Not shit, Sherlock

I have an issue with the premise of Sherlock. I like the idea of Sherlock Holmes - although I am by no means as obsessed by the detective fiction of Conan Doyle as other people I know are - but for me Holmes should always be based in the Victorian era. Unlike other icons - James Bond, for example - he doesn't transfer well in my mind from era to era.

Fortunately, the programme managed this transfer quite well. Partly because - for all the talk of mobiles, the internet and the current war in Afghanistan - this was about as detached from the current world as it possibly could be without setting in the Victorian era. In its heightened and highly stylised depiction of modern London, the show really bought into the idea that Holmes always borders on the highly unlikely.

Consequently, this was a romp from beginning to end. It was designed to make Holmes look as cool as possible - no mean feat given, by his own admission, he is a "high-functioning sociopath". It also fleshed out Dr Watson and some of the more minor regular characters. In particular, the world weary Lestrade was wonderfully underplayed. The same cannot be said for Mycroft Holmes - Mark Gatiss seems to relish the opportunity to camp it up as Mycroft - some sort of sinister government employee who also talks about his mother a lot - but his performance jars slightly with the other, more understated characters. Furthermore, the concept of Moriarty was introduced in this episode with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face. Yep, we get it - this was the pilot episode, and we had to be made to understand from the outset that Mycroft and Moriarty are going to be two of the key recurring characters. However that point could have been made in a much more unobtrusive way.

But this was a fun adventure that brought Holmes and Watson together and laid out what we can expect from the rest of the series. Unfortunately, that throws up a couple of problems as well. Firstly, we get that in the modern world Holmes and Watson could be mistaken for a gay couple. And it's mildly amusing the first time it's mentioned. However, when it keeps on happening it ceases to be a nod to a more tolerant modern world and instead becomes almost a bit crass. It develops a schoolboy tone, as if the production team wants to point and snigger about the misunderstandings relating to Holmes and Watson's relationship.

However, a far bigger problem is the character of Holmes. He is hyper-observant and awkward in his dealings with other people - just as he should be. Unfortunately, his gift for observation is almost exactly the same as that of Fitz. Or the Mentalist. Or Monk. Sure, all these characters owe a debt to Holmes in the first place, but as I watched Sherlock I couldn't help but be reminded of those other detectives. There's nothing novel about Holmes' observation skills anymore. And all this is rather undermined anyway when, at a crucial moment, Holmes seems to miss the point that there are two people in any one taxi - the driver as well as the passenger.

Furthermore, while the wonderfully named Benedict Cumberbatch gives his all to the role of Holmes, I was constantly reminded of another character when I watched this show. Particularly in the moments when Holmes is complaining about the tiny minds of those around him or arrogantly dealing with everyone, even those close to him, he comes across almost exactly like the Eleventh Doctor. Now, I'm a big fan of the Eleventh Doctor, but he isn't Sherlock Holmes. I can't help but think that Gatiss and Moffat - the co-creators of this programme - didn't really spend enough time trying to distinguish their Doctor from their Holmes. And this production ends up being a poor relation to Doctor Who - which is a shame, because it deserves to be so much more.

I'm aware that this post makes it sound like I didn't like the show - and that isn't really true. It was fast-moving, filled with witty dialogue and interesting stylistic flourishes. The story - once you realise that it really isn't going for verisimilitude - is entertaining nonsense that is generally well-performed. No, Sherlock isn't shit - but it also isn't that urgent or unique as TV programmes go. And I doubt when all is said and done that this show has a particularly long life ahead of it. Based on the first episode, it is a novelty - a distraction, a little hobby on the side for Moffat and Gatiss as they work on their day job: the ongoing adventures of Doctor Who.