Blog Post #2

Sherlock Holmes has been a classic since 1887 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle began writing fictional mysteries about a man whose problem solving abilities are almost inhuman. Today, Sherlock Holmes can be seen not only in books, but in movies and television as well. In the BBC version of the story, the first episode is entitled A Study in Pink, based off of the first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet.

In the first episode of the season we meet not only Sherlock, but Dr. Watson as well who has just come back from a tour in Afghanistan. The opening shot shows Dr. Watson sitting in the office of his therapist, who is telling him that his injuries are psychosomatic and that he doesn’t really need the cane that he is holding on to. The audience becomes increasingly aware of the Dr’s need to keep his cane around. It becomes not only his literal crutch, but also it serves as a reminder of the past he so desperately wants to hold on to. The cane stays by his side for most of the episode, until Sherlock leads him on a car case though the city. Instantly the cane is forgotten as Dr. Watson is reminded of the adrenaline he felt on the battle field.

Though the two are polar opposites, Sherlock and Dr. Watson represent a duality between the need for structure as well as the ability to go with the flow. Even in their manner of dress can it be seen; Sherlock’s shirt is unbuttoned loose while Dr. Watson’s sweater seems to come all the way up to his neck in an almost suffocating way.

These are only two of the many devices used by the author and producer to illustrate the characters of Sherlock and Watson, as well as to set the tone for the entire series. Each episode is filled to the brim with metaphor and symbolism just waiting to be unlocked. It is precisely this reason that shows like Sherlock draw people in and envelope them in the story line encouraging them to watch further episodes.