loved Jude Law even more in the Sherlock Holmes movies. Loved them! I really want to see this show now. I am going to go DVR it right now. Thanks for the idea. I've never read the books but I'm a huge mystery fan. I even watch Poirot on PBS. :-)

Robin Kaye said...

@ Kate - I've never read the books, but I find that I must now just to see how far off RDJ is.

@ Fios - Now I have to look up the original PBS series too! So glad you agree with me on the rest--as for the special effects, they didn't bother me, but I doubt I'd miss them if they were removed, so I guess you're right, the probably should have been cut.

@ Gregory - I watch a lot of Brit TV when I watch--Top Gear is one of my favorites, along with their comedies of course. Love the Vicar of Dibley!

@ Anna - Interesting! I didn't know they'd taken stuff from a different rendition. I'll have to watch them and find out what...

Robin Kaye said...

@ Beth - It's my pleasure! I always liked Jude Law, but I'm with you, I loved him as Watson, and RDJ--well, I've loved him forever.