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storytellingdreamer · 2 years ago

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Watching Granada Holmes: On David Burke as Dr Watson

Okay so before I watch the next Granada episode, Empty House, I need to say goodbye to David Burke as Dr John Watson. David Burke couldn’t continue with Granada’s adaptation after FINA due to scheduling conflicts, which led to him helping them find his replacement, Edward Hardwicke.

This post is me processing that in the hope that I can learn to love Edward Hardwicke as Watson without feeling too disappointed he’s not David Burke.

You see, going into Granada Holmes, I’d already been informed that Jeremy Brett is the Sherlock Holmes. This is definitely true. However, at this moment, all I can say that for me, David Burke will be the Dr John Watson.

My tag for David Burke is “he smiles with his whole face”. Right from the start, his expressiveness intrigued me, and made it very easy to feel like I was part of the story. His openness invited me as the audience in. It also doesn’t hurt that he has a very fine voice - I’ve memorised the way he says “Holmes” and other words like “black moods”. They’re very fun to say in his accent!

Watching the Granada Holmes series has felt very personal. For starters, watching TV shows or movies are always immersive experiences for me, due to the way my brain processes information. I get “sucked in” to the story very easily - it feels like I’m another character, almost, observing. It’s also hard because I’m having to process the audio-visual information, the language, the social information, the emotional contexts - and anything they trigger in me from past experiences - all at once.

Granada Holmes is a very safe way to do that, because most of the time, the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end, and the client of the week has resolution, and perhaps catharsis.

It also feels very safe because Holmes and Watson guide me through it. I’ll say more about Jeremy Brett at the end of my entire watch through, but for David Burke, my “oh, you’re my Watson” journey really took flight with the end of Solitary Cyclist.

See, the thing about David Burke’s Watson isn’t just that he’s very expressive. He’s very reassuring. Steady and dependable, but also openly delighted in Holmes’s brilliance. A perfect foil for the audience.

He’s the one who instinctively knows how to handle clients (see: any Woman in Need episode), and takes care of Holmes almost before Holmes knows he needs it (see: Norwood Builder) - and when he’s protecting you/ the client, by goodness do you feel it.

You’ll recall that I had plenty to say about Solitary Cyclist, so much so that I wrote two posts for it. One about the episode recap, and another, which I wrote first, of my feelings about the episode’s context. Look, the Woman In Need episodes always strike a little close to home for me for various reasons. And after my first experience of that in Solitary Cyclist, one of the things that comforted me after was remembering, well, this moment:

[Image description: Watson holds the drugged Violet Smith to him protectively with one hand while holding his gun with the other, a very serious look on his face. /end image description.]

Followed by this one:

Watson: “You may call that love. I call it selfishness.”

[Image description: Holmes and Watson sit side-by-side, staring in disgust at one of the baddies of the story. /end image description.]

In the first scene, Watson was Violet Smith’s physical protector at a time when she couldn’t defend herself. His words afterward, a delightful castigation of the villain. As a woman, hearing someone say those things (and keep saying them in other episodes), whether to the perpetrator as a scold, to the client/ victim in comfort, or to Holmes about how very serious the situation is, has been good.

It helps that Burke’s Watson also has this “softness with a core of steel” energy. The sort of energy that makes one think, if I was in trouble, I would very much like to have Burke’s Watson protect me and tell me it wasn’t my fault and such (while Brett’s Holmes solved the problem that had trapped me in the first place).

Basically, I would very much like to be their friend. Or their honourary relation (which is what they are to the Women In Need).

We see the Sherlock Holmes stories through Watson’s eyes, as he is the Narrator. (A fact brought home by Granada’s adaptation of The Final Problem.) Having David Burke in the role has been very comforting - and fun. We experience his emotions with him, and I have deeply enjoyed it.

#david burke #david burke smiles with his whole face #granada holmes #watching granada holmes #storyteller’s thoughts

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storytellingdreamer · 2 years ago

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Watching Granada Holmes: The Six Napoleons

Image description: Holmes and Lestrade shake hands at the inner door of 221b. / end image description.

A bit late with the recap this week - I think my recap days will most likely move to weekends from now until the finish. My schedule has become fuller, and I’m also writing more for Seize the Light (Star Wars Episode VIII rewrite, for those unaware).

This one was a fun case in some aspects, though the xenophobic treatment of Italians (apparently, according to PlaidAdder, it’s worse in some ways than the original canon!) was a bit much.

I’m filing this under “Case for Someone Holmes Knows”, given that Lestrade is the one coming to tell Holmes and Watson about it. Let’s begin.

The very first scene is... cringey, and irritating, and demeaning because it plays on stereotypes. The rest of the intro is interesting mostly because the dialogue is all in Italian without subtitles; you have to rely on the intrigue of the acting. Given it’s a long intro, I think this choice worked. Though it’s still cringey. That pattern continues for the rest of the episode whenever the Italians appear by themselves, so I’m skipping those scenes.

