But Elementary's case is different. Since it's a re-telling of a classic tale featuring Sherlock Holmes, there's plenty of material for basis and comparison. Besides, long before this the show started filming, people have already cast their judgement when the producers decided to turn Watson into a female character. (I know! I was put off by that, too! Watson, a girl??!! Pffft!!) Steven Moffat, the creator of the British TV Series Sherlock (which is huge in my household, we love it!) went as far as filing a case against the people behind Elementary for infringement, claiming his show has been copied.
Regardless of the complaints, the lawsuits and the general feedback, there's no denying Elementary will have plenty of viewers checking it out when it premieres. From the list of new shows for Fall TV 2012's line-up, this is one of those that's much-awaited, mostly out of curiosity. As in, how much will it measure to other Sherlock productions?
Based on the teaser, I'm looking forward to the show because:
- there's Jonny Lee Miller, who I think they picked perfectly for the part
- they get to let Jonny Lee Miller keep his accent. :D
But watching the teaser, I also saw some things that didn't sit quite right:
- I'm still not sold on a Joan Watson.
- Joan Watson's face is botox-filled! Did she smile? Did she flinch? I cannot say.
- I can't see the chemistry between the two leads. There's like a wall between them.
- There's that obvious viewer spoon-feeding. Yeah, we get it. Sherlock's a genius and everyone's dumb!
Edited 9/9/12: READ ACTUAL REVIEW OF THE PILOT.
Here's the preview. Lemme know what you think in the comments.
ELEMENTARY stars Jonny Lee Miller as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson in a modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases.
Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson. A successful surgeon until she lost a patient and her license three years ago, Watson views her current job as another opportunity to help people, as well as paying a penance.
However, the restless Sherlock is nothing like her previous clients. He informs her that none of her expertise as an addiction specialist applies to him and he's devised his own post-rehab regimen - resuming his work as a police consultant in New York City. Watson has no choice but to accompany her irascible new charge on his jobs.
But Sherlock finds her medical background helpful, and Watson realizes she has a knack for playing investigator. Sherlock's police contact, Capt. Tobias "Toby" Gregson (Aidan Quinn), knows from previous experience working with Scotland Yard that Sherlock is brilliant at closing cases, and welcomes him as part of the team.
With the mischievous Sherlock Holmes now running free in New York solving crimes, it's simple deduction that he's going to need someone to keep him grounded, and it's elementary that it's a job for Watson. Rob Doherty, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Cuesta, who directed the pilot, are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.
