REVIEW - Elementary S1E12

The stakes have been raised to there highest and Sherlock faces his most personal case so far. We are also granted the most insight into Sherlock’s past life in London in an episode that proves to be the most significant of the series up to this point.

Holmes is presented with a murder possessing a number of traits that he recognises immediately as belonging to a criminal that he has dealt with previously and was unable to apprehend in London. The full nature of the relationship between Holmes and the culprit are later revealed as he confides in Watson more details of his past and provides full disclosure of who exactly Irene Adler was and the role she played in his descent into substance abuse.

Written by series show runner Robert Doherty, this is the episode that most closely refers to Arthur Conan Doyle’s original source material and digs the deepest into the Holmes mythos. It picks up and plays with elements and characters from Doyle’s stories and a few major references are made that will leave Holmes aficionados leaping up in excitement. The episode acts a type of pay-off and reward for having stuck with the series as it offers a glimpse of the established set of characters in a different light and sets up a few intriguing plot threads to be explored during the rest of the season.

Jonny Lee Miller is able to bring a darker side into play in his portrayal of Holmes. Arguably, his performances throughout the series have been the show’s strongest suit and he is at his best here when Holmes embraces the darker aspects of his personality. Lucy Liu is also impressive, sharing several tender scenes with Holmes. Firstly, as they begin to deal with the end of their companionship, then as she tries to save him from himself and then realising how much he still needs her and how much she needs him. The show’s leads are excellent and it is some of their best work in the season so far.

However, it isn’t flawless. Vinnie Jones guest stars but is awkward in his scenes with Miller and probably wasn’t the best choice for the role he is required to fulfill. He isn’t helped by a script that veers too close to cliché when trying to sound “British” and mixes American and British words and phrases that don’t sit right coming out the mouths of the characters.

Ultimately, this is the episode that proves a lot of the central groundwork for the show has been done and that all the key pieces of the Holmes canon are in play. There is a tantalising final scene that means a fascinating future is in store for Holmes and Watson.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S1E11

After the Christmas and New Year break, Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson return with a brand new case with the doubts over their future companionship still lingering in the air.

The mystery to be solved revolves around the grim discovery of a murdered hotel manager found in a washing machine and takes in a charity organisation, a university bound daughter and the hotel’s unofficially employed working girls.

Pleasantly, what appears on the surface to be a rather routine case soon develops into something far more intriguing with several twists and turns that would have been hard to predict. Some may argue that there are a few too many leaps of logic required but credit must go to the writers for throwing in a few interesting curveballs and the willingness to be so bold.

Prior to the holiday break, the main thread was the impending conclusion of Watson’s time with Sherlock. This is immediately picked up here so as to remind the audience of the situation. However, one of the strongest aspects of the episode is the change in dynamic between the two. Holmes now displays an increasing respect for Watson while she is starting to pick up on some of his methods. It leads Holmes to stop referring to her as his companion but instead use terms such as “apprentice” and “associate”. It is one of the most rewarding elements of the series so far to see how the relationship has grown and how the mutual respect between the two has developed.

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu are as watchable as ever but are also displaying signs of greater chemistry, particularly in a scene where Holmes and Watson indulge in a spot of “whore fishing” as part of the investigation.

The episode ends of a bittersweet note that proposes a few questions of where the relationship will go in the future. It is especially interesting to see how Sherlock will react and if we are any closer to uncovering more of his past or meeting his mysterious father.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S1E10

Television shows possess a great ability to test your faith in them. Just as it starts to run out and you give up hope, they can manage to pull you back in. This has certainly been the case with Elementary. After a few signs of the show starting to run out of steam, it has begun to redeem itself with an episode the reignites the spark that had once seemed lost.

