The Empty Hearse

Spoilers of sorts..

Admittedly this is an article two days late, but the last thing I wanted to do was look at The Empty Hearse based on initial reaction. You see, the first ‘live’ viewing of Sherlock’s return was basically a 90 minute television orgasm. I smirked so much through the entire thing that my face was hurting after. The truth is that Steven Moffat and co could have shown 89 minutes of Mrs Hudson’s wallpaper followed by Sherlock saying ‘I’m back!’ and the majority of the fanbase would have proclaimed it the best thing in the history of the universe at that point. The overwhelming feeling was relief, as if we had all endured two years of foreplay and finally the other person had decided it was time to take the next step.

I’m not entirely sure why I’m getting all sexual with my critique – you can probably blame the time I spent on Twitter during the original airing. That didn’t help to supress the overpowering feeling of ecstasy and pleasure during the Series 3 opener. The most surprising thing was that Moffat and his co-conspirator Mark Gatiss knew exactly how we were going to react, and played to that completely with their writing. In turn we ended up with an episode that pleased the majority of the fanbase, irritated some, and perhaps even alienated more casual or new fans.

At this point it’s safe to say that Sherlock exists primarily for the hardcore fans, without worrying too much about gaining the interest of new viewers. And really, why should it? When you think about it, the majority of those involved don’t even need to be doing this. It’s clearly a show that they all do because they love working on it, and it’s a highly enjoyable thing to be a part of. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are killing it in Hollywood, Moffat is very busy with Doctor Who, and Mark Gatiss always seems to be juggling multiple projects, so why did they make Series 3? Obviously I’m not going to pretend BBC don’t know it’s a money spinner and popular worldwide, but it would be so easy for any of them to walk away, yet they’re still here. Maybe those interviews Freeman and Cumberbatch gave about loving the show and wanting to do it forever were true after all.

I’ve seen some critical comments about The Empty Hearse lacking in plot. I can understand that the ‘terror’ sideplot wasn’t exactly gripping; however this opener was never going to be about launching into an in-depth new plot. This was about Sherlock’s return – how he did it, why he did it, and how he manages to slip back into the world, especially with Watson. There’s more than enough to deal with emotionally without worrying too much about an actual plot, as there are so many people for Sherlock to deal with, and many different reactions. This plays out perfectly with Mrs Hudson screaming, Lestrade greeting him with a hug like old friends reunited, and then of course there’s John. That was always going to be the hardest reunion yet it is believable and heartfelt across the episode. Of course John is jubilant at his friend’s ‘not dead!’ situation, but he’s had to deal with the turmoil of loss for years now, so he’s understandably angry as well.

Sherlock has always been about a blend of comedy and drama. Even in the darkest hours with mass murderers, there was always room for a funny ringtone or something. So The Empty Hearse might amp up the comedy side with some teasing fan service, but there’s still some serious acting to be seen. Freeman especially does an exceptional job of conveying the whole range of emotions that Watson goes through, and Cumberbatch is delightful, getting to let loose as Sherlock and do some very strange and out-of-character things. Yes he’s still an over-intelligent arse at heart, but he does have a heart at least, and parents apparently!

I’ve seen a show like Doctor Who struggle with the online community over the past year or two, and in all honesty a lot of the comments have spoiled the show more than Moffat or anyone ever did. Fanbases can make or break a show, and while I’m not suggesting Who or even Sherlock are perfect, sometimes there is criticism just for the sake of it. Some people definitely hate shows before they’ve even seen them, and that’s just a crazy way to approach them. I managed to avoid Sherlock spoilers, and to go along with that ride of sheer jubilation with everyone else on Twitter was a perfect way to enjoy the opening episode. I’d never tell anyone else that they are wrong for not enjoying it, but I’m just thankful I loved it so much myself. I’m more fond of all those involved than I ever have been, with Louise Brealey, Rupert Graves and Jonathan Aris all a joy to watch, and Amanda Abbington slipping into the show like she’s been there forever.

