New Fall Series: Previews of the Most Promising

Here are trailers for a few new series that look promising (or at least interesting):

Beauty and the Beast - CW



I loved the series from the 80s with Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. Kristen Kreuk, who played Lana Lang in the CW's Smallville plays Catherine, and Jay Ryan plays Vincent.

Ryan is very good looking, but we'll see what he looks like as the beast, and if he is as good as Ron Perlman was as Vincent. I hope this updated version will be worth watching.

Elementary - CBS



As those of you who read my blog knows, I love the BBC's Sherlock. Elementary also brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective into a modern setting. However, this series brings the English detective (Jonny Lee Miller) across the pond to Manhattan. And Watson is a woman (Lucy Liu). Aidan Quinn plays Inspector Gregson. I am a big fan of Aidan, so that makes one more reason for me to watch. I am really looking forward to this series.

Interesting sidenote: Benedick Cumberbatch (who plays Holmes in Sherlock) and Jonny Lee Miller were in a production of Frankenstein last year at the National Theatre in London. The two actors took turns playing the dual roles of Frankenstein and his monster (a tag-team performance that won them the 2012 UK Olivier Award for Best Actor). Frankenstein/Monster, Sherlock/Sherlock.

The Arrow - CW



This new series is a spin-off of Smallville. It has a bit of The Count of Monte Cristo vibe, doesn't it? Superheroes are really big right now, so I hope this one is good and that it sticks around. Who knows, it may last as long as Smallville (10 seasons).

As you can tell, there are only three new series that I'm really excited about right now. Sad commentary on the new Fall season.

Sherlock: The Reichenbach Falls

Just when you thought Sherlock couldn't get better, along comes The Reichenbach Fall.

**Spoilers ahead**

If you don't want to know what happens at the end of this episode, then stop reading, because we're told the ending at the very beginning.

Observations:

The episode begins the same way as the very first episode of season one began, with Watson in therapy.

The rain is falling outside. The weather matches his mood.

Watson tells his therapist that Sherlock is dead.

Three months earlier:

Sherlock is being honored for crimes he’s solved, and the short scenes are so funny.

He recovers an expensive painting, Falls of Reichenbach, and he is given diamond cufflinks. His response, “All my cuffs have buttons.”

He aids in finding a banker who was kidnapped, and he is given a tie pin. His response, “I don’t wear ties.”

He helps the police bring in a famous criminal and he is given an iconic Sherlock Holmes cap – he hates it. His response (among others), “Why does it have two fronts?”

Moriarty is at the Tower of London. It's so cool to see places in London where I've been.

When Moriarty cracked his neck, I expected him to "woge" into a Wesen (yes, I did just watch the season finale of Grimm *wink*).

I loved the music while Moriarty is breaking into the crown jewels. And it's a great touch that he dances to the music.

It's interesting how we can like Sherlock even though he treats people so abominably. What is about him? Perhaps it's because we are drawn to clever people. I understand that this portrayal of Sherlock isn't how he is in the book.

The only reason Moriarty is in jail is because he chooses to be. It's part of his plan.

When Sherlock is on the witness stand he is very cheeky, as he usually is. He tells the lawyer how to do her job and asks, "Don't they teach you this?" And he starts spouting off things he has deduced about the jury. I love it when the judge tells him not to show off, and then he's put in jail with Moriarty for a few hours for contempt of court.

Moriarty has no witnesses. No evidence. The defense rests.

I wonder why lawyers and judges in Britain still wear the wigs.

Moriarty gives Watson a great look.

It took the jury six minutes to deliberate and find Moriarty – not guilty. What!?

When Sherlock finds out from Watson that Moriarty is free, he makes tea, and starts to play his violin as he waits for Moriarty to come.

Moriarty threatened all of the jurors. They were not stupid. They were frightened.

The scene between Sherlock and Moriarty is great, because Sherlock is at a loss. Sherlock can't figure out what Moriarty is up to.

Two months later:

Loved the scene in the gentleman's club. The men have a tradition of complete silence and cannot break it. I also love how two men grab Watson, cover his mouth so he can't talk anymore, and escort him to Mycroft. It's so funny that the men wear booties over their shoes. The detail is great.

