The Great Game Sherlock

The episode of Sherlock that I will be analyzing is series 1 episode 3, called “The Great Game.” In this episode, Sherlock is sent by an unknown person to solve a number of mysteries and he is given a specific amount of time for each one. If he does not solve one in time, then a bomb strapped to an innocent person is activated, killing dozens of people. After successfully solving the crimes he is confronted by his archenemy Moriarty, the man behind all of the felonies. The episode ends with a cliffhanger – Sherlock has to choose between getting killed by snipers, or shooting a bomb that would kill him, his friend, and Moriarty. (“The Great Game”). This specific episode demonstrates Sherlock’s dual quality and cult genre. To start, there are several …show more content…
At any rate, it is clear to see the influence that the literature of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has on the Sherlock series. The characteristic of literature adapted to television is one that has been used to identify quality television shows. For example, Brideshead Revisited and The Jewel in the Crown are two British series that are widely accepted as examples of quality programs. One of the elements that sets them apart from other shows is that they are based off of books. As a result, the shows are viewed as having an extension of culture that appears to augment the television series (Brunsdon 142). Overall, because “The Great Game” appertains to literature, it is recognized as a quality television show. Next, “The Great Game” demonstrates the characteristics of a quality television show in its well thought out text. Unlike some regular shows that rely on one-liners or gags to draw in viewers, Sherlock has a smart and fast-paced dialogue that encourages the viewers to give their full attention to the show, or else they might miss an