John, what John?

I think enough have been said on the news whereby CBS decided to change John Watson into a Joan Watson with the recent casting for their re-make of Sherlock Holmes set in modern time, in New York no less.

We'll see whether this remake will flop or not, won't we? If it does, Sherlock fans will be laughing. If it doesn't, then it's all fine. It's not as if the BBC original version pales in comparison or will lose their revenue to them. The BBC version will always be in the hearts and minds of devoted fans.

The first thing I thought of when the cast was announced was "wow, it's like fanfiction coming true". They even used the first name, Joan, which is what most fanfic writers go for when they create a female Watson.

The demographics has already shifted 180 degrees. From what I've seen, this programme will be targeted at more conservative, older Americans who will frown at a platonic bromance or any underling sexual tension, so as to speak.

Like so many other Sherlock fans, I do find it atrocious and silly, on so many levels of wrong basically but I doubt I will be getting myself up in a tizzy over it. This post is more for my reference than for anything else.

Of all the direction for originality the team could take, they choose this. Many people have said that it was because they and the audience couldn't deal with any sort of ambiguous relationship that may arise between Holmes and Watson. To make it more acceptable to the general public, they made this radical move.

Why must people always be afraid of homosexual undertones that everything has to become heterosexual just to have a romance?

I've seen a great quote somewhere that goes something like this, "it is easier to fake sexual chemistry than platonic chemistry" which is quite true. By having a female Watson, it changes everything. The possibility of a romantic relationship between Holmes and female Watson will almost be cemented, won't it?

Furthermore, it just spoils the direction Arthur Conan Doyle took with his books. The whole essence of Sherlock Holmes is the friendship and loyalty between Sherlock and John, two housemates with two very different personalities. The relationship dynamics between the two is crucial in the development.

I will probably try it out for the laughs provided I could access the programme in the first place. If it's really funny and ridiculous as people made it out to be, it will be more fun.

Reichenbach Feelings

Times passes so fast, doesn't it?
At the beginning of the new year, I was still extremely excited about the new Sherlock series and the debut of A Scandal in Belgravia. Then, a week past by and I started to feel a bit of doom and gloom about the second episode, The Hounds of Baskerville, because it means that final episode will be upon us soon.

This week marks the end of another season of Sherlock with the Reichenbach Fall coming out in less than 24 hours on BBC One. This episode will break so many hearts and maybe, even tears will fall.

The last time I was so emotionally invested in fiction was when I cried over the deaths in Harry Potter. Other than that, I couldn't remember any times where I feel so depressed over a character death. Can't the producers just confirm that season 3 is in the making? I get it that they want to maximise the suspense for the finale but the way is so cruel. How could they do this to us?!

The whole Sherlock fandom is probably going to be writing angsty fanfiction for many weeks/months to come. All those post-Reichenbach stories about how John, Mycroft and Lestrade will cope without the existence of Sherlock. Sigh.

I am going to be melancholy for days to come and comfort myself by reading lots of fun fanfiction. On the other hand, I can probably focus better on my school work since there is nothing to look forward to once episode 3 is done.

Please, do not give us another 18 months wait for season 3. I don't know how I could bear it. But, I will take 18 months when compared against 3 years wait, like what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put his readers through. Oh please, let The Empty House happens sooner than later.

I Am Sherlocked

The second day of 2012 got off in a good start.

There's no way I can wait for the Sherlock season 2 episode 1 to be released in the States or for it to even be shown in Singapore, therefore, there's only one way to go about doing this. I managed to get into BBC iPlayer and caught 'A Scandal in Belgravia' hours after its debut in the United Kingdom.

The episode is everything I could have hope for and more. It is brilliantly executed and very emotional. In fact, many viewers have declared that this episode surpasses all of season 1. Steven Moffat really tugs our heartstrings like a violin. Episode 1 does things to my heart when I saw how lost Sherlock was.

Irene Adler is portrayed amazingly as a dominatrix and the power play with Sherlock is deliciously thrilling. The rapport and chemistry between Sherlock and John is stronger and better than ever. The acting was really stellar. There were good effects as well, with the return of the text overlays such as blog posts and text messages.

Viewership in UK alone was estimated at around 9 million at present and looked set to rise above 10 million once the final figure comes in. Besides, this figure is just in UK, it is not even released in the States or other countries yet.

Even though I am miles away from the land of origin, I am still proud to be a fan in this rising fandom. Sherlock is going to be a phenomenon. It is a testimony of how TV programmes can be if effort is put in. Sherlock is an example of the new TV show with intelligent humour for thinking people. Amidst in this era of dull, repetitive and mediocre TV programmes, Sherlock shines like a jewel. It is refreshing, smart and charming.

Kudos to the geniuses behind Sherlock! I think everyone out there will be on the lookout for news of series 3 in making. Fingers crossed. If BBC knows what is good for them, they will pass this motion. Sherlock is literally the best thing that happens in TV for a long time.

BBC Sherlock: A Review

This holiday, I am in love. It's not very often I find myself in love with something. Perhaps, rather than calling it love, I should called it 'passion' or a worse word, 'obsession'.

