TV in Review: Sherlock, “A Scandal in Belgravia”

For those of you who have not yet seen “A Scandal in Belgravia” — PBS is due to start airing season two of Sherlock on May 6, 2012 — this review talks about the episode, but doesn’t give away any information crucial to the mysteries. Still, if you want to wait and see it fresh without any clue, turn away from the door now!

Okay, so I’m not sure that I buy the final deductive leap they make in “A Scandal in Belgravia” and I definitely think that it should have simply ended two minutes earlier, but it’s still gripping and emotionally involved. That final logical leap comes wrapped in a ribbon of sentiment, which is just fine with me, as the makers of Sherlock manage to combine the action, the puzzling, and the personal into about a good a blend as it gets.

I had been missing the play of sexuality between Watson and Holmes, but they reference it on occasion and greatly increase the sexual intrigue quotient by introducing Irene Adler and raising questions about Holmes’ relationship to sex. It’s as explicit as Sherlock has been so far.

For starters, Holmes does get jealous of Watson’s blog, but no, that’s not a euphemism. (In tribute to one of Watson’s posts, I thought of titling this review “The Speckled Blonde.”)

Random Observation #1. When Holmes has Watson work via Skype, it seems to be done more for the joke than for the plot, as there’s no way that Holmes thinks all of his senses will work to the same degree via WiFi. I suppose it does allow Holmes to be at his armchair detective best.

Random Observation #2. Holmes is way too trusting, although one could argue that it’s his arrogance that got in his way. Just like the originals, Dr. Watson grounds the piece — really, Martin Freeman seems to be the base ingredient that makes everything work.

“A Scandal in Belgravia” has lots and lots of play with the camera and ways of watching. There are tracking shots, overhead shots, shots through windows, spinning cameras, blurred focus, laptop lenses, camera phones, peepholes, wall mirrors, dresser mirrors, car mirrors…

I just can’t get over how much I love the shots in this show, from a body in a field to Watson with a girl and, of course, Sherlock on a couch. White-on-white.

I have two candidates for best quote of the episode.

Candidate #1, said to Holmes:

Sherlock Holmes, put your trousers on.

Candidate #2, also said to Holmes:

I always hear ‘Punch me in the face’ while you’re talking but it’s usually subtext.

So much fun.

See Also:
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia review
Sherlock: Translated from Bohemia
Sherlock – ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ or The Fall of Irene Adler
Sherlock Series 2: A Scandal in Belgravia Costume Overview
Sherlock – A Scandal in Belgravia Review