Netfilx: The New Sherlock Holmes series on BBC season 1

I know many of you are purists and have had a scowl on your face as you looked at advertisements for the new “Sherlock” (2010) series on the BBC. I relate completely as I am somewhat of a purist, after Jeremy Brett, I was unable to watch any Sherlock Holmes movie or series without remembering his fantastic portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Having said all that, I have to admit the new series “Sherlock” on the BBC is very good and capture`s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is a new and very interesting way.

At first glance I was very skeptical about Dr. Watson and his arriving on the scene as a veteran from Afghanistan; however, his character is closely reminiscent of the Watson of old. That is to say the Watson some of us knew back in the days of Ronald Howard and Howard Marion Crawford. Watson is inquisitive and sharp yet in need of Holmes final analysis as usual.

The new Sherlock Holmes played by Benedict Cumberbatch was at first hard to except because he was so young looking. Cumberbatch is rather boyish in his features but he does quite well at portraying the quirkiness of Sherlock Holmes and he is absolutely believable as the character he plays. He is lighting fast in his logic and does a great job of depicting the more traditional aspects of the Sherlock Holmes we all love. There seems to be a sort of continuous hint that Holmes and Watson are gay at first. For a purist, I think it is an unnecessary way of representing Holmes` questionable relationship to women.

The first case in the new series, “A study in pink,” is of course a modern reproduction of the original “A study in scarlet,” and the case was similar but with modern twists. I asked a friend of mine who is a Sherlock Holmes fan to watch the series with me on Netflix.com and he refused. I had to laugh because of his response, he made it very clear that without the Victorian English surroundings, it just wasn`t Sherlock Holmes.

The new Holmes, played by Cumberbatch, has enough of the Holmes we all love and know to bring loyalists to the table. He has the ego, the snippiness, the impatience with others, and the brilliant deductive mind, that fans all love. I wondered as I watch the first episode if the modern day back ground could make the grade; I was pleasantly surprised. The modern computer enhancements that show how Holmes` mind works are very interesting and exciting. The way in which they show his deductive brilliance allows to audience to follow Holmes in his thought processes like never before.

I realized very quickly, by the second episode, that I was in fact a fan. I then began to wonder if I was guilty of heresy or some other betrayal of my standards. I began a quick poll with other friends and family who may have watched the new series to see if I was the only one. Every one of them who had seen the new series loved it. Netflix has a review of 4 1/2 stars on the series which at Netflix is not easy to get.

I really enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes played by Robert Downey Jr. in 2009 and I thought Jude Law played Watson quite well; however, it was more the action of the film than the resurrection of a good Sherlock Holmes character that I enjoyed. The new Sherlock series, I believe, brings back the traditional Holmes fans all love with an exciting modern day twist.