It seems that pop culture is a massive, ever evolving organ of sorts, however, we often find instances of the same ideas throughout the mesh that it is. Keeping this in mind, it comes to no surprise to find that popular stories are often everlasting; in this case, the most popular detective of the 19th century, Sherlock Holmes, the character that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so masterfully crafted for the first time in 1887, debuting in the very popular novel A Study in Scarlet.

This time, we do not encounter the peculiar genius in victorian London, as the stories often narrate, but rather a modern version of the city, and the result, as shocking as it might come, is fantastic, capturing both the essence of the character and the magnificence of the modern world; this is, of course, the BBC series Sherlock.

The characters we encounter are the same featured in the classic stories, Sherlock Holmes and his companion, John Watson. Sherlock brings all of the wit, cleverness, and plain genius, that is featured in the original tales. Holmes contrasts well with Dr. Watson, his iconic friend and sidekick, a caring, kind person, as opposed to Sherlock’s cold personality. Compared to the other TV/Movie screen Sherlock Holmes adaptations, this one is the best one. The characters show unprecedented character depth. The series also brings a previously unseen aspect of the detective, which is his difficulty reaching successful social interactions.

The acting is fantastic and the characters convincing. The cast is brilliant at their respective roles; they each bring credibility to the character they play. The villains are convincing as well as terrifying, as they are supposed to be, being mostly psychopaths, to a frightening extent.

The most important scene in the series is Sherlock’s staged suicide. After he faces James Moriarty for the last time, he is forced to either kill himself, or watch his friends perish. He then uses an elaborate plan to convince Moriarty and everyone he knows that he is dead, including Watson; this event is quite hard for the doctor. This scene is loaded with emotions; the setup is well done and might even make the audience shed a few tears. The other adaptations of Sherlock are not as dramatic, relying more on the mystery/crime aspect of the stories. The scene was pulled off well; however, it is revealed at the end of the episode that Sherlock is not dead; this eliminated the element of suspense that the scene had so intricately built.

One of the main themes of the series is the importance of relationships. Sherlock, being the antisocial sociopath that he is, finds it extremely difficult to make meaningful relationships, or doesnt care at all to do so, and for this he often ends up in dangerous situations all by himself. Compared to the films, for example, it is very deep; the films show little to no meaningful relationships, yet manages to provide` a new refreshing aspect into the character, which is his difficulty socializing. It’s quite impressive how they manage to provide this theme and support throughout the series, even if the main character is an isolated recluse.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the plot; it is built around the villains and the crimes, and they are never lacking. The plot is quite similar to that of the movies; they are often unsolvable mysteries at first, bizarre situations that require investigating and digging around. Even so, the plot never fails to deliver. It is never repetitive or dull, always full of surprises, and the bizarre nature of the storyline keeps the audience hooked all throughout the episodes.

In the end, it is a modern retelling of the same old classic story that has been repeated so many times, and yet still manages to provide a new and refreshing outlook on the characters. The victorian detective, one find out, fits quite well into the complicated era that is that of the contemporary, both adapting to it, as well as further adding to it. Audiences will love this show; both Sherlock Holmes amateurs, as well as long life fanatics, can enjoy this original version of the old deerstalker pipe smoking detective.