Review of Sherlock – Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are ever-iconic characters. They are famous characters known by almost every reader. And now, every online viewer as well. The everlasting story of an ultimate detective and his partner in discovery leads us through many stories of mysterious cases and mind-blowing adventures. With over 250 screen portrayals, few stand out to worldwide audiences, one of them being BBC’s Sherlock.
The 4-season series ran from 2010 to 2017. It is portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as the lead duo, with episodes based on the original books. However, it is one of the few adaptations setting the stories in modern-day London. With 13 episodes, it tackles many modern-day topics like mental anguish and emotional trauma. The show interprets and displays detective work in a modern context with the information of laptops and mobile devices at our fingertips.
Although there are many criticisms present in the show, many agree that the architecture presented is accurately reflected in the show through set design, décor, and location decisions, such as the 221B Baker Street apartment.
The Apartment | Review of Sherlock
Starting from the space with the most screen time, the apartment itself is very close to the description of the books with many little easter eggs for reader viewers. Designed as a twist of traditional and modern, the simple furniture and layout is enough to house the story requirements.
All characters enter the space through the landing of the stairs that has access to the living room, dining, and kitchen. This design allows for easy access and segregation of formal and informal guests. The landlady Mrs. Hudson often walks in comfortably through the kitchen door when guests are in the living room, which includes figures like Sherlock Holmes’s brother Mycroft Holmes.
The building is distributed vertically for each of the resident characters. The ground floor houses the entrance lobby of the building with coat hooks and a small dressing table. It also leads to the entirety of the landlady’s (Mrs. Hudson) housing, which is assumed to hold a bedroom, kitchen, washroom, living room, and backyard garden. The first floor accesses the first tenant’s (Sherlock Holmes) bedroom and bathroom. The second floor houses the second bedroom (John Watson) with an adjoining washroom.
Next comes the main room of action, the first-floor living room. It houses 3 subspaces; the fireplace, couch set, and study. The fireplace becomes its own space since the warmth encourages contemplative time for the users. Hence, both the armchairs are often close by. This cozy corner has quick access to the balcony and the kitchen. The second is the study which effectively divides the room. Marked with a discussion table, laptops, and files, it becomes a center of Holmes’ research, Watson’s writing, and many deductions throughout the series. On the opposite side of the camera is a cozier seating for multiple people with a couch set and coffee table. This room layout is strategically placed parallel to the array of windows, which would make it very comfortable due to the offset of screen glare.
Leaving the interior planning of the apartment, many can exclaim about the accuracy achieved through the facade of the building. A feature often noticed is the door that reads 221B, with a doorknob and semi-circular glass lintel. The facade design was ruled by the old London Georgian streets. The scenes were shot on Gower Street and had a series of Georgian terraces similar to Baker Street. It retains one of London’s longest sets of unbroken Georgian terraces, constructed in the 1780s. This provides the classic London aesthetic.
As seen in the series, the building entrance features a very traditional façade and treatment to the door, which is broken by the Speedy’s shop insert. A lamp above the door, a plain protruding keystone, and a mortar treatment bring attention to the entrance and the door. The horizontal lines on the façade are also reemphasized with the balconies above and similar wall treatments added on the above floors.
The doorknob was the older version of modern-day doorbells, aiding in the mix of traditional and modern intent of the show. It is even significant to the characters’ knowledge of other occupants of the building. For example, Sherlock becomes aware of the presence of his brother just due to the way he leaves the doorknob askew. Although not wrong, it is how the other Holmes’ upbringing and such traditional elements become reflective of older culture and customs.
The City
From many interviews with the production crew, it is shown that the show was also meant to be an ode to the city it is set in, London. Each episode takes the investigating duo to iconic architectures of the city; the British Antiquities Museum, Borough Market, Chinese Theatre, St. Bart’s Hospital, Old Bailey Criminal Court, Scotland Yard, Chinatown, and more.
Each location is in distinct areas of the city and displays various architectural designs for exploration. They also exist from different periods of London’s history, making the experience that much more enriching for those who have an eye for it. This decision helped the show become a visual and cultural tour of London for viewers, hence appealing to travelers and possible tourists as well.
The Mindscape
The mind palace is a place often accessed by Sherlock throughout the series and visualized once. A memory technique comes from the time that the books were written, it utilizes the visualization of many spaces with connections, similar to links between facts and objects. This was observed within a house-like space, where each space accessed separate parts of Sherlock’s past and selected memories.
When seen in the series, there are many circulation spaces along with rooms. Long corridors take up most of the space with repeating patterns of doors that open into rooms packed with memories. There are key spaces that relate to particular experiences such as a staircase, morgue, and prison. The long repetitive monotony of the corridors helps Sherlock feel more relaxed and gives him a sense of order when he requires it. Luxuriously spaced and furnished, it is an allusion to the wealthy nature of his parents. All the rooms do not fit together logically since the mind palace is just an imaginary synaptic map.
Another mind palace that is peeked into is that of Charles Augustus Magnussen. His representation is largely a matter of contracting nature. His house on the physical realm, Appledore (shot at the Gloucestershire Mansion), is filled with large open empty spaces. On the other hand, the mind palace transitions from a posh hallway to the lower level, accessed using a staircase. There, all the information is organized and kept cleanly, similar to an archive. Based on person and organization, all the references and facts helped Magnussen keep his power, which represented his true tastes. Unlike Sherlock’s lavish and large mind palace, his is cozier and focused on his data collection.
Conclusion | Review of Sherlock
Many shows and movies are reliant on set and decor to immerse viewers into the story. In the case of Sherlock, it was more critical to do so, since many details can be seen throughout the series of books and movies that precede it. All in all, it is clear that the show worked well the further the plot and added depth to each of the characters, not only the leading duo.
Bibliography:
- Hidden London (2010). Gower Street, Camden [online] Available at: https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/gower-street/
- Watts, Mary Jo (2016). All About the Wallpaper: An Interview with Production Designer Arwel Wyn Jones [online]. Available at: https://cinemavitas.com/2016/01/23/arwel-wyn-jones/
- Mellor, Louisa (2020). Sherlock Designer Arwel W Jones: ‘There’s a Magic to Set Design’ [online]. Available at: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/sherlock-designer-arwel-w-jones-theres-a-magic-to-set-design/
- Zielinski, Sarah (2014). The Secrets of Sherlock’s Mind Palace [online]. Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/secrets-sherlocks-mind-palace-180949567/