6 Things I Really Loved About BBC’s Sherlock – ‘A Study In Pink’

Don’t you just love it when a show takes you by the scruff of the neck and gives you much more than you ever thought possible? Maybe it’s just me then. But after watching “A Study In Pink” -- the first part of the BBC’s Sherlock, I was blown away by just how good it was.

Everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes -- one of the fiction’s great detectives -- but not many know Sherlock Holmes quite like how he’s portrayed in the new BBC series. They’ve updated a classic and made it into one of the most riveting shows I’ve seen in a while. (not counting my Doctor Who catch-up, which is becoming highly -- and worryingly -- addictive).

Below the jump are just 6 of the things I loved about Sherlock.

1) The Writing

One of the best aspects of Sherlock is the quality of the writing. It is instantly gripping. It pulls you in and doesn’t stop pulling until you’re pulling it - begging the story to continue after the episode has ended. The writers have stayed true to the essence of Sherlock and his world, while setting it in modern day London. It somehow works very, very well.

2) Chemistry & Humor

I’d say that it’s a fairly ‘dark’ adaptation of Sherlock (there’s one particularly gripping scene involving a suicide pill, but that’s all I’ll say for those of you who haven’t seen it), but there’s also a lot of wit and banter between Sherlock and Watson. Seeing their relationship evolve over the course of the episode is a real treat.

3) Pacing

Some people might be put off the 1 hour 30 minutes episode length, but the story really does whistle along at a great pace. The crimes, and Sherlock’s reaction to them, are really well plotted out, rarely does the story fail to move forward or develop in some way. The style of storytelling provides a participatory look into the mind of this great detective, making the audience feel like we’re right there with him and Watson.

4) Performances

The acting is also of note. Benedict Cumberbatch is superb as Sherlock. His character is convincing while leaving enough room for you to see the cracks -- the vulnerabilities -- in the detective’s demeanor. Sherlock is a man addicted to the challenge of solving an impossible crime, and Cumberbatch really conveys that sense well. Martin Freeman as Watson is also fantastic -- bringing much levity but also some moments of depth and compassion.

5) Technology

The integration of special effects and modern technology is not only eye-catching, it also adds another dimension to proceedings -- the on-screen subtitles is a particularly fun and helpful device.

6) Style

There’s a lot of running. Did I mention that Doctor Who executive producer, Steven Moffat, is series co-creator? I definitely detected some subtle stylistic overtones, while the Doctor and Sherlock aren’t the most dissimilar men you’ll ever compare.

In short, I really enjoyed Part 1 of the BBC’s Sherlock, and much more than I did the ‘blockbuster’ Sherlock Holmes movie that came out last year. Way more. I shouldn’t think it will be long before a US network picks this baby up (getting ahead of myself a bit -- the other two parts could suck. But I doubt it).

Here’s the synopsis:

Sherlock Holmes was always a modern man. It’s the world that got old. Now he’s back as he should be: edgy, contemporary, difficult – and dangerous – in three new dramas on BBC One.

Watson, a doctor, soldier and war hero, is fresh from military service in Afghanistan. A chance encounter brings him into the world of Sherlock Holmes, a loner, detective and genius. The two men couldn’t be more different, but Sherlock’s inspired leaps of intellect, coupled with John’s pragmatism, soon forge an unbreakable alliance.

A woman in pink lies dead in a derelict house, the fourth in a series of impossible suicides. DI Lestrade is the best Scotland Yard has got, but even he knows he can’t compare to the young man who can tell a software designer by his tie or an airline pilot by his thumb.

Sherlock has a unique analytical mind, earning his living and staving off boredom by solving crimes. The weirder and more baffling the better…

Across three thrilling, scary, action-packed and hugely entertaining episodes, Sherlock and John navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers to get at the truth.

Here’s the trailer:

You can visit the official BBC Sherlock site here. Part 2 and 3 of Sherlock air 9PM (GMT), Sunday, August 1st and 8th, on the BBC.