westernredcedar (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
westernredcedar) wrote2014-01-21 10:34 pm
westernredcedar) wrote2014-01-21 10:34 pm
Entry tags:
Meanderings and Sherlock
I'm having a weird, emotional night due to various goings-on in RL. All fine, just has me a bit off-kilter and so I'm in the mood to feel some solid footing under me here. How about spouting forth about Sherlock, Season 3? That's all very concrete and fun! Therefore:
Sherlock. For the record again, I cannot interpret the show as anything other than the story of two people finding their perfect life partner and falling in love, and oddly (odd, due to the nature of the plot of this season, what with the marriage and all) my feelings on this matter have not changed.
I loved that there was nothing in this season that veered me off this reading of the show, even Mary. In fact, Mary, who I really enjoyed as a character, seems to understand that she is a third in a previously existing marriage, and she seems okay with that. Which, yeah, made me really appreciate the writing, because that is hard to pull off. And that made me need to go re-read Basingstoke's Yes Yes Yes again for the many-ith time, because a glorious balanced three-person relationship between them all is something I can only like if really handled perfectly, as in that fic. And I liked how it was handled here. Amazing!
I adored the second episode. I may have to watch it again as soon as I finish writing this. It is possible the "Madonna/Sherlock Holmes" game is my favorite scene in any of the episodes ever, because that tension of love and confusion between them is so perfectly present. There is a moment when John falls off the chair and has to use Sherlock's knee to raise himself back up, and it's so lush with love, with that touch that can't go any further. Gah! Honestly, since I've been so into Torchwood lately, I keep imagining Jack Harkness meeting John and Sherlock together and being crazy frustrated by the 21st century repression that keeps them apart. Heh.
I even enjoyed the mystery plot in episode two, an element that I found lacking in the other two episodes, which is actually quite pathetic for a mystery program.
I was pleased with some of the development of Molly's character in episode 2. My favorite moment for her is at the end when she does not leave the wedding and follow Sherlock, when you see her tempted and then have the strength to resist and be her strong self. I really identified with her in that moment, and appreciated how real it was. (versus the rather insulting Sherlock clone boyfriend plot she had to deal with in ep 1. I cringed at that choice.)
Something I have mixed feelings about is Sherlock's drug use. At the start of ep 3 I actually shouted out loud at the TV when I realized that John was about to find Sherlock amongst all the heroin users (which I figured out moments before it happened, I'm slow...), especially after the end of ep 2, when Sherlock was so alone. This was an opportunity for the plot to be intense and fascinating, dealing with Sherlock the addict who has now fallen off the wagon and has no real reason to take care of himself. I was excited to finally see this element of his character being explored. And then...it went nowhere and was never mentioned again. And that made me mad, as if Sherlock is so amazingly brilliant that he can strategically use heroin for a case and be fine, no consequences, even with his history. So, I liked the idea, loved a couple of the scenes, and hated the result.
Elements I did not appreciate were mostly present in Eps 1 and 3.
1. Mystery: I missed the detailed mystery plots. Even the Magnuson plot in ep 3 did not do it for me- too broad and confusing. Just have someone murdered and try to solve it, please. A few things were not even consistent, like Magnuson having Smallwood's "letters" in the beginning, and then having no paperwork whatsoever being the big reveal at the end?? Maybe I missed something, but it seemed poorly thought out.
2. Protesting too much: I was frustrated that after creating such an emotional connection between John and Sherlock in Reichenbach, it was necessary for John to revisit the "I'm not gay," piece again in this season. I had hoped that John's character had grown beyond needing to do that.
3. Character consistency: I liked the John's mustache joke once in ep 1, but felt that Sherlock figured out how deeply he had screwed up during the fake French waiter scene, so repeating the joke over and over made him really look like an ass, and took me out of his character. I felt similarly about how Sherlock handled the end of the bomb on the train scare. I think after John had been so honest, he would be more respectful of his dear friend, not laugh, etc. I did not like these character inconsistencies in that episode. At all.
4. Motorbike chases, etc. I mean, why? And with Mary? And they're supposed to be somehow reading a GPS or something as they go? Like, down a bunch of stairs? Sigh.
There's more to talk about I'm sure...like the awesome Holmes parents! It feels good to do a little bit of a download though, scattered as it may be. Now, back to working on some fic writing. Oh, and sleep. Hurrah!
*hugs*
Sherlock. For the record again, I cannot interpret the show as anything other than the story of two people finding their perfect life partner and falling in love, and oddly (odd, due to the nature of the plot of this season, what with the marriage and all) my feelings on this matter have not changed.
I loved that there was nothing in this season that veered me off this reading of the show, even Mary. In fact, Mary, who I really enjoyed as a character, seems to understand that she is a third in a previously existing marriage, and she seems okay with that. Which, yeah, made me really appreciate the writing, because that is hard to pull off. And that made me need to go re-read Basingstoke's Yes Yes Yes again for the many-ith time, because a glorious balanced three-person relationship between them all is something I can only like if really handled perfectly, as in that fic. And I liked how it was handled here. Amazing!
I adored the second episode. I may have to watch it again as soon as I finish writing this. It is possible the "Madonna/Sherlock Holmes" game is my favorite scene in any of the episodes ever, because that tension of love and confusion between them is so perfectly present. There is a moment when John falls off the chair and has to use Sherlock's knee to raise himself back up, and it's so lush with love, with that touch that can't go any further. Gah! Honestly, since I've been so into Torchwood lately, I keep imagining Jack Harkness meeting John and Sherlock together and being crazy frustrated by the 21st century repression that keeps them apart. Heh.
I even enjoyed the mystery plot in episode two, an element that I found lacking in the other two episodes, which is actually quite pathetic for a mystery program.
I was pleased with some of the development of Molly's character in episode 2. My favorite moment for her is at the end when she does not leave the wedding and follow Sherlock, when you see her tempted and then have the strength to resist and be her strong self. I really identified with her in that moment, and appreciated how real it was. (versus the rather insulting Sherlock clone boyfriend plot she had to deal with in ep 1. I cringed at that choice.)
Something I have mixed feelings about is Sherlock's drug use. At the start of ep 3 I actually shouted out loud at the TV when I realized that John was about to find Sherlock amongst all the heroin users (which I figured out moments before it happened, I'm slow...), especially after the end of ep 2, when Sherlock was so alone. This was an opportunity for the plot to be intense and fascinating, dealing with Sherlock the addict who has now fallen off the wagon and has no real reason to take care of himself. I was excited to finally see this element of his character being explored. And then...it went nowhere and was never mentioned again. And that made me mad, as if Sherlock is so amazingly brilliant that he can strategically use heroin for a case and be fine, no consequences, even with his history. So, I liked the idea, loved a couple of the scenes, and hated the result.
Elements I did not appreciate were mostly present in Eps 1 and 3.
1. Mystery: I missed the detailed mystery plots. Even the Magnuson plot in ep 3 did not do it for me- too broad and confusing. Just have someone murdered and try to solve it, please. A few things were not even consistent, like Magnuson having Smallwood's "letters" in the beginning, and then having no paperwork whatsoever being the big reveal at the end?? Maybe I missed something, but it seemed poorly thought out.
2. Protesting too much: I was frustrated that after creating such an emotional connection between John and Sherlock in Reichenbach, it was necessary for John to revisit the "I'm not gay," piece again in this season. I had hoped that John's character had grown beyond needing to do that.
3. Character consistency: I liked the John's mustache joke once in ep 1, but felt that Sherlock figured out how deeply he had screwed up during the fake French waiter scene, so repeating the joke over and over made him really look like an ass, and took me out of his character. I felt similarly about how Sherlock handled the end of the bomb on the train scare. I think after John had been so honest, he would be more respectful of his dear friend, not laugh, etc. I did not like these character inconsistencies in that episode. At all.
