#4k review sherlock series

Hardwicke, in the later series, does a lot more to suggest the difficulty of living with a man like Holmes. Both are top drawer character actors with fantastic credits, but for me, Burke has an impulsiveness and breezy candour that gives his Watson extra light and colour. I prefer Burke's to Hardwicke's more thoughtful Watson. As David Burke leads Holmes round the Aldershot camp in The Crooked Man, you understand exactly what Holmes found appealing in the bluff ex-soldier, who chronicles his victories, appreciates and learns his methods and soothes his clients when Holme's interrogation causes offence. Firstly we have a totally new take on Watson, a brisk, wonderfully intelligent man of action, a fearless fellow crime fighter and stalwart support. But Granada (who are damn good at this sort of thing when they try) have nailed the two other vital essences of the stories and this makes their achievement unique.

#4k review sherlock series

Brett's portrayal of Holmes is enough to lift this series above any other. No other Holmes has come close to Brett's portrayal of the brilliant but obsessed mind, teetering on the knife edge dividing madness and genius.

There have been similar efforts along the same lines, though none so successful. Brett's Holmes - cantankerous, affected, whimsical, rude, arrogant, precipitous, charming - can only have been drawn from the deepest possible understanding of the text. We have a glorious incarnation of Holmes and Watson here. If you're going to watch a single episode, let it be The Crooked Man. If you are going to buy one Conan Doyle DVD let this be it.