"A Study in Pink" Sherlock episode 1: Semiotics analysis

Sherlock is the type of television series, which requires your undivided attention. This isn’t the type of show that you can watch while you fold your laundry, text, or read a magazine. If you don’t pay attention to every word said and every detail, you’re bound to get lost.

We are first introduced to the character, Watson. There are several things to pay attention to so that we may get to know this character. We learn quickly that Watson is troubled, and that he is a military man. The first scene is that of Watson having a nightmare about the war. He awakes in a sweat, but lies back down and brushes it off as if it is a regular thing for him to have these nightmares. Soon we see Watson sitting with his therapist, once again supporting the theory that this man is troubled.  He starts to write in his blog post that his therapist has recommended, but he can’t seem to go through with it. This could show that he doesn’t exactly trust the therapist’s suggested solution, or that simply he has nothing consuming his mind other than thoughts he would rather not put down in writing. That is until he meets Sherlock Holmes. Watson writing about Sherlock when he finally decides to write in his blog post, signifies, interest and connection. With this connection we realize this is where the story begins.

When we meet Sherlock, we learn very early on that he is quick-witted and extremely observant to say the least. He is very highly intelligent in his observations in being able to predict things about people’s lives. Sherlock’s overcoat is a symbol of mystery, and of course the more obvious, the fact that a lot of people associate overcoats with detectives. Another thing to take notice of, is Sherlock’s hair – all the other men have combed, styled hair, where as Sherlock’s is unruly. It shows that he is different from everyone else, that he has a creative, intelligent mind, and that he thinks outside the box. Later on in the show, Sherlock tells one of the men involved in the investigation, that he won’t ride to the crime scene in a police car; that is another signifier here. This displays Sherlock’s independence and lack of cooperation to authority; he makes his own rules, and likes to do things his own way. Another example of Sherlock displaying his defiance is when he is telling Watson about his job title, a “consulting detective”.  He is the only one in the world, and he himself invented the job, as he tells Watson.

Symbols:

Reddish lipstick	Interest in Sherlock
Cane	A literal and metaphorical crutch
Darkness, shadows, overcast	Suspense, mystery, eerie vibes
Sherlock’s unruly hair	Unique, different, special, creative, intelligent
Overcoat	Mystery, detective attire

 Comparison of Characters:

SHERLOCK	WATSON
Knows what he wants	Lost
Blunt (focused)	Vague (ambiguous)
Unpredictable	Predictable
Un-phased	Phased