Awesome Adaptations (20) - The Reichenbach Fall

Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading.  Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!

An awesomely action packed adaptation

Title: The Reichenbach Fall from the TV show "Sherlock"

Adapted from The Final Problem by Arthur Conan Doyle

Omigod, this series.  Every episode could be featured somehow on Awesome Adaptations.  And maybe it will be!  But for now I want to focus on my current favorite episode of the show's run, and the one episode that had me shocked, scared, crying, and curled in the fetal position as I tried to process everything that just happened.  In terms of action packed, this episode has so many highs and lows and shocks and surprises, it truly is mind boggling.   If you haven't seen the recent BBC update of Sherlock hie you to Netflix post haste!  And meet your new obsession. :)

In terms of adaptation, this episode uses only a little from the original story.  Moriarty in the story is more of a plot device to end Sherlock Holmes.  His master criminal efforts are described and Holmes' efforts to find enough evidence to convict him and his whole agency of criminals are mentioned but nothing concrete is described.  The story is not a mystery at all, but Holmes on the run.  However in the TV show, Moriarty's behind-the-scenes criminal activities are fleshed out throughout the run of the two series.  So when you come to this episode (3rd episode of the 2nd season), you know all about Moriarty's villainy and especially of his character.   Moriarty of the show is especially complex - unhinged, obsessed and sinister.  He sees Sherlock as his equal and is determined to match wits with him to the death.  Moriarty's agenda drives the action and the choices Sherlock must make in this episode.  It is Sherlock on the run again, but this time Moriarty is calling the shots.  From committing outrageous crimes and getting away with it, to spreading lies and rumors about Sherlock that takes away all public regard for his accomplishments; Moriarty undermines Sherlock's beliefs and tests his mental acuity.  All leading to the fall Moriarty wants Sherlock to take.  The final scenes of this episode are tense to the extreme and brilliantly played by all the actors.

I don't want to reveal too much about what happens in this episode because it is more fun to be taken on the roller coaster ride of insanity.  This episode is absolutely compelling.  It's audacious.  Suspenseful.  Emotional.  Brilliant.  And of course, awesome.