Hal, what I love about ASiB is the character development. I know there's not any one strong murder mystery or anything, but that's because Irene's a much bigger mystery herself. And I freaking loved that. But you know how I feel about the balance of plot and character Mar, I think I do actually rank it above ASiP as well. It definitely requires an editing cheat, but I don't see a way around that. If I were Moffat my justification would be that this was a subjective edit and that we're in John's POV seeing what he is imagining. It's a cheat for sure but I don't mind it as I don't really see how they could have done it another way. Maybe watching it again tonight, woot!
Yeah, their actual order for me really depends on the mood I'm currently in, so it's hard to say... My biggest gripe with ASiP is that it takes Sherlock too long to deduce that the killer is the cabbie - that's where the original 60-minute unaired pilot is better, Sherlock deduces it much quicker. Plus, the unaired pilot has a fantastic scene where Sherlock pretends to be drunk. (have you seen it, Rachel?)
The funny thing about the length of time it takes Sherlock to deduce it's the cabbie (for me) is that when I'm watching it doesn't bother me. When I sit and think about it afterwards though... it does. For me that's a reflection of the show's force of character. As I watch, something a little annoying like that gets swept up in the general awesomeness.
Yeah, but this is the freaking Sherlock Holmes. Even I realised it was the cabbie by the time they were in Angelo's restaurant - and I hadn't read the original story for ages and completely forgot that detail was taken from the book. Sherlock shouldn't be so thick...
Yeah I realised it was a cabbie as soon as Sherlock started describing what sort of person it must be. Way too easy. But then, I don't watch mostly for the mysteries, and the character stuff in ASiP is so perfect, I still love it. I actually haven't seen the unaired pilot. I keep meaning to.
Exactly. What the rest of the episode did well, though, was distract the viewer from that, until the landlady/maid comes to tell him his cab is waiting.
To be honest, I think the only episodes that have really 'tricked' me successfully are ASiB and TRF, which is I guess one reason I like them so much. But even so, the best part is still the personal stuff. Watched TRF with my dad tonight. He was pretty shocked about Moriarty killing himself. But at this stage since everyone knows there will be a series 3, he didn't have any illusion that Sherlock was dead. Actually he wondered why they showed him alive, and I was just like... dude, they couldn't leave it on THAT much of a cliffhanger
You really should. It's a lovely example of how episodes evolve and (in most cases) improve - I think the "final" TSiP is superior, but I still miss the "drunk" Sherlock scene, which is hysterical.
I almost think they were giving it away --iirc, you could clearly see a cab in the background in the scene.
Ophie, that picture would be better if John were wielding Sting Mar, I'll probably watch the unaired pilot later this week since you've been reminding me of that I have the series 1 blu rays with me.
You do that, Rachel. And I'm quite interested in hearing (well, reading ) your thoughts, from your perspective as a filmmaker.
Yeah, I'm sure I'll have a lot of thoughts, since I usually do I already think it's interesting that it was 60 minutes instead of 90 and wonder if the BBC originally wanted to do more episodes but have them be shorter. I'm guessing they felt that 60 minutes wouldn't be adequate time to tell the stories in the end? Well, I'm very interested in it.
Well, finally managed to overcome the trepidation you've all inspired in me and watch The Blind Banker last night -- actually thought it was quite good, not as good as ASiS, but still excellent.
Yeah I mean it's not like it's awful. It's just that it's easily the weakest episode of the whole show thus far. I've only seen it a couple times, but I've seen the other episodes a lot more. I do think it has some great character building stuff with John and Sherlock, especially the reveal of just how much Sherlock doesn't understand the concept of dating
I thought the plot was actually quite good, just wasn't enough to fill 90 minutes. After about 45 I was sitting there thinking "Well get ON with it already." Or at least let Watson get some lovin'. Anyway, moved on to The Great Game last night. Brilliant.
