At the end of season two of this series, an update of the
classic criminal detective, we were left wondering what would happen next. A
set up of several episodes involving Sherlock’s (Johnny Lee Miller) brother
Mycroft (Rhys Ifans) as well as the kidnapping and rescue of Holmes’ trainee
Dr. Jane Watson (Lucy Liu), a rift between teacher and student formed that left
her seeking a place of her own and Holmes returning to England.
All of this is responded to in the first episode which finds
Watson now working on her own as well as assisting Captain Gregson (Aidan
Quinn). Word reaches her that Holmes is back from England to live in New York
again after having been fired by MI6.
Not only that, he’s brought along a new protégé as well, Kitty Winter
(Ophelia Lovibond). But before the department will allow her to work with them
she needs to prove herself.
What this does is set up a new dynamic between not only
Holmes and Watson but with Kitty as well. There is no way that a certain amount
of jealousy must rise up between both Watson and Kitty, not the sexual type of
jealousy but the desire to prove their worthiness to Holmes. Watson may be more
self-assured with more confidence in her abilities having spent the time she
did with home, but the idea of being replaced is sure to rattle. Kitty at the
same time finds herself jealous of the comradery and closeness of her mentor
and his ex-protégé. And Holmes remains as aloof as ever, rarely noticing what
is going on between the two.
This sets up a new aspect to the series that changes with
time as we near the season’s end. Kitty has secrets in her past that only
Holmes knows. When Watson is brought into the fold, the tension between the two
women changes to one of friendship and concern. And, once more, Holmes more often
than not is uninvolved with these issues, more concerned with focusing on
crime.
Episodes run the usual gamut of various day to day crimes
from theft to murder but mostly focus on murder here. The safety and past
history of Kitty is brought to the forefront later in the season which brings
everyone involved to circle the wagons and protect one of their own. But the
deepest and darkest episodes this season revolve around Holmes’ drug use, past
and possibly present. One episode has him tracing his steps after a blackout.
Was he drugged or did he fall victim to his past drug use again? The final
episode has Holmes trying to find his ex-sobriety sponsor who has disappeared,
another link to his past problems.
The proper combination of storylines and character creation
have made this series one that I’ve loved watching. Miller does an amazing job
as Holmes, creating the famed sleuth we know from the past but making him more
current in a way few have been able to accomplish. Liu as Watson has made what
was depicted as a bumbling fool in the Rathbone/Bruce series of films into an
accomplished detective in her own right. The two play-off of one another quite
well here.
Once more, as I’ve written on several other series, this one
ended making me want more. It meant that I’d have to wait until the following
season to see what comes next. With this one it meant I needed to hope that CBS
had enough faith in it for it to return since the ratings were not spectacular.
With any luck that will change this year and more will discover the joy of this
series.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment