The Hound of Baskerville
When Mark Gatiss went on to remake The Hound of Baskerville for BBC's Sherlock- he knew what he was getting into. This one wasn't a short story- it was a full fledged novel, it has seen 23 film adaptations till date (the largest number for any of Holmes' adaptations) and is unique, perhaps the most iconic of Holmes career, because this is the only one that has Gothic horror elements. The blockbuster nature of the subject and the need of the Sherlock series to re-imagine the classic in a modern scenario presented complex challenges, and am pleased to say, the results are awesome.
Modernizing the story begins with modernizing the setting- So instead of a foreboding dark house alluding to the horror theme in the book, we have a modern day horror setting- army research facilities, you know where all germs, epidemics are bred, and chemical/biological weapons of war are created? You never know just what might they come up with one fine day, to spoil the rest of your lifetime. Anyways, Sherlock is in one of his most bored moods, he just isn't happy with the quality of cases at his disposal, which makes him edgy and maniacal. Up comes a young man plagued with nightmares about the death of his father at the fangs of a monstrous dog.
"It is as big as a horse, has red eyes, and glows"- Holmes is both intrigued and excited as he begins his pursuit on a dark, and desolate moor and then its a race against time as our heroes try to figure out the mystery before it takes more innocent lives. From the lighthearted erotic romp that was Scandal Belgravia, this one is straightaway a suspenseful, creepy, and rabid chase. There are moments of sheer atmospheric terror when Holmes decides to lock up Watson in a lab to conduct his own private experiment, and in the climax where he faces his fears- in the form of his mortal enemy, and yet there is the trademark humor and sardonic wit all throughout.
Benedict Cumberbatch is prodigal as usual. "I do not have friends", he says, as he treats us to both sides of Sherlock- his brilliance in observing the smallest possible detail, and deducing the most accurate fact, and his nasty, inhuman side- his superiority complex, and almost complete lack of feeling. There is plenty of warmth in Sherlock for Watson as there is sarcasm, but as Holmes can compartmentalize his mind, we too learn that his tongue and his heart also reside in separate compartments. And like in Belgravia, Sherlock gives a hint of his interest for the lovely Adler, here its his understanding of fear that brings out the best in him- he is a showstopper in the scene where he knows he has seen the impossible, but yet cannot believe his eyes, and almost breaks down because of the confusion he is in because his senses betray his mind. Martin Freeman as Watson gets to step out of Cumberbatch's shadows and do a bit of investigating on his own, and displays immense depth of character in addition to display of camaraderie.
We have come to expect ingenuity and wit, novelty and shock value from each episode of Sherlock, yet the intensity, apprehension and audience involvement in Hound of the Baskerville raises the bar even further. The episode ends with Moriarty getting released from the prison to set up a series finale at Reichenbach Fall, for the solution to the "final problem"- can't wait for 15th January!!! Oh, easy 10/10! Don't miss or it will hound you forever!!!
When Mark Gatiss went on to remake The Hound of Baskerville for BBC's Sherlock- he knew what he was getting into. This one wasn't a short story- it was a full fledged novel, it has seen 23 film adaptations till date (the largest number for any of Holmes' adaptations) and is unique, perhaps the most iconic of Holmes career, because this is the only one that has Gothic horror elements. The blockbuster nature of the subject and the need of the Sherlock series to re-imagine the classic in a modern scenario presented complex challenges, and am pleased to say, the results are awesome.
Modernizing the story begins with modernizing the setting- So instead of a foreboding dark house alluding to the horror theme in the book, we have a modern day horror setting- army research facilities, you know where all germs, epidemics are bred, and chemical/biological weapons of war are created? You never know just what might they come up with one fine day, to spoil the rest of your lifetime. Anyways, Sherlock is in one of his most bored moods, he just isn't happy with the quality of cases at his disposal, which makes him edgy and maniacal. Up comes a young man plagued with nightmares about the death of his father at the fangs of a monstrous dog.
"It is as big as a horse, has red eyes, and glows"- Holmes is both intrigued and excited as he begins his pursuit on a dark, and desolate moor and then its a race against time as our heroes try to figure out the mystery before it takes more innocent lives. From the lighthearted erotic romp that was Scandal Belgravia, this one is straightaway a suspenseful, creepy, and rabid chase. There are moments of sheer atmospheric terror when Holmes decides to lock up Watson in a lab to conduct his own private experiment, and in the climax where he faces his fears- in the form of his mortal enemy, and yet there is the trademark humor and sardonic wit all throughout.
Benedict Cumberbatch is prodigal as usual. "I do not have friends", he says, as he treats us to both sides of Sherlock- his brilliance in observing the smallest possible detail, and deducing the most accurate fact, and his nasty, inhuman side- his superiority complex, and almost complete lack of feeling. There is plenty of warmth in Sherlock for Watson as there is sarcasm, but as Holmes can compartmentalize his mind, we too learn that his tongue and his heart also reside in separate compartments. And like in Belgravia, Sherlock gives a hint of his interest for the lovely Adler, here its his understanding of fear that brings out the best in him- he is a showstopper in the scene where he knows he has seen the impossible, but yet cannot believe his eyes, and almost breaks down because of the confusion he is in because his senses betray his mind. Martin Freeman as Watson gets to step out of Cumberbatch's shadows and do a bit of investigating on his own, and displays immense depth of character in addition to display of camaraderie.
We have come to expect ingenuity and wit, novelty and shock value from each episode of Sherlock, yet the intensity, apprehension and audience involvement in Hound of the Baskerville raises the bar even further. The episode ends with Moriarty getting released from the prison to set up a series finale at Reichenbach Fall, for the solution to the "final problem"- can't wait for 15th January!!! Oh, easy 10/10! Don't miss or it will hound you forever!!!