ELEMENTARY (NOT SHERLOCK)

So after some consideration I am really not impressed with ELEMENTARY, mainly because it doesn't "feel" like a Sherlock Holmes story the way that the BBC's SHERLOCK does. In many way, despite it being updated to modern times, SHERLOCK feels more authentic than, say, Guy Ritchie's big screen adaptation with Robert Downey Jr as Holmes. Even that version felt more authentic than ELEMENTARY does.

ELEMENTARY is just another US mystery/procedural. Nothing special about it. If this is Sherlock Holmes, then there really needs to be something special about him and there really isn't. Recovering addict? Meh. Seen it. The potential for sexual tension between the two leads? Obvious and old hat.

The mystery itself was a cheat. Conan Doyle's Holmes mysteries give you all the clues. If you're clever you could figure it out. The first episode cheated. The one vital clue was kept hidden until nearly the end.

Also Holmes' deductive capabilities seemed to range from elementary (pardon the pun) to supernatural. He overlooked the one vital clue that solved the mystery, but Watson spotted it. One observation that could have been deducible he admitted that he learned it from Google. Conversely his deductions about how the baseball game will turn out... sorry, bullshit unless you're psychic.

ELEMENTARY has a very high bar set for it by the BBC. I know it's only the first one out of the gate, but I'm afraid this US version doesn't come close, nor does it seem to even be trying hard enough.


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ASYLUM OF THE DALEKS

I've come a bit late to this. I spent the weekend getting my daughter settled into University (and then trying to deal with the resultant "empty nest") that I didn't get a chance to sit down and watch the first episode of the new season until Monday night.

So many others have reviewed it so I'll just say that I mostly liked it but had some quibbles. First off, for a planet that was supposedly populated by the most wacked out, crazy Daleks filled with "such divine hatred", it seemed pretty lame. I expected a full-on Dalek madhouse but all I got was a few run down Daleks in a basement and a few in chains. I know there's only so much you can do in such a short time and the episode was pretty full, but still it was a bit of a disappointment.

Also, and this is my biggest quibble,: How did the TARDIS get into the Dalek ship at the end for the Doctor to teleport into? That whole thing wasn't explained very well at all.

I liked Oswin but I knew there would be something up with her as soon as the Doctor asked how she got the milk. The reveal at the end was not unexpected but still satisfying.

Looking forward to the next episode, as always.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio