By Dean Robbins
‘Masterpiece Mystery’ gives the detective a modern makeover
It’s hard to get excited about yet another screen version of Sherlock Holmes, but “Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock” (Sunday, 8 p.m., PBS) gives the old detective a shot of life. The series is set in present-day London, with Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman) a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He reacts with astonishment when he meets Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), as do we. This is not the fussy, reserved sleuth we remember from the Basil Rathbone movies, but a manic contemporary character, driven to fast-talking fits of deduction by a computer brain always switched to “on.” He’s so far ahead of mere mortals — including the viewing audience — that it becomes funny.
“Dear God, what is it like in your funny little brains?” he asks the befuddled police detectives. “It must be so boring.”
Cumberbatch works miracles as Holmes. He’s at once formidable and silly, sexy and creepy. He has fun with the role while also giving Holmes intensity. Indeed, the police believe he’s a psychopath. “Stay away from Sherlock Holmes,” a detective counsels Watson.
He doesn’t heed her advice, and neither should you.
‘Terriers’
Wednesday, 9 p.m. (FX)
This private investigator drama is easy to overlook in the crush of noisy new fall shows. “Terriers” is the opposite of noisy, even though it deals with heavy subject matter. Ex-cop Hank (Donal Logue) and partner Britt (Michael Raymond-Jones) work their way through cases involving prostitutes, amnesia victims and missing persons while also attending to their messy private lives.
But don’t expect the usual kiss-kiss-bang-bang. “Terriers” dispenses with cop-show clichés in favor of authentic characters and hard-earned emotion. Hank and Britt are believably small-time and down on their luck, with only their terrier-like tenacity to keep them going. Their exchanges are effortlessly smart, funny and tender — so effortless that you might not even notice the skill involved.
Actually, you haven’t noticed. “Terriers” has fared badly in the ratings so far. Here’s hoping FX shows terrier-like tenacity itself and keeps the show alive. CV
