# Who is the greatest current fictional detective on television? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745 "2013-12-19T18:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/1 "2013-12-19T18:35:58Z")
Among the current crop of fictional tv detectives, which do you think is the best? Private eye, police consultant, government employee or amateur busybody(if I’ve missed a category let me know)-all shows that are currently in production are in the running. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/2 "2013-12-19T18:44:27Z")
Hard to say. The CSI group are always helped by convenient coincidences (“only one store in Las Vegas sells the kind of paint that we found on the floor and the clerk clearly remembers our suspect out of the hundreds of people who passed through the store in the past month.”) **Dexter** (don’t know if that counts) was pretty damn good, since he was easily able to find killers that the Miami police couldn’t find. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/3 "2013-12-19T18:57:56Z")
Definitely not Carrie Wells from _Unforgettable_-her hyperthymesia cannot work as described. While she may be able to remember everything she sees, she should only be able to remember the exact details of things her eyes actually focused on at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/4 "2013-12-19T19:05:33Z")
Sherlock Holmes is still pretty good, from, well, _Sherlock_. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/5 "2013-12-19T19:08:41Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Sherlock Holmes is still pretty good, from, well, _Sherlock_. Have you seen the American version (_Elementary_) and, if so, how would you compare the two? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/6 "2013-12-19T19:10:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Have you seen the American version (_Elementary_) and, if so, how would you compare the two? You weren’t asking, but I prefer Holmes from _Elementary_, because he’s less of an asshole and because Joan Watson is v. pretty. Leroy Jethro Gibbs would own both their asses, of course. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/7 "2013-12-19T19:21:43Z")
On the technicality that the finale of POIROT just aired last month across the pond but apparently hasn’t yet been broadcast here, I’ll sing David Suchet’s praises. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/8 "2013-12-19T19:30:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Have you seen the American version (_Elementary_) and, if so, how would you compare the two? I’ve seen both, \*Sherlock \*is awesome and _Elementary_ is crap. So I would say Sherlock Holmes of Sherlock is the greatest current fictional detective on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/9 "2013-12-19T20:18:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > On the technicality that the finale of POIROT just aired last month across the pond but apparently hasn’t yet been broadcast here, I’ll sing David Suchet’s praises. Would that be _Curtain_, based on the last book? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/10 "2013-12-19T20:20:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Would that be _Curtain_, based on the last book? Naturellement. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/11 "2013-12-19T20:45:04Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ve seen both, \*Sherlock \*is awesome and _Elementary_ is crap. > > So I would say Sherlock Holmes of Sherlock is the greatest current fictional detective on TV. This. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/12 "2013-12-20T02:41:37Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ve seen both, \*Sherlock \*is awesome and _Elementary_ is crap. > > So I would say Sherlock Holmes of Sherlock is the greatest current fictional detective on TV. I’ve seen both and I strongly disagree. They’re very different shows, each has their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what I recently wrote about the topic: > [@me](#): > > I think the contrasts between the current Elementary and Sherlock are quite interesting. > > Overall, Sherlock at its best is better than Elementary at its best, but I find it wildly, and disappointingly, variable. Two or so of the six episodes from seasons 1 and 2 are mediocre or bad, and it suffers from a lot of the stupid hollywood cliches like the villain’s plan that is clearly designed to lead to interesting sets of clues leading to other clues, but which makes absolutely no sense when you eventually find out what it is, and they hope you don’t remember what you saw happening 20 minutes earlier. On the other hand, its sense of style and the way it visually represents Sherlock’s thought processes are just fascinating, and Benedict Cumberbatch absolutely owns the role. I feel like the Holmes/Watson relationship is pretty close to books, transported through time. > > Elementary, on the other hand, does suffer the predictability that comes with being an American procedural TV show trying to make 20+ episodes a year, so silly things like “whoever the biggest name guest star is must be the guilty party” often apply. And the non-Sherlock characters (Watson, Mycroft, Irene Adler, etc.) are more or less made up out of whole cloth. (Although for the most part made out of interesting and well-acted whole cloth.) On the other hand, Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock is nearly as good as Benedict, and very convincing as what Sherlock Holmes from the book would have been if he lived 110 years later. The show has also done a good job of mixing case-of-the-week with larger-story-arc with interesting little slice-of-life moments. For instance, in this week’s episode there was a subplot about how random NYPD detectives resent what Holmes and Watson do, and how Sherlock’s brusque manner (to put it nicely) doesn’t help things out, etc. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/13 "2013-12-20T02:49:37Z")
Shawn Spencer and his partner MC Clap Yo Handz. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/14 "2013-12-23T19:02:19Z")
Batman ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/15 "2013-12-23T19:10:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Among the current crop of fictional tv detectives, which do you think is the best? Private eye, police consultant, government employee or amateur busybody(if I’ve missed a category let me know)-all shows that are currently in production are in the running. I don’t want to get yelled at for not being completely in line with your OP, so please clarify if you mean shows currently in production or currently airing on television. If by “currently in production” do you mean that they’re making new episodes right now as we speak (meaning not on any kind of break from filming)? If you have a link handy for us to know what’s in production or not in production at the moment, it will really help. If by “currently on television” do you mean that their season is happening right now or is it ok if they’re on a break between seasons (for example, I might want to nominate **Hugh Dancy** as **Will Graham** on NBC’s “Hannibal” but the new season doesn’t start for a few weeks and I’m not sure if they’re filming new ones right now or if they’ve already wrapped on Season 2. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/16 "2013-12-23T19:14:55Z")
Which network? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/17 "2013-12-23T19:14:56Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Shawn Spencer and his partner MC Clap Yo Handz. Agreed, the best rendering of Holmes & Watson evah! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/18 "2013-12-23T19:26:14Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I don’t want to get yelled at for not being completely in line with your OP, so please clarify if you mean shows currently in production or currently airing on television. Not cancelled or permanently “on hiatus”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/19 "2013-12-23T19:35:07Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I’ve seen both and I strongly disagree. They’re very different shows, each has their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what I recently wrote about the topic: Very well summed up in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/20 "2013-12-23T19:35:29Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Shawn Spencer and his partner MC Clap Yo Handz. You mean Ghee Buttersnaps? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745.md?page=2)