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The big winner at the 2014 Emmys wasn’t actually Breaking Bad — it was Sherlock. That’s right, when all is said and done, Sherlock, PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery miniseries, won seven Emmys this year and Breaking Bad only took home six. How did this happen? Why did this happen? And why should you finally suck it up and embrace the incredible mystery series?
What Is Sherlock?
It’s a British television series co-created by Doctor Who writers, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, that adapts the adventures of 19th century literary detective Sherlock Holmes for the 21st century. Meaning, the spirits of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Moriarty are translated to what they would be like in a modern London. There are computers, text messages and very chic coats.
That Sounds Like Elementary. Why Does It Sound Like Elementary?
Ha. Funny you should say that. There’s actually a bit of controversy about CBS’s modern Sherlock Holmes series. See, CBS announced Elementary after they turned down Moffat and Gatiss’s pitch to bring an American version of Sherlock to their network. So, Sherlock‘s creators are convinced CBS stole the idea. Of course, Elementary is very different from Sherlock — it’s more traditional American procedural than British crime thriller — but the similarities have been noted.
So, Why All The Fuss About Sherlock?
Well, it’s really freaking good. The writing is sharp and witty. Each episode is gorgeously shot. Oh, and the acting — the acting is amazing.
Oh, Is Sherlock Why We Have To See Benedict Cumberbatch Everywhere?
Precisely! Cumberbatch was a very-well respected British stage, TV and film actor when he was cast in the titular role, but he was hardly poised for stardom. However, he started trending on twitter before the show’s first episode even finished airing. Much like Pride & Prejudice had turned Colin Firth into a sex symbol overnight in 1995, Sherlock made Cumberbatch a star. If you still don’t understand the actor’s appeal, you’ve got to watch Sherlock. It’s not just that Cumberbatch delivers an acting tour de force, but he also imbues the character with a confidence that makes him absolutely magnetic. Which explains why he beat out the likes of Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Bob Thornton, Mark Ruffalo (and his co-star Martin Freeman) for an Emmy for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie last night.
But Is He The Only Good Actor On The Show?
Not at all! The show also boasts fantastic performances from Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Lara Pulver and Andrew Scott. However, the other big revelation on Sherlock was Martin Freeman, who also took home an Emmy last night. Freeman had decades of incredible work under his belt, but British audiences still identified him with Tim Canterbury from the UK version of The Office. Freeman’s performance as Dr. John Watson changed that.
Right. But How Did It Win So Many Emmys Out Of Nowhere Last Night?
Sherlock had been collectively nominated for 17 Emmys before this year and had been perennially shut out. Our best guess is that Emmy voters finally caught up to the series on Netflix and wanted to reward the creative team for all three seasons. Not to mention, most of the awards went to “His Last Vow,” which was undoubtedly the best episode of the third season. There’s humor, romance, and a very scary mystery.
Yeah, But You Keep Saying That It Beat Breaking Bad At The Emmys. It Didn’t.
You’re right! It didn’t. The two shows were nominated in different categories. But if you add up all of the Emmys Sherlock and Breaking Bad took home last night, plus the Creative Arts Emmys from last week, Breaking Bad is taking home six Emmys and Sherlock is bringing seven back to Great Britain. So, Sherlock beat Breaking Bad in terms of total Emmys.
So, What You’re Getting At Is I Should Watch Sherlock.
You should watch Sherlock. There are three seasons, but each season is only comprised of three 90-minute episodes. You can knock it out in one weekend and still have time to sleep and go outdoors.
How Do I Watch Sherlock?
Netflix has an exclusive deal with PBS and the BBC. You can only stream Sherlock on their platform, but they have all three seasons and a special original behind-the-scenes series called Unlocking Sherlock.
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Photos: BBC & PBS
