I've Been Sherlocked

I’ve Been Sherlocked

OK, this is my second Sherlock Holmes related article in the last few weeks. However, since this one is about the British TV show that airs on BBC 1 and not the film, then I think I’m OK to do it. 

I have definitely been Sherlocked. 

Admittedly, I didn’t take much notice of the first season when it debuted last year. Mainly due to the fact that I’m not the biggest fan of British television. I am inclined to go for more of an American approach to satisfy my TV taste buds.  I’m not too sure why this is, but I often find British TV a bit bland and highly influencing British Stereotypes. No wonder were seen as either mindless ruffians or toffs in the eyes of the world if they believe what is portrayed in our television shows to be a reflection of real British life. Alas, I’m getting off topic. 

I sat down New Years Day with my girlfriend, who is an avid Sherlock Holmes fan, to watch the first episode of second season of Sherlock. It was about ten minutes in when I first realised it: I was hooked. Since then I borrowed my girlfriend’s copy of Sherlock series one, watched it and also watched episode 2 of the second series which aired just last Sunday. 

After digesting all the Sherlock that was available, I have come to a conclusion: Sherlock is the best thing British Television has produced in a long, long while, if not ever. I know I’ll get some people wholeheartedly disagreeing with comments like ‘what about Doctor Who?’ and ‘What about Downtown Abby?’ and it’s OK to not agree with me, but for my money you’re not going to get better than Sherlock. 

OK, maybe it’s partly a case of right place, right time, with Mr Holmes and detective shows once again being all the trend. However, if not done right Sherlock would fall flat on its pipe smoking face.  With Mr Holmes comes a stigma of incredible intellect and a mass amount of Whit. Steven Moffet et al would have to adhere to this or the show would fail. 

Luckily it does and then some.  Each episode of Sherlock has as many twists and turns as any detective show that has come before it. But that’s not all; Benedict Cummberbach’s Holmes smacks every dry line with a ferocious amount of whit. Defiantly doing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters justice. 

However, Sherlock’s greatest success was the idea to move it to the 21^st century. Sceptical at first, this is what most impressed me about the TV Show. You would think that there would be some discrepancies due to how many years difference there is between Doyle’s original musings and today. But no, Moffat and his team have created a world so slick and accurate, that it stays true to the Book, but also doesn’t feel dated or out of place in a modern day setting. 

This hard work by Moffat has come to fruition as the show has become one of the hottest things on television. I don’t think I’m the only one who enjoys it as the whole countries been Sherlocked. 

Until next time, enjoy the show. 

Feel free to comment below, email me at: cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Follow me on twitter @glamgrunge

Daniel Morris.

Reality Television: What's real about it?

Reality Television: What’s real about it?

Before I get in to this column, I just want to state that this is not a rant against ‘Reality TV’ and if it comes across that way then, I’m sorry.

I enjoy ‘Reality Television’. Not all of it, but quite a lot of it. It’s why I try not to watch much of it, because I become engrossed by it. ‘Reality TV’ gets a lot of stick for not being ‘sophisticated television’, but that’s not its M.O. ‘Reality TV’ is there to entertain and the majority of it does so, with bells on. 

Whether it’s Big Brother, X Factor, I’m A Celebrity Get me out of Here, Geordie Shore, Jersey Shore, Survivor, Hogan Knows Best, The Kardashians, My Super Sweet Sixteen, they’re all entertaining. Intellectually stimulating? No, Enjoyable? Maybe, But entertaining? Yes. 

However, my gripe with ‘Reality Television’ is not one about its intellectual stimulation. I don’t believe everything has to be. I watch pro wrestling on a regular basis. If I want to watch something that makes me think, I’ll watch a documentary, just not Inside Job. I’m all up for intellectual stimulation, but Inside Job goes way over my head. 

If I want to watch something entertaining, I’m not going to stick on a documentary about sand on, am I? Horses for courses, and despite how lame it is, Reality Television is still a Horse. 

My problem with ‘Reality Television’ is in the title itself. The word ‘Reality’ implies the thing that is captured resembles something real and quite close to normal life. This is not the case. 

If I’m just not seeing it then I apologise, but I would love someone to tell  me what’s real about 12 people living in a house without being able to leave, having their every movement filmed, while completing bizarre tasks in order to get a bigger food budget? I’m sorry, but where I live, that’s not the norm.  

‘Reality Television’ does not capture anything remotely close to reality. Do the producers of these shows think that we believe that their contestants are acting like they would in the streets of Peckham? Because if they are thinking that, then they need to go to bed early without any supper. 

What’s worse is if the producers of these shows actually believe that we the viewer don’t realise that these shows are heavily crafted. If they believe that as a collective audience we think that everything that happens in these shows is coincidence, then what does that say about them? More importantly, what does that say about us as an audience, if they think that low of us?

I’m not saying that I want more television shows about my trip to Tesco. I don’t, because apart from the man smelling of Jameson’s and urine on the bus, it’s rather uneventful. I just want a name change. 

‘Reality Television’ has nothing to do with reality. To be honest, I’ve seen more episodes of Lost that have more truth to them than any episode of the Geordie Shore. ‘Reality Television’ is entertaining, call it that. At least then you’re being truthful. 

Rant over. If you think I’m way out of line, feel free to email me at:

cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Follow me on twitter @glamgrunge

Until next time, enjoy the show

Daniel Morris.