Though it’s been eight years since theSherlockTV show went off the air, it’s impossible to forget what a cultural moment the series was and why viewers were captivated by the story. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock and Watson,Sherlockbecame immensely popular not long after it premiered, but the series could have easily looked very different.
There have been manymodern adaptations ofSherlock Holmes, and there’s a reason why the BBC’s take on the legendary stories by Arthur Conan Doyle are still so popular. Though it’s unlikely thatSherlockseason 5will ever materialize, returning to the existing seasons, especiallyseason 1, demonstrates the magic of the iconic mystery series.
Sherlock Fixing Its Unaired Pilot Is Why The Show Succeeded
The Show Needed To Make Some Big Changes After Its First Attempt At The Pilot
Many devotees of theSherlockfandom are aware that before the official version of “A Study in Pink” was released, the BBC’s first attempt at making the pilot episode was met with mixed results. Today, it’s hard to come across this episode, but for those who have seen it, it quickly becomes clear thatthe unaired pilot wouldn’t have sparked the same reaction in audiences.
Through some small but significant changes,“A Study in Pink” takes the format and tone ofSherlockto the next level,setting it up for success. It’s hard to imagine what the world ofSherlockwould look like if these changes hadn’t been made, since the series has come to define television in the 2010s.
It Was A Decent Episode, But It Wasn’t On Par With What Sherlock Would Become
From the first moments, it’s obvious thatthis is a very different version of theSherlockworldthan the one audiences were introduced to later on. The look, feel, and editing style are all more traditional, with far less stylization. That distinctive use of editing and technology is what first made audiences take notice ofSherlock, and the show is missing something without it.
The characters and their positions in the story are practically the same, and the way the story unfolds isn’t unrecognizable. However, the aspects of the tone and thematic arc that “A Study in Pink” leaned into will be clear.The propulsive pace and high stakes of the real first episodeget the viewer hooked in an instant.
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Sherlock’s First Season Does A Perfect Job In Setting Up The World
A Study In Pink Sets Sherlock Up For Success
Sherlock’s mistakesin the later seasons would result in mixed reactions from audiences and critics, but there’s little question that the first two installments of the series are thrilling seasons of television. In particular,Sherlockseason 1 achieves what many series struggle to do:naturally delivering exposition and world-building in a fun way.
Sherlockseason 1 achieves what many series struggle to do: naturally delivering exposition and world-building in a fun way.
This begins in “A Study in Pink” and carries through the rest of the short season, with each episode unfolding like a movie while simultaneously letting us explore the world of the characters even further. Without the strength of the first episode,Sherlockcouldn’t have included more experimental and interesting takes on Doyle’s works throughout the rest of season 1.