Moving away from the standard murder mystery format that the show had been indulging in, Sherlock is presented with something that he just cannot ignore. A seemingly impregnable safe is broken into leaving its designer with no other option but to turn to Sherlock as a last resort to save his reputation and his company and figure out how the thieves got it. The case takes in the search for a mythical thief, secret computer codes and Sherlock’s temporary ownership of a missing Van Gogh masterpiece. All in a day’s work!

The slight tweak in format and different style of mystery provides a refreshing alternative to the rather more formulaic offerings of previous weeks. If there is a weakness it is that towards the end it is an episode that resorts too willingly to safer ground by throwing in a few murders. The heist solution is also rather unsatisfactory but there are enough surprises and twists along the way so that it is not a disappointment that it too greatly felt.

Previous episodes have tried to explore some of Joan’s past and provide her with a greater backstory. This endeavour has not been entirely successful and has been unnecessarily tacked on to earlier episodes providing no great satisfaction in learning more about the character. However, this week’s customary Joan backstory subplot introduces her mother and brother and finally starts to offer a few genuine relationships rather than some of the forced ones we have been previously fed.

Jonny Lee Miller remains one of the strongest components of the show and his performance is back to the manic, high-octane state of earlier episodes. However, while it is a fun and entertaining turn, it is starting to feel less and less like the true essence of the character of Sherlock Holmes despite Miller getting to use one of the literary version’s greatest quotes during the course of the episode.

Lucy Liu continues to be quietly impressive as Watson and gets to share a heartfelt scene with her mother during the episode’s denouement. With Detectives Gregson and Bell left in the background it is truly an episode that gets to fully play with the Holmes/Watson dynamic. Just as there are signs that there is a genuine mutual respect developing between the two and that a partnership is being forged it is intriguing to ponder how the writers will deal with the impending conclusion of Watson’s employment as companion and how they will keep them together. This also proposes the tantalising prospect that an introduction to Sherlock’s father cannot be too far off.

This is a return to some kind of form and the return of a spark that will hopefully not be squandered.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S1E09

The relationship between viewer and show is a complicated one and like any other real world relationship. Following the initial thrill of meeting the characters and the excitement of a new show comes the true test of its staying power. After a few weeks you start discovering if there is enough there to keep you interested long term and whether it is sustainable after that first buzz.

Excuse the crude metaphor, but this is how Elementary is making me feel this far into its run. Despite the thoroughly enjoyable opening few episodes and having first encountered Jonny Lee Miller’s manic, entertaining version of Sherlock Holmes, the show is struggling to maintain the momentum it built at the beginning.

Detective shows are notorious difficult to write as they can quite quickly fall into the trap of becoming too formulaic. This is the problem that Elementary is fighting desperately hard to combat.

This week’s case sees Holmes and the NYPD on the hunt for a killer who shot a university professor in the eyes. There are campus based conspiracies and a visit to Chinatown. All the while, Holmes is struggling with a fever and Watson is dealing with a character from her past.

The ingredients are promising and there is an intriguing start but the episode fizzles out towards the climax. The investigation in Chinatown is a highlight and is rich in potential. It presents the opportunity to explore a different side of New York that had been left un-tapped up to this point. However, no sooner does Holmes arrive in Chinatown than he leaves and concludes that part of the investigation. It is a shame, as it becomes a wasted opportunity to offer a case with a greater culture clash than what we have seen so far this season. The chance to see Holmes let loose in a different environment would have been interesting.

The subplot with Watson having to deal with an ex-boyfriend who has been arrested is not wholly necessary and seems designed merely to give Lucy Liu something to do. However, it does pull off one feat in bringing Holmes and Watson slightly closer together as friends with Holmes offering his assistance and Watson using some of his methods of reasoning. It also allows the characters to share a tender moment at the episode’s end. There are also a few signs of the two becoming more of a team, mainly during the explanation scene. Hopefully, this is something that the writers will look to further develop.

What is missing is more development of Holmes himself. After a few glimmers of his past life the trail has gone cold. This is something the writers would be wise not to neglect for much longer.

These are the first signs of strain in our relationship, but like Watson the loyal companion, I will stand by the show. For now…

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S1E08

After a mini season break, Sherlock Holmes is back but far from firing on all cylinders. It is unfortunate that just has the series was building up some momentum, concerning the revelations about Sherlock’s past, we’ve had a two-week gap to endure between episodes. And unfortunately, this episode is unable to pick up where the previous episodes left off. It also decides against picking up any of those loose threads that have been left hanging but instead adds one or two new ones of its own.

The latest mystery to land at Holmes’ doorstep sees him called in to investigate the bombing of a web design company, which has caused the deaths of two employees. The case also takes in a PR firm with a dubious history, a group of animal rights activists and a missing company man. All the while, Watson is beginning to plan for the end of her companionship with Sherlock by finding a suitable sponsor who can see him through the rest of his rehabilitation.

The mystery at the heart of the episode struggles to truly captivate and offers nothing new to the series. However, the one really interesting component is getting the chance to see Sherlock use some of the skills and techniques that we have seem him practice and hone during the course of previous episodes. This is where the episode is at its strongest as although the mystery is none too taxing it is fun to see Sherlock deploying a variety of methods to crack it.

Meanwhile, Watson’s search for a sponsor is a rather unnecessary and slightly disappointing subplot. Just as it appeared that the relationship between Sherlock and Joan was starting to open up following on from the “Irene” revelation, everything seems to be have swept under the carpet. This is a little frustrating as it makes the writers appear to going around in circles, especially as there is still a long way to go in the season and I assume there will be some way of keeping Sherlock and Watson together. We are also introduced to the character of Alfredo, who Sherlock picks out as a potential sponsor, but whether he is a character with any genuine mileage is up for debate.

Former House star Lisa Edelstein makes a guest appearance and does her best to liven up her role but it is severely underwritten and feels like a waste of her talents. Jonny Lee Miller is the undoubted star as his Sherlock carries the episode in a whirlwind of energy and high-powered reasoning. Hopefully future episodes will return Watson to a more prominent position after being sidelined this week.

So, this is steady stuff but with a lingering feeling of “must do better”.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S01E07

One name has changed the dynamic that has been building between Holmes and Watson, and it is not the only relationship that comes under close scrutiny in this episode. In fact, its an episode that delves head first into assessing and analysing Sherlock’s closest partnerships and friendships.

Sherlock is presented with a case from Captain Gregson’s past as he goes on the hunt of a potential copycat killer or the real culprit of a series of grisly murders that Gregson is convinced he already has the right man locked up for. For the first time, a serious strain is placed on the partnership between Holmes and Gregson as Sherlock digs into the past and Gregson is forced to confront the policeman’s worst nightmare. The possibility of convicting an innocent man.

As for Watson, she is conducting some investigations of her own after learning her first piece of significant information about Sherlock’s past. After having the name “Irene” revealed to her, she visits his former rehabilitation clinic to try and shine extra light on its meaning and learns more about the way in which Sherlock conducted himself and the people he was willing to allow to get close to him. Following on from the appearance of Sherlock’s friend Allistair last week, here we meet another acquaintance in the shape of Groundskeeper Edison, played by Stephen Henderson, a fellow bee-keeping enthusiast and in Sherlock’s own words, “the only person without an agenda”. He provides Joan with a few clues and the chance to press Sherlock for more details on his past.

The case at the heart of the episode proves to be fairly standard with some strange quirks and a few red herrings thrown in to string the plot along. However, while the central mystery holds no great tension dismissing the episode entirely would be to miss the point. It is an episode that completely revolves around the show’s central relationships and finds ways to test and push them. It means the performances of the cast are of greater importance and they largely rise to the task.

Aidan Quinn is strong as Gregson, especially when forced to deal with certain issues within his team. He is also impressive in his scenes with Jonny Lee Miller’s Sherlock, as he becomes agitated at Holmes’ particular line of inquiry and personal doubt, considering the lengths he has gone to and faith he has shown in Sherlock in the past. It is undoubtably Quinn’s stand out episode of the series so far.