Mycroft tells Watson that there are four assassins living near Sherlock, and he's concerned for Sherlock's safety. He believes that Moriarty wants to kill him. Mycroft can't tell Sherlock himself because there is too much "history" between them.

So, we actually do get a link to Grimm. Sherlock's next case parallels the fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. Children of the American Ambassador have vanished. Sherlock gets an envelope full of bread crumbs left at his door.

The little boy makes a trail of messages and footprints – just like Hansel and Gretel. From the footprints, Sherlock can tell the shoe size, height and walking pace of the kidnapper.

Poor Molly, why can't Sherlock treat her decently.

Molly notices that Sherlock is sad. She's the only one who recognizes his melancholy.

Its great to see Sherlock go to his "mind palace" again.

Sherlock goes to interview the seven year old little girl after they find her. She screams. This makes one of the detectives start to think Sherlock was involved with the kidnapping.

Sherlock takes a cab by himself because Watson "might talk." He still hasn't learned how to make friends and influence people.

Lestrade’s commanding officer wants them to bring Sherlock in. I love his commanding officer's accent.

Sally thinks that Sherlock kidnapped the kids so he could solve the case, rescue them, and make people continue to think he's a genius.

I love it that Watson hits the commanding officer. I just wish we could have seen it.

It's so great to see Sherlock and Watson handcuffed together when they escape from the police, and that Sherlock pretends that Watson is his hostage.

Sherlock makes them stand in front of a bus and someone saves them. Why are the assassins saving Sherlock? Because Moriarty wants to kill him?

Molly asks what he needs. Sherlock answers, "You." Hmmmmm.

It's a great twist that Moriarty pretends to be an actor, Richard Brook. He goes to great lengths to make everyone think that Sherlock is a fraud.

Mycroft says that Moriarty is the most dangerous criminal mind the world has ever seen.

Moriarty is listing to "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees again. Pretty funny.

Moriarty threatens the lives of Sherlock’s friends if he doesn’t kill himself. He says that assassins are waiting to kill them if Sherlock doesn't kill himself.

Sherlock asks for a moment of privacy. (I love how the British pronounce "privacy.")

As long as Moriarty is alive he can call off the assassins. But Moriarty shoots himself. Now the only way Sherlock can save his friends is to kill himself. What can Sherlock do?

Everything after this moment is just such good television. It's so well written, so well filmed, so well directed, so well acted.

Sherlock stands on the ledge. No!

Sherlock calls Watson and says that Moriarty was telling the truth about him. He tells John not to take his eyes off of him.

Sherlock falls off the building. No!

Watson is hit by a biker.

A crowd gathers around Sherlock. Watson finally gets to him and checks his pulse. No pulse. Watson collapses. There's blood everywhere. Sherlock is taken away.

The rain starts to fall. The assassin packs up his gun and leaves.

Mycroft is in the gentleman’s club reading the paper about Sherlock's suicide. "Suicide of Fake Genius."

It is such a touching and great scene when Watson talks to Sherlock at his grave. "There's just one more thing. There's just one more thing, Sherlock. One more miracle for me. Don't be dead. Would you - just for me.

And then we see Sherlock standing under a tree near the grave where Watson can’t see him.

So, the question is, how did he do it? I have my theories.

Molly helped him, but what did they do? Many people tried to keep Watson away from Sherlock for a while, so they must have been in on it. They switched his body with someone else's.

Quotes:

Sherlock: All my cuffs have buttons.
Watson: He means "thank you."
Sherlock: Do I?
Watson: Just say it.
Sherlock: Thank you.

Sherlock: Why is it always the hat photograph?

Watson: The press will turn, Sherlock. They always turn. And they'll turn on you.

Watson: Don’t try to be clever, and please keep it simple and brief.
Sherlock: I'll just be myself.
Watson: Are you listening to me?

Judge: Do you think you can survive for just a few minutes without showing off?!

Watson: What did I say? I said don't get clever.
Sherlock: I can’t just turn it on and off like a tap.

Watson: Don't do that.
Sherlock: Do what?
Watson: The look.
Sherlock: Look?
Watson: You're doing the look again.
Sherlock: I can't see it, can I? It's my face.
Watson: Yes, and it's doing a thing. You're doing the "we both know what's really going on" face.
Sherlock: We do.
Watson: No, I don't. That's why I find the face annoying.

