Sherlock Crime Drama case study

SHOW: Sherlock

TV CRIME DRAMA: CASE STUDY

Production Details: Episode Name, Actors, Creator, Writer, Year, Channel etc BBC 1, Season 1 episode 1: “A Study In Pink” filmed in London and Cardiff year 2010, Director: Paul McGuigan, Written and created by: Steven Moffat, Actors: Sherlock played by Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Watson played by Martin Freeman.

Slow                      1              2              3             4             -> 5 <- Quick

Technology         1              2              3             4             ->5<-    Mind

Narrative             1              2              3             -> 4<-   5             Action

City                        -> 1<-    2              3             4             5             Rural

Stylish                   1              2              3             4             -> 5 <-                  Gritty

Sexy                       1             2              3             4             -> 5 <-   Ordinary

Extreme Crime 1              -> 2 <-   3             4             5             Petty Crime

Humorous           1              -> 2 <-   3             4             5             Sombre

Details of the Narrative (plot ,restrictive / omniscient, whodunit?, howdunnit? Resolution) Sherlock is about a man who is extremely intelligent and extraordinary, he uses his mind and no technology whatsoever to solve crimes and notices many things that others don’t which makes him different. Soon he finds out that there has been multiple crimes committed by a mass murderer and Sherlock  wants to solve it, this uses the whodunit technique. After a long investigation Sherlock discoveres really who all these murders are behind. He finds the physcopath eventually and soon he is involved with the dangerous human being. The ‘howdunnit’ technique is used and soon the murderer reveals to Sherlock when they meet that he offers two pills to his victims; - one pill that will kill you if consumed, and one that if you consume it won’t kill you and you’ll be fine. Meanwhile Dr Watson and investigators are trying to find out where Sherlock is as he sits down with the murderer to talk. The murderer offers the pills to Sherlock, persuading him to take whichever one he wants. He explains his technique to Sherlock and Sherlock finds out about the murderer’s lifestyle. Just at the second Sherlock picks up one of the pills and is about to take it, Dr Watson Jumps up behind the building and shoots the murderer through the window before Sherlock can take the pill.

Protagonists: Description (looks, personality), relationships Sherlock: ·         Self centred ·         Rude ·         Genius ·         Superior to police ·         He controls Dr Watson ·         Looks trendy – most girls would find him attractive ·         Prefers more baffling and interesting investigations ·         Selfish ·         Unfriendly ·         Quite cold ·         Humorous ·         Lacks in social grace ·         Mind like a racing engine ·         He needs problems to live, without them he’s bored and upset Dr Watson: ·         Brave ·         Practical ·         Resourseful ·         Army Doctor ·         Lives in the past, misses his past ·         Lost soul ·         Shattered by service in Afghanistan ·         Sharing flat with complete stranger (Sherlock) ·         Life changes completely ·         Sees world through Sherlock’s eyes (intelligent mind solution to everything) ·         Immortal friendship

Key CHARACTER indicators of Crime Drama: (Professions, right / wrong side of the law) Through episode of ‘A Study In Pink’ indicates Crime Drama through the characters of Sherlock and Dr Watson. There are many scenes where the press have been involved, and also the police. Also, Dr. Watson is Sherlock’s sidekick which is a typical indicator of crime drama. Also, when Sherlock discovers that the suitcase that was part of the dead woman’s death wasn’t anywhere near her, it builds up suspense and confusion and a lot of mystery which is a typical and often-used indicator used in crime drama. Aswell as that, even though there are many detectives and typical investigations of crime drama in this episode, Mrs Hudson isn’t a typical character of crime drama because  her personality doesn’t fit in with the typical genre of the crime drama aura.

Key VISUAL/AUDIO Indicators of Crime Drama (settings, montages, flashbacks, props, costumes, camera, music, dialogue) The setting of the series was in a city which makes it better to watch as it is more interesting as the audience are trying to figure things from the past in the series for example when Sherlock was on the back of the taxi he had a flashback of when he first saw Dr Watson and he explains how he could figure out everything. Also, the city vibe about it makes it more modern for us to watch and understand and relate to. Many other indications are used such as when the episode becomes more action-filled and the audience are being built up with suspense the scenes are fastened and the shots move a lot faster.  The camera was moving fast when Sherlock was in the urge of unravelling clues about the investigation and through out the whole series it went into a medium pace. The dialogue was when Sherlock was explaining about the woman who was laying face down on the floor. Also when Sherlock at the end met the killer and had a conversation with him he was trying to make him take the pull and they kept talking and having a conversation with him. A lot of montages were used as the episode at one stage flicks through different past scenes to show the audience what had previously happened to update us on the investigation a little more.

Key NARRATIVE Indicators of Crime Drama (motives, evidence, red-herrings, multiple suspects) The narrative indicators of crime drama are the evidence Sherlock finds out but he does not use high technology equipment he only uses his mind to figure things out. The evidence was when the suitcase splashes of water are on the back of the dead female’s legs which was from the suitcase which she was carrying which was a big give-away for Sherlock. There were multiple suspects which makes it an indicator of drama as in every crime drama the is usually a number of suspects which makes the audience engage and try to figure out who it is. Red-herrings in Sherlock is his brother when he turns up but he had nothing to do with the murder.

Key THEMATIC Indicators of Crime Drama (Cunning, technology, intelligence, justice, good vs evil, morals) Sherlock’s intelligence works very well in this episode because he uses his smart ways to win his way through investigations. Not much technology is used because Sherlock’s incredible intelligence is surely enough. This is a good indicator in crime drama that the more intelligence you have the better and faster you will be at discovering clues and finding out about the investigation.  Cunningness is used when the taxi driver doesn’t want to get caught. Also, justice is used when the murderer/taxi driver gets sents to prison justifying the fact that if you do bad things you will be sent to jail. This comes into morals. Also, I think one other moral as part of the episode I think was when Dr Watson jumped in and saved Sherlock from the murderer and shot him; - this shows the moral that you should always look after your friends. And the good vs. evil indicator was probably either Sherlock vs. the taxi driver or Sherlock and his brother who looks evil but really just wants to make sure Sherlock is OK because he is concerned.

Audience Pleasures: The audience pleasures are that Sherlock solves every problem in a  very interesting way which will make he audience think about how he did it. Most the problems are solved at home and it is very enjoyable even though most times the audience will be wrong on who the suspect is as they will find it hard to  realise because they make a lot of people seem as they are the suspect which makes the episode more interesting to watch as it builds you up with tension and suspense and then leaves you with surprise as your assumption on the murderer was wrong. Also, another indicator of an audience pleasure would probably be every time Sherlock discovers something new or at the very end where he is successful and Dr. Watson kills the dreaded murderer/taxi driver.