Elementary Overview

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

Elementary (Friendship is Magic) Overview



This is a primer for CBS’ Elementary which is a modern day take on Sherlock Holmes.There will be lots of spoilers for season one in this so be warned!



Main Characters


Sherlock Holmes: Played by Johnny Lee Miller this is like no Sherlock that I had ever seen before. This Sherlock is willing to admit that he is flawed and admits that sometimes he hates when he’s right but at the same time he has that sense of arrogance that is one of Sherlock’s most famous characteristics. This Sherlock has received a lot of negative comments for two reasons one of them being that he is a recovering drug addict and the other one being that he has quite a few tattoos. Personally I like both of these changes in the character because they give him not only a new spin but the writers and actor have been very careful to make sure that these are only characteristics and do not rule the character. Sherlock has lost his footing and feels like he’s failed by becoming an addict and letting it control and ruin his life. As season one goes on we see Sherlock learn to let someone in and learn to trust not only them but also himself again.


Joan Watson: The main source of most of the hate surrounding Elementary is the fact that instead of John Watson Elementary has Joan Watson who is played by Lucy Liu. Joan is just as fierce as any other Watson that I have ever seen. She takes exactly none of Sherlock’s shit and is always ready to banter or smack him down when needed. However it is very clear that she is not a love interest. In one episode Sherlock describes them as “platonic domestic partners” and that is exactly what they are. When we first meet Joan she is a surgeon turned sober companion, Sherlock’s sober companion to be exact, through the series though we see how Joan grows, changes, and becomes more at peace with who she is and who she could become.


Detective Marcus Bell: I have always found Bell to be an interesting character because unlike Captain Gregson he’s learning to work with Holmes and Watson for the first time and Jon Michael Hill plays that perfectly with his body language throughout the series. Bell is clearly Gregson’s protege not only in detective work but also in learning to run a station. His rocky relationship with his brother, a former criminal, could be used for massive angst but instead isn’t. It is used to show more about the character and where he comes from. Another thing that I enjoy about Bell is that viewers can watch his and Sherlock’s relationship as well as his and Joan’s grow separately and see where they intersect and where they deviate. Watching the three of them go from unlikely coworkers to family is a very slow but fun thing to watch.


Captain Toby Gregson: Played by Adian Quinn Captain Gregson is an awesome part of the show because normally the police exist to make Sherlock look more brilliant but Gregson is smart in his own way. Yes he realizes that he needs Sherlocks help but he doesn’t let Sherlock run all over him or control the investigations. One of the most telling and wonderful parts of the show is when Sherlock has to tell Gregson that he is an addict and spent time in rehab and Gregson’s reaction is I know and I figured you let me know when you were ready and by the way? Your work hasn’t slipped at all. This scene is amazing because instead of it being about secret keeping or Gregson not doing his homework it is a non-issue between the two of them.


Clyde: Played by two box turtles Clyde is one of the best run away characters ever. Featured in many episodes and having his own Twitter Clyde does everything from playing an ambulance to being a paperweight. Clyde is, in the opinion of fandom, one of the most underused characters in the entire series and a great “child” for our favorite platonic domestic partners.

Supporting Characters


Alfredo Llamosa: Alfredo takes every stereotype that you have ever heard about the “former drugged up black man” and toss it out the window. I love the way that Ato Essandoh plays Alfredo because he’s very laid back yet won’t let Holmes run all over him. Alfredo is Sherlock’s sponsor and when he’s introduced Sherlock only picked him to make Joan take a step back on demanding that Sherlock get a sponsor and it almost seems to work. But then thanks to the power of coffee Joan ends up falling in love with Alfredo just like the rest of us. Alfredo’s job is that he boasts cars and tests their overall security for car companies and dealerships because if he can’t steal it then no one can. This ends up being something that Sherlock and he bond over.


