Sherlock (2010 – )

Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous consulting detective is incredibly popular in British culture. We all know that Sherlock lives at 221B Baker Street with Dr John Watson at his side. Holmes is the one and only consulting detective, a private investigator, either hired by a client or most commonly by the police to help in the most unusual or prolific cases.

Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) would be the first one to tell you himself that he is a “high-functioning sociopath”. No one is like Sherlock and no one can understand what goes on in his brain. He is very different to other detectives that are on screen. With his hyper-observant skills, Sherlock Holmes is able to use science, logic and deduction to read into many situations – he can tell the most probable answers by simply looking at the way someone is dressed, he can discover what is missing that would solve the puzzle.

Even with his magnificent mind, the one place Holmes falls is his interaction with other people. His brutal, honest, plain obvious facts (to him anyway) are blurted out whenever he sees fit. Nevertheless, he still manages to create some love-hate friendships who stick around. The one most significant being his new housemate, Dr John Watson (Martin Freeman). John Watson reluctantly becomes Sherlock Holmes sidekick. A recently injured war veteran, Watson realises he is still searching for some excitement in life after the war – chasing down killers and solving cases becomes his new thrill.

Amongst the other characters in the show are Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs), Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) and Moriarty (Andrew Scott) – three that deserve the recognition. Mrs Hudson is the lovely landlady of 221B Baker Street. She graces our screens with so much care for Holmes and Watson, there is an obvious truth that Baker Street could not survive without her. Mycroft is the brother of Sherlock Holmes. The one and only. He holds an extremely powerful position for his country and similarities with Sherlock resemble in the emotionless and observant minds. Mycroft and Sherlock scenes are great to see as Sherlock becomes stubborn in refusing whatever his brother says – it’s amusing that little sibling squabbles are present amongst the greatest minds. Finally, the ultimate nemesis of Sherlock’s. The one man who manipulates and pulls strings in many cases, Jim Moriarty. Sherlock will meet his match.

Each episode of ‘Sherlock’ is like a little film – an hour and a half long. Although, they are so addictive and interesting in every aspect. Each episode is solving a new crime, a crime completely different from the last and will be different from the next. Obviously, we spend most time with Sherlock and Watson, learning about their way of life and living in the magnificence of how they solve crimes.

Benedict Cumberbatch is the best Sherlock Holmes on screen. He plays this loveable character so well! It’s the same for all the characters on the screen, the actors seem perfect to the personality and portrayal. There is not a single actor in this show who isn’t brilliant. ‘Sherlock’ is such a wonderful and modern portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Every episode is intriguing and interesting, you become lost into 221B Baker Street. You become addicted into wanting to know what will happen next in Holmes and Watson’s lives. It is always worth the watch! You never really know what will happen next, the unpredictability is off the scale.