So I do identify with Sherlock, John and Moriarty? Hmmm ... interesting ... haven't thought of this before....
No, just kidding!
Yes, you're right, Davina. I always tell them that Sherlock isn't exactly a whodunnit thing but is going much deeper. Actually, most of the cases are "crap", for example a lot of the viewers will know that the cabbie in ASiP is the murderer, even faster than Sherlock. But that's not the point. It's about the developing relationship between Sherlock and John ... the "cases" are mostly means to an end.
And then comes something like Baskerville and there we have the very traditional crime-and-horror story that is being liked by so many TV viewers.
Yes, Reichenbach is a bit overwhelming, asking too much of the average consumer of crime stories.
But - it's fine. Anyone as they wish.

I am also a bit disappointed regarding the reactions in Germany. However, I know that a many crime writers I know are absolutely enthusiastic about the show. And the problems with the dubbing are quite interesting as I am working as a literary translator. Of course the du/Sie thing happens quite often but I think in this case they should have gone for the informal address. And there was the dog/hound problem in Baskerville as well. On the other hand in German you have a double meaning for "Reichenbachfall" as "fall" means "fall" and "case" which comes in quite handy. Someone once called translators "lovers of the impossible", a term that appealed to me. And without a dubbing my thirteen-year old son would have been lost and know he is Sherlocked .

That's interesting. When I read the German translations a long, long time ago they would always say Holmes, Watson and "Sie". I think "du" might work in "Sherlock" but it would be quite unfamiliar in the beginning because there is this tradition of using the more distant form of address.

I missed this interesting thread when I first arrived, thanks for bringing back to the front page!
It is really an interesting point why the German translators decided to keep the "Sie" all the way through both series.

The original books use formal speech, as nothing else would have been appropriate in Victorian times for two grown men who are not related to each other. In those days, children even addressed their parents using "Sie".
But I guess we all agree that things have changes in the last 100 years, and nowadays we don't use "Sie" in the same way anymore. But I find something else even more intruiging:
- The combination of first names and "Sie" is very rare in German, it's mainly used for addressing sales/service personnel (as in "Frau Helga") but even in that area it is considered somewhat old fashioned and is slowly dying out (in my experience at least).
- As Aurora has mentioned, we know from the first scene between the two characters that Sherlock Holmes of the BBC series dislikes being addressed by his surname - so why would he allow John to address him with "Sie", let alone use it himself? It just doesn't make sense, and above all causes a completely unnecessary lack of believability.

Yes, it simply doesn't fit in with their friendship. Today when many people in Germany prefer "du" to "Sie" in many contexts it seems a bit outdated for two good friends sharing a flat. I think it may have an influence on how the audience feels about John and Sherlock.