I love Harry Potter (the book series and the movies), Lord of the Rings (the book series and the movies), Twilight (the book series, not so much the movies), and a couple of less epic book series and movies.

Fanfiction has play an important role all these years, I started out with good old Harry Potter fics of course. After which, I branched out. I must count my good fortune that I am exposed to so many wonderful and inspiring fanfiction. It kind of binds the world together, don't you think?  All these great writers, not professionals, but still manage to spellbind so many readers, drawing in reviews, be it good or bad.

My latest "obsession" is Sherlock from BBC One. The British really does amazing films. In this area, I would like to bring out the phrase, "quality not quantity". The mini series consists of only three 90-minutes episodes, but it has already won the BAFTA Awards that very year it came out. The series is critically-acclaimed and at the same time, well-received by the general public. There is always a line between what critics like and what the public like but it looks like Sherlock struck gold.

I know that it was released in England in August 2010 but I got wind of it only in the early months of this year.

Indeed, just after the first episode, I can't help but to get drawn into the 21st century reboot of the beloved series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock is so witty and sarcastic, filled with British humour. It is ingenious, cleverly executed and a fast-paced, intelligent and fun series. Sherlock is like a breath of fresh air and it actually allows the viewer to think things through. I often find myself rewinding to truly understand the deductions. I enjoyed it tremendously.

What adds fuel to the fire is the fact that the Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are played by two good-looking, British actors namely, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Supporting cast are up on par as well. I guess this is where the main appeal lies.

Audience do appreciate good-lookers in films, I can firmly attested to that. Of course, that doesn't mean I only watch shows with good-looking guys but it does affect one's decision, doesn't it?

I quickly moved on to the world of BBC!Sherlock fanfiction and found out just how big this fandom truly is. It has only been slightly more than a year old!

With series 2 coming up in the January 2012, the BBC!Sherlock fandom looks set to expand and grow to new heights. While I am excited over the prospect of the new series, I am thrilled by the thought of new fanfics that will be inspired by the new season. I simply cannot wait for the new and existing authors to contribute and share their work with the rest of the fandom.

Let it not be said that viewers these days only appreciate the TV adaptations and fanon writings. I read a wide spectrum of works, ranging from literary writings to novels to amatuers' fanfiction.

I do take the steps to read up on the history of the original author and the book series.I have done it for Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Not only did I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I also dabbled in Tolkien's other works such as The Silmarillion and previously unpublished commentary in The History of Middle Earth. I was 14 going on 15 at that time.

For Harry Potter, other than the the 7 books, I too read literary, analytical works such as Looking for God in Harry Potter and The End of Harry Potter.

As for my new interest in Sherlock Holmes, well, for the first time, I picked up Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work. It's certainly baffling why I didn't have the interest in it when I was younger. The thought of reading this worldwide renowned series never did cross my mind. Perhaps, it's because I was never into the mystery and crime genre.

As I grow older, the time I can devote myself to novels and books lessen. These days, I mostly read fanfiction on the Internet.

Pride and Prejudice (BBC) TV review

I watched the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was a long series, 5 hours worth of goodness. I may be years late, but that moment was worth it.

This is what pleases me. It is not a movie which means no cutting of scenes, instead, it stayed very true to the book. This scenario is rare, very rare indeed.

Often, I laments how movies spoils a good book. I'd watched the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Darcy. It was quite a good movie, but lots of people recommended the BBC version.

Come to think of it, Macfadyen's portrayal pales in comparison to Firth's. But, maybe, it's because everyone see Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in their eyes.

It was by chance I found the tapes in my school library. It did not cross my mind then to borrow. I wanted to watch it sometime, but I did not mean to borrow it through school. Come to think of it, my decision at that time seemed stupid.

I have just discovered the joy of my school library but exams were upon us and school term was ending. How unfortunate.

I'm thinking of borrowing the 2 discs again when my school term starts. I was in a rush and not in a mood to watch the whole show properly due to exams.

Ahh, well, I'm in the "Pride and Prejudice" phrase. All the books I borrowed today were related to the book. Considered them a sequel and Mr Darcy's POV.

I've to agree that the BBC version is so much better. Hahaha, Colin Firth as Mr Darcy was swoon-worthy. No wonder all those people, (I'm thinking them to be women) recommended it. He really portrayed Mr Darcy well.

I think, the entire cast was very into character. They were well-chosen for their roles. Furthermore, the girls' beauty or rather, handsomeness, seemed very real for that time-line. How do I put it, it was not like the beauty of the 21st-century.

Hmm, most older women would considered Mr Darcy as to what we (teenagers) considered Edward Cullen of Twilight to be. I may be bias though, because teenagers will be attracted to Mr Darcy as long as they read the novel and older women will swoon over Edward.

Regardless, everyone likes a gentleman.

I highly recommend the film to anyone who read Pride and Prejudice. Too bad there's no subtitles. They have a tendency to speak softly.
So, it seems that the 2005 movie and 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice were rated favourably by the critics. Both stayed very faithful to the novel. I watched both, and my favourite is the BBC version.

Pride and Prejudice by BBC.

Produced in 1995.

Starring Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.

Very, very into character.

Starring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet.

Just like how I would 'see' Elizabeth from the novel .

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