Ying and Yang -Blog 2

The modern Netflix series of Sherlock Holmes defines curiosity, eccentricity, energy and intellect. The pilot for the modern version of Sherlock Holmes merges extremely well with any version from the past. The expectation of delivering an adventurous ride through the criminal investigation in “A Study in Pink” is immediately confirmed after the character of Sherlock, played by  Benedict Cumberbatch is introduced. The series is world renowned and is know for a dynamic partnership between Sherlock Holmes, a British consulting detective  and fellow countryman assistant John Watson.  In this commentary, I will address how I see the perfect magnetic attraction between Holmes and Watson.

The character development for John Watson begins immediately with the opening scene. The camera close-up shots during the dream sequence signify a personal and intimate value of insight into Watson’s past. Watson is dreaming about a military battle that he himself is in.  His facial gestures are of angst and fear. He is tossing and turning signifying discomfort with that sequence of events in the dream.  John Watson wakes up from his uneasy sleep. The uneasiness is clearly depicted by his facial expressions caught by the camera, the tossing and turning signify that he is plagued by these memories.  As he wakes, the camera angle changes to a wider view allowing  the audience is to see how he lives alone, hanging on to personal items such as his weapon and coffee mug with what looks to be a military insignia upon it and a cane, a signifier that he has been wounded in battle and is either healing from an injury or permanently handicapped. He seems lonely depressed, and utterly bored to me.  Later he actually says the words to his psychologist(another signifier in the movie), “Nothing happens to me.”  Allowing the audience another clue that he is bored and possibly depressed.

In contrast Sherlock Holmes is depicted with as a vibrant astute tall fellow, full of energy and curiosity and attentive to detail. When Watson arrives and is introduced by a mutual acquaintance (who also had interesting facial gestures signifying to me that introducing Watson to Sherlock was purposeful). Sherlock is attracted to Watson. He interacts with him immediately  and asks  him only a few personal question alluding to already sizing up his new acquaintance.  The camera angle is busy giving the audience wide angle  and close-ups perhaps to let us know that is how fast Sherlock processes his thoughts.  Sherlock reads Watson like a book! His hyper state of speaking and revealing what he thus far understands about Watson, to me, signified a childlike quality in Sherlock. His verbiage affected my  cognitive abilities and required full attention to be able to understand the process of thought he was literally vocally downloading within 60 seconds.  Watson is dumfounded, amazed and intrigued. Ahhh, there it was, the magnetism needed for the start to a perfect relationship, ying and yang. The perfect connection between Sherlock and Watson!

Works Cited:

Berger, Arthur Asa. Media Analysis Techniques. 5th ed. N.p.: Sage Publications, 2014. Print.

"Sherlock Quotes from A Study in Pink (1.1)." Planet Claire Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June

      2015.