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Does Sherlock Look Happy?

Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock looking serious and arrogant as someone

What do you mean my Christmas gift was also my birthday gift?

Ooh, you are in trouble now. People with late December and early January birthdays hate combined gifts! Trust me/ (I have a friend born on Christmas Day and you’d better make certain there are two gifts and one isn‘t wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper…)

For those who don’t know, Sherlock Holmes birthday has traditionally been listed as 6 January, 1854. The date of 6 January was never actually specified by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the canon, however, through a bit of specious logic, the Baker Street Irregulars members agreed upon the date and hold an annual party in celebration. As for the year, Sherlock Holmes centennial was celebrated in 1987, the year he first appeared in print, however in the story His Last Bow, set in August 1914, Sherlock is said to be 60-years old which would mean he was born in 1854. There’s a nice little piece about all of this in the New York Times, along with the argument that Sherlock’s birthday should be 2 December because that is Dr. Joseph Bell’s birthday (the actual man on whom Sherlock Holmes is based).

Personally, I like the 6 January because it is the 12th Day of Christmas known as Epiphany (celebrating the arrival of the Magi or Wise Men with their gifts for the 3-year old Jesus; which is why my family did not put out the Wise Men in the Nativity until 6 January). I like the idea that Sherlock was born on Epiphany which means a moment of sudden revelation or insight. So very Sherlock!

The Seattle Sherlock Holmes fans seem to agree with a gathering on the traditional 6 January and will be gathering this Sunday for celebration (and more than a bit of fun). I look forward to seeing some of you there.

I’d hoped to get something extraordinary done to post for Sherlock’s Birthday, but work is interfering so I may be running a bit late. Meanwhile, everyone should plan on celebrating one of the world’s most beloved fictional characters in an appropriate style (I will, however, eschew the often suggested 3 pipes of tobacco or 7% solution in favor of some bubbly (perhaps not a case) and some good reading and viewing.)

May your New Year be filled with Health, Happiness, Joy, Peace, Prosperity and Plenty of Sherlock Holmes!

I Think Sherlock Needs a Hankie And a Hug, John

Really, John, you should have checked with Mycroft to make certain he’d told Sherlock. You know how overprotective Mycroft is with Sherlock (barring CIA thugs who willing to shoot you and psychopathic dominatrices and consulting criminals).

Congratulations to Benedict Cumberbatch on his Golden globe nomination for Sherlock and the Coventry Telegraph has a nice piece on his role in Star Trek Into Darkness. But since I’m trying to stick with Sherlock Holmes and not get lost in the actors (there are plenty of Cumberbabes and Freeman/Gatiss/Graves/Moffat fans running sites for that), I’ll limit the amount of coverage I give to other projects.

And speaking of other projects, no I haven’t seen The Hobbit yet (but will as soon as I can schedule a trip to Victoria, B.C. or Seattle, WA), however, I have caught several interviews with Martin Freeman. Invariably everyone asks about Season 3 Sherlock and Mr. Freeman is still saying shooting starts in March, 2013. (I will now pause to do the Happy Dance.) There’s a lovely interview with him in the Irish Times discussing not only his casting as Bilbo Baggins, but the kinds of characters he plays including his take on Watson. It’s a very interesting insight into his perception of both Sherlock and John as alpha males (and probably something the shippers should read before writing submissive John fanfic). here’s an excerpt:

“I wanted Watson to have his respect and his dignity,” Freeman says. “But the congratulations I got were way and above the call of duty. I wasn’t prepared for people saying, almost immediately, that it was the best thing they’d ever seen on television. People really fucking said that.”
Cumberbatch’s Holmes is complex, worrying and mildly deranged. But the role would not work so well without Freeman’s complementary, introverted, unselfish performance as Watson. Everything about the man – his posture, his old-fashioned manners – speaks of the doctor’s time in the military.
“I was very keen on that side of it,” he says. “Basically, he would be the most dynamic person in the room if Sherlock wasn’t there. He is an alpha male who has sewn people up in Afghanistan. I watch a lot of fucking telly. And I like it when characters aren’t judged unfairly. People play characters as stooges and that’s not how it is.

