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Case Study: Sherlock (2010 – Present Day)
A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving
crime in 21st century London.
To understand the key concepts in relation to a current TV Crime Drama
Mind-map everything you
already know about
Sherlock, consider the key
words to help you: Protagonist is
Sherlock Key words:
Character Holmes Genre
Character
Setting / Location
Audience
Sherlock Mise-en-scene
Representation
Themes
Scheduling
Narrative
EXT: In your opinion, evaluate how conventional
Sherlock is as a TV Crime Drama

2. Case Study: Sherlock (Scheduling)
• Originally aired in July 2010 on
BBC One and BBC HD @ 21:00
• Watch again on BBC iPlayer
•DVD Boxset
•Official BBC Website
Click to
view ->

3. Case Study: Sherlock (Other Key Characters)
221B Baker Street
(key location)
Sherlock Holmes Dr. John Watson (played
(Played by Benedict Cumberbatch) by Martin Freeman)
•Brave
•Brilliant
•Resourceful
•Aloof •Practical
•Lacking in social Previously an army doctor,
graces shattered by service in
Sherlock is a unique young man with a Afghanistan, John Watson
•Intelligent mind like a 'racing engine'. Without discovered a new lease of life
•Cocky problems to solve, that mind will tear itself when he met Sherlock Holmes
to pieces and the more bizarre and baffling Although often infuriated by
•Witty the problems the better. He has set himself Sherlock's cold, detached
•Powers of deduction world's only consulting detective, manner, he also sees his
up as the
•Trench Coat whom the police grudgingly accept as their flatmate as his best friend.
superior.
•Magnifying glass

4. Case Study: Sherlock (Characters)

5. Todorov’s Narrative Structure
Stage 5: situation is resolved,
Stage 2: Disruption (the crime) equilibrium is restored
Stage 1: Equilibrium
Stage 4: Character overcomes
obstacles to repair disruption
(solves crime)
Watch an episode of a crime drama.
Stage 3: Character Use your sheet to plot the narrative
recognises the disruption (story) stages.
EXT: What are the enigma codes
and action codes in your episode.

6. 4 key ways that
Bulmer and Katz- audiences enjoy TV
Uses and Gratifications Crime Dramas
Escapism form own lives, exciting,
Entertainment dangerous. Can make us feel better
about our own lives-shock, fear, thrills
Develop a close bond with characters
Understand how they think/act.
Relationships
Complicated people that we learn
about. Can also discuss with others
Relate to characters, settings and
situations. How would we feel, respond
Identity
in these situations-in the shoes of the
detective solving the crime
Learn about psychology, forensics and
Information crime solving and also about the world
around us.

7. Practice exam question
20mins to use all your knowledge and terminology so far to answer
the following question:
Explain some of the reasons why Sherlock is so popular with
audiences.
Discuss:
Characters
Settings
Narrative and Storylines
A/B Extention:
Discuss the uses and gratifications model from last lesson
Eg. One reason that Sherlock is so popular with audiences is because of
the use of settings and locations. Urban settings such as London in
Sherlock provide lots of opportunities for drama and excitement. This
offers audiences escapism if they are not from a large city like London or
identity if they are as they can recongise some of the landmarks.