Elementary

Elementary was such a great show that it's actually underrated as far as cop shows go. This series follows Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) as he leaves London for New York after being in rehab. His father makes him live with a sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Lui). Watson is a former surgeon who quit after losing one of her patients. She now helps addicts stay sober and takes on Sherlock. The two of them then begin consulting with the NYPD solving their most difficult cases. This show was loved by both critics and audiences alike. It has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.0 here. It did well enough to go for 7 fantastic seasons. Just a fair warning, you'll be hooked once you start this series so give yourself enough time to binge through it.

I love this show. Its my go to. Jonny and Lucy have great chemistry and the cases are intricate and often keep you guessing. With real life issues and compassion, mixed with sherlock's rugged and laser focus on cases its almost never a smooth ride. The longer you stick with it the better it is, sherlock turning into a more humanly man, and Watson becoming a great detective in her own right. Only lucy liu could pull off a female Watson whose character begins to exhibit the traits and fashion of the great detectives around her. The subtle appreciations are very well done. The casting is great, with Natalie as moriarty, she should've been allowed one last major comeback. My only complaint is that it finished abruptly and quickly.

While Elementary isn't the best police procedural I've ever seen, it's on my top 10 and that's saying something because there are a million police shows to choose from. On top of that there are a million different shows/movies involving Sherlock Holmes so a police procedural with Sherlock Holmes as the main character would really have to stick out for people to tune in and Elementary absolutely does. Jonny Lee Miller is absolutely brilliant as Sherlock and Lucy Lui is great as a female Watson. Jonny Lee Miller is right there with Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. As the best Sherlock Holmes ever put on screen. The series works so well because of the chemistry between Miller and Lui. It's been off the air since 2019 but I still miss it.

9 is the best because no one is perfect or truly good enough to achieve a10. For this fan of ACD and his stories of Sherlock Holmes this rendition comes close to the best so far. It rates at the top with the Benedict Cumberbach series "Sherlock". But, truth be told, it's crowded at the top of that list. "Elementary" actually takes the genre to a whole different level. Every element is modern, nothing is British even if this Holmes moved to New York from London, he barely has a British accent. Unless, because I watch so many British TV and films, I don't notice the English accent as much. I must ask Sherlock about that possibility. The stories are so very American with American criminal's expectations. This time however Watson is nothing one would expect. But Holmes fits perfectly into the skin of this consulting detective. Don't expect any of ACD stories to be retold but that may prove a wrong assumption because this viewer has not watched enough episodes to be certain. Holmes deductive powers are as strong as we expect and just as enjoyable. Holmes' arrogance doesn't lose a step and might actually be stepped up a but. All in all the show meets expectations for a fan of ACD and his Sherlock Holmes.

Years ago, I remember reading the publicity for this show before it was released, and pouring scorn on the idea of a modern Sherlock Holmes, set in New York and with a female Watson. "How pathetic!", I sneered, "They must be really desperate for new ideas, to come up with this pile of rubbish!" And when it showed on British television, I only sat down to watch it so I could pull it to pieces.

I could never have guessed that years later I would be watching old episodes, while I impatiently wait for the fourth series to be broadcast. All the people involved have obviously worked very hard to create this intelligent and entertaining show, which has fun with the original stories and characters, while still showing respect (in my view) to the books and the author, Arthur Conan Doyle. Oh, and while I like Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock, I think the actors who play Joan Watson, Captain Thomas Gregson and Detective Marcus Bell deserve a special mention, as they have the more restrained and therefore difficult roles to play, as his sidekicks.

Thank you for making and releasing "Elementary". And please hurry up with the next series!