Study in Pink was always going to be a hard act to follow, and in some ways this will always be the poor relation to the dynamic, pulse racing opener, but on the whole I think there is still real quality here.
The first one was big and bold, and of course introduced us to the main players, here the scene is already set, so by default we get a mystery that's a little cosy, perhaps a little smaller. Cosy might be unkind as it features some complex notions, it's still energetic, particularly towards the ends, and it's certainly visually impressive, with superb production values.
Cumberbatch continues to impress, his delivery so underplayed. Gemma Chan impressed me hugely here too.
I found it a little slow to start, but once it gets going it's enjoyable. The ending didn't feel like Holmes in the form of Jeremy Brett, but it certainly could have been in one of Basil Rathbone's movies.
Enjoyed it, 8/10
The first one was big and bold, and of course introduced us to the main players, here the scene is already set, so by default we get a mystery that's a little cosy, perhaps a little smaller. Cosy might be unkind as it features some complex notions, it's still energetic, particularly towards the ends, and it's certainly visually impressive, with superb production values.
Cumberbatch continues to impress, his delivery so underplayed. Gemma Chan impressed me hugely here too.
I found it a little slow to start, but once it gets going it's enjoyable. The ending didn't feel like Holmes in the form of Jeremy Brett, but it certainly could have been in one of Basil Rathbone's movies.
Enjoyed it, 8/10