Following on from last week's marvelous series~opener, comes the second episode of Sherlock, titled The Blind Banker. In case you're raising an eyebrow and wondering why Blogtor Who is choosing to feature the show - this re~imagining has been devised by current Doctor Who show~runner Steven Moffat and all~round Who ledge, Mark Gatiss. So, lower that eyebrow (no, lower than that) and settle back for this spoiler~free of the best drama the BEEB has produced in quite some time.
As a side~note, and something for the
Doctor Who fans out there (I think there's a couple),
The Blind Banker features the
lurvely Gemma Chan (
The Waters of Mars); it's directed by Euros Lyn (who helmed so many amazing moments so brilliantly since 2005); and there are numerous, very familiar location settings used. To be honest, that got a bit distracting but that'll teach me for being such a stupendous nerdoid. Anyway, this is merely a side~note to the delicious activities of Holmes and Watson.
And boy, are they delicious! Stylistically, it follows on from what we witnessed in last week's story - on screen text, numerous dissolves, wipes and transitions with loads of mobile and laptop action. Importantly, the relationship between the two male leads continues with its hilarity (for the audience) and irritation (for Watson). Benedict Cumberbatch's Holmes is terrifically mean/selfish but its Martin Freeman's more human Watson that gathers the limelight here.
Still coming to terms with his 'civilian' lifestyle we see John trying to cope with Chip & Pin machines, getting a job and dealing with the thorny issue of heterosexuality. Yup, Watson gets a chick - played by the ever~so~
lurvely (but not seen enough on telly) Zoe Telford. The couple manage to embark on a date but, in almost sitcom style fashion (and I don't mean that in any way negatively), it turns out slightly different than both had hoped... As one would expect Holmes is deducting right, left and centre as the complex plot unfolds.
I'll be honest, I'm not one for detective stories so it's great credit to writer Stephen Thompson who rather neatly made me forget that I was in fact watching a crime show. The excellent production values continue with predictably pleasing direction from Euros Lyn, convincing location shooting and a cracking score. Sherlock proves, as it did last week, that Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have produced a vision that is utterly compelling for all of its ninety minutes - a rare feat for television, or film for that matter.
