fannish post: Castle, H50, and (finally) Sherlock

[tielan]

So, after a great deal of urging, hassling, encouragement and outright nagging from my writing group, I've finally watched Sherlock. Up to, but not including Reichenbach Falls.

So far? I like it.

It's enjoyable, clever, and beautifully put together. And it keeps making me laugh - so many little things. And, of course, there's Irene Adler.

Confession time. I don't think I can quite see the attraction of Benedict Cumberbatch. Is he a brilliant actor? Yes. Is he a spot-on Sherlock Holmes? Yes. Does he make my heart go pitty-pat? Hell, no!

Actually, he's kind of freaky in Sherlock. I haven't seen him in anything else, so maybe his freak is just on for playing Holmes and he's quite attractive otherwise?

But it's entertaining, cleverly translated into 'modern', delightfully full of references to the original work, and beautifully casted and scripted.

And a fascinating portrait of obsession and attraction - not necessarily sexual attraction, but attraction nevertheless.

Mind you, I'm not going to touch the fandom with a ten foot pole.

Unless someone knows of some good gen casefic. Well-written, of course, preferably with Irene Adler being awesome in it.

--

I'm about 17 episodes into Season Four of Castle, and quite enjoying myself. It's a happy, cheerful, fluffy ride, and sometimes one needs, wants, and craves the happy-cheerful-fluffy stuff - like a romance novel, where one knows the HEA is coming, it's just the route the author takes and whether one remains engaged all the way through or merely reading to find out the ending.

I admit, I'm mostly watching for the ending rather than engaged with the show, but that's okay. That's how most people (ie. the ones who aren't fannish) watch shows, so I understand?

--

Curious question for the H50 fans: are they playing up a Steve/Lori thing? I mean, they're playing up a bit of a Lori/everyone thing (except for Chin whose affections are obviously already elsewhere): I've just started watching...12? 13? The one where Lori and Danny start the episode cuffed together in a hotel room.

Two episodes before, Lori was rushing in to hug Steve when they got him out of N. Korea, and one episode before that she was playing Olivia Newton John to Max's John Travolta. So...?

Also: now that Chin has actually gone and proposed to his girlfriend, I'm kinda scared they're going to kill her off. Because this is what shows like this do. I'm very disappointed that they killed off Jenna, although I'm really glad that they're integrating Lori with the team. I just hope it lasts, is all.

Who, me, cynical about the use of female characters in shows? Whatever gave you that idea?

Comments

[beatrice_otter]

Benedict Cumberbatch is really striking and attractive, but I only know him as Sherlock, and the character is entertaining to watch but ... gah.

Anyway! Recs. Alas, I have no Irene Adler, but I do have other women of Sherlock.

The Deepest Secret Nobody Knows is about Sally. http://lovingthevolume.livejournal.com/15691.html#cutid1

Ain't Seen the Sunshine Since I Don't Know When--no really prominent female characters, and only sort of a casefic, but I think you'll like it anyway. It's an AU where John gets hired after Afghanistan to look after five-year-old Sherlock and 13-year-old Mycroft. It's amazing how well Sherlock's character traits fit a five-year-old ...
http://eleanork.compromisingpositions.net/2010/12/aint-seen-the-sunshine/

Sustain (or Concerto for the Famished in D Minor)
Sherlock/Molly. Interesting look at her, at their relationship, and at Sherlock learning to treat her as an actual person.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/217671

The Anatomist
Really creepy AU look at Molly and Jim's relationship. Molly is, er, quite a lot deeper than the glimpses we see on the show. Sort of a casefic from the other side.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/139351

Major Pieces
gen casefic
http://archiveofourown.org/works/162152

Boston Marriage
Het genderswap well-done casefic. (Sherlock Holmes/expensive violins, Joan Watson/Scott Morstan)
http://archiveofourown.org/works/157756

[tielan]

I knew you would come through with the recs! :D

[beatrice_otter]

I am all about the reccage. Possibly because I actually read very little that hasn't been recced or is by one of the writers I follow, thus recs are very important to me.

[copracat]

I think the DOP on Sherlock BBC works like a demon to make Benedict Cumberbatch look as attractive as possible. In everything else I've seen him in he's played that slightly naff looking, pointy long faced, pale, middle to upper middle class British guy. I think he is at his most attractive in Sherlock BBC because make up, costume, lighting and the camera are making a remarkable effort to achieve that.

Pretty good actor, though.