Elementary - A Revised Opinion (Spoilers)

I'm not gonna lie. When I first heard that CBS were doing their own version of Sherlock Holmes with the New York based Elementary, I wasn't exactly jumping for joy about the prospect of it. Also like some viewers, I also wasn't too eager on the character of Watson being rewritten as a female character, even though the always excellent Lucy Liu had been cast. Then I actually watched the show.

And I have to admit (and not for the first time) perhaps I prejudged it too harshly. While I am still a bit fed up of US networks doing their own versions of UK programmes, Elementary turned out to be a lot better than I gave it credit for. Both Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu have turned out to be a captivating and engrossing take on the great detective and his sober companion, possibly even as good as Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have been on Steven Moffat/Mark Gatiss's Sherlock series and while the show has largely felt like a traditional procedural at times, it's far more preferable than CBS's other unadventurous offerings.

It's also been slightly more adventurous in some respects to Moffat/Gatiss's baby as well. While changing genders for Watson wasn't the most radical thing Elementary could've done, I think changing Moriarty into a female character and merging him/her with Irene Adler however was. Also casting the incredible Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Game Of Thrones) certainly helped matters too. Dormer could recite a phone bill and turn it into a BAFTA winning performance. Her take on both roles (Jamie Moriarty/Irene Adler) easily matches what both Andrew Scott and Lara Pulver have done with the roles and she's been a rather interesting version of the popular antagonist/love interest for Mr Holmes. However the less said about Vinnie Jones version of Sebastian Moran, the better though.

Another masterstroke was the brief introduction of Holmes's former landlady, Miss Hudson, who in Elementary's version is actually a transgendered woman, played by Candice Cayne (Nip/Tuck, Dirty Sexy Money). It was a brave move and one that seemed to go down well with fans of the show as well, probably due to the depiction of Hudson as a regular character not written to be a victim or a source of humour. It's hard not to impressed with the show for this alone.

As for the rest of the show - Aidan Quinn has been great as the rather stoic/duty bound Captain Tommy Gregson and the second season itself hasn't wasted time in throwing both Holmes and Watson into London as well as meeting up with the likes of Mycroft Holmes (Rhys Ifans) and Lestrade (Sean Pertwee), both of whom have been memorable in their brief appearances so far. Elementary might not generate the same levels of mass fan hysteria as it's BBC counterpart and it might be a bit too procedural times for it's own good, but overall, I can admit when I'm wrong and this show is certainly better than I thought it would be.

Elementary airs Thursdays 10pm on CBS and will resume airing on SkyLiving, Tuesdays at 9pm from February 18th.

First Look: Elementary

Okay, I kept an open mind and I sat through the three minute trailer that CBS pushed out for Elementary and while I intend to at least watch some of the series to judge it fairly, that trailer did not impress me in the slightest. And I'm saying this in spite of the fact that there's a good rapport between Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson alike.

It just felt a tad too Mentalist for my liking and not in the same fun way that particular show is and I guess, even as an American myself, it just feels wrong/weird to see an Americanised take on this (and yes, I know it's not a first on that score). Still, CBS clearly have enough confidence in it because they've commissioned a full season of it and it doesn't seem like it's ripping off Moffat and Gatiss's version of Sherlock either but overall, it's going to need to do more to stand out for me.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV_hypmr0aM&feature=relmfu

Elementary airs Thursdays at 10pm on CBS from the fall.

Elementary Has Cast It's Watson

I was meant to put this up the other day but here goes nothing.

First off all, Elementary has decided that John Watson should be Joan Watson and Lucy Liu is the actress to play that role opposite Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock Holmes. The Watson in this version will be a former surgeon struck off due to the death of a patient in her care while further reports have alluded that Sherlock's addictions will play a bigger role than the current BBC version. I have to admit, the more I read about this, the less I can see why CBS are doing it. They have more than enough procedurals on their schedules as it is and even with a female Watson, this isn't coming across as a particularly enticing take on the franchise to be honest.

Elsewhere while production for the third series of the BBC version of Sherlock is quite a while off yet, one thing that can be confirmed for Series 3 is that Moriarty (played by Andrew Scott) will not be returning to the series. I love Moriarty but Moffat's making the right decision here and considering that he's recently mentioned wanting to bring out more villains for Sherlock and Watson to go up against, you can't really blame him either.

Elementary Casting: http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/film-cinema/lucy-liu-to-be-first-female-sidekick-to-sherlock-holmes-3034244.html

Elementary Has Cast It's Sherlock

I was hoping that the proposed American version of a popular franchise under the name of Elementary (or basically CSI: Sherlock - come on, this is CBS for crying out loud!) was going to be a pipe dream but it seems the bloody thing has gotten legs. Johnny Lee Miller will be playing Sherlock Holmes in the proposed US imagining of the iconic figure. I just can't see why they don't air the UK version. Chances are, even with a British actor like Miller (whose previously worked with current UK version Benedict Cumberbatch on stage), this will probably tank on it's backside.