Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century

This "new" Sherlock Holmes (‘Sherlock Holmes In The 22nd Century') is without a doubt AWESOME. It's among the very best animated shows I've ever seen. I'd buy this entire series on DVD in a heartbeat that's how much I love watching it. I already have the four-episode DVD and it's a good thing that DVDs don't wear with play because this copy would be worn out by now. I watch those four episodes over and over and over... Seeing as I'm writing this in 2003 and the shows were created in 1999 does nothing but reinforce my continued love for this series. I love the way hand-drawn animation (i.e. people) is incorporated with computer-generated animation (i.e. vehicles). Visually, the series looks superb. The logic and explanations are not only rational, but also thought provoking, rooted, and justified in the stories and environments.

Almost word-for-word animated remake of 1993's DEMOLITION MAN. That film had cop John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) brought into the future from cryo-sleep because he was the best man to catch his arch enemy Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) who had broken out of cryo-sleep to wreck havoc on the future. Future cop Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) helps John Spartan to adjust and help catch the bad guy. Replace Stallone with Sherlock Holmes, Snipes with long-time Holmes enemy Moriarty, and Bullock with Inspector Lestrade (relative of Holmes' old acquaintance from Scotland Yard) and we now have a series that if nothing else is better than having Demolition Man the Animated Series. In fact, to be fair, the idea of having a female side-kick bringing back Sherlock Holmes from the ice box had already been introduced way back in 1987's THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES where Detective Jane Watson, relative of Dr. Watson and played by Margaret Colin inherits a frozen Holmes, thaws him, and greatly improves her detective business. In the unrelated 1993 film SHERLOCK HOLMES RETURNS we find Holmes once again awakening in the 20th century from a suspended animation device of his own creation. The 1999 animated series tries to capture the look of the recently animated Batman series and current comic book illustrations...in other words a little dark, a little anime (or Japanation if you prefer). The stories are not very interesting, the robots are silly (the robot Watson looks a lot like a relative of Rosie from The Jetsons), and much of the animation is just too ugly. In the very first episode, after just being reanimated three hundred years into the future, Holmes has a keen knowledge of the abilities of computers, flying cars and robots without an ounce of curiosity or wonder of the future city before him. Instead I recommend 1979's TIME AFTER TIME where H.G. Wells played by Malcolm McDowell chases Jack the Ripper played by David Warner into the 20th century via a Time Machine. In that film Wells is always in awe of what he sees in the future without losing his keen intellect. Perhaps the maker of Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century didn't see it (obviously more of a Stallone fan). Sherlock Holmes will survive. He always does.

It's the 22nd Century, and crime has been almost eradicated in "New London", thanks to a rehabilitation program known as "cripnotism." However, a new crime wave makes it appear that cripnotism is no longer working. Inspector LaStrade (great-great-however many greats -granddaughter of the Inspector LaStrade that worked with Sherlock Holmes over two hundred years ago) has a run in with the mastermind, who looks just like Professor Moriarity. Then she hears a news release about a scientific breakthrough that makes reanimating dead tissue possible. Mistakenly believing that the man she saw is a 'reanimated' Moriarity, she insists on trying the process on Sherlock Holmes. It works, and they, acommpanied by a robo-droid that she has nicknamed Watson, begin unraveling the mystery. Later on, Watson adopts a mask of the original Dr. John Watson, to make Holmes feel more comfortable with it. The series actually does a good job of capturing Arthur Conan Doyle's original character, although he does use Basil Rathbone's line, "Elementary, My dear Watson" quite a bit.

I would suggest watching the first episode of the series. It explains what is going on with the characters. You'll find out why Watson's head is on an android body and all about what happened to Holmes himself. I was confused at first also, but the first episode cleared it up. The main thing I noted was the fact that they use the titles of the original stories and then update them for the time period they take place in. You may understand what's going on better if you read Doyle's original stories. Read a Complete Sherlock Holmes if you can find it. They also have The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as a separate volume. There may also be other volumes. Ask at a library for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Sherlock Holmes and they can direct you to the Call Number. If you want to buy a book, look under Mystery in the book store. Waldenbooks has a good selection. Good luck!

This series is interesting but can be confusing at times. It has a lot of potential but it hasn't come through yet. Holmes's wit and keen senses are displayed very well but you still get the feeling that that person isn't quite the real Sherlock Holmes. I'll continue to watch this show despite the occasional bewilderment it causes and just hope that it gets better. You don't have to like it but you should give it a chance.