"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.

[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.

[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.)