Sherlock Holmes is everywhere right now.

From Guy Ritchie’s film just released on DVD and Blu-ray through to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books making a resurgence, the iconic character is cropping up all over the place. He’s even back on the London stage in Jeremy Paul’s The Secret of Sherlock Holmes.

But what I want to talk about is the three-part TV series that ended last night. Just three episodes and that’s it, Sherlock on BBC One is done. Sigh.

After the frankly awesome job he did of dragging Doctor Who out of the stodgy mire it had been bogged down in for years, Steven Moffat (with Mark Gattis) rebooted the old-school detective and created a complex, funny, and throroughly modern character.

And I loved it. Episode two not so much (it was too slow and the writing was a bit ropey), but the first part and the 90 minutes of Sherlocky-goodness last night made for some of the best British TV of the last 10 years.

The third episode was filled with examples of intelligent writing by someone who obviously knows and loves what they’re doing. For example, the tips of the hat to Conan Doyle’s stories that gave fans a thrill but didn’t affect the overall storyline. All too often, writers attempt to display their intelligence by putting impenetrable references in their work, references that baffle the casual viewer and only impress a tiny minority of the audience. But this wasn’t a problem with Sherlock, Mark Gattis made sure all the bases were covered.

DANGER, THIS MIGHT GET A BIT SPOILERY.

And what of Moriarty, who has been teased since the beginning of the first episode? Well, he didn’t disappoint. Although plenty of bloggers weren’t impressed (“Is it Graham Norton?” “How nice to see the ghost of Steven Gately,” “He’s too much of a screamer to stay quiet for 20 years.”), I thought he was spot-on. The creepy stare, the off-kilter tone of voice and the unplaceable accent, all added to a man whose appearance generated more questions than it answered.

However, the main reason that Sherlock has been such a success is Benedict Cumberbatch. An accomplished stage actor, he brings the right level of gravitas to the role. Cumberbatch’s Holmes is a man out of time, yet also very much of his time. Look at his impeccable dress sense, deadpan delivery, withering approach to the world and how those piercing eyes pick apart all he surveys. With his wiry sillhouette sweeping through London’s underworld, he is more like a villain in a Victorian melodrama than a 21st-century hero. But then what of his website, the mobile phone practically grafted to his hand, and the sway he has over senior members of the government? The man is a great big contradiction (one holding a flip-out magnifying glass), and Cumberbatch plays him to perfection. Martin Freeman does a fine job as Watson, but anyone could play the sidekick, it takes a special breed to embody the world’s only consulting detective.

As a separate bit of info, Cumberbatch is playing Major Stewart in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of War Horse, which is another reason to look forward to the film.

Holmes is one of the most filmed characters in all fiction, but Benedict Cumberbatch, Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis have made him feel fresh and completely new.

So, what did you think about the series, and has the rebooted TV version of Sherlock given you an urge to read Conan Doyle’s books, or see The Secret of Sherlock Holmes at Duchess Theatre?

Although the new play is more in keeping with the traditional idea of Holmes and Watson (read our Sherlock Holmes review from last week), the bones remain the same and it’s fascinating to look at the blueprint for our 21st century Sherlock.

Tagged as: benedict cumberbatch, doctor who, mark gattis, sherlock holmes, steven moffat

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