Korayma Arriaga Professor Lynda Haas Writing 37 2 March 2014 The Best Man Dont you ever wish

you could have someone there for you when you need them the most, someone who points out your flaws, corrects you, keeps you company, but more importantly helps you be the great person that you were born to be? The mystery genre involves a detective who uses logic to solve crimes along with a sidekick. Multiple conventions exist under this genre; for example there is a lead detective who solves the mystery, clues and evidence present at the crime scene, the police who jump to conclusions, and the most significant convention which appears in most of the mystery texts, the sidekick/ partner, since the birth of the mystery genre until present day representations of the genre. The job of the sidekick is to not only help the audience understand what occurs in the story line but also to aid the detective in any way they can even if it is a mistake that leads the detective right back onto the correct path. Through the sidekicks eyes the audience is able to follow the detectives actions and get the inside view of what occurs during their journey. Modern updates of Sherlock Holmes include, Elementary, Psych, House M.D., Sherlock Holmes movies, and Sherlock BBC, which all include a modernized sidekick, a Watson that cannot be forgotten. In the current British crime drama, Sherlock BBC, various updates have been made to both Sherlock and Watson, being that this show was filmed in modern day England, retelling Conan Doyles texts on Sherlock Holmes with eye-catching characters and scenes that are based on Doyles texts. In series three, episode

two: The Sign of Three directed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat was inspired by Conan Doyles novel, The Sign of Four and takes place in John and Marys wedding reception through flashbacks that Sherlock entertains the guests with. Sherlock BBC is a modern-day revision of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, updating genre conventions for its 21st century audience; in particular, the convention of Sherlock Holmes sidekick, John Watson, is an update of Conan Doyle's John Watson, from specific revisions such as a Watsons role in the text (the best friend), to the point where he becomes a hero.

Watson may have been updated in the modern text Sherlock, but never the less his character plays a similar role. In The Sign of the Four, after solving a mystery of an anonymous pearl donor to their client Mary Morstan, Watson informs Holmes that he fell in love with Mary and that he plans on getting married with her, in which Holmes responds the following I cannot congratulate youBut love is an emotional thing and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. (Doyle 112) Through this scene, Watsons character is observable, he is a romantic, the opposite of Holmes. In Sherlock BBCs The Sign of Three the directors reflected that similar loving character, but in an even more caring point of view, that even gets Sherlock to show emotion. This transcript by Callie Sullivan of the beginning of Sherlocks speech SHERLOCK (looking at them): John Watson. (He gestures towards John.) My friend, John Watson. (He looks down for a moment, then looks at John.) John. (John smiles at him. Sherlock turns to his audience again.) Sherlock: When John first broached the subject of being best man, I was confused represents the nerves Sherlock had while talking to the guests at the wedding about his best friend. Through Sherlocks word choice, repeating John 3 times to get even get started about talking about him shows how he was in

doubt, shocked about changing the way he actually thought, he was showing emotions, something that he had opted out from, but that was unavoidable now that he that he had been acknowledged by Watson, as best man and best friend. This is modernizes Holmes, but without Watson, Holmes would have not portrayed those emotions. Through the action of the camera, moving from Sherlock to Watson back and forth consistently as Sherlock gave his speech, the audience obtains the feeling that they are part of the guests and the emotion grows as the words one speaks reflects the action of the other.

In the modernized Sherlock series Watson is seen as a heroic figure. I will solve your murder. But John Watson will save your life.(Sherlock) The way Sherlock refers and expresses himself about Watson while his best man speech, by changing his mood, his voice softening, to even speaking slowly to be able to grasp every word that he states, reflects how Watson is truly significant in his life. Sherlocks speech for Watson in comparison to how he talks and directs himself as superior being to everyone else, rushing through everything trying to finish quickly, showing of his knowledge, but when describing Watson, the best friend he never expected to have, he takes his time something soothing and heart touching that the audience enjoys to watch, reflecting a more likeable character for the 21st century viewers. The omniscient point of view of the camera allows the audience to view how Sherlock looks at Watson for reassurance after he speaks, which reassures him and leads him back on track by simply mentioning telegrams when he is about to freeze in public. This POV shot between Sherlock and Watson allows the viewers to take the place of VIP guests in the room, allowing them to view how significant Watson is for Sherlock as well as to his efficiency in solving the cases.

As stated in Eastside Opinions, this PBS show Sherlock is an international renowned series of Sherlock Holmes, which became widely viewed and popular due to the addition of humor, emotion, and action from all of the characters, especially the sidekick, captivating most of the audiences interest. Watson, in this show is able to saves lives and even though he might not be able to solve a mystery, he becomes more involved in a case. From an omniscient point of view that the show is filmed in, the viewers are able to follow along both Sherlock and Watson on their journey to solving a case. Differently from the Conan Doyles novel, The Sign of Four, Watson becomes active, not having to narrate what he observes Sherlock do, but actually taking part and showing his usefulness as a doctor. This update was made to capture the audiences attention, so that Watson is not seen as an inferior being, but actually as someone significant who Sherlock would not be complete without to function completely without.

Without modernizing a text like Sherlock Holmes many would not know or be slightly interested in learning about this historical fictional character that changed the way crimes where solved. By creating an eye-captivating show that represents the original Sherlock Holmes, a greater audience is able to follow along this crime genre that has been widely read all over the world. Sherlock appeals a greater audience not only through the use of handsome characters like Benedict Cumberbatch, but also through the slight addition of emotion that is added. This emotional side of Sherlock that is revealed in The Sign of Three allows the show to fall under the modern view of life, in which love has to be portrayed in every show. In specific Watson was modernized to show that he was as helpful in a case as Sherlock, something that in Conan Doyles text was not shown all the time.

Works Cited Amaro, Keshav. "PBS Offers a Modernized Sherlock Holmes." Eastside-Online :. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Sign of Four. 1890. Books. 19 Feb. 2014 DeVere, Ariane, and Callie Sullivan. "Sherlock, Season 3, Episode 2 Transcript: The Sign of Three, Part 1." Sherlock, Season 3, Episode 2 Transcript: The Sign of Three. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. "I Am Sherlocked - Google+." I Am Sherlocked - Google+. N.p., 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.