Sherlock - Series 1 and 2 Box Set [DVD]

The BBC's excellent `Sherlock' has just completed its second series of three episodes in early 2012 and has been met with high praise and acclaim from both critics and viewers alike. Created and written by Stephen Moffat (of Dr. Who and TinTin) and Mark Gatiss (of The League of Gentlemen), `Sherlock' is a contemporary update of Conan Doyle's classic stories, placing Holmes and Watson squarely in London in the 21st Century; a time of laptops, satellite navigation and text messages. In fact, modern technology and science is to play a very significant part in each episode.

Many elements of the original stories remain, such as Holmes' Baker Street address, his violin playing and his arch enemy, Moriarty. Other elements are transfigured cleverly to reflect modern day society and events, such as the recent return of the injured John Watson from the War in Afghanistan, as opposed to the Anglo-Afghan War of the late 19th Century. Instead of keeping a journal of his adventures, Dr. Watson writes an internet blog. There are some very neat touches that tie in the modern day sleuth to Conan Doyle's Victorian one, which fans of the original books should have great fun spotting. Holmes becomes inextricably linked to the deerstalker by the media after picking up the hat simply to hide himself from photographers, but hates and derides the association thereafter. His addiction in `Sherlock' is to cigarettes, and gone are the allusions to opium usage. Each episode is based on a story by Conan Doyle, but brought forward cleverly and thoughtfully to the 21st Century. For example `The Hounds of Baskerville' (Series 2, episode 2) centres on mysterious sightings of a large beast near `Baskerville', an M.O.D research facility on Dartmoor.

The casting is perfect, and Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are each superb as Sherlock and Dr. John Watson respectively. Sherlock is a brilliant man, eccentric, pompous and extremely arrogant and Cumberbatch manages perfectly to keep him just on the right side of likeability. By contrast, Freeman's Watson is dependable and level headed, while playing him with the same kind of bemusement that he portrayed so well as Tim in The Office. Andrew Scott is equally excellent as a menacing and manic Jim Moriarty.

The show's creators are to be applauded for the ceaselessly wonderful script. It is clever, witty and maintains a very high standard throughout the six episodes with hardly a wasted or misplaced line. Though each series seems disappointingly short at just three episodes long, each episode is feature length at 90 mins, and perhaps a shorter series is best to give the writers the time they need to maintain the quality of the script and ideas they have produced thus far.

`Sherlock' deserves it's high praise and popularity, and it certainly represents a major triumph for the BBC as one of the best and most original dramas they have produced in many years, possibly of all time.

Blu-ray disc quality, as you would expect and hope for such a stylish production, is superb. Extras include a 'making-of' documentary, and the original 60 minute pilot. This episode was fully filmed but the BBC declined to air it, instead requesting a re-write and re-shoot.

A couple of years ago I was introduced to the world of Sherlock Holmes through Guy Ritchie's film, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and consequently began to read the books. I remember watching the trailer for Sherlock and doubting that the series would work, never have I been so glad to be proved so wrong.

First and foremost is the script Moffatt, Thompson and Gatiss seamlessly made the script accessible to Sherlock newbies whilst simultaneously adding in one-line references to make Sherlockians snicker, anyone who has read the books can tell that they're fans of the originals. By bringing Sherlock into the 21st century they have also managed to remain completely true to Conan-Doyle's books whilst giving the franchise and new and exciting change. Sherlock just fits beautifully into the 21st century, John Watson is invalided home from Afghanistan - just as in the original. Whilst the Victorian setting added to the beauty of the stories I think the focus was always meant to be on the characters and their interactions, and the writers to just that. Sherlock, as Conan-Doyle, was at the forefront of the science of the time and Sherlock using a mobile phone or the internet is doing the same for the modern age. The writing is - simply put - a joy to behold.

Then there's the acting. Benedict Cumberbatch is, as always, exemplary and he was born to play this role, keeping Sherlock both true to the originals and just on the side of likeable. Over the series Cumberbatch beautifully portrays Sherlock's slow shift to becoming more human and by the end of series two he had me in tears. Now I can barely remember a time when Cumberbatch wasn't a household name! Martin Freeman was also the perfect choice, the complete opposite of Cumberbatch's portrayal Freeman really brings the production down to earth, his reaction shots provide the audience with something to relate to and he has a beautiful understated way of bringing John Watson to live. Together their chemistry is enthralling and electric.

I must of course, give a shout-out to the secondary characters as well, Andrew Scott rightfully won his BAFTA for his chilling and hilarious Jim Moriarty but equally impressive are Una Stubbs as the motherly Mrs Hudson, Rupert Graves' exasperated father-figure Greg Lestrade, Louise Brealey as the likeable Molly Hooper all add to the perfectly cast show. Even Mark Gatiss sneaking in as Mycroft Holmes, whom he plays magnificently. You have to keep an eye on them during any scene they're in.

Finally I must highlight those behind the scenes, the directors for being so endlessly inventive, the costume designers for really bringing the characters to life, the hauntingly fitting soundtrack, even the guy who taught Cumberbatch the violin - they all played a vital role in bringing the best thing on the box in years to life, watching unlockign Sherlock and listening to the commentaries really drew my attention to the smaller details.

So thank you BBC for Sherlock, you've restored my faith in British television, long may it continue.

Excellent series - I had seen them on TV, but they are so exciting and entertaining that I wanted to own them. The acting is superb and the whole idea of changing the stories slightly to bring them up-to-date is brilliant. I just want more of these series.

Good extras too - with documentaries about the characters and the making of the series.

I have a blu-ray player now and these are my first blu ray discs - So much clearer on blu-ray - picture is crisp and clear and especially good on darker scenes, which previously would have been difficult to view.