Granada Discussion Post: The Empty House
Apr. 13th, 2013 11:37 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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sherlock60Let's talk telly in the discussion post for Granada's TV adaptation of The Empty House. If you haven't seen this episode yet, you can find it at YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and DVD. Follow me behind the jump for my random thoughts and impressions. Please add your own in the comments!
Canon discussion for The Empty House is available in the canon discussion post.
- A quick word of warning: I am very jetlagged at the moment, so bear with me this week if these thoughts are even more random than ever.
- This is another fantastic episode, a shining, effective and affecting favorite. It's also the introduction of Edward Hardwicke, whose Watson is a bit smarter, a bit more clever than canon Watson or David Burke's version. I love that. And he is just adorable with his hair messed just after waking up from his faint, grinning at Holmes, full of enthusiasm.
- I would dearly like to punch the inquest judge in the face for his treatment of Watson, but he is absolutely right about not assuming without foundation the identity of the gun from the bullet.
- Doctor Watson probably needs to fire his girl Ivy for total incompetence, but since he'll be giving up his practice to go back to detective work with Holmes now, he won't need to.
- This may be Jeremy Brett's finest hour as Sherlock Holmes. He breathes a fresh, human life into the character, from the wonderfully ludicrous voice he adopts as the bookseller, to the cat-like backbend stretch he makes in tall profile, to the embarrassed and apologetic half-laugh he makes when confessing about Mycroft, to the flash of expectation and intent in his eyes as he silently removes his gloves awaiting Moran's shot.
- It's an excellent choice to show the moment Holmes decides not to call out to Watson, showing both his natural inclination to answer his companion's desperate cries and his conscious, pained decision to ignore them instead. Superb, subtle acting work by Brett here. Granada's Holmes doesn't wear his feelings on his sleeve, but he looks heartsick at the sight of Watson mourning for him. Still, he realizes what must be done. In sympathy, he watches all that follows, as penance and a way to honor his friend's ever-loyal dedication.
- Watson framed Holmes' note. "It has remained my most treasured possession." He puts his dearest friend's last words of farewell to him, a goodbye written by the condemned man when Watson was lured away and could not protect him, out on display where he must view it every single day. Watson must be made of firm stuff to do that. Firm stuff, or self-punishing.
- Ah, Moran the sniper. Much better and saner explanation of the post-falls assassination attempt than the boulder nonsense.
- "I would have thought I was trustworthy as your brother." - Oh, John, I love you so much. You're even more trustworthy than his brother -- and that's entirely the problem. I'm glad they expanded this portion of Holmes' and Watson's dialogue to give voice to the very real hurt the doctor must feel about being lied to and untrusted.
Canon discussion for The Empty House is available in the canon discussion post.
- A quick word of warning: I am very jetlagged at the moment, so bear with me this week if these thoughts are even more random than ever.
- This is another fantastic episode, a shining, effective and affecting favorite. It's also the introduction of Edward Hardwicke, whose Watson is a bit smarter, a bit more clever than canon Watson or David Burke's version. I love that. And he is just adorable with his hair messed just after waking up from his faint, grinning at Holmes, full of enthusiasm.
- I would dearly like to punch the inquest judge in the face for his treatment of Watson, but he is absolutely right about not assuming without foundation the identity of the gun from the bullet.
- Doctor Watson probably needs to fire his girl Ivy for total incompetence, but since he'll be giving up his practice to go back to detective work with Holmes now, he won't need to.
- This may be Jeremy Brett's finest hour as Sherlock Holmes. He breathes a fresh, human life into the character, from the wonderfully ludicrous voice he adopts as the bookseller, to the cat-like backbend stretch he makes in tall profile, to the embarrassed and apologetic half-laugh he makes when confessing about Mycroft, to the flash of expectation and intent in his eyes as he silently removes his gloves awaiting Moran's shot.
- It's an excellent choice to show the moment Holmes decides not to call out to Watson, showing both his natural inclination to answer his companion's desperate cries and his conscious, pained decision to ignore them instead. Superb, subtle acting work by Brett here. Granada's Holmes doesn't wear his feelings on his sleeve, but he looks heartsick at the sight of Watson mourning for him. Still, he realizes what must be done. In sympathy, he watches all that follows, as penance and a way to honor his friend's ever-loyal dedication.
- Watson framed Holmes' note. "It has remained my most treasured possession." He puts his dearest friend's last words of farewell to him, a goodbye written by the condemned man when Watson was lured away and could not protect him, out on display where he must view it every single day. Watson must be made of firm stuff to do that. Firm stuff, or self-punishing.
- Ah, Moran the sniper. Much better and saner explanation of the post-falls assassination attempt than the boulder nonsense.
- "I would have thought I was trustworthy as your brother." - Oh, John, I love you so much. You're even more trustworthy than his brother -- and that's entirely the problem. I'm glad they expanded this portion of Holmes' and Watson's dialogue to give voice to the very real hurt the doctor must feel about being lied to and untrusted.
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Date: 2013-04-14 07:28 pm (UTC)Jeremy Brett does a great job of acting in this ep, I agree. In addition to the parts you already pointed out, I love the way he gently passes his hand over Watson's face while he's out cold after Homes shows himself. And he obviously had a great time disguising himself as the old bookseller.
The big problem I have with EMPT is that the reunion between H&W is so flat. I think it barely works in canon, because we don't actually see it. On the screen, although I think both Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke gave it their best, I just don't think it's credible.
Holmes has been gone for three years, while Watson thinks he's dead. I think Watson should have either kissed him or punched him as so many fanfics have been written. I know why Granada couldn't do either of those things, but surely, they could have made the Big Reveal a little more dramatic!
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Date: 2013-04-24 07:13 pm (UTC)Which leads to the inevitable thought that Watson is not being honest with US, the readers. No human can possibly be that ceaselessly understanding and forgiving, surely. Even the most self-possessed people cannot hold that control ALL of the time. But that conflict and ambiguity gives rise to a world of reimaginings and fanfic like you mentioned, which is marvelous. There's just so much to explore.
And what I would have given to see Granada explore it as you suggested. A kiss, a punch, or both... Yeah, I would have paid good money to see that! :) I wonder when we'll get a real TV or movie adaptation that includes such passion, romantic or not? We might get the punch in S3 of Sherlock, I suppose.