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sherlock60It's canon discussion time! What did you all think of The Boscombe Valley Mystery? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts and questions, which are behind the jump. Add your own in the comments!
Discussion about the Granada adaptation of The Boscombe Valley Mystery is available in this week's Granada discussion post.
- There's something very charming about the gentle kindnesses Watson elicits from the people who care about him in the early paragraphs of BOSC. Holmes, usually one to play such feelings down, tells Watson he "shall be glad if you will come with me" in his summoning telegram. And Mary pushes Watson to leave her for a few days for the case, worried as she is about him seeming pale and worn by routine. I wonder if he seems different to her now that he's out of the detective business for the most part and settled into a more standard life as a married professional.
- Is it a coincidence that the little girl who sees the father-son argument in the forest is named Moran? Probably, but I do so enjoy pointless speculation. Anybody have a good theory for this one?
- Boy, it sure is lucky for everyone that a) James' marriage isn't real and b) Mr. Turner is rapidly dying. Imagine if those things had been different. How would the case and its resolution have changed?
- I adore Watson in this story. He adopts Holmes' work so strongly as his own that when he can't follow him with Lestrade to continue the investigation, he is acutely frustrated by his inability to help. He tries to pass the time with a novel but ends up throwing it across the room instead. Finally, he takes Holmes' own methods as his own and works out what information he can with the evidence at hand and his own medical expertise. It's a brilliant little piece highlighting the good doctor's own quality and worth.
- What is the nature of the relationship between Holmes and Inspector Lestrade? They throw some rather sharp barbs at each other here. Lestrade actually tells Holmes he's ashamed of him, and is openly contemptuous to the detective's work throughout. Holmes, for his part, insults Lestrade and his ability to his face continually and calls him an imbecile behind his back. Imbecile may be the apt description considering no matter how many cases he works with Holmes over the years and how much proof he gets, Lestrade never seems to learn that it just might be possible that Holmes is right, and if he has a theory, it's actually worth listening to it. Yet, at the same time Lestrade keeps right on consulting with Holmes anyway, calling him in many times himself, this case included. Clearly he sees Holmes has value. If he didn't believe Holmes was effective or helpful, why would he bother? Is he really so desperate not to admit Holmes might just be better at this than he is?
Comment away and join us next week for The Stockbroker's Clerk!
Discussion about the Granada adaptation of The Boscombe Valley Mystery is available in this week's Granada discussion post.
- There's something very charming about the gentle kindnesses Watson elicits from the people who care about him in the early paragraphs of BOSC. Holmes, usually one to play such feelings down, tells Watson he "shall be glad if you will come with me" in his summoning telegram. And Mary pushes Watson to leave her for a few days for the case, worried as she is about him seeming pale and worn by routine. I wonder if he seems different to her now that he's out of the detective business for the most part and settled into a more standard life as a married professional.
- Is it a coincidence that the little girl who sees the father-son argument in the forest is named Moran? Probably, but I do so enjoy pointless speculation. Anybody have a good theory for this one?
- Boy, it sure is lucky for everyone that a) James' marriage isn't real and b) Mr. Turner is rapidly dying. Imagine if those things had been different. How would the case and its resolution have changed?
- I adore Watson in this story. He adopts Holmes' work so strongly as his own that when he can't follow him with Lestrade to continue the investigation, he is acutely frustrated by his inability to help. He tries to pass the time with a novel but ends up throwing it across the room instead. Finally, he takes Holmes' own methods as his own and works out what information he can with the evidence at hand and his own medical expertise. It's a brilliant little piece highlighting the good doctor's own quality and worth.
- What is the nature of the relationship between Holmes and Inspector Lestrade? They throw some rather sharp barbs at each other here. Lestrade actually tells Holmes he's ashamed of him, and is openly contemptuous to the detective's work throughout. Holmes, for his part, insults Lestrade and his ability to his face continually and calls him an imbecile behind his back. Imbecile may be the apt description considering no matter how many cases he works with Holmes over the years and how much proof he gets, Lestrade never seems to learn that it just might be possible that Holmes is right, and if he has a theory, it's actually worth listening to it. Yet, at the same time Lestrade keeps right on consulting with Holmes anyway, calling him in many times himself, this case included. Clearly he sees Holmes has value. If he didn't believe Holmes was effective or helpful, why would he bother? Is he really so desperate not to admit Holmes might just be better at this than he is?
Comment away and join us next week for The Stockbroker's Clerk!
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Date: 2013-02-03 11:20 am (UTC)family namesdoes come in handy. ;)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 01:46 pm (UTC)Regarding the Lestrade Holmes relationship, there's also the question of why Holmes attends a case that Lestrade is involved in if he holds him in such contempt. The fact that they have so much to do with each other must indicate that there is something deeper and that perhaps they both find that sniping at each other is the best way of dealing with a difficult case. Lestrade's view that Holmes had given the girl false hope and therefore that Holmes was behaving badly does make sense.
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Date: 2013-02-03 11:24 pm (UTC)Sunday, 3 February 2013
Date: 2013-02-04 01:20 am (UTC)