Sherlock Series 1 Episode 1: A Study in Pink
In narrative, everything that happens leads to something else and this is evident in Sherlock series 1 episode 1. The three murders that happened prior to the episode lead to the rest of the events of the episode as Sherlock and Watson try to solve the mystery. These events lead to further events like Sherlock figuring out who the murder is, Sherlock's near death experience and the murderer being shot by Watson. Another event that happens leading to latter events is Watson's PTSD and injury in war. This lead him to start a new life and therefore caused him to meet Sherlock and move in with him and become his assistant and friend.
There are also various events that happened in a different time space to the one we are shown. Firstly, Watson's flashback dream at the very beginning on the episode. This is when we are first introduced to the character and it's hinted that Watson used to be involved in the military and has PTSD which we later know for sure due to him talking about his experiences in therapy and to Sherlock. His military experience is actually very crucial in this episode as when he shoots the murderer he remains very calm and knows what he is doing. Another event that happens during the episode outside of the time space is the flashbacks of before the murders and what the victims were doing. This makes the audience feel even more sympathetic and creates suspense as the audience knows their fates.
Most narratives follow a 3 act structure. This is where Act 1 is the set up of the narrative or normality, Act 2 is when a confrontation or disruption is introduced and Act 3 is when there is a resolution of conflict or restoration of normality. Sherlock series 2 episode 1 follows this narrative construction. In act one, the narrative is set up: We are introduced to the characters, their backstories and the location with the police investigating 3 supposed 'suicides' and Watson and Sherlock first meeting. In Act 2 we are introduced to some disruption when Sherlock realises they were actually murders and him and
Watson set out to find the killer. In act 3, there is a resolution of conflict as Sherlock finds the killer and escapes his own death with help from Watson. Some may also argue that the new normality is actually better than the original as Watson now has stability as he has somewhere to live and has a new friend.
Sherlock Series 1 Episode 3: The Great Game
Sherlock and Watson are still living and working together as private detectives but Sherlock is bored as he hasn't had any cases to solve in a while. His brother urges him to solve the mystery of a secret intelligence service clerk Mr West and the disappearance of a memory stick containing missile plans. Whilst Sherlock debates getting involved in this case with encouragement from Watson, he receives various phone calls from victims urging him to solve a riddle and gives him a time frame to do so that matches the victims from a study in pink. He also finds a trainer who he traces back to belonging to a schoolboy who drowned in the eighties and manages to realise the boy was poisoned and solve the
riddle on the phone calls. Sherlock continues to get these calls and manages to solve them all meeting some interesting people along the way. Sherlock then decides to try and solve the death of West and realises it was West's Brother-in-law who did it by accident in an argument and now has a hold of the memory stick which he chucks in the pool. The episode ends on a cliff hanger where Sherlock looks like he is about to shoot an explosive device that was previously attached to Watson by the murderer.
In Sherlock there are several main characters. Sherlock Holmes is the main character in which the series is based around. He is a male private detective around the age of thirty. He is a very out of the norm character and his approach to solving mysteries is very extreme which gets him in some very dangerous situations making him a dramatic device for tension and suspense. He is very passionate about solving mysteries, highly intelligent and very observant which allows him to read people well. His sidekick John Watson is also a key character in the plot. Watson is a male, assistant private detective in his early
to mid forties. He assists Sherlock in solving mysteries but is very more grounded about his approach so makes Sherlock's approaches seem a lot more extreme. Another persistent character in the plot is Mrs Hudson. She is Sherlock and Watson's landlady. She is a female in her early sixties and is a huge contrast to the main characters Sherlock and Watson. She is very strict but also emotional so contrasts and really emphasises their craziness and passion.
This episode fits the theme of an action mystery series and there is lots of action throughout the plot and the entire concept of the narrative is based around solving mysteries.
Again, this episode follows a 3 act structure. In act 1, we are introduced to the mystery that needs solving and the characters involved but equilibrium still seems to be kept. Act 2 Sherlock and Watson decide to investigate and find new evidence whilst also receiving some disturbing phone calls. Act 3 they find the murderer but due to the episode ending on a cliff hanger no equilibrium is restored. The episode brings in the same victims from a study in pink therefore showcasing a different narrative
strand. Sherlock and Watson solve the main mystery in this episode but a new multi-series stand is added when the episode ends on a cliff hanger therefore making the episode carry over into the next series.
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