Many don't appreciate this series, as its temporal location is present day. However Sherlock: The Hounds of Baskerville (Dir. Paul McGuigan, Writ. Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss, 8.1.2012) was a refreshing modern take on the classic Hound of the Baskervilles case written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Baskerville, in this episode of Sherlock, is a military research centre, focused on creating biological weaponry, in the heart of Dartmoor. An interesting present day story, written by Gatiss and Moffat, is not the only highlight of this episode however. It is a fresh change for the show to finally take the leap out of its urban setting, within London, to the open country and dense woodland of Dartmoor. In the original story by Doyle, Watson is the protagonist and Holmes features very little in the story, let alone in Dartmoor, until the climax. Therefore this episode, again, breaks away from the original plot, having both characters on screen evenly for a more enjoyable viewing experience. Russell Tovey was an excellent guest star for The Hounds of Baskerville. His acting ability is phenomenal as he plays the frightened and psychologically unsound character of Henry Knight. Sherlock already contains the strong acting skills of Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss; and so the inclusion of popular British actor Tovey seemed the next logical step for a BBC show of this stature. The characters of Watson and Holmes are strengthened throughout this episode, as they take a journey where Sherlock questions his understanding of reality, causing John to examine aspects of the case alone. The audience is thus provided with a greater understanding of the characters of Holmes and Watson as individuals, as well as of the strong partnership these two characters create. One feature that stood out most of all in The Hounds of Baskerville was the use of special effects. Without attempting to reveal any major plot spoilers, the hound is a CG creation. I believe this is the first use of special effects in Sherlock and it looks reasonable, considering it probably has minimal funding. Through strong acting, realistic effects and a new twist on an old story, The Hounds of Baskerville was a strong episode for the growing roster presented by Sherlock. The ending of this episode leaves anyone watching it wanting episode 3, Sherlock: The Reichenbach Fall.
Review of The Hounds of Baskerville
