The BBC reboot of Sherlock Holmes updates the iconic detective for the twenty-first century. The genius remains on the cutting edge of technology, virtually glued to his phone, and his longsuffering Watson records their adventures in his therapist-mandated blog. Gone are the pipes, replaced with nicotine patches (“It’s impossible to maintain a smoking habit in London.”), yet Dr. John Watson is still an injured veteran of the war in Afghanistan.
The first season of this critically acclaimed series features three ninety-minute episodes. The first, “A Study in Pink”, introduces the updated characters: the titular self-proclaimed sociopath; his prospective PTSD-suffering flatmate, John Watson; the affable, no-nonsense D.I. Lestrade and his team; Mrs. “Not your housekeeper!” Hudson; Sherlock’s big brother Mycroft; and the inimitable Moriarty. You’re also introduced to Sherlock’s inability to keep his mouth shut, John’s position as moral guide, and how it’s not appropriate to giggle at crime scenes… not that it stops them. “The Blind Banker” features an international smuggling ring and Watson’s inability to have a date that isn’t gatecrashed by Sherlock, and the final episode, “The Great Game”, escalates the conflict between Sherlock and Moriarty with deadly results and an ending that will have you screaming at the screen.
The second season picks up where the first season ended, and the third season begins filming in early 2013, much to the dismay of the legions of fans panting for a conclusion.
Whether you’re a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories or a complete newcomer to the idea, Sherlock is a tightly written, exceptionally acted, startlingly funny, deeply dramatic show that will enlist you in the ranks of Watson’s Warriors.