Arguably the smartest, most well-written show in the world, BBC’s Sherlock is coming back – way back. The upcoming Christmas special (no premiere date yet) will take place in the 19th century, and will provide us with the first new episode of the show since January of 2014, and only the tenth since the show began in summer of 2010. For the math wizards out there, than an average of about one episode every six months. I point that out only to illustrate how well versed the Sherlock fan base is at waiting.
What could be better than a spot of tea and a little 221b on the telly this holiday season? Not having to wait a year for it, for a start! That’s right, Cumberphiles, while the rumors of a Sherlock special are indeed true, you’re going to have to do what Sherlock fans do best; wait. Continue reading All We Want For Christmas Is A Sherlock Special!→
There’s a lot of buzz online about our favorite UK shows, so we’ve put all this news together in a handy, more digestible format for your reading pleasure. First off is some information from Bleeding Cool looking at the upcoming series of Misfits. Now working on its fifth season it has been reported by Channel Four that this will be the last ever series. Here is the official blurb for what this series is going to cover.
Filming on the new series of Doctor Who got under way on the 20th of February, and they recently finished filming on location in Spain. This will be Matt Smith’s third year as ‘the Doctor’, but also Karen Gillian & Arthur Darvill‘s last as companions Amy and Rory. They will be leaving in episode 5. It, of course, means that a new companion will be joining the Doctor in the TARDIS. The actress to play this – so far unnamed – role has been recently announced: Jenna-Louise Coleman!
Jenna is 25 and comes from Blackpool. She has previously played ‘Jasmine Thomas’ in the ITV soap Emmerdale, and ‘Lindsay James’ in the BBC drama Waterloo Road. She also appeared, last Sunday, on new ITV drama Titanic, as ‘Annie Desmond’. All of which probably means nothing to anyone not from the UK. She was also the voice of Melia in Xenoblade on the Wii and had a small (very small – two lines small) part in the Captain America film.
When she found out she had got the part she was, apparently, in Marks & Spencers holding an avocado. Steven Moffat has said of her ” I think she’s possibly the only person I’ve ever heard [talk] faster than Matt.” He also said that when Jenna’s character meets the doctor it will be “one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters” and that “even by the Doctor’s standard this isn’t your usual boy meets girl.” She will be introduced in the Christmas special.
And so on to the new series (number 7 if you must, or number 33 as I – and lots of other fans – like to think of it). The BBC press release says:
Prepare yourselves for thrills, adventure and dramatic surprises as the show builds towards its enormous, climactic 50th anniversary year.” It also promises “Fourteen big blockbuster-movie episodes – each a brand new epic adventure featuring new monsters and some familiar foes as you’ve never seen them before.
A lot to live up to!
Guest stars so far confirmed are: David Bradley (Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films), Rupert Graves (most recently seen as D.I. Lestrade in Sherlock), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films) and Ben Browder (Farscape and Stargate).
And here is the first preview trailer. Yay! Cowboys, cyborgs, and running – lots of running.
“Anachronistic electricity; keep-out signs; aggressive stares – has someone been peeking at my Christmas list?!” Brilliant!
The new series will premiere this autumn – dates to be confirmed – on BBC One (UK), BBC America (USA) and SPACE (Canada). There will be six episodes this year (including the Christmas Special) and then 8 next year – hopefully just after New Year.
So the bane of my existence America’s #1 Network – CBS is planning a new modern-day ‘Sherlock Holmes’ show called Elementary. This announcement comes after they approached the BBC and Sherlock show runners about remaking the British masterpiece, and being denied. This has led to their announcement ruffling the feathers of the Brits a bit, as I’m sure they don’t want to see their show bastardized, which CBS would surely do.
These statements came from Sherlock executive producer Sue Vertue‘s Twitter:
Exec. Producers Sue Vertue and her husband (Dr. Who scribe) Steven Moffat.
We understand that CBS are doing their own version of an updated Sherlock Holmes. It’s interesting, as they approached us a while back about remaking our show.
At the time, they made great assurances about their integrity, so we have to assume that their modernised Sherlock Holmes doesn’t resemble ours in any way, as that would be extremely worrying.
We are very proud of our show and like any proud parent, will protect the interest and wellbeing of our offspring.
Well, it took awhile, but the wait was worth it. With the new year came the new season of BBC’s Sherlock, and they wasted no time in delivering what I felt was their best episode to date. We picked up right where we left off, Sherlock and Watson in peril and for the first time, face to face with Jim Moriarty. As the first season ended all involved appeared to be in mortal danger, a Mexican standoff if you will. As A Scandal in Belgravia begins, there they all stand, at the pool and around an explosive vest when Moriarty gets a phone call. The woman on the other line inadvertently diffuses the whole situation and both sides are allowed to back down.
Now to some this might feel like a cop-out, but that’s what makes the relationship between Sherlock and Moriarty so interesting. Much like the Joker with Batman, Moriarty doesn’t really want to kill Holmes, it’s more fun just to play with him. And as Sherlock Holmes is half the original inspiration for Batman (along with Zorro), it’s no wonder that Batman and the Joker can be drawn in such a similar light.
Now in June we told you that the sophomore season would feature the likes of the infamous Irene Alder, and feature her it has. Behold, the only woman to ever set a flutter the heart of our robotically cold Investigator.
Adler (Lara Pulver) is the introduced to us not as your run of the mill damsel in distress, but instead the target of Sherlock’s most recent case. The treat of digital blackmail and royal scandal have the Crown spooked, and for this reason Sherlock is asked to handle ‘evidence retrieval’ from outside Buckingham Palace. In the modern setting this comes in the form of an encrypted phone.
Upon introduction between Sherlock and Ms. Adler, it becomes quite clear that the retrieval of the phone is about more than just some racy photos. Whatever the true nature of the case is, it’s dangerous enough to interest the Americans as well. Sherlock and Dr. Watson once again find themselves in for more than they bargained with CIA Spooks and kidnappers running amok.
The episode takes place over the course of several months, encompassing Christmas and New Year. It also once again shows that despite how brilliant he is, Sherlock can sometimes miss the most obvious of conclusions – namely the fact that coroner Molly Hooper is in love with him. As sweet and obvious as she can be with Sherlock, she constantly tries to display her feelings for him, but unfortunately for her, she is not Irene Adler and therefore remains near invisible to Mr. Holmes.
Sherlock instead prefers to have a one-sided text message relationship with Irene that goes on for months, and is a rather endearing to see, even if we do feel for Molly. His unwillingness to answer Ms. Adler’s texts though is simply proof that the man who often seems heartless, does in fact have a heart and his silence speaks volumes. Even upon learning of Ms. Adler’s death, it’s what Sherlock does not say that speaks the loudest.
“All lives end. All hearts are broken. Caring is not an advantage Sherlock.”
At a certain point the whole case becomes less about getting the photos back for the crown, and more about figuring out what else is on the phone. It’s obviously important if the CIA is so interested in it, and for months Sherlock try to decipher an unlock code for which you’re allowed only 4 guesses before the thing self destructs Mission Impossible style.
Without spoiling how it ends, I will simply say the whole episode was excellent, and you should check it out. They’ve made Sherlock certainly more of a badass this year, and the involvement of Adler and Moriarty raise the stakes considerably. It is a little sad that the new Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. can’t really compare to even the weakest episodes of this show in terms of quality writing. I give the premiere 5 of 5 Bears and wish that there were more than 2 more episodes coming this year…
Don’t snivel Mrs. Hudson, it’ll do nothing to impede the flight of a bullet. What a tender world that would be.
Grizzly Bomb 