oh, /that/ Sherlock

[asakiyume]

My dad was talking about this great BBC mystery series he'd been watching recently, a redoing of Sherlock Holmes, and I said, yeah, wow, there are lots and lots of those around these days, and he said, well this one is really quite good, would I like to see an episode, and I said, sure, why not--and, dear Internet, it was Sherlock he was talking about! It's so funny if you've heard something talked about and talked about and talked about in one particular way, to then hear it talked about in another way, you know? It can sound like an entirely different thing.

Furthermore, although I've seen about 20,000 images and gifs from Sherlock on Tumblr, and although I've read all sorts of discussions and squees and critiques, I don't think I've seen an entire episode, ever. Or maybe one, but definitely not two. So guess which one it turns out my dad has to show me? The one with Irene Adler! I remember everyone talking about it, what? Two years ago? A long time ago.

Well! The closeups on Sherlock and Irene's wrists and fingers and lips and cheeks were quite, quite nice. And Mr. Holmes's blue eyes in a face otherwise all wrapped up in black, for an execution, there at the end, reminded me of Lawrence of Arabia's blue eyes.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I've watched episodes, though I don't like it as well as Elementary (my BVC blog subject today, as it happens!) for two reasons: one, more interesting women in Elementary, and also I much prefer its Holmes.

There is clever writing in Sherlock, and I adore the Watson, and the cinematography and editing is brilliant, but Cumberbatch is a shade too smug, and there is sometimes a kind a slick heartlessness that I don't get in the other show.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I was about to say this but you've said it much better. *agrees*

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Well, that makes two of us against the stream of bazillions.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I know.

If you're on Tumblr, have you found the Elementalsquee tag, for people who actually like the show? (I hope I spelled it correctly.)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I don't do tumbler or twitter (no time!) but I am very glad there are others out there who like the show, too. I would hate for it to be cancelled.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

(This is such a great icon ^_^)

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

*nods agreement*

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

So you've seen Elementary too?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

*Nodding* re: the heartlessness. I think that particular episode tried to show a buried-beneath-the-surface incipient caring, but it was pretty understated, and even so, what is it that makes heartlessness so appealing (apparently) to so many?

Maybe--just thinking aloud here--it's from being moralized at from a young age about the virtues of kindness? Or maybe it's seeing things labeled kindness, when really, under the surface, there are so many barbs and strings attached that in the end it isn't experienced as kindness? Maybe, with enough of that, people want to escape from the notion altogether--and yet, I can't believe people really want to escape from kindness.

Or, then again, maybe it's nothing more than a manifestation of the bad-boy phenomenon, someone who is dangerous in some way (in this case, emotionally), and is therefore attractive.

I am very interested to see Elementary as I've heard hugely good things about it from many different people. Can't wait to read your BVC post!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Heartlessness looks cool. When you're young, and want to be hip, (or even not so young) affect can be all. I think. Not sure.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

To probe further, what constitutes "cool"? I think it has to be defined against something prevailing. If expressionlessness is mainstream, then blowing your top becomes cool, whereas if blowing your top is mainstream, then expressionlessness becomes cool (maybe?)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Cool is control, stylishness, coming out on top in any encounter.

[boxofdelights]

Yes to all those, plus: exerting the absolute minimum amount of effort necessary to win. "Never let them see you sweat" is an imperative, but even when they don't see you, cool demands no sweat.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

This is making me think of the poem "But He Was Cool, or: He even stopped for green lights," (http://asakiyume.livejournal.com/517314.html) which ends by dismissing cool in favor of very-hot.

anatomy of "cool"

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Nodding. Maybe I'm wrong upthread one comment: maybe the very temperature-origin of the word means that no heat, no (shown) passion is allowed.

Re: anatomy of "cool"

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That is exactly it. I think it goes back to Lord Chesterfield.

[marycatelli]

Obviously. In order to be Cool, one must not conform to the general practice. Like fashion, most people must be out.

In fact, that's probably what it means: fashionable.

[marycatelli]

The first meaning of "cool" as applied to human beings is current in the form "cool as a cucumber" -- able of self-mastery in all situations. Which heartlessness would make rather easy, I suspect.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Which heartlessness would make rather easy, I suspect --good point.