Warning: Possible Spoilers
Jonny Lee Miller plays the role of Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu plays the role of Watson in the TV series ELEMENTARY. At first, I was skeptical about this show, since Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman did such an excellent job on the British TV show SHERLOCK. And what was amazing about that show was it only had 3 episodes per year. A lot of time and effort was put into the production of each episode.
So how does ELEMENTARY compare to SHERLOCK? It doesn't. SHERLOCK sticks to the classic tales written by Arthur Conan Doyle with a present day twist. On the other hand, each episode of ELEMENTARY is a brand new case, exploring the idea of Sherlock Holmes going to the U.S. and helping solve crimes.
Joan Watson is a former surgeon who gave up being a doctor because someone probably died under her watch. She takes on the job of helping recovering addicts by becoming their companion, making sure they stay clean. Sherlock is the recovering drug addict that she is trying to help out.
I guess the good thing about this show is that it is an actual weekly series. Unlike SHERLOCK, I don't have to wait an entire year after watching three episodes to watch another. And some of the cases taken on by Jonny Miller's character have not been very predictable - a plus for the writers of the show.
Aidan Quinn is a surprisingly effective addition to the cast of supporting characters. It's good to see him on screen again. I think the last I remember of him was his role in "Legends of the Fall", as Bradd Pitt's elder brother. He's ok as a boss for Sherlock, and is kind of similar to Lisbon, in the show the MENTALIST - which in my opinion - is the TV show ELEMENTARY is trying to compete with and take the top spot from (in terms of Crime Solving). "What about CSI?" you ask - who still watches CSI? =)
Anyway, while the MENTALIST might be nearing its end, since they have almost exhausted the Red John storyline, and once that is solved, the show will most likely lose steam, ELEMENTARY might just take its place as the number one American detective show. They haven't even explored plenty of Sherlock lore such as Moriarty, Microft, Adler, etc. And since the show has more creative freedom than it's U.K. counterpart, writers can even create new arch enemies for Holmes.
Whether Holmes and Watson become a love item remains to be seen. It is kind of weird, but is definitely better than Cumberbatch falling for Freeman. Or vice versa.
So if you love a good murder case with a quirky detective solving the crime, try out ELEMENTARY. And now, to end with the classic joke.
"Where did you learn to read and write Sherlock?"
"Elementary my dear Watson, elementary."
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