# Question about the Beeb's Sherlock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067 "2012-06-13T21:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/1 "2012-06-13T21:31:47Z")
Are the episodes as seen on PBS and available on DVD) the same as they were aired on the BBC, or have they been edited. I’m generally not a giddy fan-girl, but I have to admit, I’ve found myself absolutely captivated by this updated version. I love Cumberbatch’s Sherlock _and_ Freeman’s John Watson. I can’t wait for the next series - if it comes out on Blu-ray before they’re aired over here, I’ll have to buy it. Blu-ray’s are regionless, right? StG ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/2 "2012-06-13T22:04:51Z")
Masterpiece Mystery’s time slot requires 8 minutes or so be edited from each episode of _Sherlock_; the work was done by the production company. The version on DVD’s & BluRays sold here is the full show, as seen on BBC. When the new episodes join Series 1 on Netflix Streaming, they probably will also be the uncut version. The BluRays sold at [Amazon.UK](http://Amazon.UK) are “Region Free.” However, they will not play on many US players; read the small print at the site to determine whether you have the right model. Since my DVD player had died, I bought a Region Free model–mostly to watch the new series. Which aired on the UK beginning 1/1/2011 & went on sale there soon after the 3rd episode–but was not shown here until May! Production on Series 3 begins next January. When will it premiere in the UK? When will PBS find a slot? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/3 "2012-06-13T22:11:35Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Masterpiece Mystery’s time slot requires 8 minutes or so be edited from each episode of _Sherlock_; the work was done by the production company. The version on DVD’s & BluRays sold here is the full show, as seen on BBC. When the new episodes join Series 1 on Netflix Streaming, they probably will also be the uncut version. > > The BluRays sold at [Amazon.UK](http://Amazon.UK) are “Region Free.” However, they will not play on many US players; read the small print at the site to determine whether you have the right model. Since my DVD player had died, I bought a Region Free model–mostly to watch the new series. Which aired on the UK beginning 1/1/2011 & went on sale there soon after the 3rd episode–but was not shown here until May! > > Production on Series 3 begins next January. When will it premiere in the UK? When will PBS find a slot? Thanks. I was thinking about asking the DVD question. So even though PBS is airing cut versions, the U.S. DVDs are uncut? What about the streaming versions available for sale from Amazon? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/4 "2012-06-13T22:20:12Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Thanks. I was thinking about asking the DVD question. So even though PBS is airing cut versions, the U.S. DVDs are uncut? Per my friend who has the season 2 DVDs, region 1, yes they are uncut. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/5 "2012-06-13T22:32:06Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Blu-ray’s are regionless, right? The discs are not necessarily regionless, and they have different region definitions than DVDs. Players are supposed to be region locked to only play regionless discs or discs from that region, but apparently they can be modified easily to play discs from any region. Many major studios release region-free versions of their films, so YMMV. I guess the UK releases are region free. The UK is in region B while the US is in region A. The bigger problem may be the PAL/NTSC difference. That shouldn’t be an issue if you’re watching at 1080p, but it can be a problem at 1080i, and if you want to watch any extra features that are only available in standard def, you may not be able to watch those. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/6 "2012-06-13T22:45:57Z")
Yep, I was annoyed that my DVR recordings of series 2 had many bits and pieces apparently chopped out. I found out when I was looking at at some clips on youtube at work and saw new-to-me fragments - like Sherlock stealing an ashtray from Buckingham Palace. WTF! I have series 1 on DVD that I ordered through Amazon and I _think_ those episodes are intact. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/7 "2012-06-13T22:47:57Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Players are supposed to be region locked to only play regionless discs or discs from that region Weird. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a region locked DVD player. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/8 "2012-06-13T22:49:57Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Weird. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a region locked DVD player. US players are region locked. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/9 "2012-06-14T00:28:09Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Weird. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a region locked DVD player. My oldest US one’s are, but nothing in the last 7-8 years are, including my slim PS2. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > US players are region locked. My slim PS2 and my Philips DVD player are both US bought. Not hacked or anyting either. Actually, I have two Philips DVD players and both play all DVD’s from all regions and I have a ton of region-elsewhere DVD’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/10 "2012-06-14T00:31:17Z")
The Blu-Rays on sale [at Amazon.UK](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sherlock-Series-Blu-ray-Region-Free/dp/B005UL53AQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339633232&sr=8-3) are officially Region Free. However, > [@](#): > > Please note that this product will not play on US spec 60i Blu-ray players as the Blu-ray discs are authored to UK 50i specs. Some US players _will_ pass the test; I think there’s info on the 'net. But many US players will not play the “Region Free” BluRays at all. However, my Region Free DVD player had no problem with the DVD’s from the UK–or any other DVD’s. And the content is identical from either country–three episodes as broadcast on the BBC (two with commentaries) plus a Making Of featurette… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/11 "2012-06-14T01:12:29Z")
The manual for my Blu-ray player says the following: You can play Blu-ray discs bought in another region if the video standard is NTSC. However, you cannot play Blu-ray discs that do not include region code A. Region codes indicate that a disc conforms to industry standards. You cannot play a disc that does not have a region code. I’m guessing it won’t play. StG ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/12 "2012-06-20T15:44:28Z")
Can someone refresh my memory about something? ISTR reading that you can watch the episodes on the BBC website right after they’re shown in the UK. Or am I remembering that wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/13 "2012-06-20T16:25:42Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Can someone refresh my memory about something? ISTR reading that you can watch the episodes on the BBC website right after they’re shown in the UK. Or am I remembering that wrong? Yup, via iPlayer. You’ll need a UK proxy though. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/14 "2012-06-20T16:36:15Z")
**Baron Greenback** - What’s a UK proxy? StG ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/15 "2012-06-20T16:53:07Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Baron Greenback** - What’s a UK proxy? > > StG Basically a temporary UK-based IP address. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/16 "2012-06-20T17:24:02Z")
If you want to check if a particular version is cut or not you should be able to tell from the running time. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/17 "2012-06-20T17:25:57Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Baron Greenback** - What’s a UK proxy? A way to con the BBC into thinking you’re in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/18 "2012-06-20T17:43:28Z")
Is a UK proxy legal? And is it hard to do? StG ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/19 "2012-06-20T17:49:27Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > And is it hard to do? > > StG Not hard, hard, but from what I understand, it can be tricky if you’re not used to monkeying with your network settings. A very non-tech-oriented friend managed to get her PC set up to use it for this season’s _Sherlock_, though she somehow managed to make her PC stop talking to her wifi in the process. She assured me that it wasn’t worth worrying with until the season was over (wired connection still worked fine), so once the episodes had aired, she had me over just to reset things to the way they had been before. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067/20 "2012-06-20T18:05:18Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Is a UK proxy legal? > > StG The proxy itself is perfectly legal. I’m not sure what the legal status of using one to watch iPlayer is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-beebs-sherlock/625067.md?page=2)