The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Mary Marvin
mmarv339@uwsp.edu
It is no mystery why BBC’s “Sherlock” has captivated millions of fans all over the world. The show’s snappy writing and engaging acting have made it an incredibly big title since its premier in 2010.
Now the third season has finally hit airwaves, and though a few mysteries have been solved, the finale leaves us with what feels like a million more.
The second season of “Sherlock,” infamous for its cliffhanger ending, left fans in a frenzy for almost two years. After much speculation and anxious waiting, the curtain was raised on the third season.
The show has taken Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories and breathed new life into them. In adapting for the modern day, the show’s creators have given Sherlock and John Watson new problems and skill sets to work with.
Photo courtesy of BBC.com.
Sherlock Holmes played by Benedict Cumberbatch.
One of the defining effects of the show is the use of technology. Texts and emails are shown in unusual ways, appearing over the heads of characters and on the walls rather than on a screen. Watson even has a blog instead of a journal.
The tales themselves are also getting revamped for a modern audience. One example is season two episode two, “The Hounds of Baskerville,” which took place at a military base and involved chemical warfare.
There is no shortage of creative storytelling in the latest season. Viewers are introduced to another character’s “mind palace,” which exist only in their head, but is elaborate and complex.
The “mind palace” scenes are a real joy to watch. The amount of detail makes them worth a re-watch, and then a third watch, and then dragging your friends into the room for a fourth watch.
This season has a lot of exciting twists, some of which include a nod to the fans. In fact, the first episode of the season includes the Twitter tags that trended in real life and references to popular fan theories about the climactic ending of season two.
Other big twists of the season include an important wedding and the return of many familiar faces. Of course, we will not name names, but let’s just say that everyone you think you know is seen in a different light.
Fans of the original stories will be delighted by the allusions to Doyle’s classic works. For those who know what happens when Holmes is reunited with Watson after a long absence, they will likely be pleasantly surprised by the slight change in events.
One of the best new additions to the show was Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan, Watson’s fiancée. She and Martin Freeman (Watson) have the cutest on-screen chemistry, which is made even better by knowing they are real life partners.
The chemistry that made the show the massive success it is today comes from the two stars, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch (Holmes). The two do not disappoint this season, solving mysteries and having the best “bromance” the world has ever seen.
This season was just as remarkable as the first two. There are many twists and turns that make for a bumpy and thrilling ride, and we would expect nothing less from the show that kept us in suspense for two long years.
