sherlock60 | Granada Discussion Post: The Speckled Band (Reply)

Ready for some Granada talk, everyone? If you haven't seen the episode yet, you can watch Granada's adaptation of The Speckled Band at YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and DVD. Now let's talk telly, shall we? Follow me behind the jump for some of my random thoughts and impressions. Please add your own in the comments!

Note: Canon discussion is available in the canon discussion post. Thanks!

- My very favorite thing about Granada is the preservation of the feel and wording of the canon text. Reading the story along with the show is marvelous. Granada does a remarkable job using the original dialogue and keeping it as authentic as possible, while still occasionally mending certain things for consistency or ease of filming. For instance, Watson frequently says lines that were originally Holmes', but it makes the conversations flow much more naturally on film, and it takes some of the burden off of Jeremy Brett. Logic gets fixed as well, so you get things like making the cat a leopard here instead of a cheetah, because cheetahs are an African species, not Indian. Granada shines because it feels true to the text, loyal to the characters. It's a pleasure to watch.

- The two Watsons. So we had Edward Hardwicke for The Musgrave Ritual, and now we have David Burke for The Speckled Band. Burke is the original Watson of this show, present for the first thirteen episodes aired. They are both excellent in their characterizations of Watson, and they partner well with Jeremy Brett in subtly different ways. Very curious to hear commenters' thoughts on them, especially as we move forward!

- Burke's Watson is adorable here, rushing down the stairs, tugging at his jacket -- a client is waiting! He's enthusiastic about everything, from any chance to eat to breaking and entering. And his attempt at footprint detection is priceless. Their interaction in the scene is completely original to Granada, but perfect at fleshing out the friendship between Holmes and Watson in a believable, compact way. I loved it.

- Jeremy Brett is perfect as Holmes here, as when he savors Roylott's venom, flashing his eyes and his teeth with glee as Roylott insults him, or more subtly when he removes his shoes to settle in for a long stakeout at Stoke Moran. As he unties his laces, he confirms the watch may take all night. "It's possible. Anything is possible." Brett has a way of breathing Holmes to life, directly off the pages of Doyle and Paget. Look at the screenshots in this comparison of Sidney Paget drawings and Granada screenshots posted at

brett_holmes. His characterization is remarkable, and I find him captivating whenever he's on screen.

- A special tip to the hat must go to Granada's Mrs. Hudson, Rosalie Williams. She's lovely throughout, and I adore her here, watching Roylott's "I am a dangerous man" tirade aghast, but letting the matter drop after Holmes calls him "just another client". She shuts the door for them without a single word. She's quite an asset.

- We get a few mirror camera shots in this episode, which you'll find is a very common visual trick used on this show. You'll see them often as we continue watching. See how many times you count someone popping up in a reflection.