Blog 2: Sherlock Semiotics

   Sherlock is a popular action packed television show based on Arthur Doyle's Sherlock Holmes character. From the first episode, one can see that this show is filled with semiotic characteristics. A couple of the most prevalent concepts within the show are the paradigmatic relationships, the synecdoches, the symbols, and the instances of intertextuality. 
   To begin with, quiet a few paradigmatic relationships are introduced in the the first episode of Sherlock. The first apparent one is the initial contrast between Sherlock and Watson. Sherlock is quick paced, blunt, and always on the move, while Watson is more reserved, and slow due to his war injury. At first Watson struggles a bit to keep up with Sherlock, but as the episode progresses we see a shift in this relationship between them. Another paradigmatic relationship between Watson and Sherlock would lie in the difference in how they keep their living space. Sherlock home is cluttered and a mess, while Watson's is very organized and clean, together this suggests that they make a balanced team. Another relationship detected in the episode is the woman in the car that Sherlock's brother sent to pick up Watson. She is on her phone the whole scene and seems aloof, which contrasts the mood of the situation. Her purpose could also be to provide a bit of comical relief to the viewers. 
   In addition, the concept of synecdoche is also present within the first episode. The most apparent example of this throughout the episode is Watson's cane. The cane directly represents his limitations. At the beginning of the show he is bound to it, moving slowly and struggling to keep up. But by the end of the episode he completely abandons it and has no trouble keeping up to Sherlock's pace. By leaving the cane, he was able to break free from the limitations he felt were imposed on him and thus was able to reach his potential. Another example would be the murder victim's wedding ring. The state of the ring represented the state of her marriage. It was scuffed and unkept, while all her other jewels were clean and polished. This was confirmed by Sherlock in the episode. 
   In continuation, symbols and instances of intertextuality also appeared in this episode of Sherlock. An example of a symbol would be the candle the restaurant owner placed on Sherlock's and Watson's table when they were on a stake out. The candle represented the fact that the owner thought the two of them were on a date. An example of intertextuality would be at the end, when Sherlock is offered the pills. At that moment he has to make a decision as to which one he will consume, and this is similar to the scene in the Matrix when Neo has to decide what pill to take. In both cases their decisions had the potential to  completely alter their future.
   In conclusion, these are just a few of the semiotic concepts present with the first episode of Sherlock. All of the elements from the cinematography to the smallest relationship come together to form a complex story filled with purposeful messages, making Sherlock a successful and intriguing show.