Sherlock Season 2 - DVD

Content: Series creator Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss enjoyed great success in the summer of 2010 with his original reimagining of the stories surrounding master detective Sherlock Holmes. When, after the end of the three television films comprising the first season (<link cinema s film sherlock-staffel-1-dvd-grossbritannien-2011.html _blank>all information on the first episodes can be found HERE) was announced that there will also be a second season, the joy among fans was great. The fact that they would have to wait until spring 2012 for the next three cases of Sherlock was a real test of patience, but after the airing of the first new episode it was clear that the wait was definitely worth it. The three new films were extremely well received by fans and critics alike. Now the German fans can also enjoy the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes, magnificently portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman), which once again offer TV entertainment at a very high level.

A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA

The first episode of the new season follows on directly from the cliffhanger of the last episode, resolving it somewhat disappointingly at first. But there is hardly time for long faces, because just a few minutes later, the series presents itself again from its best side:

After Sherlock after his confrontation with Moriarty (Andrew Scott) struggles with all sorts of boring cases, he finally gets an assignment that once again really challenges his famous powers of deduction. From on high, Sherlock is asked to obtain compromising photographs, featuring a member of royalty, of the noble dominatrix Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), known only as the Wife. However, although he quickly manages to gain access to Irene's home, his very first encounter with the woman leads him to discover that it seems he can't always rely on his legendary senses after all.

This episode thrives on the tingling chemistry between Sherlock and Irene Adler. Lara Pulver plays the mysterious beauty with a highly dosed mixture of eroticism and elegance, so that as a viewer you can on the one hand understand why she can confuse a man like Sherlock in such a way, but on the other hand you also see in her an adversary to be taken seriously.

Furthermore, this episode again has numerous allusions to various Sherlock Holmes stories to offer, with probably the most amusing referring to the legendary Deerstalker cap, a trademark mark of the master detective. An exciting as well as amusing and extremely cleverly crafted episode that makes it clear why Sherlock is one of the best the current TV landscape currently has to offer.

DIE HUNDE VON BASKERVILLE

As with season 1, the second episode is a bit of a letdown in terms of quality. While this episode, based on arguably the most famous of all Holmes stories, also has extremely high entertainment value to offer, in direct comparison to the other two films, the story, in which Sherlock and Holmes deal with secret government experiments, doesn't perform quite as convincingly. Somehow, a trauma that wealthy Henry Knight (Russel Tovy, one of the leads from Being Human, which is unfortunately still almost completely unknown in this country) has been carrying around since childhood seems to be directly related to secret experiments at the Baskerville facility. Of course, Sherlock doesn't believe that giant monster dogs actually exist, as Henry stiffly claims. But when he also believes he sees a fearsome creature after a visit to the military facility, Holmes seriously questions his powers of deduction. Only for a moment, of course.

Skillfully, set pieces from the classic Holmes story are modernized and intertwined with numerous allusions to other stories to create an entertaining mystery-thriller. Very amusing, for instance, is how the light signs Watson discovers on the moor are explained in this variation of the story. Even if The Hounds of Baskerville is the weakest case of the second season, first-class entertainment and some quite great moments this episode has to offer as well.

THE REICHENBACH CASE

The third case is undoubtedly the highlight of the season. After a real bang before the opening credits, when Watson tells his therapist that Holmes is dead, the plot jumps back to the moment when Jim Moriarty returns with a masterful coup. For he manages to break into the Bank of England and a maximum security prison at the same time, and steal the Crown Jewels in the Tower at the same moment. Although the ingenious criminal is immediately apprehended by the police and his guilt is all too obvious, he is acquitted at his trial. For Moriarty, this is only the prelude to his ultimate strike against Holmes, which he intends to use to destroy not only the detective's reputation, but his life.

Great actors, stories perfectly transposed to the present day, a balance of humor and suspense, and wonderful dialogue make Sherlock a must-see for all who appreciate cleverly constructed TV entertainment of the highest order. Fans of the classic Sherlock Holmes will have great fun discovering the countless allusions to the literary model and its numerous film adaptations. And those who have not yet or hardly dealt with the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, get here the opportunity to get to know one of the greatest detectives in the history of entertainment in a very wonderful way. The only negative thing is that fans will have to wait a long time for a sequel, as filming for new episodes can't begin until spring 2013 at the earliest. But as they say, good things come to those who wait... and Sherlock is a damn good thing!

Image + Sound: As with season 1, the technical realization of the three new cases of Sherlock is on a very good level: the image is clean, the overall sharpness is on a good to very good level and the rather decent color scheme perfectly captures the atmosphere of the series. The good Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is primarily dominated by the dialogue and soundtrack, but some well-used sound effects and atmospheric ambient noises keep the surrounds moving nicely. Good.

Extras: In addition to two audio commentaries on the first DVD, which are very much worth listening to, the second disc still has a nearly 30-minute making of to offer. In addition, the DVD also comes with a detailed booklet, which, in addition to episode descriptions, also introduces the characters and their actors and also recaps what happened in the first season. Good!

Conclusion: Sherlock was already a very positive surprise in the television landscape in the first season. The three movies from season 2 take it up a notch in terms of quality. Especially EIN SKANDAL IN BELGRAVIA and DER REICHENBACHFALL are visually, acting and dramaturgically entertainment on a very high level. The DVDs of the second season are technically well made, the bonus material is limited, but well worth seeing, hearing and reading! Therefore applies to the new cases of Sherlock: absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp