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cimorenethe first episode from the return of sherlock holmes, 'the empty house' comes nearest 'the final problem' of all in plot tension, action, excitement, and holmes/watson text. emotions run high. it's fairly fast-paced and exciting, rather mysterious--it has much in common with 'the final problem,' but it lacks that final burst of genius that elevated tfp beyond good to great. where tfp starts with a bang, teh starts with an activeish scene that's interesting, but not so very breathless.
it definitely, however, showcases edward hardwicke--the replacement watson--to great advantage. you recall i was unhappy with him in the hound of the baskervilles. of course i prefer burke, who certainly has more chemistry with brett, and played watson slightly more animated and more innocent. i've come to realize now, though, that hardwicke's watson is not blank or without character. he's less innocent and less overtly worshipful of holmes, but not less interesting, really, and not less fond of holmes. there were some beautiful shots when holmes revealed himself particularly.
in many ways this ep reads in reverse of tfp. we begin with watson working alone--and suffused with wistfulness at constant reminders of holmes. this isn't overdone--it's subtle. excellent facial acting, again. watson with lestrade, then watson alone at his desk. the voiceover helps without boring. when holmes appears, watson faints--book canon! holmes's face--smug and yet it softens at once. when he awakes it's time for more facial emoting. holmes gives him some brandy, hovering. an animated discussion follows. holmes sort of bounces about, sparkling and energetic, but he keeps breaking--softening, as i said before. and you can see watson's impulse to be hurt that he wasn't trusted, but hurting him was so far from holmes's mind, as we can easily see, that tragedy and angst are averted--he forgives as easily as he understands, and all is washed away under the fresh effusion of holmes's affection. (much more plentiful in return than adventures.)
holmes grabs w. and swirls him up into the action, all mysteriously, of course. no explanations for h. they end up in the house opposite their baker street rooms in the darkness, crouching and whispering by the windows. they fit together as though they'd not been separated. h's plot is revealed and the bad guy is caught. lestrade appears to make the arrest; h and w retire to baker street to discuss and celebrate. holmes makes up a pipe and babbles thoughtfully, finally settling on the couch. watson is gratifyingly impressed. he puts on what looks like a shriner hat and they settle on opposite sides of the fireplace. holmes asks what he has omitted to explain. watson asks for motive; holmes says that is up to conjecture. w. advances his theory. h's eyes fairly shine. for the first time he says 'excellent, watson!' without later qualifying that watson was of course wrong in every respect. mrs. hudson enters with a decanter and three goblets, and the episode ends with a toast to the Return.
high points: lestrade saying holmes 'even got the better of me a time or two.' holmes's first line as himself. watson: 'surely i am as trustworthy as your brother'; holmes: 'but of COURSE, watson. it is merely that you have a kinder heart' (phrasing approximate). handshots of the airgun being loaded. holmes detailing the life story of the second most dangerous man in london, incl. a totally wack metaphor about a tree.
low points: the pompous judge watson goes before to testify about the murder of ronald adair, who kisses col. moran's ass impressively: funny but the scene's too long.
watson alone--wistful and thoughtful
h. revives w. with brandy, after his initial shock made w. faint. w., recovered, is still almost speechless. that grimace is an expression of incredulous, though happy, surprise.
it's so nice to stretch after having to hunch all day to take a foot off your height!
telling the story of the missing three years
flashback to reichenbach--he's watching w. in his grief of 'discovering' holmes's death, and debating whether to reveal himself
still talking
going to, then waiting in, the empty house
confronting the colonel
the hole in the wax bust, since it was made from across the street and through a closed window, shows moran's aim is still excellent.
h. has had w. bring him the l-m volume of his personal reference, and is reading the 'moran' entry.
the entry in question. that's watson's thumb, not holmes's.
you can see the shriner hat again upside down in the glass over the airgun.
to many more years of investigations and slashy subtext!
it definitely, however, showcases edward hardwicke--the replacement watson--to great advantage. you recall i was unhappy with him in the hound of the baskervilles. of course i prefer burke, who certainly has more chemistry with brett, and played watson slightly more animated and more innocent. i've come to realize now, though, that hardwicke's watson is not blank or without character. he's less innocent and less overtly worshipful of holmes, but not less interesting, really, and not less fond of holmes. there were some beautiful shots when holmes revealed himself particularly.
in many ways this ep reads in reverse of tfp. we begin with watson working alone--and suffused with wistfulness at constant reminders of holmes. this isn't overdone--it's subtle. excellent facial acting, again. watson with lestrade, then watson alone at his desk. the voiceover helps without boring. when holmes appears, watson faints--book canon! holmes's face--smug and yet it softens at once. when he awakes it's time for more facial emoting. holmes gives him some brandy, hovering. an animated discussion follows. holmes sort of bounces about, sparkling and energetic, but he keeps breaking--softening, as i said before. and you can see watson's impulse to be hurt that he wasn't trusted, but hurting him was so far from holmes's mind, as we can easily see, that tragedy and angst are averted--he forgives as easily as he understands, and all is washed away under the fresh effusion of holmes's affection. (much more plentiful in return than adventures.)
holmes grabs w. and swirls him up into the action, all mysteriously, of course. no explanations for h. they end up in the house opposite their baker street rooms in the darkness, crouching and whispering by the windows. they fit together as though they'd not been separated. h's plot is revealed and the bad guy is caught. lestrade appears to make the arrest; h and w retire to baker street to discuss and celebrate. holmes makes up a pipe and babbles thoughtfully, finally settling on the couch. watson is gratifyingly impressed. he puts on what looks like a shriner hat and they settle on opposite sides of the fireplace. holmes asks what he has omitted to explain. watson asks for motive; holmes says that is up to conjecture. w. advances his theory. h's eyes fairly shine. for the first time he says 'excellent, watson!' without later qualifying that watson was of course wrong in every respect. mrs. hudson enters with a decanter and three goblets, and the episode ends with a toast to the Return.
high points: lestrade saying holmes 'even got the better of me a time or two.' holmes's first line as himself. watson: 'surely i am as trustworthy as your brother'; holmes: 'but of COURSE, watson. it is merely that you have a kinder heart' (phrasing approximate). handshots of the airgun being loaded. holmes detailing the life story of the second most dangerous man in london, incl. a totally wack metaphor about a tree.
low points: the pompous judge watson goes before to testify about the murder of ronald adair, who kisses col. moran's ass impressively: funny but the scene's too long.
watson alone--wistful and thoughtful
h. revives w. with brandy, after his initial shock made w. faint. w., recovered, is still almost speechless. that grimace is an expression of incredulous, though happy, surprise.
it's so nice to stretch after having to hunch all day to take a foot off your height!
telling the story of the missing three years
flashback to reichenbach--he's watching w. in his grief of 'discovering' holmes's death, and debating whether to reveal himself
still talking
going to, then waiting in, the empty house
confronting the colonel
the hole in the wax bust, since it was made from across the street and through a closed window, shows moran's aim is still excellent.
h. has had w. bring him the l-m volume of his personal reference, and is reading the 'moran' entry.
the entry in question. that's watson's thumb, not holmes's.
you can see the shriner hat again upside down in the glass over the airgun.
to many more years of investigations and slashy subtext!
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(no subject)
Date: 30 Dec 2003 11:52 am (UTC)An Abbreviated Retelling
Scene 1 - Dr Watson's consulting room
Holmes: Baby, I'm back!
Watson: Agh! (faints)
Scene 2 - Dr Watson's consulting room, five minutes later
Watson: You complete and utter fucker!
Holmes: Sorry. You wanna go solve some crimes?
Watson: (pause) Okay.
(no subject)
Date: 30 Dec 2003 02:27 pm (UTC)of course h. didn't seem all THAT sorry. you might want to revise his line a little.