4. Motorbike chases, etc. I mean, why? And with Mary? And they're supposed to be somehow reading a GPS or something as they go? Like, down a bunch of stairs? Sigh.
There's more to talk about I'm sure...like the awesome Holmes parents! It feels good to do a little bit of a download though, scattered as it may be. Now, back to working on some fic writing. Oh, and sleep. Hurrah!
*hugs*
no subject
I liked the John's mustache joke once in ep 1, but felt that Sherlock figured out how deeply he had screwed up during the fake French waiter scene, so repeating the joke over and over made him really look like an ass, and took me out of his character. I felt similarly about how Sherlock handled the end of the bomb on the train scare.
I had very much the same reaction but am now wondering if perhaps this is one of those boy things I don't understand--badly timed, inappropriate humor to defuse an emotional situation? I don't know. I'm totally aware this version of Sherlock can be a jerk--it's one of the reasons why I haven't written for this fandom--but that doesn't seem like the kind of jerk he's been in the past.
Motorbike chases, etc. I mean, why?
*sigh* I know. When they did the first, slick, pseudo-Bond version of the fall, I rolled my eyes a bit, because it's NOT THAT FAR OFF, show.
And that made me mad, as if Sherlock is so amazingly brilliant that he can strategically use heroin for a case and be fine, no consequences, even with his history. So, I liked the idea, loved a couple of the scenes, and hated the result.
Yeah. They don't seem to be into consequences in general, do they? I think I'm fundamentally confused by the filming and the acting and the sheer attention to detail that's evident throughout. The production values all lead me to think that this is one genre-- character-driven drama--but really it's another--a superhero flick on the small screen produced with a bit more subtlety than you'd usually expect. I just winced when the flophouse scene began because that wasn't going anywhere good.
I miss the mystery plots, too.
I'm looking forward to your fic! I'm not quite sure where fic is going to go here--as I think I said to rotaryphones the other day, I suspect some of the inconsistencies will actually be a boon for fandom in the long run, after folks have been able to forget or rationalize the parts that don't fit in with their view of the characters. I'm not sure what will happen with the Sherlock/John relationship, though--in a weird way, that relationship seemed open to multiple readings before and now seems curiously flat. I have a hard time reading Sherlock as anything but pining and feel totally adrift from John. Hm.... M.
no subject
Your comments on the genre-confusion are especially apt, I think. I'm watching for one thing, so when the show gives me another I get confused. But I love the characters so much that I forgive the show and try to make sense of it, and that's why I end up reading massive amounts of fic to try and sort of the confusion! It's funny that the two fandoms pulling on me outside of HP right now (Sherlock and Torchwood) are both shows with really serious genre-confusion. (Torchwood's even worse! Is it a satire? A soap opera? A goofy sci-fi romp? A bleak harsh existential drama? etc.) But I think you are right- the super-hero elements really pull me out of the story when I'm watching for the characters and the mysteries. I realize now this feeling goes all the way back to that run over the rooftops in A Study in Pink. I guess I want my heroes human in this case, not super-human.
In regards the Sherlock/John relationship, I agree that we were not given the chance to see yet how this new dynamic will play out, especially once there is a baby (you can see above in my response to bk7 for my frustrations on that score- and I'll add, as a tired parent in RL, the idea that I have to think about a kid while watching one of my favorite escapist shows makes me very grumpy). One of the writing cheats I did not appreciate in ep3 was the indication that John did not speak to Mary for a month after learning about her past. Well, what happened during that month? Did Sherlock try to fill back in as his partner? Where was John living? How did this all fall out amongst this fragile triangle of humans? Seems pretty important. But the show skipped all that. Again, as you say, probably a boon for fandom because of these flaws, but still...
*hug*