Midnight Movie Buff: The name is SHERLOCK HOLMES and the address is 221B BAKER STREET...

Sherlock Holmes, all of us know this guy. Yes, he is probably the world's most famous detective. The only problem for all of us 'Sherlocked' people out there (including me) is that he is fictional, and he has to be, for if a man with such intellectual gifts was to ever walk upon the Earth, the governments and criminals worldwide would have a hell of a problem upon their hands. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about this consulting detective have been adapted into various forms- plays, movies and TV shows. I, being a die-hard Holmes fan, am familiar with all adaptions of this genius, and personally the BBC TV series titled 'Sherlock' is my favorite.

Yes, I know that this blog is about movies, but for Sherlock Holmes, I think I can make an exception and write about the TV series.

"I know you're an army doctor and you've been invalided home from Afghanistan. I know you've got a brother who's worried about you, but you won't go to him for help because you don't approve of him- possibly because he's an alcoholic, more likely because he recently walked out on his wife. And I know that your therapist thinks your limp's psychosomatic, quite correctly, I'm afraid. That's enough to be going on with, don't you think?" -Sherlock Holmes to John Watson

This quote tells you all that you need to know about Mr. Holmes. One word- Genius.

Yes, this man is the most intellectually gifted person to be ever born, and the way he has been portrayed in the TV series is just phenomenal. Benedict Cumberbatch, the highly talented actor, plays the lead in 'Sherlock'. The actor portraying Sherlock's only friend, Dr. John Watson, is also one of the few actors who can fit into any role- Martin Freeman. Since most of us are familiar with the basic plots of the Sherlock Holmes' stories and novels, I don't think I need to summarize the episodes here, unlike my previous articles. In all, there are 9 episodes of 'Sherlock', divided among 3 seasons. Each episode is generally 85-90 minutes long, but once you start watching it, you get so engrossed that 90 minutes seem to pass in no time.

The first episode of season one is based on the first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study In Scarlet. It introduces John Watson, an army doctor invalided to London, to the highly gifted Sherlock Holmes while looking for a flatmate. The first two episodes in season one focus on making the viewers familiar with the personality of Holmes and Watson. Both the episodes have different criminals and are not linked to one another except for their benefactor- Jim Moriarty. Yes, Jim Moriarty is the main villain in the series and he has been portrayed wonderfully by Andrew Scott. Moriarty is the only criminal who has been at least mentioned in every Sherlock episode till Season 3. Moriarty is the south pole to Sherlock's north, just like Sherlock is the world's only consulting detective, Moriarty is the world's only consulting criminal. Moriarty's character was shown extensively in episode three,'The Great Game'. And yes, another important character that can be seen throughout the three seasons is the co-creator himself, Mark Gatiss, who portrays Sherlock's elder brother, Mycroft Holmes. Mark's acting as Mycroft is just as commendable as Benedict and Martin's. His accent and dialogue delivery is so pure that it is almost bewitching.

The first episode of the second season introduces the character of Irene Adler, the dominatrix who brings England to its knees. She is also seen to have a romantic attachment with Sherlock, which ultimately leads to her defeat. The second episode is based on one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes novels, The Hound Of The Baskerville. The storyline is somewhat different from the novel but just like the other Sherlock episodes, simply amazing. The third episode is without doubt the best of them all. It is based on the story 'The Final Problem', where Moriarty sets out to destroy Holmes and in the end of which both, Holmes and Moriarty fall to their deaths. The story was changed for the adaptation but the basic plot remained the same, with Moriarty committing suicide and Sherlock jumping off the roof of Bart's Hospital.

When Season 3 started this year, there was a lot of excitement among the fans who wanted to know how Sherlock had faked his death. Sherlock did return in the first episode and even stopped a terrorist activity in the heart of London. This episode also introduced the character of Mary Morstan, who marries John Watson in the second episode of the season, 'The Sign of Three'. The first two episodes might have been average from Sherlock's standard, but the third one was again one of the very best. It introduced a new villain, the king of blackmail, Charles Augustus Magnussen. The standoff between Sherlock and Magnussen was amazing to watch, but in the end, Magnussen was shot by Sherlock.

However, the third season was left at a cliffhanger, with a video message showing the apparent return of Moriarty.

Season 4 is set to air by mid-2015.

The way the stories have been adapted by the creators, Mark Gatiss ans Steven Moffat, are just amazing. The wit and brilliance of Sherlock can be seen in everything he does- his walk, his dressing sense, his eating habits etc. Benedict Cumberbatch has done a phenomenal job as Sherlock. In fact, he looks best as Sherlock from among his many different roles and its as if he really was Sherlock Holmes. Martin Freeman as John Watson is a perfect choice, and he really portrays the character very well. As talked above, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft is amazing. Besides, various characters play supporting roles, such as Mrs. Hudson, DI Lestrade, Anderson, Molly Hooper, Sgt. Sally Donovan etc.

The one thing that the world learns from this show is The Science Of Deduction. The beauty of the show is so engrossing that you keep wanting for more. I'm sure all the Sherlock fans out there are eagerly waiting for Season 4.

So to conclude, I quote DI Lestrade,

"Sherlock Holmes is a great man, and we are lucky, one day he might even be a good one."

THE VERDICT:

Simply stunning. Even if you are not into detectives and crime shows, it's a must watch, for you will realize how much of your brain is unused and how much you can know if you stop seeing and start observing.