Sherlock: Most people knock. But then, you’re not most people.

Moriarty: Every fairy tale needs a good old fashioned villain. You need me or you’re nothing. Because we’re just alike you and I, except you’re boring. You’re on the side of angels.

Moriarty: The man with the key is King, and man, you should see me in a crown.

Moriarty: Falling is just like flying.
Sherlock: I never liked riddles.
Moriarty: Learn to, because I owe you a fall.

Molly: Alkaline.
Sherlock: Thank you, John.
Molly: Molly.
Sherlock: Yes.

Sally: Right then, the professionals are finished if the amateurs want to go in and have their turn.

Lestrade: Don't let it get to you. I always feel like screaming when you walk into a room. So do most people.

Mrs Hudson: Cameras? Here? I’m in my nightie.

Sherlock: I don’t care what people think.
Watson: You’d care if they thought you were stupid or wrong.
Sherlock: No, that would just make them stupid or wrong.

Mycroft: John, I’m sorry. Tell him, would you?

Moriarty: Just trying to have some fun.

Moriarty: There is no key, doofus.

Moriarty: All my life I've been searching for distractions. You were the best distraction, and now I don't even have you, because I've beaten you. And you know what? In the end it was easy. It was easy. Now I've got to go back playing with the ordinary people. And it turns out you're ordinary just like them.

Moriarty: I love newspapers. Fairy tales. And pretty grimm ones too.

Moriarty: Oh, just kill yourself – it’s a lot less effort.

Sherlock: You’re insane.
Moriarty: You’re just getting that now?

Moriarty: You have an audience now. Off you pop.

Sherlock: You want me to shake hands with you in hell? I shall not disappoint you.
Moriarty: No, you talk big. You're ordinary. You’re on the side of the angels.
Sherlock: I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second I am one of them.

Sherlock: It’s all true. I invented Moriarty. I’m a fake.

Sherlock: This phone call – it’s my note.

Mrs Hudson: Imagine, keeping bodies where there's food.

Watson: Sherlock, don’t be dead.

Sherlock: The Hounds of the Baskerville

This episode is based on "The Hound of the Baskervilles." (Notice how the 's' was moved for this updated version.)

A little boy runs out of the moors. He is traumatized as he has just seen the death of his father at the hands of a gigantic hound. We realize this is a flashback as we see the older version of Henry Knight. Henry is again in the moors and is still traumatized by the memory of what happened that night.

Russell Tovey plays Henry. I have liked Russell since I saw him in The Voyage of the Damned, a great episode of Doctor Who. He played Alonso, which led the Doctor to say one of his famous lines, "Alons-y Alonso." Russell was also in the original BBC version of Being Human. In that series he was, ironically, a werewolf. And he played John in the wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit. His performance in that miniseries is absolutely wonderful.

Okay, so much for singing the praises of Russell Tovey. Let's get back to The Hounds of the Baskerville.

Doggy bubbleheads in the window. Great touch.

Sherlock enters his flat covered in blood, carrying a harpoon. The only exchange between him and a curious Watson is:
Sherlock: Well, that was tedious.
Watson: You went on the tube like that?
Sherlock: None of the cabs would take me.
That's all we get. No explanation. Brilliant.

Sherlock hates that iconic hat.

Sherlock is having withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawals from cigarettes and cases. Not a good combination for Sherlock.

Baskerville is a government chemical and biologicals research center.

It's hard sometimes to watch how totally unaware Sherlock is of other people's feelings. Henry is talking about his father's death, and Sherlock tells him to get on with his current problem.

Sherlock wants Henry to smoke. Not because he knows Henry wants to, but because Sherlock wants to breath in the smoke.

Beautiful shots of the moors. I want to go there. It's nice to have an episode outside of London, even thought I love London.

I love to watch how Sherlock pays attention to every small detail.

Sherlock and John get into the Baskerville compound because Sherlock uses Mycroft's credentials. He knows that they have 20 minutes before Mycroft realizes what Sherlock has done. Sherlock may have gotten them in, but Watson uses his military credentials to get a tour of the center. John is pretty proud that he can throw his weight around just like Sherlock.

Henry has a great house.

Henry remembers the words "Liberty" and "in."

