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.

Inspiration

Inspiration. It's a funny, little thing, isn't it? It can hit you when you least expected it and at the same time, it can be the bane or boon of your life. After all, inspiration is what provides jobs for so many people.

For me, inspiration is about whether I have something to write for my blog or do something I normally would not do. There are good periods and bad ones. Sometimes, I hit a "writer's block" and it will be a drought here. Other times, I will go on and on about entries.

This time round, I have been inspired to play my keyboard (piano) after a long, long while. There are times when I lament about why didn't I continue my lessons in Primary 1. I wasn't trained to play with two hands nor was I trained to read the notes. But, I know enough to play really simple songs. I can play if I have the notes translated to letters.

Why the sudden interest? It's because of Sherlock, of course. Lately, everything has been about Sherlock. I picked up Conan Doyle's books, watched all those past shows starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman etc.

It's just too bad I couldn't carry it through since it is really an awful time to start, what with school and stuff. At least I have the notes translated into letters.

The Reichenbach Fall

Sherlock. Now, this is what I call superior TV. It enthrals the viewer and evokes all sorts of emotions within. It redefines what TV is and proves that with the right amount of attitude and effort, quality shows can be made.

Sherlock is full of win because of fine acting, skilled execution of filming style and of course, the modern adaptations. There is an element of charm that grabs your attention right from the start.

The Reichenbach Fall is the finale of season 2. It is the modern retelling of The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle where the author originally killed off both Moriarty and Sherlock. Thankfully, all those years ago, readers worldwide protested so much that 3 years later, the author brought Sherlock Holmes back alive again in The Empty House.

The producers of Sherlock BBC kept the best secrets in the world, as soon as episode 3 came out yesterday in the Britain, they made the announcement that season 3 was commissioned at the same time as season 2! What a tease! They must be having a laugh at all the anxiety and pleading by fans.

With this in mind, I felt that I could tackle the onslaught of emotions I was sure to face much better. At least, I will know that Sherlock will come back.

Reichenbach Fall starts off on a heavy note, with John Watson back at his therapist after an 18 months hiatus. Sherlock Holmes is dead. It then faded to 3 months earlier, where Sherlock and John were getting famous for their detective skills.

The dry wit and snappy dialogue are still present but cut down. Viewers know what is coming and the episode did nothing to glaze over this fact.

Moving on without focusing on the plot too much, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch ought and deserve every award they will subsequent receive for excellent portrayals of their respective characters.

My eyes did well up when John and Mrs Hudson visit Sherlock's grave. One powerful scene was when John saw the "leap of fate" by Sherlock. I don't know what it must be like, seeing your friend jumped to death in front of you. I love how John didn't actually cry out loud but fans all know that he is grieving inside. I love the wiping of eyes and the hitched voice - all those subtle gestures build on the scene. I think that seeing John's anguished look is even more intensive than watching him cry.

Kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch as well. His portrayal of Sherlock utterly won me over, right from the start. In this episode, he gave his best performance yet, playing a wide spectrum of emotions, from rage to sadness, in one episode.

I do hate seeing him vulnerable, so uncertain of himself and the way he loses control around Moriarty.

The scene where he told John that he is a fraud and the things he does are magic tricks is an extremely heart-wrecking scene. There he is, doing the most human thing ever, to thoroughly disgrace himself and protect John from Moriarty's marksman. He finally gain humanity or putting it in another way, thaws the coldness around his heart. Indeed, caring does not help save lives and it certainly is not an advantage, but why did he cry when he knows this is just an act? He truly cares about John and his friends.

I hate how people, even Lestrade, started to doubt him, his skills and the side he is on. He does not see himself as a hero or an angel, but like what Lestrade said in A Study in Pink, "Sherlock Holmes is a great man, and some day, if we're very, very lucky, he might even be a good one".

I don't understand why quite a lot of viewers think that Andrew Scott isn't a good Moriarty. To me, he is an extremely creepy and unstable-minded villain. His character is not a straightforward, in-your-face bad guy. The way he talks seriously creeps me out. Moriarty does not hesitate to manipulate people's thoughts and actions. This is evident when he wooed Molly and pretended to be an actor who has been wronged by Sherlock. He is so good an actor that even Sherlock seems to doubt himself.

I am glad that he is dead, or is he? He did shoot himself in the mouth, but what if he returns once again? I can't stand him any longer but he is the only one who can challenge Sherlock in his own game.

And so, the curtains shall fall on this season. Altogether, it was a brief but satisfying 3 weeks of three 90-minutes of brilliant TV. For many countries, this is just the beginning because Sherlock is not even aired yet. I am resourceful enough to go for downloading as soon as possible.

It is foreseen that Sherlock season 3 can only start filming in late 2012 and the earliest schedule for its release is 2013. As long as it's not another 18 months wait, eh? Something to look forward to this December will be The Hobbit.

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.

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.