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In comparison to the previous series I noticed a general change of atmosphere.
We knew that series 4 would be "darker", but to me it felt like "dimmer" in the first place.
And there are views implying an alienation from well-known places as well.
I have never seen 221B from an angle like this. This doesn't feel familiar any longer:
Anyone noticed more?
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I also noticed the change of atmosphere, and there were more shots like the one you've posted, tobe. They repeatedly had the camera looking down at people and rooms. The effect for me was a feeling of being distanced from the things that were going on as well as a feeling of imminence.
Apart from that for me the atmosphere also changed because of the excessive use of text and visuals on screen. I don't know why they felt the need to do this on such a massive scale, for me it was definitely too much and disturbed the atmosphere. It was distracting, to say the least. And a lot of those things felt quite unnecessary to me. I sometimes had the impression that they were doing it just for the sake of it.
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Good idea for a thread, Tobe:
The warmth is missing. But for me this started earlier. Before TST air I wrote something about the continuous desecration of 221b as a parallel to the changes in the relationship of Sherlock and John:
Many of these changes came from the dialogue or the actions of the characters whereas now they have also become visual. Think of the glowing skull painting which is indeed a completely different one than before. Arwel has confirmed this.
The most important thing to me, however, lies in the fact that we have not seen Sherlock and John alone in 221b since the Janine scene. This is the last time we see them alone in 221b and everything is overshadowed by Sherlock's alleged relationship with Janine. In TST we see him there with John and Mary, the baby, Greg, Mrs Hudson, clients, but the domesticity is gone because John is gone.
In my opinion all those changes have two functions:
- to underline the changes in the relationship of Sherlock and John
- Sherlock's inner journey/development
221b was never just a flat, it was a mirror of their friendship and of Sherlock's mind and personality. For me it is clever and heartbreaking to see how the flat reflects all that has happened since the fall.
Last edited by SusiGo (January 3, 2017 7:41 am)
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SolarSystem wrote:
Apart from that for me the atmosphere also changed because of the excessive use of text and visuals on screen. I don't know why they felt the need to do this on such a massive scale, for me it was definitely too much and disturbed the atmosphere. It was distracting, to say the least. And a lot of those things felt quite unnecessary to me. I sometimes had the impression that they were doing it just for the sake of it.
Yes, I find that very disturbing as well. Too much for my taste.
And also yes, 221b feels strange to me as well, a bit cold and not inviting. Certainly that should show the changes, the development. And I don't like it all.
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SusiGo wrote:
221b was never just a flat, it was a mirror of their friendship and of Sherlock's mind and personality. For me it is clever and heartbreaking to see how the flat reflects all that has happened since the fall.
Very true. And since there doesn't seem to be a way back, I suppose 221B has to collapse completely before there can be a new start and a rebuild of 221B and the relationship between Sherlock and John.
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gently69 wrote:
SolarSystem wrote:
Apart from that for me the atmosphere also changed because of the excessive use of text and visuals on screen. I don't know why they felt the need to do this on such a massive scale, for me it was definitely too much and disturbed the atmosphere. It was distracting, to say the least. And a lot of those things felt quite unnecessary to me. I sometimes had the impression that they were doing it just for the sake of it.
Yes, I find that very disturbing as well. Too much for my taste.
And also yes, 221b feels strange to me as well, a bit cold and not inviting. Certainly that should show the changes, the development. And I don't like it all.
I too felt to be overwhelmed by these texts and visuals, but I have found out that they work quite well on rewatch and stop being so distracting.
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I just feel they are integral to the Sherlock experience and testament to Paul McGuigan.
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SolarSystem wrote:
SusiGo wrote:
221b was never just a flat, it was a mirror of their friendship and of Sherlock's mind and personality. For me it is clever and heartbreaking to see how the flat reflects all that has happened since the fall.
Very true. And since there doesn't seem to be a way back, I suppose 221B has to collapse completely before there can be a new start and a rebuild of 221B and the relationship between Sherlock and John.
That makes me think of the promo pics with the crumbled wallpapers behind the actors..
I don't know if I'm reading too much into it but could an destroyed Baker Street and maybe a new flat, hopefully for the two boys together, be what both Martin and Ben talked about? It would not be exactly an end to the series but would most definetly feel like a major new start that needs his time?
Plus,just vaguely plotting in my head here, maybe even without Mrs. Hudson? I think of this tweet about her having maybe left and the sinister picture....
Maybe the time for this very flat will be over at the end of S4?
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I've been wondering that too. Although I think that in the pictures, the charred timber is from Mycroft's house, rather than 221B. I'm wondering if the flooded 221B was a premonition. It's a bit high up to actually get flooded, though! But I'm thinking of that water theme.
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I can't see Sherlock anywhere other than 221 B...until he retires.
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mrshouse wrote:
SolarSystem wrote:
SusiGo wrote:
221b was never just a flat, it was a mirror of their friendship and of Sherlock's mind and personality. For me it is clever and heartbreaking to see how the flat reflects all that has happened since the fall.
Very true. And since there doesn't seem to be a way back, I suppose 221B has to collapse completely before there can be a new start and a rebuild of 221B and the relationship between Sherlock and John.
That makes me think of the promo pics with the crumbled wallpapers behind the actors..
I don't know if I'm reading too much into it but could an destroyed Baker Street and maybe a new flat, hopefully for the two boys together, be what both Martin and Ben talked about? It would not be exactly an end to the series but would most definetly feel like a major new start that needs his time?
Plus,just vaguely plotting in my head here, maybe even without Mrs. Hudson? I think of this tweet about her having maybe left and the sinister picture....
Maybe the time for this very flat will be over at the end of S4?
Very interesting thoughts.
In the universe of Sherlock Holmes this could be quite groundbreaking... Holmes and Watson without 221B (and maybe even Hudders), I suppose this hasn't been done before. And looking at the show and how things have developed, it would make sense to start all over again - and a new home could be the symbol for that.
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Indeed. And maybe Sherlock and John both will be in need of a change - no matter if 221b still exists or not. It has been a happy place for them but is also connected with the fall and all that happened in series 3 and 4. So it may be that they will have to leave 221b behind to start something new in a place that does not have the emotional burden of 221b. They would not even need to physically destroy the flat to do that.
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But I would miss 221b very much. And to be honest a Sherlock Holmes story without that address? Hardly to imagine.
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For me, the "new" 221B is a mirror of the changing atmosphere in the show : colder, darker, impersonal, you don't feel welcome there as opposed to before...
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I agree. No matter what they go through, the story really, really needs to end with Sherlock and John in 221b. Nothing else will work.
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Unless they go with canon and Sherlock retires to his cottage.
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I like the idea of 221b representing the relationship between Sherlock and John. At the moment, it feels strange. So does the flat.
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To be honest I just don't think there was time to see much of them in the flat and of course John is currently just a visitor.
I quite like Mrs H and Sherlock in there...
But now Mary has gone, once John comes to his senses, it will be nice to get the boys back together in there- so I hope that happens.
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My thoughts (copied from my posts on reddit):Now having seen the first episode of season 4, one of the main things that stood out to me was the change in how the show looked and sounded, from previous seasons. It was especially noticeable since I just did a re-watch this week of all the past episodes.Differences I noticed:
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Three Garridebs,
what does it mean - this was shot at a high frame rate?
About the new (and many) fanciful transitions and text overlays:
I thought they wanted the ep to look really cool and modern. They don't text, they Skype now (more than before)!
But I prefer old good transitions from Sherlock's mouth to John's eye, to be honest
Last edited by ewige (January 4, 2017 10:31 pm)