Friday, March 1, 2019

The Deductive Duo: Holmes and Watson



Illustration by Sidney Paget.
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In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon, Sherlock Holmes, the world's only private consulting detective, and Dr. John Watson, a former surgeon in the British army, are paired together to fight crime in Europe, predominantly London, England.

Throughout the canon, Holmes and Watson are very loyal to each other.  This is as a result of a bond surrounding by danger and risk, seeking thrill.  The pair is focused on solving the case, and Watson is intrigued by, and almost obsessed with, Holmes's amazing detective skills as well as use of disguise.  This is shown in Watson's elaborate examinations of Holmes's disguises in the canon.
A short time after moving in with Holmes, Watson writes, "As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life gradually deepened and increased" (Study in Scarlet, 10).
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In Elementary, the character that is supposed to act as Watson is actually a woman, Ms. Joan Watson.  The fact that Watson is a female changes the relationship between herself and Holmes.  Because Watson is female, there are questions regarding whether Watson and Holmes eventually end up in a heterosexual relationship with each other (but... you'll have to watch the series in order to find out!).

Extra Tidbit #1:  Joan Watson is a former surgeon who lost her medical license for malpractice when one of her patients died under her care, as alluded to in the second episode of the first season of Elementary.

Moreover, Elementary poses an interesting power dynamic between the two characters.  More specifically, in the first episode, Watson begins work as Holmes's "sober companion" in order to make sure that Holmes stays sober after leaving a drug rehabilitation center.  In this case, it is Watson's job to maintain some control over Holmes whereas, in the canon, Watson is definitely Holmes's sidekick.

Extra Tidbit #2:  Even though it is clear that Holmes deems women, other than the woman Irene Adler, of course, as inferior, Holmes does apologize to her multiple times throughout the first and second episodes.  His apologizes depicts that he does understand when he reaches past his role in the relationship.  For example, in the second episode of Elementary, Holmes apologizes for texting Watson's ex-boyfriend to meet for dinner one evening.

Furthermore, Holmes gives Watson more of a leading role in the cases that they solve together.  For example, in the second episode of Elementary, Holmes leaves Watson alone with a woman to ask about her romantic relationship after Holmes makes a scene, and Watson discovers necessary information for the case without Holmes.  It is interesting here because Holmes has allowed Watson to be "on his own" to an extent before in the canon in The Hound of the Baskervilles.


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Another adaptation that depicts an interesting dynamic between the two characters is in the BBC's Sherlock.  In this adaptation from the canon, the loyalty of Watson is deliberately shown.  For example, at the end of "A Study in Pink," Watson shoots and kills the murderous cabbie who was talking to people and making them choose which pill to take, a deadly one or a benign one.  And, the crazy thing is... it's the first episode of the first season when Watson does this!

The BBC's Sherlock highlights the risk-taking personality of the pair.  To get a quick glimpse of the intriguing relationship between Watson and Holmes, watch this video:  BBC's Sherlock - Benedict Cumberbatch on Holmes and Watson's Relationship.

Extra Tidbit #3:  Yes; it is true that Watson sees Holmes and his quick, almost-supernatural observation skills as "extraordinary" and "amazing," as stated in "A Study in Pink."  Yet, even though Watson is enamored by Holmes's intelligence in his craft, Holmes needs Watson in the same way that Watson needs Holmes - the thrill.  For Holmes, the want of the thrill is shown by his sheer excitement over a case.  For example, in "The Great Game" when he is solving cases against Professor Moriarty.  For Watson, the thrill is in helping and/or following Holmes throughout a case.  This want to find thrill was depicted front and center with his impatient waiting for Holmes to ask him with their first case in "A Study in Pink."

Just for fun:  Watch this video on the differences between the pair with regards to the two adaptations discussed, Elementary and the BBC's SherlockBBC's Sherlock v. Elementary - Holmes/Watson Relationship.



Word count:  495 words (excluding the title, extra tidbits, and works cited)


Works cited

“A Study in Pink.”  Sherlock.  BBC 2010-2016.
"Benedict Cumberbatch:  Sherlock and Watson - Sherlock - BBC One."  BBC, 3 Aug. 2010.  https://youtu.be/LcqnkZ_pN7Q.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. “A Study in Scarlet  Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume I.  Bantam Books, New York:  1986.  pp. 1-103.
"Pilot."  Elementary.  CBS 2013.
"Sherlock or Elementary.  Sherlock/Watson or Sherlock/Watson.  Which team are you on."  The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.  GreysALIASAntatomy, 22 Nov. 2013.
“The Great Game.”  Sherlock.  BBC 2010-2016.
"While You Were Sleeping."  Elementary.  CBS 2013.


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