BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Perception vs. Elementary vs. Sherlock

**Posted by Straker** July 11, 2012 10:29 am

In "Perception," which premiered Monday, the central characters aren't named Holmes and Watson. However, the similarities are clear: Pierce, a neuroscience professor who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, is highly eccentric, devours classical music and is brilliant at solving crimes. He has two companions: a female partner who works for the FBI (Rachael Leigh Cook) and a live-in assistant who helps keep Pierce on task.
Further linking these Holmes-style characters is a similar mode of dress - lots of big coats and flowing scarves - and, of course, their various addictions.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/article/Holmes-is-very-much-on-the-case-3696791.php#ixzz20J7eNv00

Sounds like to me that 'Perception' got the jump on 'Elementary' on American TV. Who is ripping off who these days?

I didn't watch, did anyone here see it?

**Posted by SusiGo** July 11, 2012 10:34 am

I'm from Germany, I don' know when it's going to be shown over here. I had a look a your link and some other page and I think it doesn't look bad. I'd be willing to give it a try.

**Posted by Straker** July 11, 2012 10:34 am

Just noticed this review of 'Perception':

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/heldenfiles/the-heldenfiles-online-1.258385/watching-tv-perception-1.319109

**Posted by sherlockskitty** July 12, 2012 3:44 am

Perception is on TNT, Sherlock is on PBS, and Elementary will be on CBS in the fall for USA. I don't get why PBS is sort of claiming that THEY own SHERLOCK, when in fact it is a BBC production and it airs in the BBC at least 6 months before PBS gets it. That's my only beef with this article.

When I read the reviews on Perception, I'm like OMG did I miss something? I think I did, so I'm going to find out when that ep will re-air. That coat and scarf just absolutely draws me in...hook, line, and sinker. thanks for posting this!!

**Posted by kazza474** July 12, 2012 4:12 am

Geez they don't mind churning out clones of a brilliant show over there do they?
Again in may have moments of 'good' but probably another flash in the pan. They'll need something different to hook me I'm afraid.
*insert rolling eyes smiley * (why don't we have one?? hmm)

**Posted by Davina** July 12, 2012 5:08 am

PBS have the sole rights to Sherlock in the USA.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 12, 2012 8:46 am

I'd probably like this more than Elementary because at least it's not a direct Holmes thing...I think most detective shows have some elements of SH in them anyway so who knows, could be good.

**Posted by kazza474** July 12, 2012 9:14 am

Well I have just downloaded it & about to watch it; so I will let you know soon.

**Posted by kazza474** July 12, 2012 11:16 am

*sigh*
Hmm. Well I cried with laughter when he had to solve an anagram.
Suddenly all these letters came onto the screen, and he started rearranging them. Puhleeeease! Paul McGuigan should sue! Add the obligatory scarf & coat and I was wiping tears away for the first part of this show.

This guy is a mix of so many kinds of 'quirk' one wonders how they can expect us to believe he's allowed to teach! No really, I know many people have disorders and conditions but dead-set this guy is like a mixing bowl to the point of it being unrealistic and stupid.(and that's a professional opinion)

They try to portray Psychopathology & Psychoanalysis as some kind of party trick; it doesn't work well at all.
There were 'splashes' of this & that that weren't necessary or connected
They did have a few patches of 'nice' but all in all, imagine watching the scene from HOUND where Sherlock is fighting his nicotine cravings & he's sitting down bouncing up and down like a lunatic. Well that's what half of this show is like. You have to guess which people are real when he's talking to them and you have to be ready for one of his phobias to flare up at any given time.

All in all, I dislike these shows who base the whole premise for the main character as being that they have some kind of mental disorder, ASD or other syndrome but nonetheless are 'geniuses'. Yes, there are such people but NO there are not that many, and NO you the viewer do NOT share their symptoms. Ever since Rain Man, the number of self diagnosed savants in one form or another has increased dramatically.

But I digress.
Was it worth watching?................................................ I guess so.
Will I be eagerly awaiting the next episode? ...................Only to see if they've learnt anything, especially how hideously fake it looks.
Any interesting cast members? ....................................Not really, standard American cast.
How would I describe it? ..............................................Standard American cop show with a few 'fancy bits' thrown in & mixed up in quirky perception.

**Posted by Wholocked** July 12, 2012 12:53 pm

sherlockskitty wrote:
I don't get why PBS is sort of claiming that THEY own SHERLOCK, when in fact it is a BBC production

Well, as Davina said, PBS have distribution rights in the US. They are also financially contributing to Season 3 judging by the comments at the Q&A. But if you really want to get into ownership, it's. It isn't technically a BBC productions either. It's Hartswood Films. :-)

Edit: phone finger typos

Last edited by Wholocked (July 12, 2012 12:54 pm)

**Posted by Straker** July 12, 2012 1:30 pm

sherlockskitty wrote:
Perception is on TNT, Sherlock is on PBS, and Elementary will be on CBS in the fall for USA. I don't get why PBS is sort of claiming that THEY own SHERLOCK, when in fact it is a BBC production and it airs in the BBC at least 6 months before PBS gets it. That's my only beef with this article.

I suggest you read "A Study in Celluloid: A Producer's Account of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes" by Michael Cox, for a better understanding of the PBS role in the making of a Sherlock Holmes series. Without PBS backing and guarantees for American viewing, that great series would never had been made.

Last edited by Straker (July 12, 2012 1:31 pm)

**Posted by sherlockskitty** July 12, 2012 3:37 pm

ooohhh I stand corrected. I thought of getting that book, cos I LOVE JB,, but it was too expensive. that makes sense, that PBS is backing the show for USA viewership.

So-- now...who's copying whom? I say SHERLOCK got there first, and the other shows wouldn't have been made if SHERLOCK wasn't so popular.

Last edited by sherlockskitty (July 12, 2012 3:37 pm)

**Posted by kazza474** July 13, 2012 4:41 am

sherlockskitty wrote:
So-- now...who's copying whom? I say SHERLOCK got there first, and the other shows wouldn't have been made if SHERLOCK wasn't so popular.

That happens all the time though; you never see one Robin Hood movie come out, there's always a few versions.
As for Sherlock shows, same thing has happened for decades now.
Giveit 5 years & you will be hard pressed to find many Sherlock Holmes movies/shows.

**Posted by kazza474** July 13, 2012 4:48 am

Oh , and about Perception, his 'sidekick' Kate Moretti is an FBI agent & very much a 'Teresa Lisbon' type character. So they've used a few different formulae in this one.

**Posted by Sammy** July 13, 2012 11:55 pm

Oh, what, really? Another one?
Hm, actually haven't heard about this one. Probably because it isn't so closely based on Sherlock Holmes.

I don't know but could they just stop, like... taking Holmes to America? I like it in London, it should stay there.
Or make up your own characters...

**Posted by Smoggy_London_Air** July 14, 2012 11:43 pm

We should. Or we could commandeer Dupin. (Edgar Allen Poe was one of us, after all)

I wish they'd gotten creative and made him a descendant of Holmes or something. They could even have made 'Sherlock' a family name and given him the same personality, thrown in some good family immigration history...