Beyond the opener, it will be interesting to see if there are any long-term implications for Sherlock and John, and how we get to delve deeper into a new drama with the little-seen new villain. He looks like he’ll be slightly less humorous than Moriarty was. It’s hard to believe that it’ll be all over in a week or so! Yet I feel more positive about the future of the show now than I ever did, as I fully believe it’s one that will happen if and when those involved can fit it into their schedules. As much as I don’t want to wait years in between series, it’s something I’m willing to accept to keep Sherlock alive and kicking. It almost feels more special this way, not overdoing things like perhaps Doctor Who has lately. Only time will tell, but Sherlock feels more alive than ever.

Live Tweeting

Last night we saw the long-awaited return of Sherlock to UK television on BBC One. I say UK television as this was not a simulcast, and places like the United States won’t be getting the show for a few weeks. It’s unfortunate, but something that many of us are regularly a part of when it comes to US shows. We rarely get them aired at the same time, and so either have to resort to downloading ASAP, live streaming, or simply avoiding spoilers for a few days.

Is it possible to avoid spoilers? Absolutely, or at least mostly. I’ve unfollowed nearly all US actors/actresses where possible, and I generally know when not to look at my timeline. You would be surprised at the number of days I simply live on my Interactions page on Twitter, never even looking at other tweets. I’ve quit Tumblr completely because that’s a minefield, and Facebook is safe most of the time if only because most people realise it’s not exactly the place to be discussing TV shows live in detail.

‘Live tweeting’ i.e. tweeting along with comments during a live broadcast of a TV show is becoming more commonplace these days. Television networks display hashtags on-screen during a TV show, and cast members will take to Twitter to join in, discussing with the fans as well as providing tidbits about the show. It’s much like an interactive text version of a commentary you might get on a DVD/Blu-ray, and is great for the fanbase to take part in. It’s obviously a very clever piece of marketing, what with trending topics etc, but it’s also a nice reward for fan loyalty to be able to have that contact with those involved in their favourite shows.

For example, last night I was live tweeting along with #SherlockLives, and this happened:

Now, I didn’t tweet Lou directly, so clearly she was following the hashtags etc.

I just thought it was a nice thing to happen and I think it definitely encourages fans to stick with a show and be into it. I’m not one for chasing celebrity attention on Twitter too much, but this did make me smile. It’s the same with getting re-tweets or favourites etc. I’m really not one to beg for attention, but the hashtags are a really good way to get to meet fellow fans of something..

The real issue comes from those who can’t watch a show live. Where does the responsibility lie in terms of spoilers..

(1) Should people NOT live tweet in case they spoil those that aren’t watching?

or

(2) Should those not watching be responsible in avoiding spoilers by staying off Twitter etc during an airing?

Obviously your feelings will likely depend on what side of the fence you fall on. Personally as there’s so many US shows I watch, I generally know when to avoid Twitter and have taken steps to avoid spoilers as much as possible. Shows like WWE Raw that heavily promote Twitter interaction mean that I’ll have to avoid my main timeline on a Tuesday until I get to see the show. Other shows don’t really get ‘spoiled’ like comedies etc, so they’re generally safe. If there’s a specific show I know I desperately do not want spoiled, I’ll take the appropriate steps as much as possible.

In terms of ‘live tweeting,’ there should definitely be an element of consideration from those doing it too. My style is generally making ‘funny’ comments or reactionary ones without being too specific. I’ll never say OMG *** DIED etc. I don’t think the majority of live tweets make any sense whatsoever unless you’re watching, so you’ll mostly be safe even if you’re not watching live, but better to be safe than sorry.

Networks do realise that people don’t want to be spoiled, so some are taking decent steps to try and avoid this happening:

In the end, it’s really just common sense on both sides – not too specific from viewers, and taking necessary caution if you’re not a live viewer. There are valid arguments on both ends, but with this happening more often, it’s certainly something everyone should be thinking about and trying to find a happy(ish) middle ground.