Best episodes (ranking)

[Carol the Dabbler]

I still have no idea how to rank the Series 3 episodes -- either among themselves or in with the others.  It's like which do I prefer, chocolate ice cream or stuffed mushrooms?

 

[sherlockandjohn]

I still have no idea how to rank the Series 3 episodes -- either among themselves or in with the others.  It's like which do I prefer, chocolate ice cream or stuffed mushrooms?

 

Oooh, they do both sound delicious! And nice analogy. The episodes are all so different, not just in series 3.

[jesskayding]

I like this, don't necessarily agree with ranking, they give you space to tell them why you would disagree.:

 

http://m.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s129/sherlock/feature/a593201/sherlock-all-9-episodes-ranked-from-best-to-worst.html

[Arcadia]

The reasons they gave were pretty good, I liked the article. I can't really rate the episodes though, I love different ones for different reasons.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I still have no idea how to rank the Series 3 episodes -- either among themselves or in with the others.  It's like which do I prefer, chocolate ice cream or stuffed mushrooms?

 

Oooh, they do both sound delicious! And nice analogy. The episodes are all so different, not just in series 3.

 

True, not just Series 3.  But to me, the Series 3 episodes are far differenter.  I can't even be sure which of them I like the best.  Maybe I just need more time, though.  I couldn't prioritize the Series 1 and 2 episodes till I'd had a year to two to digest them.

 

I like this, don't necessarily agree with ranking, they give you space to tell them why you would disagree.:

 

http://m.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s129/sherlock/feature/a593201/sherlock-all-9-episodes-ranked-from-best-to-worst.html

 

I would definitely swap "Great Game" (her #5) with "Scandal" (her #3) -- but otherwise, I'm largely in agreement.  Not sure this actually solves my Series 3 quandary, but at least it gives me some thoughts to ponder.

 

[sherlockandjohn]

I like this, don't necessarily agree with ranking, they give you space to tell them why you would disagree.:

 

http://m.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s129/sherlock/feature/a593201/sherlock-all-9-episodes-ranked-from-best-to-worst.html

 

I agree with Carol that I'd exchange 'Game' with 'Scandal' and thereby give the former a higher ranking.

 

Actually - I might just exchange 'Hearse' with 'Scandal', but there's no way I can justify that except in my own heart, so I won't try 'Scandal' is definitely more well put together, but I still love 'Hearse' more.

 

But overall a ranking that I feel makes sense.

[sherlockandjohn]

 

I still have no idea how to rank the Series 3 episodes -- either among themselves or in with the others.  It's like which do I prefer, chocolate ice cream or stuffed mushrooms?

 

Oooh, they do both sound delicious! And nice analogy. The episodes are all so different, not just in series 3.

 

True, not just Series 3.  But to me, the Series 3 episodes are far differenter.  I can't even be sure which of them I like the best.  Maybe I just need more time, though.  I couldn't prioritize the Series 1 and 2 episodes till I'd had a year to two to digest them.

 

 

Oh yes, series 3 episodes are just different, I agree. They are more emotional, more character-based, and I'd go as far as to say less balanced than series 1 and 2. That's what makes me think I'll always have trouble ranking them. On one hand, I adore them, but on the other hand, they are just a tad less sharp, overall.

 

But not less sharp than 'Blind Banker'.

 

 

[besleybean]

You know I will always defend series 3 to the death!

Certainly as, at the moment, it's my favourite series.

But I will openly concede one point:

I do think series 3 suffers form the lack of directorship from Paul Mc Guigan.

I do hope he's back for series 4.

[Arcadia]

.........................

Actually - I might just exchange 'Hearse' with 'Scandal', but there's no way I can justify that except in my own heart, so I won't try 'Scandal' is definitely more well put together, but I still love 'Hearse' more.

 

But overall a ranking that I feel makes sense.

I know what you mean ... when I look at Scandal, I really think it's the best thing they've ever done ... visually stunning, emotionally complex, beautifully acted, wonderfully structured ... but my heart belongs to messy, confusing, melodramatic S3. Dang sentiment.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

I loved Scandal, too, even though the part where Irene Adler was all stripped-down made me nervous because I was watching the episode with my stepmom. (She even commented on that afterward -- "That was a good episode, I will say. But there was a lot of adult content." "Adult content" clearly enunciated, implying that the episode's quality was brought down by said content.)

 

And I most particuarly like the close-up of Sherlock when he comes back to Baker Street after finding out that Irene was "dead". The shifty eyes were well acted. Made him look insane. Plus you can get a good look at his eyes...

