Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: A Study In Pink

Airs Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Credit: Courtesy of Hartswood Films/BBC for MASTERPIECE

Above: Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson in the television series "Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock."

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Two men who couldn't be more different — united by ADVENTURE! Blowing away the fog of the Victorian era, the world's most famous detective enters the 21st century. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch ("Atonement," "The Last Enemy") in the title role, Martin Freeman ("The Office," UK) as Dr. John Watson and Rupert Graves ("God on Trial," "The Forsyte Saga") as Inspector Lestrade, "Sherlock" premiered in 2010.

Benedict Cumberbatch Interview

In an exclusive video interview, "Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch talks about putting a 21st century twist on the famed Victorian detective, the blood, sweat and violin lessons that went into his preparation for the role and the superlative Sherlocks in whose methodical footsteps he is following.

Sherlock Book and Film Club

Find intriguing discussion questions and test your Sherlockian skills with these new MASTERPIECE Book & Film Club materials.

MASTERPIECE is on Facebook, and you can follow @masterpiecepbs on Twitter.

In with three criminally clever whodunits, "A Study in Pink" (Nov. 13th), "The Blind Banker" (Nov. 20th) and "The Great Game" Nov. 27th), consulting detective Sherlock Holmes teams up with former army doctor John Watson to solve a dizzying array of crimes with his signature deductive reasoning.

From the writers of "Doctor Who," "Sherlock" is co-created and written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. (Watch the interview below)

"A Study In Pink" - Dr. John Watson is back in modern-day London after serving in the war in Afghanistan. His therapist, convinced that Watson is plagued by violent memories, urges him to express himself in a blog. But nothing much ever happens to Watson, and it's not that he's haunted by the war — he longs for it.

Enter an eccentric roommate — one Sherlock Holmes. He plays the violin when he's thinking, sometimes doesn't talk for days, and has a dubious career as a self-described consulting detective.

When what appear to be serial suicide cases surface in London, a desperate Detective Inspector Lestrade reluctantly consults the freakish Sherlock. To Sherlock, a crime spree is like Christmas — only made better by the possibility that these crimes may be the work of a devious serial killer. The game is on, and before it is over, Sherlock will put his life on the line — all to keep from being bored to death.

Video

Series Preview: Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock

Above: Sherlock Holmes stalks again in a thrilling contemporary version of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic, starring Benedict Cumberbatch ("Atonement," "The Last Enemy") as the go-to consulting detective in 21st century London, with Martin Freeman ("The Office UK," "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") as his loyal friend, Dr. John Watson, and Rupert Graves ("God on Trial," "The Forsyte Saga") as the long suffering Inspector Lestrade. Fast-paced, funny, and surreally true to the hero's fantastic gifts for deduction, the series is co-created by Steven Moffat ("Doctor Who") and Mark Gatiss ("Doctor Who").

Video

Gatiss & Moffat: The Time for Sherlock

Watch Sherlock: Gatiss & Moffat: The Time for Sherlock on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Above: "Sherlock" co-creators and writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat on the boyhood Sherlock fandom that fueled their new series, the casting and on-screen chemistry of their two lead characters and surprising connections between their modernized detective and "Doctor Who."

lierow | October 24, 2010 at 10:44 p.m. ― 1 year, 7 months ago

I am a Sherlockian, and I loved it. I like the update of it, and of course, the photography of London. This episode was at night, and found it visually exciting.

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Flamingomoon | October 25, 2010 at 7:05 a.m. ― 1 year, 7 months ago

Loved this series. Delightful characters and a wonderful rapport among the three leads. Wish this were on every week!

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bereKPBS | October 25, 2010 at 4:50 p.m. ― 1 year, 7 months ago

I watched A Study in Pink last night, I am a long-time Sherlock fan and I thought the 21st century adaptation was very clever! It was a lot of fun to watch. I think both Benedict Cumberbatch (what a name!) and Martin Freeman do a great job as Sherlock and Watson... can't wait to watch the next episodes!

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DeeKay | October 25, 2010 at 6:24 p.m. ― 1 year, 7 months ago

I am a Holmes fan too. Watching this new version right now and it's working. Amazing. This character just won't go away. We have to change the setting and time but it's the same wonderful deduction...ahh....

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Mavis | October 27, 2010 at 4:29 p.m. ― 1 year, 7 months ago

I loved, loved, loved it. SPOILER ALERT: But, being far from a Sherlock myself (or even a Lestrade, truth be told), I don't understand the plot point with the cell phone. I can accept that he got the victim's cell number off her suitcase, thereby making it possible for Holmes and Watson to text the victim's phone, in hopes of reaching the murderer who had the it. Holmes says the text could only have come from the victim, whom the murderer killed just a few hours ago. Now, how why would the murderer think that text could come from his victim? Who would send themselves a text? Why wouldn't the victim text a friend with that kind of message instead? Can anybody clear this up for me please?

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Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: A Study In Pink