In class, we were given the task of analyzing the BBC television series Sherlock. I'm no stranger to this series and even consider it one of my favorite shows, so I gladly welcome the opportunity to take an even closer look at the show and see what I can deduce for myself. This summer on a trip to London I actually went out of my way to visit the "fake" 221B Baker Street location used in the series, so yeah, you could say I'm a fan. The first episode, "A Study in Pink" (based upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet), introduces us to the infamous consulting detective himself. Our first glance at Sherlock establishes him as a bit of an odd character. We can piece this together from information we're given throughout the episode. Our first introduction to Sherlock involves him beating a dead body in the mortuary with a riding crop – not exactly an everyday scenario. Throughout the episode, various supporting characters are mentioning the great work Sherlock has done for them, namely how he was able to ensure the execution of Mrs. Hudson's husband and helping the restaurant owner avoid a murder charge. These aren't the most commonplace of favors. And of course Sherlock's flat is a mess of books, scientific equipment, and dusty, old furniture – an appropriate metaphor for Sherlock's crowded, but exceptionally functional mind. All these details come together to introduce Sherlock to us as a strange genius that places his work above all else.
Now, although the series is quite obviously titled after its star attraction, Dr. John Watson serves the important function of giving the show its suspense and structure. Just as the original stories are penned as journal entries from John himself, this stays faithful to the source material by having John be our window into the strange world of Sherlock Holmes. Right at the beginning of the episode, we're thrown into the middle of John's violent flashback of his time in Afghanistan. We are shown his cramped, bare living quarters that look more like a student dorm than a cozy apartment. Before any dialogue is spoken, we know straight away that John is a former military man with some sort of traumatic experience surrounding his service. From his stark room we also learn that he's newly arrived and doesn't have many close connections since he's on his own. It doesn't take Sherlock to figure this basic information out. Not only does John serve as our point of view, this setup also establishes a distance between Sherlock and the audience. Just as John is trying to figure out this strange, new person in his otherwise uneventful life, we are right there alongside him trying to piece together Sherlock's world. We're equally impressed as John when we see Sherlock deduce that first crime scene, and we're also thrown for a loop when it's revealed that Mycroft is Sherlock's brother, not mortal enemy. The body language in the restaurant stakeout is proof enough that John is far more invested in Sherlock than the case at hand. While Sherlock is entirely facing the window and focused on observation, John is positioned facing away from the window and towards Sherlock. We, alongside John, want to know more about this mysterious man, but he has little interest in revealing anything about himself. After all, as we learn towards the end of the episode, this case is only leading up to the bigger conundrum of the series: who is Moriarty?
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