 

 

...which now I'm pretty sure is a color that doesn't even have a name.

[T.o.b.y]

I loved Scandal, too, even though the part where Irene Adler was all stripped-down made me nervous because I was watching the episode with my stepmom. She even commented on that afterward -- "That was a good episode, I will say. But there was a lot of adult content." "Adult content" clearly enunciated, implying that the episode's quality was brought down by said content.

 

We've had this discussion before, but was she referring to the scene where the protagonist violently takes revenge on behalf of his abused landlady and thoroughly enjoys this act of excessive and unnecessary violence, which is acknowledged but not so much as reprimanded by a member of the police? Or the scene where the protagonist and his brother smoke inside a hospital? Because I do think I'd rather my kids (if I had any) saw the naked body of a beautiful woman than things like that... But as I said, we've had this discussion, and I respect the concern about children and nudity, even though I don't understand it. (And I can't help wondering if families who worry about this kind of thing have any mirrors at all in their homes).

 

Oh well. I'm sorry that Irene's battle dress is such a drawback for some viewers, but it's not on screen for long. And I've got to admit I kinda like it - but then, I've been an adult for a few years now, so I guess that's okay. At least I hope so.

 

I am very thankful that Sherlock so far has steered clear of sights I wouldn't handle too well, though, like showing the sometimes mentioned bashed up faces in gory detail, or even worse, showing the bashing in up close. I've got nothing against blood and body parts, but I'm not a big fan of pain, and I have an unfortunate capacity for empathy that kicks in at the most inconvenient moments.

 

The closest to unacceptable the series ever got for me was the torture scene at the beginning of The Empty Hearse. I still think it was unnecessary and nearly pointless, and I cannot forgive Mycroft at all for his part there, just like some can't forgive Mary for her shot. 

 

We all have our sensitivities...

[jesskayding]

 

.........................

Actually - I might just exchange 'Hearse' with 'Scandal', but there's no way I can justify that except in my own heart, so I won't try 'Scandal' is definitely more well put together, but I still love 'Hearse' more.

 

But overall a ranking that I feel makes sense.

I know what you mean ... when I look at Scandal, I really think it's the best thing they've ever done ... visually stunning, emotionally complex, beautifully acted, wonderfully structured ... but my heart belongs to messy, confusing, melodramatic S3. Dang sentiment.

 

Well y'all know how I feel about Scandal.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

 

I loved Scandal, too, even though the part where Irene Adler was all stripped-down made me nervous because I was watching the episode with my stepmom. She even commented on that afterward -- "That was a good episode, I will say. But there was a lot of adult content." "Adult content" clearly enunciated, implying that the episode's quality was brought down by said content.

 

...was she referring to the scene where the protagonist violently takes revenge on behalf of his abused landlady and thoroughly enjoys this act of excessive and unnecessary violence, which is acknowledged but not so much as reprimanded by a member of the police? Or the scene where the protagonist and his brother smoke inside a hospital? ...I respect the concern about children and nudity, even though I don't understand it. (And I can't help wondering if families who worry about this kind of thing have any mirrors at all in their homes).

 

I dunno. It's just that in good ol' Murrica movies with people getting killed left and right get PG-13 or R ratings, but nudity and explict romance get R or X, so I always figured the whole "adult content" thing was because of Irene Adler being naked.

 

And yeah, we do have mirrors. Because we're not vampires.

[T.o.b.y]

And yeah, we do have mirrors. Because we're not vampires.

 

So do you have to be 18 to look in the mirror? Naked, I mean? Or are they hung so high that children can't look into them? Or is there no light in the bathrooms? Just asking, you know, if nudity is so age restricted...

 

 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Alright, now we're just gettin' silly.

[Janie]

I don't think it's silly. I agree with Toby. I don't get it why there is no problem with violence on TV while nudity, which is perfectly natural thing, is bad. 

[T.o.b.y]

*Sigh*... there are lots of things we don't understand. Well, that I don't understand, at least. I used to say that anything I didn't get was stupid. Now I just say "I don't understand, I guess I don't have to understand", and I suppose that is part of maturing.

 

Sorry for making fun of other people's modesty. I mean, yeah, I feel uncomfortable wearing certain clothes, and when couples really, really heavily make out at the swimming pool (and I did witness a blowjob there one. No joke!), I don't appreciate it much. So I guess it's just a case of everybody having their own limits.

 

Still. I don't understand why naked Irene, of all things, should prevent people from watching Sherlock with their kids, when it has murders and violence and F***ed up scary psychopaths galore. You'd think there were plenty other reasons.