Ms Hudson: Candis Cayne’s Mrs Hudson is a transgender woman with OCD but that isn’t important because she still deserves to be loved and respected and I love, love, love that this show not only gets that but tells it’s audience that by not saying anything. Introduced in the episode ‘Snow Day’ Ms Hudson is a professional muse who has but had a fight/break up with her boyfriend and needs a place to stay so she calls up Holmes who lets her stay at the Brownstone. Joan has an issue with this though because he didn’t tell her he was going to be inviting someone to stay with them which leads to one of the funniest kitchen scenes (and there are a lot of them) between them. There is hope for more Ms Hudson because at the end of the episode Sherlock hires her to clean the Brownstone once a week while she figures out what her new career will be.


Irene Adler/Moriarty: Natalie Dormer was a fantastic choice to pull off one of the best twists in television history. The idea of making Irene and Moriarty the same person is something that I have never thought of but really like. Irene is the only woman that Sherlock will ever love and the first time that he sees her after thinking that she was dead he breaks down to be caught by Joan. When he finds out that she’s Moriarty Joan is the one that keeps him grounded and on the straight path and I love that because yes finding out something like that would be heartbreaking and possibly life ruining but with the right person standing behind you a person could use that to propel themselves forward. Another thing about Irene that I found interesting is the cause of her downfall. Her downfall isn’t caused by a big clue but instead by her underestimating ‘the mascot’ and passing her off as not a threat when Joan is actually the biggest threat of all.


Sebastian Moran: An assassin that is the cause of Sherlock and Gregson’s one huge fight Moran is a wonderful character and a great counter the Sherlock. One of the things that really makes Vinnie Jones’ Moran is the fact that when he finds out that Moriarty set him up to be killed by Sherlock he first proves that he didn’t kill Irene by saying that he was in prison for a fight but then tries to help Sherlock catch and kill Moriarty because he doesn’t like getting used ever. Sadly Moran commits suicide after Sherlock accidentally delivers a message to him saying that either he dies or his sister does.


Euglassia Watsonia: The cutest and best character in any show ever and one of the best declarations of love I have ever seen.

Other points of importance


Sherlock and Watson’s relationship or “JoanLock”: (I will try to limit myself here but I do feel the need to apologize in advance in case I ramble.) At their core Joan and Sherlock are partners and I love that the show not only *gets* that but makes sure that they show it. Examples of this are in many, many episodes but the one that always stands out to me is in 01X06 or ‘Flight Risk’ and it is when Sherlock says that their ‘suspect’ has a pager and Watson points out that it is actually an insulin pump. I love this moment because it does such a great job of showing that Sherlock doesn’t know everything but it doesn't make it seem like a weakness. Instead it makes it seem like what it is which is even the most brilliant and talented people don't know everything. Another thing about their relationship is their mutual willingness to call the other out on their bullshit. Joan does it more then Sherlock does but they both do it and it keeps them both grounded which in turn makes them better. Finally I love their trust. They start the season not trusting each other but by the end of it they have seen each other at their best and their worst times. They have gone through hell together and come out not only as stronger people but also as a stronger team.

JoanLock and BDSM: Never before have I seen a show and a fandom understand BDSM like Elementary. Sherlock himself seems to have some sort of obsession with power dynamics in that he mentions them in several episode but it goes much farther then that. There are multiple scenes where Joan seems to dominate him the biggest example being in episode one when she orders him to go outside instead of harassing a witness and he actually goes. Yes he pouts and scowls and is not happy but he goes. In fic the power dynamics are explored a lot more then they will ever be on the show but it isn’t always in a sexual way as you’ll see in my recs for this month.


The NYPD/Sherlock&Joan relationship: This is one of my favorite things because they really are a team. They start out with a tentative trust going on in that Gregson thinks that Sherlock is brilliant but isn’t so trusting of Watson. Meanwhile Bell doesn’t trust Sherlock or Watson at all and thinks that they will both get in the way more then they’ll help. As the season goes on though they all develop a mutual respect and trust for each other and become a true family.


