Sherlock: Holmes Sweet Holmes

I enjoyed this modern update on the character that proved as resistant to being killed off as Rasputin, dogging creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the point of believing in *fairies just to get away from him. I’m not familiar with the actor playing Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, (not Holmes, please note) in this new Steven Moffat series. But, by George, he’s rather splendid in it, as well as sporting a fine moniker.

Martin Freeman does an excellent job in the sidekick role of Dr Watson, AKA John, here an Afghan army war vet (with a stick, a la Hugh Laurie in House). Despite the modernisation of the story, there are nonetheless quite a few insider gags for Doyle fans to enjoy, including:

• Holmes’ use of multiple nicotine patches instead of pipes during tricky cases
• Rupert Graves as Scotland Yard’s Inspector Lestrade making reference to Holmes’ cocaine habit
• a running gag about whether or not ‘Sherlock’ and ‘John’ are actually a couple

Rather surreally, we have Una Stubbs playing housekeeper, Mrs Hudson. Also, one of my all time favourite actors, Phil Davis, makes a welcome appearance as a bitter cabbie offering a ‘Russian roulette’ choice of bitter pills to people at gunpoint, resulting in the serial ‘suicides’ which make up the case.

Is it all a bit too knowing and clever-clever for its own good? I don’t think so. I liked the way London was used as a location, in a slightly Monopoly-esque way. I thought it was well acted and wittily scripted. I think this may be a winner, and I’ll be tuning in again.

* I confess I may be taking biographical liberties here

Posted by Inkface

Doc Marten: Bad (bedside) Manners

I’ve got a secret thing for Martin Clunes, but only when he’s playing the grumpy medic in Doc Martin (back for series 3 on ITV1). It’s like that nice Hugh Laurie in House all over.

Can’t quite understand what makes a grumpy, misanthropic yet genius doctor so appealing. Must be the genius part. I actually also used to quite fancy Connie in Holby, and she was arrogant too.

It’s a bit Mills and Boon too. Getting the attention of someone committed to their job takes some doing, so you get a huge sense of achievement. But it won’t last. In Mills and Boon, you never see the nightmare aftermath of trying to share the chores with a self-absorbed, brooding type. Do they ever notice the loo roll needs changing? Do they hell. And Martin Clunes isn’t even particularly good looking, well not in a Mills and Boon sense anyway. Not with those ears. But he’s smart, dry, funny and always right, in a medical sense.

At the end of the first episode, Louisa, his ultra-nice primary school teacher ex-fiancee returned very much up-the-duff. Good luck with that love. I wouldn’t bank on him changing any nappies soon.

Posted by Inkface