On the “where is the…” front, I’m working on the Holmes Boys Christmas story (no, no, not that Christmas Story; there are no Red Rider rifles in this, although there are pirates). I’ve also got more antler-madness coming (and may even consider putting it all together as a slideshow/gif/something). I was suppose to have a video by now, but it may end up MIA due to excessive personal demands on High Functioning Sociopath’s holiday time. Oh, and here may be a site move to a new server before Sherlock’s Birthday. So basically, like everyone else, I’m overloaded, overcommitted, and working away like one of Santa’s eleves this holiday season (and a pox on whoever came up with the idea of a “Holiday Potluck” instead of catered business Christmas parties).

Sorry, Boys, All That’s Left Is the Double Suite

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes wrapped in a sheet sitting on a sofa with Martin Freeman as John Watson

Unfortunately, John and Sherlock waited too long to make their reservations and ended up having to share a double suite during the Seattle Sherlock Con.

I arrived at the Seattle Hill House B & B to discover JennyJo (TrickyBonMot) and Joanie (likkyan) already there working away. They reported that the B & B owner had said the entire place was filled with Sherlockians for Friday and Saturday. Huzzah!

So I type this as I sit watching Scandal in Bohemia with Jeremy Brett. Dead on my feet, but glad to be here.

Meanwhile, I’m very excited to hear about Benedict Cumberbatch playing Brian Epstein with McGuigan directing. I’m a huge Beatles fan and remember when Mr. Epstein was alive so I’m looking forward to seeing how they treat him.

Mr. Cumberbatch also doing voice work on the Friendly Fires indie album, but don’t work. No Ballad of Bilbo Baggins stuff here. He’s doing a spoken piece entitled Flat of Angels. The collection is due out on Tuesday 05 November, 2012.

Sherlock Cares About Hurricane Sandy Victims

Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock Holmes listening intently with a skeptical look on his face

What do you mean you what’s a Hurricane Sandy? What are you — a criminal, a drunk or an idiot?

Right. Sherlockian Diane Quintal suggested that the Sherlock Cares table at this coming weekend’s Seattle Sherlock Con have a donation can for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Since I’m extremely familiar with hurricane survival and the aftermath, and happen to have family in the afflicted area, I thought it was a brilliant idea. A big Thank You Shout Out, to Diane (aka Mooney). In addition, I want to encourage all Sherlock fans to make a contribution to either (or both) the Red Cross or the Humane Society (the closest thing to the UK’s Blue Cross). Links immediately below:

Red Cross Humane Society

In addition, I’ll be making those the designated charities for November (along with the usual suspect of Kids Need to Read).

Meanwhile, I’ll post some newsy updates later.

You’re Not the Only One, Molly Hooper

I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours, Molly. Sherlock, you’re not actually surprised, are you? She’s got a smashing one of you with your riding crop.

Okay, this is the last one. Honest. I’m bustling away getting ready for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and the Seattle Sherlock Convention (registration ends today, duckies). So I’ll keep this very brief. I think I’ve figured out how Sherlock hacks into John’s password protected computer thanks to this list here. [“Not exactly Fort Knox.” — Sherlock]

Technology Has Made Their Lives Better

Sherlock: “If I wanted to look at naked women I’d borrow John’s laptop.”

John: “You do borrow my laptop.”

Sherlock: “I confiscate it.”

Of course, good ol’ feminist Sherlock has to protect John from viewing all those naked women as sexual objects. [“Sarcasm.” “Yes.”] A Scandal in Belgravia gave us so many good lines — and a naked woman. But in all fairness it did also give us a naked Sherlock.

Look, I’m sorry, but this meme just got to me so you’ll have to put up with a few more this week.