Sherlock

I have to say, the first time I watched 'Sherlock' (2010, Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat ) I only managed the first ten minutes, I think I had decided before I'd seen it that it wasn't my kind of thing. I couldn't have been more wrong! I think the lesson here is watch outside your comfort zone, you may be surprised by what you enjoy (The same thing happened with 'Withnail and I' (1987, Bruce Robinson) , now one of my favourite films!). A couple of years on, my cousin and I watched the first series back to back followed by the first episode of the second series! Before we knew it a whole day had gone by, but it was completely worth it.

Benedict Cumberbatch offers an outstanding performance, bringing both the seriousness of a crime solver and comedy perfectly together to create a very unique Sherlock Holmes that draws in and holds your attention throughout every episode. The same can be said for Martin Freeman in the role of Watson. He offers a thread of normality to neutralise the extraordinary character of Holmes, but who in himself holds bundles of personality, with his background as a soldier playing a huge part in the way his personality has been shaped. This is subtly implied by Freeman perfectly. As well as performance, the cinematography helps the audience to begin to understand the mind of Holme, making him less distant and therefore more likeable. Close up, slow motion shots of the clues in which leads Holmes to his conclusions allows the audience to follow the complexity, offering an explanation to originally impossible conclusions, creating excitement and tension as it keeps the

audience guessing.

'Sherlock' is probably now my favourite British TV series and I would without a doubt rate it 5/5, 6 if it were possible!