The Sherlock Phenomenon

Fast-paced, funny, intelligent, unpredictable; these are just some of the adjectives that describe the mixture that puts Sherlock in a league of its own. The co-writers display their imagination and wit as they have in other TV creations. Both Gatiss and Moffat have worked on BBC's Dr Who and Gatiss has co-written and appeared in the comedy  series The League of Gentlemen.

In Dr Who, their imagination can have free reign and has led to highly enjoyable yet implausible story lines. This same quality, when attached to the rigid framework of Sherlock Holmes, enriches the original canon and somehow makes it more believable.

Nowhere is this demonstrated better than in the dialogue. For example, the banter between our hero and John is entirely recognizable as something two close friends would exchange in real life, though extremely witty by comparison. We do not feel that there is some sort of formula behind it, as we do with so many detective shows. 

Rather than the "By Jove, Holmes" type of Dr Watson, Martin Freeman's Watson has been written as an ordinary bloke, as we say in England. His ordinariness gives us personal access to Sherlock, making us feel that we could also be in his presence and have the same relationship with him. Instead of going along with Holmes, as in so many incarnations, he often confronts him, openly disagreeing with and displaying frustration and anger towards him.

If there is any formula, it is in the ordering of individual episodes. The first episode in each series is stunning and breathtaking, keeping us on our toes, forcing us to hit the rewind button again and again to keep up. The second episode is where we can relax and take in the scenery. We can enjoy the banter at a more leisurely pace as we wait and prepare for the final episode. In that final one, we are swept along quickly again to an exciting cliffhanger.

As If the character of Sherlock and the writing were not enough, there is a ridiculously good cast with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman taking the lead. Gatiss and Moffat singled out Cumberbatch as the only one for the role of Sherlock. A great many actors were auditioned for the role of Watson, but aren't we glad that Freeman finally nabbed it. His portrayal of an average Joe in The Office, which originated in the UK, was truly amazing. The relationship between these two actors is the foundation of Sherlock.

Mrs Hudson actress Una Stubbs calls out, "Sherlock," elongating the second syllable with a whine, like an exasperated mother. Her beautifully played character is much more prominent than the original. Again, this adds another dimension which sets this version apart.

The chemistry in the show must owe a lot to the almost nepotistic casting. Una Stubbs was a close friend of Cumberbatch's parents and speaks of a time when she and his mother were chatting while noticing that the boy Benedict looked bored. Both of his parents play Sherlock's parents, by the way. Oh, and Martin Freeman's real life girlfriend  (Amanda Abbington) plays his wife, Mary, on the show.

A show must be classed as extraordinary when one of its creators plays a major character in it. Mark Gatiss is perfect as Sherlock's equally strange brother, Mycroft. Some critics believe that he even steals some of the scenes from Cumberbatch. Well, he must know the script better than anyone else.  

It would be difficult to argue that the visual impact of Sherlock has nothing to do with its success. The audience loved it when suddenly they saw words floating across the screen, showing Sherlock's thought processes. We could now enter into his very mind in real time.

When you think about it, this idea did not need to wait for a modern adaptation. It could have been achieved in the very first cinematic version of the last century. This idea just seems right nowadays, when we are so familiar with words on our computer screens and cellphones.

We have director Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin) to thank for this fantastic idea. Through this one device we can start solving the mystery ourselves before Sherlock even speaks. Think of how much time and exposition this saves.

It is not only that, but also the extremely stylish cinematography by McGuigan and other contributors that enhance our enjoyment. All of this is in harmony with the beautifully crafted music.

Fittingly, the production team's imagination equals that of the creators. Look at some of their scene transitions in the next YouTube video.

Early in the first season the creators of Sherlock imported fictional fans into the show via John Watson's blog. Talk about a unique way to achieve a following. It wasn't long before fact became stranger than fiction. Now, everywhere you look on social media there is an obsession with Sherlock.

A new expression has been coined, the world has become "Sherlocked" (from the episode, A Scandal in Belgravia). People are even recording on video their reaction to the episodes in real time.

It seems that even after a century has passed, a fictional character can be just as fresh and create just as much of an impact. If you have read this far, then probably, you are, as I am, totally and utterly Sherlocked.