"But the [drama] did nothing in the nighttime." "That was the curious incident."

Ah, reader. I have, it is a shame, been away from the internet for anything other than sporadic glimpses at important emails before the router gave out again after its concerted efforts for a fortnight. However, I have triumphed over the beginning of the robot uprising (the footsoldiers of which are our friends the toaster, the printer, the shower and now, apparently, the commando router).

That said, I wish I could be writing a far more positive comeback post. I love Sherlock Holmes. I have said this many times, and often people confused me with a gay man for all the professions of man love I make for him (and Robert Downey Jr, and Hugh Jackman, and Hugh Laurie, and calling people beefcake). I loved the idea of an update. And what a rollicking first episode it was!

Regular readers may remember my oh so thorough review, found here: Unbridled, spouted praise.

So, we had an awesome first episode and Moffat then let the reigns go to another writer for episode two. Ah.

That's where it all started to cave in on itself a little. The more Oriental and, shall we say, mystical East elements of the original canon don't translate as well to 21st century London. Not in itself, perhaps, but because of the already stagnated and saturated market for oriental and criminal syndicates across history in cinema and TV. Whether in ancient eras or in the present day, there have been dozens of more famous (and, unfortunately, better portrayed, concieved and realised) Asian gangs than those of the Black Lotus.



The cab driver from A Study In Pink was a true foe for Cumberbatch's Holmes. Intelligent, creepy, and arresting to both our imaginations and that of the detective. The Black Lotus just lacked something, and whiffed faintly of ridiculousness and circusry in a London which features underground stand up circuits and forty-somethings playing gigs in grimy pubs rather than visiting dragon performances and gymnastics from The East. It's a shame that this was the tale they decided to adapt, and then left in the most out of place element of it. Asian cartels are fine. Asian cartels left as the Victorians saw them, not so much.

Holmes and Watson, however, are still spot on, and Mrs Hudson's appearances, while fleeting, are cracking. So all in all a B+. Could do a little better.