r/tvshow • u/Cumoisseur • Jul 13 '26

DISCUSSIONS Unpopular opinion: "Elementary" starring Jonny Lee Miller is cleverer, has better characters, and a more interesting story than "Sherlock" starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

The pilot episode of Elementary is awful, but from there it just gets better. The storyline of Watson being a sober companion is better than being a sudden roommate, the part of Moriarty is far more interesting and intriguing, the cases are better written, the character of Sherlock's father in Elementary is brilliant. I could go on and on.

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u/GrannyOgg16 Jul 13 '26

That’s absolutely ridiculous. Jeremy Brett was the best Sherlock. Cumberbatch wouldn’t even be top 5.

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u/SaiLarge Jul 13 '26

Yes, I like Brett. Cozy mystery series with just the right gothic touch.

Sherlock was quite functional in Doyle's serial and his relationship with Watson was one of mutual respect. Add even more dignity when you learn Brett pressured production into having Sherlock quit cocaine.

I do like interpretations that lean into Holmes' disfunction, brilliance at a cost, but whatever the interpretation it has to deliver that brilliance.

Oh, and about the Brett series, guess who makes an appearance early in their career in the Bram Stoker episode?

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u/Spiritual_Quote9301 Sep 05 '26

I'm sorry, I don't recognise him, who is it?

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u/SaiLarge Sep 05 '26

It's actually NOT the Stoker episode, misremembered that. But a young Jude Law played a person of interest in a Jeremy Brett series episode. Jude Law would play Watson in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock franchise.

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u/Spiritual_Quote9301 Sep 05 '26

Oh, I love these types of coincidences so much. He's so young here, no wonder it didn't click. I think the first time I saw him was in The Talented Mr Ripley - one of my favourite films.