Why Seeing Benedict Cumberbatch on Sherlock Is an Aesthetically Rewarding Experience

I quite enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock.

I only gave the series a try after one of my best friends who came to visit me from Ohio a few weeks ago encouraged me to do so. And since I tend to share similar aesthetics with my close friends, I figured I'd enjoy it. And I did.

One of the things I quite appreciate about friendhsip is that it saves one a lot of time when it comes to selecting the right form of entertainment. And I am painfully picky about the latter.  Friendship is a good enforcer of efficiency. Ok, but why am I engaging in a non sequitur already? I'm not even past the third paragraph!

Alright, let's look at the trailer first and see if it suits your fancy:



I get a lot of work done usually with a particular episode of Sherlock in the background. I create a lot of work strategies as Cumberbatch utters the great script. The episode is called Scandal in Belgravia and it has replaced my quotidian dose of Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys.

Aesthetically, this episode does something for me. I reckon I know what that is but it's far more interesting to talk about other things here. Like, the appeal of deduction. The big picture comes to light most beautifully in the end and the details are nicely delineated one by one as Sherlock deduces away.

By way of offering more context, Sherlock has a website called Science of Deduction and, funnily enough, the creators of the show have actually created a bona fide site that reflects what they mention in the series. Seriously, this series is so quirky it is bound to make one chuckle a few times. And Cumberbatch has some phenomenally gripping lines like: "Sherlock Holmes: Oh, enjoying the thrill of the chase is fine; creating the distraction of the game, I sympathize entirely but sentiment! Sentiment is a chemical defect found in the losing side," or "'You look taller in photographs.'" - "Take the precaution of a long coat and a short friend." Or my favorite: "stop boring me and think!"

This is a fun series. I'd recommend the second season over the first and the current third. Cumberbatch has an Asbergers-like delivery of lines that is quite something to watch. I didn't use to be a fan of his but after seeing him in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy I started to change my mind. I quite enjoy him now. And if you're looking for something fun and smartly written, give Scandal in Belgravia a try. It's available on Netflix as well as iTunes.

You might just keep revisiting it and use it as a background soundtrack too.

Harry: You look taller in your photographs.
Sherlock: Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend. - See more at: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/sherlock/series-two/a-scandal-in-belgravia/#sthash.8iyzCoYD.

Harry: You look taller in your photographs.
Sherlock: Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend. - See more at: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/sherlock/series-two/a-scandal-in-belgravia/#sthash.8iyzCoYD.dpuf

Harry: You look taller in your photographs.
Sherlock: Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend. - See more at: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/sherlock/series-two/a-scandal-in-belgravia/#sthash.8iyzCoYD.dpuf

Harry: You look taller in your photographs.
Sherlock: Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend. - See more at: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/sherlock/series-two/a-scandal-in-belgravia/#sthash.8iyzCoYD.dpuf

Harry: You look taller in your photographs.
Sherlock: Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend - See more at: http://www.planetclaire.org/quotes/sherlock/series-two/a-scandal-in-belgravia/#sthash.8iyzCoYD.dpuf

I'm Back: Why Absence and Presence Reflect Each Other

It took losing my site due to neglecting to renew it to really make me appreciate it. I did move it to another domain as well to preserve the multi-year content but still I knew I didn't have it here and it started to bother me. At first, I paid no attention as I was too busy and distracted to notice. But then, as it usually is the case, an idea or phrase would come at me and I'd want to write. And I'd think of the medieval background of the site and I'd feel what some would call melancholy.

And so I started on the quest to get what I want. It took a litany of emails and this and that and bing-bang-boom, the site's back.

We all seem to understand when someone says you don't know the value of something till it's gone.

So, here's to hanging on for a little longer. Still here.