Tag: Steven Moffat

Sherlock: The Sign of Three

Sherlock: The Sign of Three

by Stephen Thompson, Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss; dir. Colm McCarthy (BBC, 2014)

TV poster: “Sherlock: The Sign of Three” by Stephen Thompson, Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss; dir. Colm McCarthy (BBC, 2014)

Possibly the funniest of all Sherlock episodes, albeit skewed beyond the pale towards character development and adapting little of its plot from Conan Doyle’s stories. While Benedict Cumberbatch brings Sherlock’s misanthropy painfully centre-stage, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington are more humanly sublime.

Sherlock: His Last Vow

Sherlock: His Last Vow

by Steven Moffat; dir. Nick Hurran (BBC, 2014)

TV poster: Review of “Sherlock: His Last Vow” by Steven Moffat; dir. Nick Hurran (BBC, 2014)

Another inspired reworking of the source material. Lars Mikkelsen turns Magnussen into one of television’s more memorable one-off villains. Amanda Abbington employs consummate restraint in selling Mary’s character development, her inner turmoil matched only by Martin Freeman’s at his subtle, expressive best.

Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia

Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia

by Steven Moffat; dir. Paul McGuigan (BBC, 2012)

TV poster: Sherlock, Series 2

Sherlock finally hits its stride. The characters are more measured and Moffat delivers a complex, clever script encompassing subtle allusions (Mycroft’s alleged ‘power complex’), bold reworkings (Irene Adler as dominatrix) and overt, rumbustious outbreaks of comedy (most notably the ‘punch me’ scene!).

Sherlock: A Study in Pink

Sherlock: A Study in Pink

by Steven Moffat; dir. Paul McGuigan (BBC One, 2010)

Television poster: “Sherlock: A Study in Pink” by Steven Moffat; dir. Paul McGuigan (BBC One, 2010)

The 90-minute version is consciously more murky than the unbroadcast 60-minute pilot. It is also more complex, affectedly stylish, and scored to give an impression of big budget. This doesn’t actually make it better, but it’s the Sherlock people came to love.

Sherlock: A Study in Pink (Original Pilot)

Sherlock: A Study in Pink (Original Pilot)

by Steven Moffat; dir. Coky Giedroyc (Unbroadcast, 2009)

Television poster: “Sherlock: A Study in Pink (Original Pilot)” by Steven Moffat; dir. Coky Giedroyc (Unbroadcast, 2009)

The original 60-minute Sherlock pilot supposedly was considered a ‘potential disaster’. In fact it serves perfectly well to introduce Moffat’s new Holmes interpretation. It’s easy to imagine a parallel universe where Sherlock thrived in this shorter, more straightforward (though still innovative) format.

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

by Steven Moffat; dir. Toby Haynes (BBC, 2010)

DVD cover: Doctor Who - A Christmas Carol

A successful transplanting of Dickens’s novella into the Doctor Who universe, using science fiction to clever effect and adding a twist to the tale. Moffat captures both the Doctor’s exuberant childlike aspect and the seriousness beneath. Matt Smith is in top form.

 

 

The Day of the Doctor

The Day of the Doctor

by Steven Moffat; dir. Nick Hurran (BBC, 2013)

Doctor Who_Day of the Doctor

Like many of Moffat’s ‘big’ scripts, this has a rushed, scattershot feel—not from poor conceptualisation but from trying to cram too much into too little space. That said, there are plenty of nice moments. The interaction amongst Doctors is perfectly pitched.

 

 

Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time

Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time

by Steven Moffat; dir. Rachel Talalay (BBC, 2017)

Doctor Who_Twice Upon a Time

The Christmas special has some touching performances (Mark Gatiss) and ends on a high with Jodie Whittaker’s first scene, yet for the most part spends too much time prepping the audience for the handover and trying—quite shamelessly—to manipulate our emotions.