Detective Fiction Assignment 4 Submitted by Ankit Bhansali(201001012)

Question 1
The episode starts with a scared boy running away from the forest where a man is seen struggling. The boy then encounters a big dog and screams in fear. This shows that the whatever he saw at the forest resembled with the dog or was some kind of an animal which we see later in the episode is called a hound. The viewers were never given a glimpse of the hound in the opening sequence the reason for which we find later that it never existed and was just the product of hallucination from a chemical. The scene sets up the tone for prodigious horror mystery to follow. After that we see a man (Henry Knight) standing in the moor surrounded by fog. At the end of the story we learn that hallucinatory sea of fog turned out to be at the root of the case and the cause for the visuals of the gigantic hound.Therefore the opening sequence was an amazing display which the viewers could relate to at the end. The complete opening sequence is constructed to give the viewers an idea of an horrific story to follow and also helps to maintain immense suspense throughout the episode. After this we see sherlock and watson at their homes. Here sherlock is shown to be desperately wanting a case and the mere delight on his face when he hears a door bell whom him and watson successfully deduce to be a client.This presents to viewers certain traits of the character and also how well watson has mingled into sherlock’s life. Unlike the Tv series the novel’s opening scenes place Sherlock Holmes in the comfortable surroundings of his home at 22IB Baker Street in London. : Dr. Watson starts the tale with a prime example of Sherlock Holmes methods by discovering what kind of client they have from a walking stick that the client had accidentally left behind. He then mocks Dr. Watson of being so obvious in his deductions and complaints that he missed almost everything of importance. The whole opening scene was a brief introduction to the great sherlock holmes who is methodical, intelligent, analytical and observant. He is also shown to have an healthy relationship with Dr. Watson. Then arrives Dr. James Mortimer and the sherlock realizes some of their deductions were a little wrong which was essential for the author to show to the audience that he is indeed human. Dr mortimer then told that he considered sherlock as the second best detective after Mon­sieur Bertillon who was more of a scientific man. But he came to sherlock because the he believes him to be more practical. This gives the viewers an idea that the story may violate the laws of science and involve some supernatural elements. It does not refer that sherlock may believe in supernatural beings but could be more wilder in his ideas to approach the case. Then mortimer recites the case and says that he himself on the day of the death of charles baskerville when he went to see the body, he saw the footprints of a “Gigantic Hound”. This sets the tone for the whole story to be an intense thriller.

It is evident that the opening scene of Tv episode is much more informative to the viewers who gets an idea of the story is all about. It is not the case in the novel where the author initially introduces the detective and impressive deductive skills assuring the readers that the crime will not go unsolved.

Question 2
As much as they behave differently, you could agree they are the same basic nature moulded by different social pressures. Sherlock in the Conan Doyle’s books is born in the 19th century whereas the one in the TV adaptation is a 21st century man. Major difference in the characteristics is a result of this generation gap otherwise they both possess amazing deduction skills, both stay away from romantic encounters and both are antisocial. There is plenty of warmth in Sherlock for Watson as there is sarcasm in both the novel and TV series.,Following are a few difference in the characterization of sherlock in the modern adaptation and the novel. From the opening introductions we conclude that the sherlock in the novel is calm and is patiently sitting in the chair discussing with watson whereas in the TV episode we see that sherlock is going mad about not getting a case and wants one immediately. There is a sense of urgency and impatience. He is shown to be edgy and maniac when he doesn’t find his cigarettes. In their attitudes, the two of them differ also : the first interpretation is a kind man who always welcomes his clients warmly, listen at them patiently and is more looking for the welfare of them. He doesn’t misbehave with the clients as you can see in this case that he welcomes Dr. Mortimer and doesn't respond much even when he thought the case was a little more superstitious to his liking. However, the second Sherlock is a rough man, completely selfish, quite show­off who doesn’t care much about the client but rather enjoys the mystery and wants to solve the case not for the client but for himself. He is rather more arrogant. He banishes the client when he quotes “Boring, Goodbye Mr henry” after hearing the case from the client. The sherlock from the novel accepts when he is wrong as we can see that a few of the deductions regarding their client Dr. Mortimer went wrong and when he heard them from the client itself he accepts it. But in case of TV episode he is rather adamant to accept his mistakes. When Dr, Watson said that “It’s not in the rules” he replied “Well Then the rules are wrong”. There is certain amount of deceivance shown by sherlock in the books when he sends watson alone and told him that he had some work to do. Later we learned that sherlock didn't want Watson to know of his presence. This is not the case in the TV episode. Both the characters in the TV adaptation and the book have lots of ego. It is evident from the book from the following quotes, “ Dr Mortimer : Recognizing, as I do, that you are the second highest expert in Europe ———‘ ‘Indeed, sir! May I inquire who has the honour to be the first?’ asked Holmes with some asperity. ‘To the man of precisely scientific mind the work of Mon­ sieur Bertillon must always appeal strongly.’

‘Then had you not better consult him? “ This kind of trait is not evident from this particular episode of the TV season but definitely from other episodes. The sherlock in the books is shown to be of protective nature. We have seen several times in the book when Watson went with Mr. Henry Baskerville , he constantly wished sherlock was there with him as if he felt comfortable around him. This is not evident in the TV episode.

Question 3
The TV episode of “The Hounds Of Baskerville” being a modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock is made in 21st century and therefore justifies immense use of technology. A gap of nearly 2 centuries definitely demanded changes. In the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes uses the technology of a well­crafted magnifying glass to assist with his deductions; it was the technology of choice for a first­rate detective in his era. In TV season, technology plays an even greater role. It assists Sherlock in his endeavors and it is also used in editing the show to give the viewers an even greater perspective into the classic detective’s mind. We can see sherlock constantly using his mobile phone and gadgets in the TV episode. He even has a chemical laboratory in his home i.e 221B baker street. One of the major evidence of the use of technology was Watson’s blog where people can read previous experiences of the Sherlock and Watson and can also seek help by just posting. We can see in the episode that Sherlock recites the case of a missing rabbit called bluebell posted by a little girl. Baskerville is introduced as a chemical and biological research center which is also home of secret experiments by the government involving genetic mutations, animals grown for the battlefield. Baskerville is shown to be a huge facility with all kinds of modern equipments.Conversations of human cloning between Watson and Mrs. Stapleton, Identification of the meaning of the acronym H.O.U.N.D through databases of the baskervilles all suggest towards the advancement in technology. Instead of the dark house alluding to the horror theme in the book, we have a modern day horror setting­ army research facilities, where all germs, epidemics are bred, and chemical/biological weapons of war are created. The Social and cultural context in the TV series is quite different from the novels for example Dr. james Mortimer arrives at holmes and reads the manuscript to present his case but in the TV episode Henry Knight shows Sherlock and Watson a Video made by Devon Tourism. There are many changes in characters in TV season as compared to the book. Mortimer’s role is played by a lady more to fit the role of a therapist, Dr.Frankland being the perpetrator instead of Mr. Stapleton. Use of mobile phones(TV series) instead of letters in the book is evident. Also Mr. Henry had a therapist for his problems which is kind of popular in the western world nowadays whereas it was not in the 19th century. A few other examples include the medium of transport i.e travel through cars instead of carts, Security arrangements at the Baskerville center, phrases like the “MIND PALACE” , the scene where Sherlock monitors a hallucinating Watson through cameras etc.