Watson spends most of the episode away from the main case, further enforcing that this is an episode more focused on Holmes and Gregson. However, by the end of the episode the duo are reunited and more of Sherlock’s inhibitions are being loosened around her.

We are being drip fed more and more hints about Sherlock’s past and it will be interesting to see what is on the way in the coming weeks.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S01E06

After the first mis-step of the series, the big question this week was whether Elementary could raise its game and return to form. Pleasingly, the episode certainly does and in some style.

The omens are good when Sherlock is presented with a particularly intriguing mystery revolving around a plane crash and deducing whether one of the unfortunate passengers was dead before the plane hit the ground. The innovative scenario helps to reinvigorate the show with a puzzle that is completely different to what the series has offered so far.

As well as the enjoyably fresh central mystery, there is more delving into Sherlock’s past and a glimpse under the surface of some of his key relationships. There are more references to his mysterious father and the relation between father and son. We also learn more about his notion of friendship and are offered a few tantalising clues and scraps of information about his life before New York back in London.

We get more of an insight into Sherlock’s psyche and the ways in which he sees the world. The way in which he explains his unease with flying demonstrates that there is a price to be paid for his extraordinary deductive gifts and a few of the bricks in the wall he has built between himself and Watson begin to disappear. As for major Holmes aficionados there is a tease regarding a significant name from Sherlock’s past, although it may not be the one you were expecting.

Jonny Lee Miller is back in fine form displaying the trademark quick fire delivery and erratic energy he has brought to the role of Holmes but also the first signs of fallibility and unease around a case. Lucy Liu impresses in a more understated way as she becomes driven to learn more about Sherlock and found out for herself what he is unwilling to tell her. Roger Rees makes an enjoyable guest appearance as a friend of Sherlock’s providing Watson with some of the insight she has been craving.

This is an episode that doesn’t really sag at any point and is well very plotted. A mild criticism that could be aimed at the show is that the eventual culprits seem to be getting duller, although in fairness to the writers, they would be tying themselves in knots trying to outdo each vanquished opponent.

Truly, based on this evidence, last week’s episode was merely a blip and Elementary is back on song.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S01E05

Holmes spots something suspicious on a recently deceased corpse in a hospital morgue after conducting a few experiments on some unwitting cadavers.

Another week and another case for Sherlock but despite what has been a pleasant surprise of a series so far, this episode can be counted as its first mis-step.

This week’s case is one entirely of Holmes’ own making as he spots something suspicious on a recently deceased corpse in a hospital morgue after conducting a few experiments on some unwitting cadavers. The observation puts him on the trail of a mercy killer at work in the hospital who is dispatching terminally ill patients.

In regards to how the episode plays out, there is a considerably more routine explanation to the mystery than what the series has offered so far and is an episode minus any truly notable surprises or twists. There are only a few viable suspects and the resolution is all too predictable. Now that a full series has been commissioned, you get the impression that this will be considered to be merely a “filler” episode in the long run and that there is something more challenging lined up for next week.

Jonny Lee Miller is still eminently watchable in the lead but is in rather more subdued form. In fact, the best aspect of the episode comes courtesy of Watson as she meets an old friend from her days as a surgeon and has to confront her past. It is one of Lucy Liu’s best performances so far and does show encouraging signs of the writers being able to broaden the show and ensure it has other strings to it’s bow rather than just being a vehicle for Miller.

The episode is far from atrocious but still ranks as the weakest of the current run. Here’s hoping for a return to form next week.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Elementary S01E04

Big news in the world of Elementary this week. Following the surprisingly good opening few episodes and the encouraging critical reaction CBS, the show’s American network, has ordered a full series. Judging from another enjoyable and entertaining episode, this decision is entirely justified.