Sherlock/Irene: I feel like Sherlock describes how he feels about Irene best when he says that Irene “eclipsed the whole of her gender” and JLM does a brilliant job with the facial expressions when playing opposite the lovely Natalie Dormer in both scenes where she is Irene and scenes when she is Moriarty. Irene was the one that made Sherlock fall. She became his blindspot because he trusted and loved her that much. Which is what made her betrayal that much worse in the end and why it made him that much stronger.

Family Issues: Both characters have family issues but Joan’s are more fixable then Sherlock’s so we will start with her. Joan’s big issue with her family is they don’t understand what she does and why she gave up being a surgeon. Sherlock is able to make them understand being a sober companion in a way that Joan has never been able to. Sherlock’s relationship with his father is something that is much more complicated. Sherlock’s father cares enough to hire a sober companion but not enough to actually make it to a dinner that he tries to organize with him and Joan. Sherlock clearly has a very low opinion of his father because he calls him a “serial absentee” and says that he’s “a pathological maker and breaker of promises” but that is only one side of an undoubtedly complicated story.

Subversion of the sexualization of females/the box: Anyone who says that Joan is subservient to Sherlock in Elementary has clearly never watched the series. In episode one Sherlock makes a comment about Joan “tidying up” and instead of picking things up or making a comment about not being his maid she gives him this ‘excuse you?’ look and doesn’t mention it or tidy at all. Another way that Elementary refuses to sexuallize Joan is in ‘Snow Angels’ when Sherlock tossing clothing at Joan he turns around and info dumps while she reminds covered the entire time. She layers her shirts and puts her pants on under the covers. The entire scene is a total info dump that just happens to have Joan changing in the background.

The Fandom: The Elementary Fandom is without a doubt one of the most talented, kind, mature, and supportive fandoms that I have ever been in. I always say that the Elementary fandom reminds me a lot of the due South fandom in that tight knit community feel but unlike the due South fandom Elementary isn’t a huge fandom it is a smaller one especially on Tumblr. People seem to be very kind and considerate but don’t take any shit. I wouldn’t say that Elementary has a lot of wank but it does see it’s fair share of hate.

Communities of note

elementarycbs: The number one community for all your Elementary needs. It has news, Fic, graphics, and just about eveything else a fan could want.
joanlock: The Live journal community for anything and everything Sherlock/Joan.
Text From the Brownstone: Every fandom needs a TFLT community and this one is hysterical. It doesn't take itself to seriously and fan participation is highly encouraged.
FY JoanLock: One of the best Sherlock/Joan communities on Tumblr because it covers not only a romantic relationship but also their friendship.
Fuck Yeah Elementary: One of the best places on Tumblr for Elementary news, graphics, and answers to questions.
Fuck Yeah! Elementary gifs!: The best place for Elementary gifs on Tumblr. They take requests and are very good at tagging their posts so people know exactly what episode that each post is from.
Elementary_CBS: The Official Elementary Twitter
Jonny Lee Miller's Twitter: The Official Twitter for Jonny Lee Miller. I highly recommend following this if you have a twitter. JLM is funny and loves to talk to his fans, especially about 'empty plates.'
The Official Elementary Writers Twitter: The official Writers Twitter for Elementary and one of the best Twitters I have ever seen for a show. They love, love, love interacting with the fans and posting their art and answering questions which I think is part of the reason that so many people love the show. They are very approachable and they love to live tweet the show with not only the East Coasters but also the West Coasters which is really awesome because most the time shows pick one or the other to live tweet with.
alethialia’s Elementary reviews: I kinda flip-flopped on if to add this or not but these really are the best and most honest reviews that I have ever seen for Elementary. alethialia is a fan that understands all shows have flaws but is willing to look past them and I love that so much.


