This is so wonderful!  I am crying.  

Here is a video of Benedict reading one of the letters to Bessie:

https://www.nowness.com/story/letters-live-benedict-cumberbatch?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=SM&utm_campaign=tw300315

And Loo reading a letter to Chris:

https://www.nowness.com/story/letters-live-louise-brealey

This Is The Phantom Lady wrote:

Well... Mary is one of the 'Mor' people... but in a way that would confuse me. Lord Moran, the big rat from TEH has already been there.. so... to me it would be weird 

"Mor people?"  Are Mary and Sebastian related in Doyle?

I find it interesting that Mycroft was eager for Sherlock's help in TGG and then ordered Sherlock to stay away from Magnussen in TLV.  He has been a rather flat character so far.  I wonder if Season 4 will be Mark Gatiss' time to shine.  I put my theory in my signature 
 

tobeornot221b wrote:

"Something coming back to bite you"? My first thought was: "The Speckled Band".

How interesting!  I hope you are right!  "Speckled Band" is my favorite of the Doyle stories I have read so far.

Hi Tara!  Welcome!  I am April, a nurse in South Carolina, USA, also hopelessly obsessed with Sherlock.

It is nice to be among others who share our addiction, isn't it?  We have such a L O N G wait until the Christmas special and Series 4.  Please share anything.  I hope you enjoy your time with the forums!

Mela wrote:

Such a beautiful question!
you don't watch it passively but it's like you're part of the show.
 

Wow - that is well said!  Such a beautiful answer! 

Watching is like being a part of the show - like assessing mysteries as Sherlock does.  Everyone involved put a lot of effort into small details: the writers, the actors (with such sincere emotion), the camera men, the editors, those who decorate the sets...  Each detail seems to be connected to the stories intentionally, like a clue to hidden secrets.

Hi Mela.  Piacere!  

You're English is perfect!  How wonderful to speak other languages.

I sometimes try to learn / speak Italian but my mouth can't make the right sounds.  It is so beautiful - as pretty as English with a British accent, ha ha!  I know some wonderful Italian Americans.  Italians are so adventurous - living all over the globe and loving so freely everywhere. 

I dream of visiting Italy.  I collect pictures from every town there on Pinterest.  

I am April, 40 years old (I could be your mom!), single nurse in South Carolina, USA.  I also cannot wait for Season 4 / the Christmas special.  It is neat to me, also, how we are all so different and yet  fit together here like family.  If you are ever in the South Carolina foothills, I have a bedroom that is yours, no lie.  We Sherlockians are family <3

ukaunz wrote:

The book I borrowed from the library (Complete Illustrated Sherlock Holmes) has the first story as A Study In Scarlet, is this not the first in written order? I'll have to google it I guess. I just finished reading it this evening (actually I was listening to another audio version while I cooked dinner). Next up in the printed edition is The Sign of Four.

I googled the written order: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_of_Sherlock_Holmes

I also found a link to free audiobooks of the whole canon:
http://www.sherlockian-sherlock.com/sherlock-holmes-complete-audiobook.php

 

Thanks for writing.  These are interesting ideas to ponder.  Once we know the formula for obsession, we can churn out our own best selling novels, indie films, etc. 

I still can't quite put my finger on the main ingredient (Why is it so good?)  (Is it something to do with tragedy?)  

This is for sure: one key reason to the dramatic profusion of the fanbase surfaced is:

The short length.  It's so easy for newbies to catch up.  4 1/2 hours per season / two years - a great distraction for someone home bound for a day or two.  It's daunting to think I could loose 20 + hours of my life PER SEASON of "Lost" or "Walking Dead," and there's so many seasons!  

The length may also account for everyone's level of thirst.  Reminds me of '80s fan response after "Return of the Jedi" ended.  I was too young to be obsessed but I witnessed debates among older friends. Folks talked about plots for sequels to "Return of the Jedi" throughout Ford's "Indiana Jones" series, on into the '90's.  It was, like, 6-7 hours of Star Wars was... just... insufficient.

"Game of Thrones" is 10 hours / season.  This is a happy medium, I think.  If only Sherlock could have that budget - I bet the actors would invest the extra time.

I think another reason for the growing fanbase may be the rating. Sherlock doesn't have the sex and violence of most popular shows, so it's something that can be played at family gatherings, watched in front of the kids / grandparents, or given as a gift, etc.  Of course, there are morons out there who think anything without R level sex / violence / language is low budget and boring.  I was once among them.

Can anyone explain why the world is obsessed with BBC's Sherlock?

Everyone I know seems to either have the "A recent Sherlock? Oh, that's cute." condescending pat-on-the head reaction or the eye-sparkling "OMG Of freaking course!  Have you heard something about season 4?" almost teared up response.

Over the past month I converted from the first group to the second.  I haven't thought of Sherlock since 8th grade literature until last month, when I tried to think of something I could watch along with my parents during their visit.

We three are obsessed now.  And our tastes are very different.  Like, "Upstairs / Downstairs" on dusty VHS verses "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood" newly torrented different.  Like, Mycroft (them) verses Moriaty (me) different.

This site has fans from many cultures and ways of life. What on earth is it that draws us to this show?

 

Aw.  To be greeted immediately by a handful of amazingly friendly Sherlockians... feels so heartwarming.  

It's wonderful how inclusive and uplifting everyone is in the comments throughout the forum.  

Thanks for welcoming a seemingly faceless, uneventful member to your ranks.  

I guess each of us are potentially a pandora box - a set of mysteries wrapped in skin.  So I an excited to be among such interested folk.  I look forward to discovering more about some of you.  

^__^  Thanks again.  - April