Sherlock wants Henry to go out into the moors at night and see if anything attacks him. Poor Henry, Sherlock throws him right back into the nightmare.

What a great atmosphere to set a Sherlock Holmes story: on the moors at night, with torches (flashlights), looking for a gigantic hound. This episode is full of suspense, and it's scary. I love it.

Sherlock and Henry see the hound, but Sherlock denies seeing it. Henry just wants Sherlock to admit he saw it so he can prove he's not crazy. Sherlock thinks he, himself, is crazy because he saw it. He is frightened by what he saw.

Sherlock has to make deductions about people sitting by him to prove that there's nothing wrong with him. This is another great performance by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Sherlock tells John that he saw the hound. John doesn't believe there is a gigantic hound. He thinks there has to be a rational explanation.

Sherlock has a greater reason to solve the case because Sherlock is beginning to feel doubt and he wants to find out how he saw what he saw.

John is angry at how Sherlock is treating him. He's usually pretty patient with Sherlock, but Sherlock can go too far sometimes. Well, most of the time. John finally walks away from Sherlock because he wants to force him to apologize.

I love it when Sherlock goes to his "mind place." The best moment is when he gets to "Hound Dog" and Elvis's face comes up in front of Sherlock's face and he makes an Elvis pose. Brilliant.

Sherlock figures out Barrymore's password by looking around his office. Question: If Sherlock Holmes took a look around your office/desk/ bedroom, do you think he might figure out your password? If so, change it. *wink*

Why was Henry the only one in the town who went out into the moors and saw hallucinations?

The end of the episode is a lead-in to next week's episode, The Reichenbach Fall. If you haven't seen that episode yet, you're in for a big surprise. In my opinion it is the best of the series.

Quotes:

Sherlock: I need a case.
John: You've just solved one, by harpooning a dead pig apparently.
Sherlock: That was this morning. I need a new one.

Sherlock: What did you see?
Henry: I was about to say.
Sherlock: Yes, in a TV interview. I prefer to do my own editing.

Henry: Are you laughing at me?
Sherlock: Why? Are you joking?

John: You're just showing off.
Sherlock: Of course. I AM a show-off; that's what I do.

Sherlock: Boring. Goodbye, Mr. Knight. Thank you for smoking.

John: So, you're coming?
Sherlock: 20 year old disappearance, a monstrous hound? Wouldn't miss this for the world.

Sherlock: 23 minutes. Mycroft's getting slow.

Sherlock: What is it exactly that you do here, Dr. Frankland?
Dr. Frankland: Mr. Holmes, I would love to tell you, but then, of course I'd have to kill you. (laughs)
Sherlock: That would be tremendously ambitious of you.

John: Oh, please. Could we not do this this time?
Sherlock: Do what?
John: You, being all mysterious with your cheekbones and turning your coat collar up so you look cool.
Sherlock: I don't do that.
John: Yeah, you do.

Sherlock: Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true.

Sherlock: Look at me, I'm afraid John.

John: Why would you listen to me? I'm just your friend.
Sherlock: I don't have friends.
John: I wonder why.

Sherlock: Listen, what I said before, John, I meant it. I don't have friends. I've just got one. 

Sherlock: John? John! You are amazing, you are fantastic! 
John: Yes, all right. Don't overdo it. 
Sherlock : You'll never be the most luminous of people, but as a conductor of light, you're unbeatable! 
John: What? 
Sherlock: Some people who aren't geniuses have an amazing ability to stimulate it in others. 
John: Hang on, you were saying sorry a minute ago, don't spoil it.

Sherlock: One mention of Baskerville, and he sends down my handler to spy on me, incognito. Is that why you're calling yourself Greg?
John: That's his name.
Sherlock: Is it?
Lestrade: Yes. You've never bothered to find out.

Sherlock: Do you got any [aliens]. Just wondering.
Barrymore: A couple. Crash landed here in the 60s. We call them Abbott and Costello.

Sherlock: Get out. I need to go to my mind place.

Sherlock: This case. Thank you Henry. It's been brilliant.

John: You got it wrong.
Sherlock: What?
John: You got it wrong. It wasn't the sugar.
Sherlock: It won't happen again.

Sherlock: I'm going to see a man about a dog

Holmes, Sherlock Holmes

I am going to argue that the best thing on television today is an import from across the pond. It's a small show (only three episodes each in the first and second seasons) called Sherlock.

