"Highly functional sociopaths"

[donnaimmaculata]

So I watched Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss' Sherlock - an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes set in modern-day London. I think I'm going to like it. It's indefinitely better than the rather horrible film with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, and I like how they've restrained themselves from making cheap post-modern references regarding Sherlock Holmes as a cultural item (yet).

I've been very curious about Benedict Cumberbatch, because I haven't had a strong impression of him yet, apart from the fact that I like the voice. Despite the fact that he plays an annoying character, I did not find him annoying. He'll do nicely.

However, I am getting sick of that "brilliant, yet damaged & disturbed genius solves crime, because the (rest of the) police are too thick to do it" genre. (House MD falls in the same category, despite not being a police drama. And, in a way, so does Doctor Who. I pray for some character to show up who's not either impressed or riled by them. "Oh, there goes the twitchy guy who likes to hear himself talk a lot," I hope someone would shrug. "Just ignore him so that he goes away." That would not make for good drama, but it would make me happy.)

itv's Identity is yet another such police drama featuring a damaged & disturbed expert (special interests: identity fraud) who does not work well with a team, but whom they need because he's a genius in his own field. Unlike Sherlock, the production is really quite bad, but I am watching it, because the resident mad genius is played by Aidan Gillen, who is utterly delicious. Dear god, is that man ageing well! I've always had a crush on his Stuart Alan Jones from Queer as Folk (UK), but haven't seen much of him since, and now I am utterly smitten. Smitten!




< / profound television critique >

Comments

[froda-baggins.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend Castle- Not just because of the utterly adorable Nathan Fillion. Part of why I like it is because all the characters are quite smart and they all get to contribute. Also, it's like His Girl Friday set at a police station.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

all the characters are quite smart and they all get to contribute

I love it when that happens. It's getting so rare to see a good team solving crime. Even the A-Team managed to be more balanced and equal-opportunity than many modern dramas!

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

That's why I love State of Play so much. It's such a good ensemble drama, and the characters work as a real team - they do not merely represent a stereotype each. (I'm hoping that new!Watson will not become the "plucky sidekick" as the show progresses.)

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

It's a British mini series (6 eps) with John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald, James McAvoy, Philip Glenister... Oh, I made a post about it on LJ once (with picspam), here.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

Stuart Alan Jones is the most seductive creature on earth.

I always find it very surprising that all supporting characters have so much time and patience to deal with the annoying twerps. House always reminded me of a sulky (and unwashed) teenager who happens to be good at one thing. When he's not in the process of saving lives, they should just lock him up in a remote room with drugs and a Wii or something - like you do with teenage boys! That's what Edmund Blackadder would have done.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

I pray for some character to show up who's not either impressed or riled by them. "Oh, there goes the twitchy guy who likes to hear himself talk a lot," I hope someone would shrug. "Just ignore him so that he goes away." That would not make for good drama, but it would make me happy.

So true! And it rankles, because you know few people wait around to hear the genius of twitchy women. M.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

Women hardly ever get to be self-centred, megalomaniac and anti-social and yet utterly non-evil and much-admired. If a female character doesn't fulfil the role of the moral compass of the group, there's usually something wrong with her.

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

I loathe House because I think he gets off on being the asshole, whereas Sherlock I think isn't purposely being the asshole he is sometimes. Does that make sense?

Also think this series (so far) works because it keeps things light and funny and adventuresome. Being as this isn't a multi-season American series, I'm much more hopeful they won't angst things up to give their characters ~deeper meaning~... like they did House. The montages at the end of every single House episode, with their soft rock muzak and slow pans of people walking around looking pensive, were ridiculous.

(Finally, I just adore Martin Freeman's Watson and his badass gun, so I'm biased.)

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

I loathe House because I think he gets off on being the asshole, whereas Sherlock I think isn't purposely being the asshole he is sometimes

Yes! Absolutely. I like this Sherlock, even though he falls into the "annoying genius" category. But he doesn't display the self-analysis, self-justification tendencies that House does.

British shows are usually better at not giving their characters ~deeper meaning~ through angst overkill. I like that Watson's trauma stems not from suffering from PTSD but rather from missing the war. Plus, casting lovable Martin Freeman as an urban gun-slinger was a clever move.