[Janie]

Well, I, for example, don't like watching sex on TV. But I don't mind naked people. I don't particularly mind violence either but I'm an adult (well, at least officially ) so it can hardly influence me. I don't understand why (at least on our TV's) they happily broadcoast CSI programmes, with lots of blood and killings, at 6 pm and for example "Scandal", thanks to naked Irene, had to be aired at 10 pm. 

[Arcadia]

Multi-quoting the last dozen or so posts.... I think this is the answer you're looking for...
 
Puritanical heritage, 'Murrica has. It takes awhile to kick over the traces.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Yup, puritanical heritage.  Takes a while to challenge one's roots. We do seem to be getting over it, but I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not, seeing as how the attitude still seems to be there, so even though you can show things, people still think they're "dirty." And the way they're sometimes portrayed (with a "dirty mind" you might say), I guess they're right. But then I don't much watch those shows, so what do I know?
 

Oh yes, series 3 episodes are just different, I agree. They are more emotional, more character-based, and I'd go as far as to say less balanced than series 1 and 2. That's what makes me think I'll always have trouble ranking them. On one hand, I adore them, but on the other hand, they are just a tad less sharp, overall.
 
But not less sharp than 'Blind Banker'.

I agree, definitely less balanced. (And definitely sharper overall than "Blind Banker.")
 

You know I will always defend series 3 to the death!
Certainly as, at the moment, it's my favourite series.
But I will openly concede one point:
I do think series 3 suffers form the lack of directorship from Paul Mc Guigan.
I do hope he's back for series 4.

I was just thinking the same thing yesterday! Somehow I doubt we'll see him again, though -- I think he's hit the Hollywood bigtime now.
 

I know what you mean ... when I look at Scandal, I really think it's the best thing they've ever done ... visually stunning, emotionally complex, beautifully acted, wonderfully structured ... but my heart belongs to messy, confusing, melodramatic S3. Dang sentiment.

I semi-agree -- Scandal is beautifully constructed, but it just doesn't grab me the way "Reichenbach" does.
 

I am very thankful that Sherlock so far has steered clear of sights I wouldn't handle too well, though, like showing the sometimes mentioned bashed up faces in gory detail, or even worse, showing the bashing in up close. I've got nothing against blood and body parts, but I'm not a big fan of pain, and I have an unfortunate capacity for empathy that kicks in at the most inconvenient moments.

Yes, mercifully it's not Elementary!
 

Well y'all know how I feel about Scandal.

Gee, no. How do you feel about it, Jess? 
 

I don't think it's silly. I agree with Toby. I don't get it why there is no problem with violence on TV while nudity, which is perfectly natural thing, is bad. 

I think both are considered inappropriate for children here in the US. Admittedly, the way the lines are drawn differs considerably -- here vs. Europe.
 

Well, I, for example, don't like watching sex on TV. But I don't mind naked people. I don't particularly mind violence either but I'm an adult (well, at least officially ) so it can hardly influence me. I don't understand why (at least on our TV's) they happily broadcoast CSI programmes, with lots of blood and killings, at 6 pm and for example "Scandal", thanks to naked Irene, had to be aired at 10 pm.

I think you'll have to talk to your local tv station about that. Unless things have changed radically, you can't show major blood & guts here before 10 p.m.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Back to Paul McGuigan --

 

I just checked IMDb to see what he's been up to lately -- four TV shows, one episode each -- and the new Frankenstein movie with Daniel Radcliffe as (wait for it....) Igor.  It's an American movie, but being filmed in London, with a lot of British cast and crew -- eleven of whom (counting McGuigan himself) have also worked on Sherlock. -- including Andrew Scott, Mark Gatiss, and Louise Brealey.

 

[Arcadia]

Sounds like this Frankenstein will be a movie about a man who is a monster, not a monster movie.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I didn't recall noticing who would be playing the monster, so I checked, and there's no one listed as "the monster" or "the creature."  Maybe they gave him a regular name, like he's "Fred" this time?  Or it's told from his point of view, so he's "played" by the camera?  Anybody have any idea what the spin is?

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

There are plenty of blood and violence tv programs shown on TV here in Maine before 10 pm. NCIS goes on at 8 pm. Followed by NCIS Los Angeles at 9. 

[Caya]

I didn't recall noticing who would be playing the monster, so I checked, and there's no one listed as "the monster" or "the creature."  Maybe they gave him a regular name, like he's "Fred" this time?  Or it's told from his point of view, so he's "played" by the camera?  Anybody have any idea what the spin is?

 

Seems the focus of the movie is on Igor and his friendship with Frankenstein, so maybe the monster is just CGI?