‘Sherlock’ vs. ‘Elementary’

It’s safe to say that Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in literature. What James Bond is to espionage and Superman is to superheroes, Holmes is to detective work. And yet despite this lofty status, the very image of Holmes and his period-based setting and cast of surrounding characters has been wildly distorted in all of the adaptations that have been produced in the last several years.

Read the collected Holmes works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and you’ll get the picture of the famous detective’s world quite quickly. It’s essentially a slightly fictionalised Victorian London (and surrounding areas) extending into the early-20th century. It’s complete with the trinkets, items, and even atmospheric elements that we associate with this setting: tobacco pipes, mists hanging low over the ground, magnifying glass, and the like. Yet much of this sort of thing has been lost on the recent adaptations. Interestingly enough, the Holmes-themed game at the Betfair casino may come closer to capturing his essence than any major film or television show has in recent years. The game is simple and animated, but it got the basics right by using the very same items just mentioned in association with Victorian culture and by at least depicting Holmes with his signature strange hat!

None of the cinematic adaptations of Holmes’ stories that we’ve seen in recent years have quite managed that much. The film series led by Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes comes close in some ways, but it ultimately amounts to more of a stylised, nearly comic book-esque interpretation of his world. Many have found these films a little bit too flashy, partly because they elected to turn the Holmes character into more of an action hero than a detective. But where the films have been a letdown for missing the mark, the two television shows currently running  – Sherlock and Elementary – can be looked at differently.

Neither of these two shows captures the Holmes atmosphere in the traditional sense, but it’s intentional here. Both are meant as bold, new interpretations on the underlying concepts and stories of Holmes lore, rather than exact replicas of the stories brought to life on screen. And when one thinks about the shows this way, they’re both quite accomplished.

The question is, which is better?

It’s a bit of a strange situation to have two wildly different adaptations of the same source material going on television at the same time. However, it’s a lot of fun for anyone who feels like making a comparison between the two! So here’s a breakdown of the different elements that define the shows, and our own conclusion as to which one is more worth your time.

The World Of Holmes

As mentioned, neither Sherlock nor Elementary seeks to replicate the world of Doyle’s Holmes novels. Rather, both are completely different takes. In Sherlock, he is presented in a somewhat-familiar fashion, in the same streets, similar accommodations, etc – only in modern-day London, instead of the same city at the turn of the 20th century. Elementary, meanwhile, attempts a similar shift, but places the series in New York City instead of London. Both offer interesting takes, but frankly, the New York idea is too much of a reach and makes Elementary feel more like a random detective drama that borrowed a name.

Edge: Sherlock Format Of The Show

Oddly enough, this is the way in which the shows may differ most.

Sherlock is presented by the BBC almost as a recurring mini-series more than a traditional television show. Each season has been comprised of just a few episodes, though those episodes are nearly the length of some films. Meanwhile, Elementary is more traditional, offering just over 20 episodes – each fills a one-hour slot – per season. One might think Sherlock would benefit from extra care put into its episodes, but the truth is that it’s mostly just annoying there are only a handful of them total.

What Culture presented a list of 10 reasons Elementary is the superior show, and while we wouldn’t agree with all of them, the first one is dead on: “There is more of it.”

Edge: Elementary Supporting Cast

This is another area in which the two shows differ greatly. Naturally, both have different casts, but the truth is that these two shows have entirely different ideas for the characters. The most significant difference is that Elementary made the bold and commendable decision to think outside the box, casting Lucy Liu as a female “Watson” (in this case, Joan Watson), a version of Holmes’ trusted sidekick, and Natalie Dormer as Jamie Moriarty (ordinarily Jim or James). But gender aside, there’s a lot to like in both supporting casts. For our money, it’s tough to beat Martin Freeman’s delightful take on Watson in Sherlock. But on the other hand, Dormer’s take on Moriarty in Elementary may just trump the somewhat-awkward version played by her counterpart Andrew Scott. But really, this is all nit-picking. Both casts, though different, are quite strong.

Edge: Neither Holmes

Finally, there’s Holmes himself. With no disrespect to Johnny Lee Miller (who plays the role on Elementary), there’s no contest here. Benedict Cumberbatch is suddenly one of the brightest starts in show business, and his Holmes, while perhaps a touch too eccentric at times, is masterful. According to Digital Spy, Cumberbatch himself has praised Miller’s role quite extensively, and Miller does indeed do a great job of it. But Cumberbatch is a heavyweight in entertainment, and it shows in his part as Sherlock Holmes.

Edge: Sherlock

Ultimately both shows are well worth watching, even if they more or less abandon the original world of the detective. But due in large part to the brilliance of Benedict Cumberbatch and the atmosphere of the show, we’d give Sherlock the slight edge.