Some (brief, hopefully) thoughts on "Elementary" & Sherlock Holmes

[saena17]

Like many people, especially those of us who are fans of the BBC Sherlock, I've been dubious for a long time about America's modern-day remake (called Elementary- which, first of all, how does that title even make sense in a modern-day adaptation? But I'm just nitpicking there). The controversy is that, instead of John Watson being a man, the

Comments

[lotus0kid]

I would watch the pilot. I enjoyed it quite a bit. While I do appreciate the... kismet nature of the original Holmes/Watson relationship, I like what Elementary has done with the power dynamic by putting Joan in charge of Sherlock's sobriety. It puts Sherlock in a much more vulnerable place than we usually get, which I find interesting. I too hope things stay platonic between them, but we'll just have to wait and see about that.

[dgirl1300]

I agree. However, I think the media has no respect for/awareness of platonic relationships AT ALL. The same goes for the majority of the internet, unfortunately. Even if they don't end up together in the end, every pair has to have that 'one time' that things get all romancey. Makes me gag. Anyway. My prediction for this show is that Lucy's character will get way too emotionally involved at some point, get fired, and then choose to stay with Holmes anyway. If I had money to bet, I would.

[sammason]

I wonder whether you get notified automatically if somebody comments on an old LJ post. I do, and if you do too, please tell me you've seen this!

Did you get into Elementary? I love it and I've watched until the end of Season 2. In case you haven't, I'll refrain from spoilers. Adding only that a) Lucy Liu is a fine actor who makes Joan Watson her own, b) I fancy her, c) if you want tasteful homoerotic you must read My Dearest Holmes http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3150208-my-dearest-holmes

Now that I've written this comment I must ask: would you like to be LJ-Friends with me?

[saena17]

I do indeed! :) I haven't actually watched Elementary yet, but not as a consequence of anything I wrote about here. I have a little box containing slips of paper on which are written the names of TV shows I want to try, and from which I draw randomly to choose my next show to watch on DVD. Currently there are about 30 shows in there. It hasn't come up yet, unfortunately! I did watch about 10 minutes or so of a rerun episode this past week while I was working on something else, and didn't see anything I disliked, so there is that.

I think we all fancy Lucy Liu to some extent. :) She's a fabulously talented woman.

I will check to see if "My Dearest Holmes" is available at my local library. Your description of "tastefully homoerotic" intrigues me! :P

Adding you as a friend now! As I said in Mandi's entry, hopefully renewed interest in blogging will follow for me!

[sammason]

I'm glad that this conversation led me to goofle 'My Dearest Holmes' - the Goodreads page suggests several other books involving Holmes/Watson romance. Must find and read.

I won't spoil the tastefully homoerotic theme of My Dearest Holmes but a fellow dyke told me that she'd found the book 'leg-crossing'. Generally, I dislike tension in any fiction (and in real life) but in this particular book, the will-they-won't-they is some of the best ever!

[saena17]

I would be completely not surprised if there was a whole body of work involving homoerotic Holmes/Watson available for purchase. :P A lot of the language lends itself to that interpretation, although some of that is due to differences in word meanings in Victorian times and is therefore unintentional. I remember when I was in training to be a teacher, I was in the room while my students (teenagers) were reading "The Curse of the Speckled Band" or whatever it's called. I was in the classroom trying not to burst out laughing because there's a moment where Holmes goes to Watson's room and "knocks him up"- meaning knocks on the door, but of course it has a very different meaning today!

The most embarrassing part of that story, though, is that my students were actually a bit more mature than I evidently was, and the whole class wasn't cracking up when they got to that paragraph. Sad when adults are less serious than the teenagers they teach. :P