Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes Sadly Dropped A Defining Trait Of Arthur Conan Doyle's Character
The BBC's hit series Sherlocksuccessfully weaved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective into the modern world, yet certain aspects of Holmes that didn't make it into the series would have been really fun additions. Originally released in 2010, Sherlock is a four-seasonmystery series that stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson. Just as in Doyle's books, the pair solve mysteries and face off against the criminal mastermind, Moriarty. Despite being set in modern-day London, Sherlock is just as intelligent and quirky as the character he is based on.
In many ways, it is a relief that Sherlock did not adapt every detail of Sherlock Holmes. For example, setting the show in the present day allowed Doyle's stories to be more accessible to modern audiences, and opened the door for more creative opportunities. Cumberbatch's Sherlock got his own look and style, and his relationship with Watson deepened into something that wasn't quite possible in the books. However, there is one part of Holmes that would have been really interesting in Sherlock, but never actually made it into the show.
Unlike The Original Sherlock Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch's Character Rarely Used Disguises
Why 2010's Sherlock Cut Holmes' Disguises
One original Sherlock Holmes detail that got chopped from the 2010 series was Holmes' affection for disguises. In Doyle's writings, Holmes often carried out his investigations by donning unique disguises. Some of his many costumes included a clergyman, an Italian priest, and a groom. Despite being a notable part of Holmes' character, Sherlock opted to take out this detail. Throughout all four seasons of Sherlock, Holmes never really finds himself in one of these iconic disguises. Though a small cut, it is rather disappointing in hindsight that audiences never got to see this side of Cumberbatch's Sherlock.
The most logical reason for this cut is that Sherlock's creators wanted to cement Sherlock as a character, and adding disguises would have made this harder. Although Holmes is a character audiences know and love, Sherlock had to reinvent the wheel in some ways. Their Sherlock had to be Holmesian, but also needed to stand out as his own character. In this way, including costumes might have led to confusion about who Cumberbatch's Sherlock really was. Plus, to be fair, his iconic blue coat was a dramatic enough costume on its own.
BBC's Series Adapting Sherlock's Affinity For Disguise Could Have Been Amazing
Sherlock Included Other Great Sherlock Details
Regardless of any possible confusion it may have caused, it would have been really thrilling to see Cumberbatch's Sherlock use different disguises. In the BBC's Sherlockin particular, the character is especially anti-social and, at times, cruel. Because of this, any habit of his that defied his coarse personality was a treat. Holmes' disguises would have had this satisfying effect. Just as viewers would see Sherlock insulting Watson, he would get into a silly costume and play pretend in order to solve a mystery. That's exactly the sort of levity that Sherlock thrived on.
Of course, Sherlock didn't entirely miss out on these small Sherlock Holmes details. Every episode referenced a specific case from Doyle's books, from "A Study in Pink" aka A Study in Scarlet to "A Scandal in Belgravia" aka A Scandal in Bohemia. Furthermore, small hints like Watson's time in the military and the inclusion of Sherlock's fake death made the show feel truly close to the books, despite the modern changes. Ultimately, Sherlockdid its best, even if it missed this one exciting detail.
Sherlock
- Release Date
- 2010 - 2017-00-00
- Network
- BBC
- Showrunner
- Steven Moffat
- Directors
- Steven Moffat
- Writers
- Steven Moffat, Steve Thompson, Mark Gatiss
- Franchise(s)
- Sherlock Holmes
Cast
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