After the title credits, we open at the lounge room of 221b.

A lovely cozy scene, with the gentle music from the episode soundtrack, the fire crackling, Holmes reading the paper, and Watson with drink and cigar in hand.

But what’s this? They have a guest - Lestrade!

This scene sets the tone for the episode. Lestrade looks as if he’s come over for a relaxing evening, not case talk (cigar in hand, relaxed sprawl against the couch). He even tries to say he has “nothing... in particular” on (no cases) - only for Holmes to say, with a knowing smile, “tell us about it”. As Watson chuckles, Lestrade then admits (with a smile of his own), “Well, now you mention it...”

The atmosphere is very congenial, as if they’re all old friends - though it switches to “old colleagues” once Lestrade begins his tale of course. This is interesting given Lestrade’s previous appearances.

In Norwood Builder, he was an Antagonist of sorts. In Empty House, he was Watson’s Colleague and awkward acquaintance. In Second Stain, he was both hindrance and help.

In this episode, he’s the Apprentice - following along in Holmes and Watson’s heels. Sometimes he and Watson get to have a Moment, and other times Watson is shown to be ahead of him - or helped to be ahead by Holmes.

There are some delightful Holmes/ Watson scenes in this episode, too. For example, the scene after the opening, when a young, uniformed (and very eager) note-runner rushes to deliver a note from Lestrade to 221b.

It is Watson who receives the note, so it is Watson who tells Holmes who the note is from, and deduces why it was written.

And for once, it’s Watson who tells Holmes arrangements are already made and they’re leaving shortly: “Finish your coffee, there’s a cab at the door. Two minutes!”

Watson is quite pleased that he has the opportunity for this bit of role reversal, and Holmes seems amused by it also. Another “known each other forever” moment.

Other scenes include:

Holmes’s little smug moment to Watson about his gambit with the press having paid off - note Watson’s look of rueful tolerance as he says, “Very cunning, Holmes”.

That much gif’d scene of Holmes spying Lestrade peering at his papers and calling Watson over silently to show him.

Finally, a bit near the end of the episode where Holmes is explaining himself, and Watson begins to ask a question. Holmes gives him an answer of only two words - a name - and Watson instantly understands.

Now, onto Lestrade’s Apprenticeship. Prominent scenes include visiting the scene where the latest bust was smashed, visiting the morgue, the stakeout scene, and several scenes in 221b. Culminating, of course, in the best one of the lot.

Let’s start with the visit to the bust-smashing spot.

Lestrade, the junior apprentice, asks questions.

Holmes answers the first (which was a direct query for his opinion on matters) then walks ahead, leaving Watson to field the rest.

Watson does so quite well - and then gets stuck.

He glances at Holmes, who - rather than taking over - gives him a hint by gesturing with his walking stick out of Lestrade’s direct sight.

Watson is then able to answer, though is completely stumped again shortly and must verbally ask Holmes for help.

To which Holmes only says, “Remember it for later” (paraphrased).

I.e. “not enough evidence to answer it yet.” A neat insight into Holmes’s thought processes.

Then Holmes can’t help but be dramatic a moment later, when he announces their next destination: the morgue.

(Here, Holmes takes a moment to ponder “the one mystery not even [he] can solve: death itself” - which... is this a story quote or what???)

Anyway. The other pattern continues after that.

Lestrade and Watson talk between themselves again, before Watson notices a potential clue (photograph isn’t whole) and passes it to Holmes.

Holmes then examines the body closely - perhaps comparing it to the photograph?

Lestrade thinks aloud about the next steps and is disappointed when Holmes at first does not react - he has to prod him with a direct question. A sign in itself that Holmes is concentrating on other lines of thought.

This part of the scene gives off Autistic Holmes vibes to me.

They prepare to split off for a while, with Holmes and Watson following one line of inquiry while Lestrade follows another.

Holmes encourages Lestrade on this - after all, if they each follow separate avenues, they can “return and compare notes”.

Another apprentice moment for Lestrade, or so it seems to me. Though Holmes is not so accommodating as to share the photograph.

Note Watson’s little commiserating head tilt and smile before they head off!

And when they’ve gone, Lestrade leans over to study the body, trying to see what Holmes did.

They reconvene in 221b.

Everyone is playing the information game.

Holmes pretends not to care too much about his day’s work, summarising it vaguely.

Lestrade feels smug about his day’s work, and gets to glow in Watson’s encouragement for a moment, before Holmes becomes impatient.

For it’s going to be a long evening - so, Holmes suggests, how about a nap, once we’ve arranged the particulars?

Lestrade is Unamused, at first, with another perplexed glance at Watson, who only nods (it amuses me we can’t see Watson’s expression here).

Our next Team Scene starts with Holmes in his shirtsleeves, flinging papers around.

At least he’s only confining it to one of the smaller rooms, I guess - less work for Mrs Hudson!

The reason for that, of course, is that Lestrade and Watson are napping in the main room.

Until Holmes wakes them up, coats and hats in hand.

Lestrade is particularly tired, it seems, causing Holmes to tease: “Watson, I think you’ve been over-generous with the port!”

Lestrade grumbles: “You’ve been frugal enough with your information...”

You’d think Lestrade would be used to stakeouts, being a police detective - but he seems rather a novice.

Fortunately, their man soon arrives, running across the lawn. The three follow discreetly, leading to several lovely images.

One is the shot of them all peering cautiously over the hedge - Holmes, Lestrade, Watson, in a row.

The other is the one of them peering around a corner together.

But, though they apprehend their man, and Holmes has a delightful exchange with the owner of the house (that finger to the hat brim in acknowledgement!) it’s not over yet.

It’s back to 221b the next morning for the final denouement, leading to the scene that tops them all.

It begins with Lestrade explaining his own theories, rather smugly... only to find that Holmes is Not Listening so intently that Watson must resort to calling for Holmes’s attention on Lestrade’s behalf.

again... Autistic Holmes vibes.

And then the knock at the door, with Holmes adopting a pose - leaning against the mantel - so he can swirl around with quite the dramatic flair when their guest asks if he’s here.

The final bust is delivered and paid for handsomely, the guest ushered to the door, and Holmes turns around with a particular look towards Watson and Lestrade. They just blink back at him because they haven’t caught on yet.

So Holmes of course shows them, in quite the dramatic fashion.

He sweeps the tablecloth off one table (while not disturbing the tea things!), places it on another, and sets everything else up with plenty of flair. All the while with Watson and Lestrade looking on in befuddlement, and sharing confused looks.

Holmes: “Now gentlemen if you would give me your undivided attention...” *brings his walking stick down on the bust with a satisfying thwack-smash.* Then digs through the pieces of the bust to find... “the famous black pearl of the Borgias.”

This dramatic bit of theatre causes Watson and Lestrade to gasp and then clap - Watson even says, “Bravo!”

They pass the pearl from hand to hand in excitement, with Lestrade filling us in on why it’s just so important.

Then Holmes takes the pearl back so he can hide it reveal how he knew it would be in the bust.

(This is another “precious stone” story, so of course Holmes is the one who apparently keeps the thing.)

It’s quite an excellent tale this time, and puts together all the separate parts of the mystery - including bits we didn’t know were connected - together.

Watson is naturally impressed... and so is Lestrade.

“I’ve seen you handle many cases in my time, but I don’t know if I knew of a more workmanlike one than this.”

Holmes is abashed but pleased - offering a little smile with quick glance, then looking away again.

But Lestrade isn’t finished.

“We’re not jealous of you, you know, at Scotland Yard. No, sir, we’re proud of you.”

And Holmes freezes.

Stunned, and - as Lestrade continues speaking - overcome. You can see the emotion on his face, especially his eyes.

Once Lestrade has finished, Holmes says, “Thank you,” twice.

The first is loud, and trying to cover up just how touched he is.

The second, only said after he’s taken the briefest pause to swallow back tears, is much softer, rougher, and very heartfelt.

Oh my god. Just - Jeremy Brett, you marvel! All of that emotion conveyed so thoroughly in just a few microexpressions and tone of voice! Making me feel things, how dare.

After that display, with Lestrade still watching him, Holmes abruptly asks Watson to fetch another case’s files (for an excuse), and shows Lestrade the door. Hurrying him out before Lestrade could continue looking (too) closely and perhaps see more than Holmes intended.

At the door, however, Holmes stops Lestrade and, after saying a little something that basically amounts to the sentiment of, “um, thanks, if you have any more problems, I’m always happy to help”. And then he holds out his hand for Lestrade to shake.

Holmes does not shake hands with just anyone. He’s usually happy with a nod. We’ve had several instances with other characters where they’ve offered a handshake and Holmes has refused it. Now, after Lestrade’s appreciative words (which included mention of the Yarders shaking his hand in praise), he offers Lestrade his hand.

Idk if I’m making too much of this, I can’t check the earlier Lestrade episodes atm to see if it’s the first handshake they’ve had... but the fact that Holmes offered it seems significant, especially coming after the moment just before.

We leave them there, with Holmes releasing his feelings by playing the violin (Granada theme tune <3) and giving Watson his own private concert.

Image description: Watson sits in a lounge chair in 221b, his back to the audience as he watches Holmes, who is in front of the window playing violin, facing the street below. / end image description.

#granada holmes #watching granada holmes #the six napoleons #jeremy brett is the perfect sherlock holmes #sherlock holmes #john watson #inspector lestrade #jeremy brett #edward hardwicke #colin jeavons

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