BBC's Sherlock review

In today's world of modernization, there is not a single domain in our society which has not been touched, either directly or indirectly, by technology. Still the last thing you would think of is a modern rendition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works. The thought alone requires a lot of courage. Yes, you're right! BBC decided to make an updated version of the famous fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, set in the backdrop of the 21st century. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, co-writers of the show, took Sherlock out from the Victorian era and made him solve cases in the 21st century. And the result? Well, it drove people crazy and apparently improved their observational skills for the genius of Sherlock Holmes portrayed on screen is downright brilliant, impressive, and infectious! And once you've seen the episodes, you would't be surprised by the tremendous support and popularity the show has garnered. Season 2 has topped the success of Season 1 and the expectations from Season 3 are considerably high!

To start with, BBC Sherlock's success cannot be attributed to a single person. It has been a collective effort, be it script writing, the background score, direction, or acting. Our Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, has redefined the charisma people usually associate with the genius of Sherlock Holmes. Dialogues like "Once you have ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true" ,"Perfectly sound analysis but I was hoping that you would go deeper" and many more sound impressive. The baritone of Benedict Cumberbatch is a perfect fit for a "consulting detective". Sherlock's rapidity of thinking and his frequent use of the phrase "Don't be boring" sets him apart from "ordinary" people. No wonder he has no friends. The only friend he has is Dr.John Watson which is played brilliantly by Martin Freeman. John Watson is seen maintaining a personal blog instead of a diary(one of the many changes writers have done while setting the show in modern times). He is the moral compass of Sherlock Holmes and blogs about his cases - both solved and unsolved ones. Throughout the series, Dr.Watson is seen astounded by the intellectual prowess of his friend which is his "natural self" and his "normal" modus operandi. The usual expression of cluelessness on the face of Martin Freeman is amusing. The friendship between Holmes and Watson is captivating and refreshing, kudos to the talent of both actors.

Another central figure in the series is James(Jim) Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott. He is Sherlock's arch adversary. Despite being the antagonist, he's no less impressive than Sherlock Holmes for he is the "consulting criminal"( Sherlock's a "consulting detective"). Andrew Scott has done full justice to his role of a genius criminal. His range of facial expressions is amazing! He complements Sherlock Holmes and keeps him engaged with his criminality. The only difference between them, according to Moriarty, is that Sherlock is on the "side of the angels". Moriarty, out of his boredom, keeps coming up with new criminal ideas and his only agenda is the defeat and fall of Sherlock Holmes which he addresses in "The Final Problem". There is not an iota of a doubt that without Andrew Scott's brilliant portrayal of a criminal mastermind, it would have been impossible to fully appreciate the roles of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

Sherlock's elder brother, Mycroft Holmes, is played by Mark Gatiss(the writer himself!). He's a multifaceted man. Other characters such as those of Mrs.Hudson, Molly Hooper, Inspector Lestrade, Anderson et al are all well played and have their importance in the show. All in all, BBC's Sherlock is a must watch for all Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans because rarely a rendition is made which is almost as good as the original and does full justice to its creator.

"Life is infintely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle