Granada Discussion Post: The Resident Patient

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Let's talk telly in the discussion post for Granada's adaptation of The Resident Patient. If you haven't seen the episode yet, you can find it at YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and DVD. 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!



- Do you read the story first before you watch the episode? I always do, although I think we have several people going the other way around. You can see the use of the original text and discover what is preserved and what is lost both ways. What's your preference and why?

- What did you make of Blessington's -- or should I say Sutton's nightmare opening the episode? Suitably bizarre. The effect used while he wakes up is particularly weird and effective. It's definitely out there. Sutton... Sutton! Suttttooooonnn!

- Holmes and Watson are absolutely adorable together here as the best of friends. Granada is wonderful for its vivid, fun portrayal of the friendship side of their partnership and we get a lot of that here, as Burke's Watson tries his hand again at deduction, they share a laugh, and they walk arm-in-arm down the street. When investigating, Watson peeks over Holmes' shoulder to read, and they theorize together that evening at the end of the bannister. All warm and charming and still very much in character. Pitch-perfect.

- The scene where Holmes stalks Blessington's bedroom investigating is particularly interesting. There's no music for the sequence, nor any dialogue. All you can hear is Holmes, touching, searching, sniffing out the truth. Jeremy Brett is terrific here, acting almost entirely with his eyes, which is fantastic. You can watch him imagining, thinking, conceiving an idea in his mind. No other skill is more important for an actor playing Sherlock Holmes and Jeremy Brett is brilliant at it.

- I love the credit sequence at the end, where Watson and Holmes (through his violin) debate about the best title. It's a bit hinted at by the line "the Brook Street Mystery, as it was called" from the end of the canon story, and it's another cute little character piece in an episode with many of them.

Comments

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

I'll be watching this for the nth time: one of my very favourite Granada eps (just behind Blue Carbuncle). But actually, now you mention it, I'll read the story first.

BRB after I've done both.

[bwblack.livejournal.com]

I really liked this episode. I think it added a lot of touches which were not out of character for the pair and I think they did a few more touches during the actual mystery that brought it to life. Really, a good one.

The dream sequence at the start was creepy. It gives away that Blessington isn't who we are supposed to think he is right at the start, though. I thought it was an odd choice but it's hard for me to say since I read first then watched.

It has been a long, long time since I read this story and while I remembered all the sentient points of last weeks Speckled Band this one was very hazy in my memory so it was like coming to it with fresh eyes.

I very much like how they use the dialogue in this series. I especially like how they give some of it to Watson. In large part because Watson narrates most of the canon stories so he is a real presence, it's his view, he's our pathway into this world. But he's telling Holmes's story so without a narrative device Watson isn't left with as much in most dramatizations. Granada does a good job of keeping Watson as central to the action as I think we are intended to believe that he was.

[love-bug-54.livejournal.com]

I think it's great that you are encouranging watching this wonderful series. As much as I love the brilliance of SHERLOCK and Cumberbatch/Freeman, what it is is still an AU version of the original. That series wouldn't resonate nearly as much with viewers as it does if it didn't include so much from its source.

The Granada series proved that these characters and stories in their original form (well, as much as possible in a visual medium) are timeless and can still resonate with modern audiences. It pleases me no end that this current renaissance of interest in Sherlock Holmes is causing new fans to seek out this series and the incandescent Brett/Burke/Hardwicke.

There is so much to love about this version of RESI: the tribute to Sidney Paget with the arm-and-arm walk; the dream (did anyone else notice the coffin is lined with the same fabric that covers Blessington's trunk?); learning more about Watson; the brilliant silent investigation of the crime scene; the "trial"; the humor behind the mess Holmes leaves for Mrs. Hudson; etc., and etc. I could go on and on.

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

I think the compression of the two visits of the fake patient and son that Granada do is much more effective both cinematically and in terms of the story - would two old lags like this really give someone two goes at a visual identification?

I love the bookending with the Beethoven violin concerto and if that really is David Burke humming the melody as they walk along the street: nice voice!

The silent deduction sequence, what Brett called "the Riffifi scene" as it mirrored a silent sequence in a 1950s French film of that name, is mesmerising.

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

This is one of my top ten episodes of the Granada series.
The nightmare start really sets the timbre of the story and puts us right at the heart of Sutton/Blessington's dilemma.

Yes, the warmth of Holmes and Watson's friendship -the familiilarity as well as the irritations that come with being long-term flatmates- is especially lovely. By the by-doesn't Watson's ship somehow end up in Holmes' bedroom later on in he series?

The investigation of Blessington's room is pure hand and eye mastery on Brett's part. I also appreciate the big steps around the carpet marks to keep it intact. One really sees how forensics started ! (ok, possibly being height deficient makes me extra appreciative of the long legs... )

Burke's expressions in the last scene are wonderful - and again wordless gorgeous acting. You can hear the bemused thoughts of Watson...." damn, Holmes is right, that is a better title!"

Other thing, for BBC Sherlock fans.... BC as Sherlock tearing the flat apart looking for cigarettes at the start of "Hounds" reminded me so much of JB's Holmes trashing the living room looking for the files. (deliberate, probably) ....Naturally, both Watson and John know exactly where the desired things are.. ;-)

[love-bug-54.livejournal.com]

Yes, the ship does end up in Holmes' bedroom! You can see it in Empty House but don't blink or you'll miss it! Also, we see it at the end of Sign of Four as Holmes fondles it while Watson peers out the window to watch Mary Morstan depart. I've often wondered if that was a metaphor for the Holmes/Watson connection and is another example of some of the slashiness of the series. :-)

I think you're right about the 'trashing the flat' influence on SHERLOCK. :-)

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

*face-palm* SHIP SHIP (Giggles...)
I am so amazed at how my innocent self missed all the slashiness all those years ago- but I was a kid, so...

Anyway...
Trust a Holmes to tear his home apart looking for something, trust a Watson to know precisely where it is!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to read first and then watch the DVD, but it's not always possible. OH was demanding to watch "this week's" episode before I'd had chance to read it.

I do enjoy the Granada embellishments, like Mrs Hudson effectively chasing Holmes out because she's spring cleaning and her horror at the state of the room.

And as others have said, it's good to hear Watson and Holmes sharing what was originally Holmes' dialogue.

Saturday, 15 September and Sunday, 16 September 2012

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User thisprettywren referenced to your post from Saturday, 15 September and Sunday, 16 September 2012 (http://holmesian-news.livejournal.com/236445.html) saying: [...] at (ACD) Granada Discussion Post: The Resident Patient [...]

[flawedamythyst.livejournal.com]

I loved the nightmare. That was creepy as heel, it was great. Do agree that it kind of gave away that Blessington wasn't really Blessington, though.

I have to say, I also loved the Holmes&Watson vs. Mrs. Hudson interaction as well, especially Watson running away before she discovered the paper-strewn room.