Elementary: Initial Thoughts
So, here are my initial thoughts on Elementary - I wrote this a few weeks ago but never got around to posting it. Because of that, it only contains spoilers through 1x02 at the most. I also have some thoughts on S2 of Sherlock I need to post one of these days...
Overall, I really liked it. I like Johnny Lee Miller, and while Lucy Liu wouldn’t have been my top choice, I don’t DISlike her either. I’m sure she’ll grow on me.
Because I just watched Sherlock and on almost every Sherlock video on YT I see someone bashing Elementary, here’s a little comparison between the two.
- An obvious one: John vs. Joan. It obviously changes the dynamic a little bit (whether you shipped S/John or not) but it seems to work ok. You still have a character that cares (eventually, anyway) about Sherlock and is slightly more…sane. I’m sure the TPTB will ship them together at some point which I don’t mind, but it’ll wreck my Holmes/Adler ship :-(
- This show seems to focus more on the drugs aspect of Sherlock (that’s the whole setup of the show actually…that Joan is his companion to make sure he stays clean). Actually, I was always kind of surprised they didn’t touch on this more on Sherlock - other than the Nicotine patches and “drugs bust” it’s never even mentioned (not that I mind, it doesn’t take away from the show…just thought it was interesting).
- Also, Sherlock on this version has no problem having sex (but for the purpose of clearing his mind or whatever). They way they explain makes it seem more in character.
- Set in America obviously.
- This is a one hour network weekly television show - I don’t doubt that every episode won’t be as impressive as Sherlock. It’s not a miniseries with a huge budget, just a simple tv show.
- Anyway, adaptations are exactly that, adaptations. They’re pulling from the source material so some things are bound to be the same (they both wouldn’t be Sherlock Holmes if not) and other things will change. People get angry when things look like they’re being “copied” but also get pissed when they actually adapt things differently!
- I guess he went on a downward spiral in London because of a woman? I hope it’s something interesting like she was murdered and he wasn’t able to solve it, not because he was betrayed or something. Though, it could be interesting if it was Irene that outsmarted him (but that would have to make her downright ruthless and sadistic if she drove him to completely fall apart). Back to the death thing, I think it would’ve been interesting if he was broken up because his friend/whatever was a John/Watson equivalent that died. Because this show is set after his time in London, they could’ve just named him something different.
Ok, off to watch 1x04!
Overall, I really liked it. I like Johnny Lee Miller, and while Lucy Liu wouldn’t have been my top choice, I don’t DISlike her either. I’m sure she’ll grow on me.
Because I just watched Sherlock and on almost every Sherlock video on YT I see someone bashing Elementary, here’s a little comparison between the two.
- An obvious one: John vs. Joan. It obviously changes the dynamic a little bit (whether you shipped S/John or not) but it seems to work ok. You still have a character that cares (eventually, anyway) about Sherlock and is slightly more…sane. I’m sure the TPTB will ship them together at some point which I don’t mind, but it’ll wreck my Holmes/Adler ship :-(
- This show seems to focus more on the drugs aspect of Sherlock (that’s the whole setup of the show actually…that Joan is his companion to make sure he stays clean). Actually, I was always kind of surprised they didn’t touch on this more on Sherlock - other than the Nicotine patches and “drugs bust” it’s never even mentioned (not that I mind, it doesn’t take away from the show…just thought it was interesting).
- Also, Sherlock on this version has no problem having sex (but for the purpose of clearing his mind or whatever). They way they explain makes it seem more in character.
- Set in America obviously.
- This is a one hour network weekly television show - I don’t doubt that every episode won’t be as impressive as Sherlock. It’s not a miniseries with a huge budget, just a simple tv show.
- Anyway, adaptations are exactly that, adaptations. They’re pulling from the source material so some things are bound to be the same (they both wouldn’t be Sherlock Holmes if not) and other things will change. People get angry when things look like they’re being “copied” but also get pissed when they actually adapt things differently!
- I guess he went on a downward spiral in London because of a woman? I hope it’s something interesting like she was murdered and he wasn’t able to solve it, not because he was betrayed or something. Though, it could be interesting if it was Irene that outsmarted him (but that would have to make her downright ruthless and sadistic if she drove him to completely fall apart). Back to the death thing, I think it would’ve been interesting if he was broken up because his friend/whatever was a John/Watson equivalent that died. Because this show is set after his time in London, they could’ve just named him something different.
Ok, off to watch 1x04!