This week’s case revolves around Wall Street and the suspicious deaths of a set of corporate high flyers. The episode is never less than intriguing and contains a few surprises along the way. There is a slight dip in quality just because there is less at stake compared to the previous episode’s child abductions, but it is still an enjoyable piece of television.

Performance wise, Jonny Lee Miller continues to prove a highly watchable lead and makes for an entertaining Sherlock. This episode also forces him to confront a few of his personal demons and it finishes with a very well acted scene between Holmes and Aidan Quinn’s Captain Gregson in which we see the first small cracks begin to appear in Holmes’ guarded veneer. Lucy Liu’s Watson is also beginning to open up and feel more like a character with which we can empathize.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the episode is the developing relationship between Holmes and Watson. It is reassuring that, based on the evidence so far, the writers are proving able to explore and expand this relationship whilst keeping it strictly platonic. One of the chief concerns from the outset was whether the Holmes/Watson dynamic would descend into a cliched “will they/won’t they?” romantic situation. Thankfully, the writer’s are proving to be above this on the evidence of the series up to this point and especially in this episode. The two are able to confide in a way that demonstrates the blossoming of their partnership while an increasing mutual trust and respect is starting to develop. Certainly it if a relief that the show seems to be mature enough to be able to handle a male/female relationship like this without having to resort to any predictable shenanigans.

Now that a full season has been commissioned, it will interesting how the writers allow the show to evolve and what answers they have in store for some of the show’s key questions particularly regarding when we might meet Holmes’ mysterious father and the oft mentioned incident in London that drove Sherlock to New York in the first place. Here is one viewer who is intrigued to find out what lies in store.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW Elementary S01E01-03

Holmes is a recovering alcoholic and Joan Watson, played by Lucy Liu, is a former surgeon who has been hired by Holmes’s unseen father to keep him on the path to sobriety. 

Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most popular fictional characters of all time and is currently benefitting from somewhat of a renaissance in the cultural spotlight. Thanks to the Robert Downey Junior starring, Guy Ritchie directed movies and the excellent BBC television series featuring a career making turn from Benedict Cumberbatch, Holmes is big news. And now American network television has decided to join the party. After being denied permission from the BBC to produce a straight remake, CBS decided to develop their very own version of the iconic detective. However, the twist is to move Sherlock across the Atlantic from his traditional Baker Street residence in London to the bright lights of New York City and change his loyal companion from a John into a Joan. So how does this incarnation compare?

As the current run is already 3 episodes in, I have decided to make this review a re-cap of the the series so far and make a judgment on how the show is shaping up.

The first element, excuse the pun, is to look at Holmes himself, here played by Jonny Lee Miller, who also shared a role with Cumberbatch during Danny Boyle’s 2011 stage production of Frankenstein. Miller is a charismatic lead and helps to make the show very watchable. The new premise is that his Holmes is a recovering alcoholic and Joan Watson, played by Lucy Liu, is a former surgeon who has been hired by Holmes’s unseen father to keep him on the path to sobriety. Miller’s Holmes is a very modern eccentric with lots of personality quirks and traits. The gender switch of Watson offers the relationship a fresh dynamic, although the character of Watson has so far proven to be slightly cold and distant whilst bearing almost as many personal demons as Sherlock.

So far, the series has avoided any connection with Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories. Whereas the BBC series successfully adapted and transferred Doyle’s work into the modern day, Elementary has decided to come up with its own mysteries and drop Holmes into the middle. This is where the series starts to fall down. While the BBC’S Sherlock managed to retain the spirit of Conan Doyle’s character, Elementary feels like any generic cop show with a maverick, genius as the lead. Indeed, it struggles to justify the use of these iconic characters and seems to be merely a useful device to help levitate this above any other detective show on American television, simply by featuring Sherlock Holmes.

However, mainly thanks to Miller’s entertaining portrayal, I still remain intrigued to see what the writers have up their sleeves and which direction they intend to take the series over the course of future episodes.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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