# Elementary: New CBS Sherlock Series \[Season 1 thread\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762 "2012-06-20T16:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/101 "2012-10-05T15:07:26Z")
It doesn’t enthrall me, but it’s certainly my best choice for the time slot. And I agree that that was a new plot twist. I was actually assuming another half-sibling as the killer, so them using my assumption to spring the trap was fun. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/102 "2012-10-05T15:18:32Z")
Just saw episode two. Why do they even bother with any Sherlock references? Other than the lead character copying the frantic speed of the BBC Sherlock, it has absolutely nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes. Watson is nothing more than a high priced babysitter, wanting to spend more time with her ex-boyfriend. The show is more of a “Castle out of rehab” meets “Mentalist on meth” than Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The actual plot and crime of this week? Meh…no worse than other cop shows, but certainly nothing all that clever either. You didn’t need to be a genius to mutter “No shit, Sherlock…” as it was solved. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/103 "2012-10-05T15:23:39Z")
**DMark** , I moved your post from last week’s thread to this week’s thread. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/104 "2012-10-05T18:02:26Z")
I’m still enjoying it. I agree that it doesn’t really need to be Sherlock Holmes (and doesn’t really feel like it is) but I kind of feel like I’m watching a younger version of Gregory House and that’s okay with me. I know House was patterned on Holmes, but this Holmes seems patterned on House. I was proud of myself for catching on that the scene in the hospital room was fake and meant to encourage the killer to take the “window of opportunity,” though I didn’t figure out the induced-coma thing. I plan to continue watching. Couldn’t stand the ex-boyfriend, though. I hope he doesn’t stick around long. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/105 "2012-10-05T18:14:14Z")
I saw from a mile away that the hospital scene at the end was a fake, a trap. I can’t believe the doctor didn’t also. That he and the evil sister fell for it was disappointing. On the other hand, that other twist got me, and I thought it was cool, if somewhat unbelievable. Hey, not all of ACD’s stories were that believable either. Still like it, still not bitter that they call them Holmes and Watson, because they obviously are, just they’ve been played with. Holmes liked the cocaine, too. And played the violin. And had some sort of personality disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/106 "2012-10-05T21:12:44Z")
Yes, that was disbelief suspension challenging. Last night’s episode was a little obvious. The woman in the coma committed the murder. Her doctor was her boyfriend, and he was inducing the coma medically. All so she could kill off the illegitimate half-siblings who could inherit some of the family fortune if they became aware of their father’s identity through some miracle. More interplay between Holmes and Watson, with Holmes continuing to be a dick. Going on and on about her sex life like that is not endearing. And Hollywood, get a clue, women can masturbate, too. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/107 "2012-10-05T23:49:49Z")
Note: There’s a new thread for the second episode [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667748). ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/108 "2012-10-06T02:56:27Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > More interplay between Holmes and Watson, with Holmes continuing to be a dick. Going on and on about her sex life like that is not endearing. We stopped watching at the point that he burned the violin. **Irishman** : “not endearing” wins my award for best litotes of the week. Congrats! As I said in the other thread, I don’t mind revisions and updates and different takes. (I loved the movie WITHOUT A CLUE where Holmes is an actor and Watson is the brilliant one.) The problem with ELEMENTARY is that Holmes is entirely unlikable. The real Holmes had a drug problem, OK, because he got bored when there was no mental stimulation. But he was in a middle/upper class setting. This Holmes is a low-life druggie. He interrupts an AA meeting to stand up and yell. He’s rude to everyone – the real Sherlock may have been curt from time to time, but rarely outright rude. If this was a totally new detective (a la Monk), I’d have no problem watching. As Sherlock, it leaves me very antagonistic and annoyed. Yeah, he’s basically a dick. The real Sherlock could be annoying; the BBC SHERLOCK is definitely annoying because of his know-it-all attitude; but he’s pleasant and courteous and polite, and NOT just a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/109 "2012-10-06T03:44:40Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > The real Holmes had a drug problem, OK, because he got bored when there was no mental stimulation. But he was in a middle/upper class setting. This Holmes is a low-life druggie. He interrupts an AA meeting to stand up and yell. He’s rude to everyone – the real Sherlock may have been curt from time to time, but rarely outright rude. Not that the show doesn’t have some problems - bu he’s not a low-life druggie - he’s staying in the worst of his father’s NYC properties. And his father can afford to pay for Watson to be a live-in warden. He was consulting with the London police when something in his personal life apparently caused him to fall deep into a drug habit (that’s an assumption on my part - we don’t know that he was shipped across the pond for treatment, but if Dad is that wealthy, he likely was to avoid scandal). ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/110 "2012-10-06T04:44:06Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > We stopped watching at the point that he burned the violin. **Irishman** : “not endearing” wins my award for best litotes of the week. Congrats! I like winning. What do I get? > [@Folacin](#): > > He was consulting with the London police when something in his personal life apparently caused him to fall deep into a drug habit (that’s an assumption on my part - we don’t know that he was shipped across the pond for treatment, but if Dad is that wealthy, he likely was to avoid scandal). Something involving a woman, it appears, given Watson’s deductions about his obvious intentional crassness. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/111 "2012-10-06T16:21:24Z")
I give it a solid B. Entertaining enough that I was happy watching the episode without getting bored, Holmes-like enough that I don’t feel outraged that they’re using the name, but not transcendent or amazing. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/112 "2012-10-06T18:11:59Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I give it a solid B. Entertaining enough that I was happy watching the episode without getting bored, Holmes-like enough that I don’t feel outraged that they’re using the name, but not transcendent or amazing. I agree. I’m with it so far. Lucy Liu is dressed in a distracting way for the role, but I’m okay with that 😉 - although it keeps a threat of Holmes/Watson hook-up a bit too close to the surface. Still Eww. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/113 "2012-10-06T18:34:13Z")
Yeah, I’m not loving it, but I’m not hating it. I do feel like they have strayed too far away from what makes Sherlock, Sherlock. I’ll watch a few more, but so far I’m underwhelmed. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/114 "2012-10-06T19:31:27Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I like winning. What do I get? Your name gets inscribed on the bronze plaque in my office headed “Litotes of Wonderment”… and you should be receiving an offer soon in email for a free case of Viagra. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/115 "2012-10-06T23:17:27Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Something involving a woman, it appears, given Watson’s deductions about his obvious intentional crassness. I wouldn’t be surprised if Irene Adler was involved in some way. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/116 "2012-10-07T01:38:29Z")
just popping in to say I’m very impressed with Jonny Lee Miller’s acting. nice surprise. and I’m not finding Lucy Liu annoying as I thought I would. I’ll keep watching ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/117 "2012-10-07T03:28:33Z")
Not very impressive. The “revelation” was so blatantly obvious that Holmes seems like quite a dolt not to figure out that the woman’s story in the group session was the answer immediately, but she kept talking and pounding home the point for everyone to get. It was far more House than Holmes. The crime was unimaginative, too, and the cops were pretty stupid to insist that the neighbor was the killer for so long. There was a lot of handwaving, but there was plenty of reason to believe he didn’t do the murder. There is next to no chemistry between the leads, and Lucy Liu acts lobotomized. She’s a great, fun actress, but has nothing to do and is so subdued as to be deadly dull. This isn’t my first pick for the night, or even the time slot, where the excellent **Scandal** is turning out to be the best dramatic show on network TV right now. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/118 "2012-10-08T00:03:07Z")
Did anybody else watch this? I saw the premier last night. I liked it a lot, although I did find quite a bit of his deductions a bit far-fetched. But Johnny Lee Miller does have a good stage presence, I find him sexy, and I find the chemistry between him and Lucy Lui to be interesting. I will watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/119 "2012-10-08T00:45:25Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > With the right actors and writers I think the Sherlock Holmes concept could work in practically any setting. You could probably do a great Sherlock Holmes in King’s Landing. You could do a Sherlock Holmes in the Stars Wars Universe. It’s all about the execution so I would wait before making up my mind about this one. I rather like the idea of a female Watson. One of my all-time favorite films: His Girl Friday was a remake where a male character became female to great effect. Heck, I remember reading a series of children’s books which was Sherlock Holmes as a mouse, living in the walls of 10 Baker Street. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762/120 "2012-10-08T01:47:13Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I’ll give “Elementary” a shot. I gave it two shots. First was okay, second a snooze, and I’ve never had the appreciation for Lucy Liu’s acting or, um, physical presence that others have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elementary-new-cbs-sherlock-series-season-1-thread/625762.md?page=7)