This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bentley chapter.

If you’re looking for a witty British crime drama, Sherlock is the show for you. Set in modern day London, the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have been brought to life by the BBC. Here are five reasons why you should watch this ridiculously good program:

1. Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch plays the title role of Sherlock Holmes in the drama and he does the role justice. The actor, known for his roles in Atonement, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the recent adaptations of the Star Trek franchise, and The Hobbit, brings the famous consulting detective to life. He’s been cited as playing the character like a “dynamic superhero in a modern world, an arrogant, genius sleuth driven by a desire to prove himself cleverer than the perpetrator and police – everyone in fact.” And, he probably has the best name in the entire world – Benedict Cumberbatch? Pure gold.

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2. Martin Freeman

Martin Freeman, who shot to a greater fame by playing the role of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, plays Sherlock’s sidekick Dr. John Watson. An ex-military man, Watson works with Sherlock to solve murder cases and brings his own areas of expertise to the partnership. Much more lighthearted than his counterpart, he provides much of the comic relief in the series.

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3. The Stories

Each of the episodes of the series focuses on one of Doyle’s famous murder mysteries. Each hour-and-a-half episode (there are three episodes in a season) focuses on a specific mystery, starting with “A Study in Pink,” which is based on the novel A Study in Scarlet. Each case ties in elements of the novels on which they were based, giving true Sherlock fans something to look forward to.

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4. The Landscapes

If you love London like I do then this show is perfect! Throughout the series the viewer is transported through the glorious city through Sherlock’s travels – from the London Eye to Piccadilly Circus, Scotland Yard to the Tower of London. Beautifully shot, it can feel like you’ve traveled to the city.

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5. The Style of Filming

The way the show is filmed is especially unique! When text messages are read in the show they appear on-screen so the viewer can read the text at the same time as the character. When Sherlock’s brilliant mind is turning its wheels, his thought process is also shown on the screen, a helpful way for the viewers to follow his line of thinking. These little touches really suck the reader into the story.

Season three of the series had finished filming at the beginning of the September, and Sherlock fans are eagerly anticipating its release (especially after the shocking conclusion of season two!) If you don’t believe me on that, check out this Buzzfeed article entitled “Tumblr Explains Why “Sherlock” Needs To Come Back On The Air Right Now” (may contain spoilers).

Here’s a trailer for the first season of the show! Give it a watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BViNDHp6rHA

If you want to catch up, find the show on Netflix and Hulu+!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_%28TV_series%29#Cast_and_characters

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http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02507/Cumberbatch_2507499b.jpg

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