Mods do I get an Elementary tag or should I be using a different tag for my recs this month? Thank you! :D

Comments

[dawnebeth.livejournal.com]

Great overview! I watched the pilot last year and was 'eh' and then for some reason, watched the finale with Irene/Moriarity and when 'Whoa!. Spent the summer getting to know Sherlock and Joan. Had a great time! I loved that he named the bee after her.

[raktajinos.livejournal.com]

Im so in awe of this show. I was skeptical at first, but uggg - what they've done is so spectacular. Joan, Mrs Hudson, Irene/Moriarity all of these modern and fantastic updates just make me the biggest fan.

Great overview!

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have to admit I was kinda 'eh' about the pilot to but kept watching because of my three episode rule. I am so glad that I did though because the built up was a amazing through the season. I'm glad that you enjoyed the first season though. The bee will forever be one of my favorite parts ever. :D

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

Elementary could have gone so wrong so I am very, very happy to see it go so right instead. I love having a show that actually shows a modern day world and all the various people that come with it without making that a huge plot point.

Thank you!

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

What a cool overview! I've got admit that I got into Elementary halfway through the season. Love all the characters and the fact that the fandom understands how not everyone is going to ship Sherlock and Joan (I don't for example.)

I look forward to your recs. :)

[sp-owl.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind me popping in here out of nowhere, but the guy on the floor is really cute!

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

I love that to. I always love the female/male friendship dynamic and their's is especially awesome. :D

I'm going to be reccing both shippy and not shippy fics so I hope you enjoy them! :)

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

I don't mind! He is a total cutie and he's really funny in interviews to. :)

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, thank you so much! What an amazing compliment. I so appreciate it!

As you've laid out here, the show is beautifully layered and complex, making it such a pleasure to watch. I often hear people say they want nuanced, real, strong female characters...it's just such a surprise that on broadcast, we get them primarily in CBS procedurals. While Sherlock is brilliant and so distinct from other modern takes on him, damn if Joan isn't a revelation. Her journey is worth the price of admission. And the really heartening thing is that the creators seem to know it.

Anyway, thank you for such a thorough, thoughtful overview!

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I honestly look forward to your Elementary reviews almost as much as I look forward to the show itself.

Thank you! I was so worried that I wouldn't do the show justice in my overview because it really is so complex and layered as you say. Joan is by far one of my favorite characters on TV right now. Her Journey is so amazing and my favorite part is that her journey doesn't take a backseat to Sherlock's and his journey doesn't take a backseat to her's. They're so woven together that I don't think I could really completely separate them if I tried and I love that so much.

And thank you for a wonderful comment! :)

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

That first photo after "Other points of importance" of a guy checking out Joan makes me wonder how they address her race in the show. I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my eventual to-watch list.

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

That photo isn't actually of him (Sherlock) checking her out but I can see how one might think it is out of context. In that scene she has just verbally bitchslapped him and shown him that he doesn't know everything by telling him he was wrong about something and what the correct answer to it was. As for her race they don't really touch on it. Elementary loves to touch on issues like race and sexuality by not touching on them but they do it in this awesome way that's hard to explain. 'Snow Day' is the most forward example of this because that's when they introduce Ms. Hudson which is handled in an awesome way.

Now that I think more about it the only real touching on her race they do is this exchange:

Dr. Joan Watson: You speak Mandarin?
Sherlock Holmes: Not as well as I'd like. You?
Dr. Joan Watson: Not as well as my mother would like.

which is kind of a stretch but the only real example I can think of.

I highly recommend Elementary. It is an awesome show and one of the few true examples of a true modern world that I've ever seen on TV.

[cloudtrader.livejournal.com]

I am a huge, long-term fan of various incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, and this show is becoming my favorite. Jeremy Brett will always have his place, but I agree with you, JLM is an amazing Holmes. I adore the writing on this show and I'm really looking forward to your recs this month! Yay!

[lilredlfc.livejournal.com]

This is an awesome incarnation of Sherlock Holmes so I am glad you're enjoying it! I hope that you enjoy my recs for the month! :D