Benedict Cumberbatch not only plays the role of Dr. Strange within the became a pop culture icon. The actor also created excitement around the world as the titular super detective in the British crime series ‘Sherlock’. In this case, however, it is not just the protagonist who convinces, the entire series is simply fantastic!
So it’s no wonder that “Sherlock” is also included in our official FILMSTARTS ranking of the best series of all time. If you haven’t yet seen the BBC’s four-season format, you’re in for a treat, as all 12 episodes are now available with a Netflix subscription.
That’s why “Sherlock” is so great
When you think of Sherlock Holmes, you usually associate this name with dusty memories of times long past. I think of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels, worn-out radio play cassettes or Peter Cushing, who epitomized whimsical snooping not only in films but also in a television series in the 1960s. ‘Sherlock’ with Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t have much to do with that anymore.
Of course, Sherlock Holmes and his level-headed partner Dr. Watson (no less known: Martin Freeman) is central. However, their investigative work, which in ‘Sherlock’ also includes some of the most popular cases of the most famous private detective of all time (keyword: Professor Moriarty), is no longer set in 19th century London, but in the present. This allows the setting and characters to appear much more modern and non-conformist.
What really stands out, in addition to the well-known actors, is the production of the series refreshingly unconventional and that’s exactly why it can thrill you from the first to the last episode: when the thought processes of Sherlock Holmes are recreated through loose tracking shots and make it clear how the detective can always be one step ahead of his opponents, it’s not just creative, it’s damn cool too.
Best entertainment – not just for puzzle fans
Naturally, ‘Sherlock’ mainly works according to the dramaturgical patterns of classic crime novels. The perpetrator’s question is the most important and creates real tension in every episode. But ‘Sherlock’ gains its true dynamism through the lively interaction between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freemanwhich grow closer from episode to episode and therefore give the audience the opportunity to learn more and more about the characters.
‘Sherlock’ combines great dialogue with lively humor and never forgets the seriousness of the situation, for example when it comes to Dr. Watson leaves. The stylistic general revision of a classic has certainly succeeded here: and at 90 minutes per episode, there is enough material here to while away the (still) cold evenings in the near future.