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TV Review: Elementary (S03E04)


I often blog about anticipated shows.  But I was so impressed with the latest television episode of CBS's Elementary (S03E04, Bella) I had to highlight it.  The whole series so far has an IMDB rating of 8/10.

Elementary has been getting better with each season.  When the show first aired, I felt compelled to compare it to the BBC's Sherlock, whose first two seasons I had already adoringly watched and re-watched.  For a time, I inhibited myself from enjoying Elementary because of my ever-present concern, "how can the US create something to rival what is arguably the greatest television series of our generation?"  But once I let go of the need to compare the two, and simply appreciate Elementary for what it is, I began to see its unique brilliance.
Epic Moment Between Sherlock and his brother Mycroft in Season 2

I won't go into detail about this week's episode, Bella—involving artificial intelligence—but basically, if you choose to watch the episode (link works as of November 21, 2014), consider appreciating the following:

  • The superb acting
    • Sherlock's complex personality and character
    • Strong, 3-dimensional female characters
    • The beautiful drama between Sherlock and Watson
  • The writers really go the extra mile by tackling important current events
    • Elon Musk's article this last month on AI being "the world's biggest threat" couldn't have been more timely
  • The rich history of the Sherlock cannon and underdeveloped supporting characters gives me a feeling of anticipation and hope for future seasons
  • Not being able to easily anticipate the crime's solution by breaking down the plot into variables or suspects
    • Or even knowing what the crime initially is
  • The ending...

Comments

  1. I have watched Elementary from the beginning as well and try to never miss an episode! Sherlock in particular, is amazing! But I find myself disagreeing with evolution of the series becoming better and better. Since Watson "got her own place", that chemistry is gone as is a lot of the inherent humor. I'm not appreciating Kitty much yet, but maybe she will grow on me as Natalie Teeger did after our beloved Sharona left Monk. However, this episode of "Bella" was captivating as far as plot line goes and I found myself more than drawn in!

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