The premise is very simple: take Sherlock Holmes and John Watson out of 19th century London and drop them into 21st century London with cell phones (or as they call them "mobiles"), texting, and blogs. Sherlock has nicotine patches instead of smoking a pipe. He is not an action hero. Sherlock is an socially awkward genius who itches to find a good mystery and solve it. There may have been one explosion, but this version of Sherlock Holmes is all about solving the mystery. And he still plays the violin.

I've never been a big Sherlock Holmes fan. I've seen a few movies with Basil Rathbone, I saw the first Guy Ritchie movie with Robert Downey, Jr as Sherlock, and I've seen a few plays based on Doyle's books. However, I still haven't read any of the books or short stories (they are in my queue of books to read, but there are so many more ahead of them). 

But then I saw Sherlock. Benedick Cumberbatch's Sherlock is more detached from the world than most Sherlocks I've seen. He seems to only be interested in the case he is trying to solve at the moment, and is the definition of cerebral. Martin Freeman is a wonderful Watson, and plays off of Cumberbatch's Sherlock so well and so seamlessly.

The acting is wonderful. It's subtle, understated, not in-your-face. Each episode is based on one or more of Doyle's books or stories. The direction is clever and imaginative, the cinematography is exquisite, and the scripts are almost flawless.

I have to thank Blogtor Who for making me aware of the series before the first season even aired in Britain. The series was co-created by the head writer of Doctor Who, and, even though I am a big Doctor Who fan, script-wise think Sherlock is better than Doctor Who; and for me, that's saying a lot. Please don't tell anyone.

If you haven't checked out the first season yet, I would recommend that you do. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, I'm sure you'll be hooked. And if you're not a Holmes fan, and you just like smart television, you will be a fan of Sherlock very quickly.

The Game's Afoot: A New Play

The Game's Afoot is a new murder mystery by Ken Ludwig. The main character in the play is loosely based on William Gillette, an actor who wrote and starred in the first play about Sherlock Holmes. The murder itself it pure fabrication.

The play opens with the end of a production of the play Sherlock Holmes in a New York theatre. At the end of the production, a man walks up the aisle of the theater and shoots William Gillette, the man playing Holmes, wounding him in the shoulder.

Two weeks later, Gillette has invited his actor friends to his house for Christmas Eve. He has also invited Daria, a gossip columnist and theatre critic, to perform a seance for entertainment. 

Daria has not been kind to these actors in her reviews, but she also knows many of their secrets; and they don't want those secrets known. So, obviously, these actors do not like Daria very well. This all leads to a murder most fowl. And it was all too obvious who the murder victim would be. I like my murder mysteries a little more subtle.

Is the murder and the shooting in the theatre linked somehow? Only a man with the brains of Sherlock Holmes could solve the mystery, and Gillette thinks he is that man.

Personal note: I was going to audition for the show, but callbacks were the Monday I was leaving on a cruise, and not knowing the director, I didn't think he would be willing to cast me on my first audition alone, so I missed out on the chance of playing the female inspector. I was more disappointed I wasn't able to audition when I saw what a fun part it would have been, and the actress did a great job. But I had a great time on my cruise, so I can't really be too disappointed.

Back to the show...

The first act had some funny moments, and the premise really has promise. However, the first act is really more for theatre buffs than for lovers of Sherlock Holmes. There are many quotes from and references to Shakespeare plays. And of course the first act is to set up the murder, which occurs right before the intermission.

The second act is where all of the real fun and laughs are. When the Inspector shows up - that's when the fun begins. There are characters trying to hide the body, flickering lights, lightening (although, it is in the middle of a snow storm, so I don't know where the lightening would come from), telephones out-of -order, secret passages, secret rooms, and secrets revealed.

The reveal of the murderer was truly a surprise, and that doesn't really  happen very often in murder mysteries. You usually think, "I saw that one coming." However, in The Game's Afoot, when we realize we've been duped just like the characters, there's a real "Aha!" moment.

And in the end there are even more quotes from Shakespeare.

You would think that all actors do when they get together is quote Shakespeare. I don't know about all actors, but my fellow-actors and I certainly don't.

My only question is: Who killed the stage doorman?