"Sherlock: A Study In Pink" Reviewed

This, is the best modern Sherlock Holmes adaptation yet. "Sherlock" is a British television series that was created in 2010 by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss who also write for the show. "Sherlock" stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman as John Watson, and Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes. Even though I wouldn't usually classify Gatiss to be in a staring role, I still mention him because it is extremely cool that he was able to be the co-creator, writer, and actor for the show. "Sherlock" has a strange format were a season is made up of three episodes with all of them being an hour and a half long. The show is basically Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories in a modern setting and with a modern twist. I will review each episode on its own since they are rather long and have a lot to them. Here is my review of "Sherlock" season one episode one: "A Study in Pink".

"A Study in Pink" is a modern adaptation of the first Holmes story titled "A Study in Scarlet". I will not be comparing the show to the plot in the book as much because I would rather judge the episode's plot on its own and will probably stick more to analyzing the transition of characters from page to screen. It has also been adapted into a modern day setting, which means that they have cars instead of chariots and changes like that.

The story opens with John Watson who is a retired war doctor with a psychosomatic leg injury that leaves him needing a cane and a therapist. The need for cheaper housing leads him to Sherlock Holmes, who is a consulting detective who has incredible powers of observation and deduction and could tell almost everything about someone by just looking at them. They soon move into the famous 221b Baker St. and get caught up in a string of suicides that Sherlock suspects are murder.

I will not spoil anything important because it is a mystery and only sickos ruin a good mystery, which this is. The premise and clues leave you guessing the whole time as you follow Watson to try and understand Holmes's reasoning and deductions. The mystery grows more deadly and crazy as it goes on, and that is what the show is really good at creating cold and twisted enigmas for our heroes to unravel. Even in the final reveal and even the end of the episode, there are some questions raised which will be addressed later in the series. This ultimately hooks you into watching the next one.

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are portrayed brilliantly by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Cumberbatch is one of my favorite actors just because of how much personality and determination he gives and has for his characters. You could tell him to play a bean and you will then watch the greatest bean ever on screen. He has a perfect blend of smart, cold, isolated, and determination to the character. He just does it well, and he makes his powers believable to shock not only the other characters, but the audience as well. He doesn't look like a person playing Sherlock Holmes on screen, he just is Sherlock Holmes on screen. Martin Freeman on the other hand, is a bit different. He has never had that much of an acting range and always seems to portray to same personality of an uptight person who has good means but always seems to get outside his comfort zone. This isn't bad, it just means that his range of roles are cut short. His personality fits Watson well and allows for some great chemistry and banter between Holmes and Watson.

In conclusion, this show is a great character driven mystery drama with a lot to it and is wicked creative and fun. It is a good beginning to an even greater adventure yet to come, and it leaves you wanting more.

Reviewed by Conner Wilson