textual analysis of 'sherlock'

Sherlock - S3 E1 - 1hr 30 min

This first shot is followed by a flashback of what was supposedly Sherlock's death, accompanied by tense music and asynchronous sound of John shouting during that time. The second time this gravestone is shown its then followed by the next two shots underneath, along with a more sympathetic style of music to show how life for John is now, 2 years after the death.

Extreme close up pans out into a close up. The shot is taken at eye level which helps the audience to connect with his emotions at this moment in time, and so that they can sympathise with him. The lighting is quite dull along with the restricted colour palette, which together, symbolise John's state of mind while grieving Sherlock's death. The background music during this scene is a combination of high minor notes played on the piano and a low stringed instrument. The tempo is slow and each notes duration is dragged out to create a gloomy heartbroken feel to the scene.

An over the shoulder shot creates a sort of sinister feel, but due to the audience knowing the relationship of Sherlock and Molly Hooper, they believe that nothing bad is going to happen, and that Sherlock just likes to make a surprising, dramatic entrance, which matches his personality.

The dark colours of this shot lets Sherlock somehow blend in with the city night life, but his silhouette brings a dark, secretive feel to the scene, which are classic conventions of a tv crime drama.

These next two shots are of John Watson stuck paralysed under the Guy Fawkes Bonfire. Tense moments like this are a key convention of a crime drama, as get the audiences hearts racing. The blurred vision also portrays what state John is in at this moment in time, helpless, which adds to the thrill and suspense of what could happen next.

The key prop used in this scene is probably the most used in crime fiction and dramas, a gun. this not only symbolises police, but also violence and, quite literally, crime. The action of the man with his hands in the air portrays the key moment of resolution in the narrative, as the criminal is finally caught.

Sherlock in includes several of what can be called a detective's 'Crazy Wall', which is essentially a investigation board. These are a common element that appear in most crime programmes. Also, the bright and wide range colour palette symbolises the amount of information and level of intelligence that is needed to crack a case.

Other than violence and mystery, there are other scenes that feature and make the audience feel emotional, rather than tense and unerved. This medium closeup shot makes the audience feel intimate  and personal with the narrative and characters. They sympathise with them, leading to them feeling apart of the story. The dull colour palette and lowkey lighting in this shot also illustrates the grieving and misery in both these characters.

Security cameras are a way of looking back to a crime scene and are used as evidence, which is a key element in helping to solve or realising that a crime has occurred. It can also reveal to the audience who is involved.

The spotlight signals to us the object or character that we, the audience, should be focusing on, because there will be some relevance to him in the narrative. however, the darkness creates a curious, enigmatic atmosphere, which gets the audience wondering who this figure is, and what he is doing.

A underground train station has a restricted colour palette and an eery feel to it, so makes the perfect place for a crime to happen. The fact that they are investigating underground, especially in the dark, could also make the scene more intense as it seems enclosed and harder to get out of the situation, creating caution and suspense.

Sherlock is a very unique detective, who can be quite comedic at times. In this situation he pretended that he could do nothing to save them from the bomb so that Watson would share his true feelings due to him thinking that they were going to die, but he then breaks out in laughter after turning off the bomb earlier before Watson had said all of that. Some people would find this joke as going too far but because its Sherlock, it all adds to what his character is like, including the fact that he doesn't really do well with human interaction.

Molly wearing a lab coat suggests the science used in the programme. Even though there aren't any scenes shot in the lab in this episode, Sherlock does use Molly's scientific knowledge to help him solve cases. Science is a big part of crime dramas, and in real life helps to solve crimes.

At one point, there is always a scene where the detective visits the crime. The bright, yellow tape against the dark door signifies to us that there could be danger behind the door, as it stands out so that anyone notices. the high angle

Children screaming in movies always creates an uncomfortable feeling in the audience. The fact this child is screaming at a bonfire shows that something is extremely wrong. The show has taken something fun, like Guy Fawkes Night, and turned it into something horrifying, by trying to burn John Watson alive. The high pitched sharpness of the scream sends chills through the audience, which is what most producers look to accomplish when making a crime show.

Violence is another common element used. It normally always involves someone in black, to symbolise evil, and trying to cover their identity e.g. by wearing a hat.

Sherlock's unique selling point (USP) includes the subtitles and his visions shown on screen. They welcome the audience into Sherlock's mind so that they get a slight idea of what he's thinking, making them feel connected with Sherlock himself. Its very unusual for someone to think of all these elements at once that appear on the screen, but thats what sets Sherlock apart from everyone else.

The light beaming through the trees creates a sinister, threatening and evil feel, making the audience feel uncomfortable and not supposed to be there.

The show is based in London. Cities are a common place to shoot a crime drama as most appear very dusky and dull, hold hidden secrets and are home to very important places in society.

This is another example of Sherlock not understanding human interaction. To him, coming 'back from the dead' is quite fun and amusing, but what he doesn't realise is that to everyone else, including John, its a massive shock. Most detectives are characterised as being socially awkward and not understanding everything as most people do. The long angle, medium shot displays to us that this moment is personal to John and Sherlock, and an important moment that is nothing to do with us.

Important, personal files appear quite often in crime dramas. They give us an insight into secretive information so that we the audience feel apart of the situation and narrative.

A bomb and a timer are the elements that gets the audience's hearts racing. Its the most tense moment of the show when no one knows whats going to happen. It is hidden away which is shown by only being found with the spotlight shining on it. The spotlight is a pathway for the audiences eyes to follow, so by shining it on the bomb, it is drastically revealed.

Sherlock's signature hate and coat feature in the episode at least once each. They are his trade mark opposed to others so that he is easily recognisable. Along with this, due to popularity of a show the door and location '221B Baker Street' is also sort of an identification of the show, along with Sherlocks clothes.

Even the outline of Sherlocks recognisable. Traits and characteristics are commonly used for detectives, so that they are distinguishably noticeable to audiences.

This shot shows this man alone in a scarce and empty building. This could make us wonder why we have been taken to this place, if he is actually alone, and if it is going to lead to something else happening. The contrast of the cigarette being light and the darkness all around him also adds to the sinister feel, as it shows just how murky and darkened this place really is.

The use of subtitles is unfamiliar to the audience as Sherlock is based in England, so creates an unfamiliar atmosphere to the audience. It could portray the fact that something is not right and they shouldn't be there. The spotlight shining on Sherlock gestures to us that our attention should be on him, as later on his identity is revealed.

The handcuffs symbolise imprisonment, but the enigma is that we don't know why he is. This results in the audience continuing to watch.

One of the editing techniques used to move from one time and place to another includes a dissolve. This gradually fades one picture over the other until all you can see is that picture. It is a smoother way to switch between shots and adds a slowed, elongated feel to the narrative, like it has taken a while to get where they are.

Whispering illustrates secretiveness among the characters, which is commonly used in crime fiction.

News reports are a way of spreading the news to all the characters on screen. It adds realism to the programmes, as news reports are what we familiarise.

The fact that Sherlock is positioned in front of Watson portrays his importance over him. He is closer to the audience so that they focus more on him.

Blood is a key convention of crime fiction, as it illustrates violence and sacrifice. The colour red could symbolise complete binary opposites, or love and hate, and also anger and danger. Using blood really adds realism to the audience's visual of the show, and brings the scene to life so that sometimes we, as the audience, can forget that it did not actually happen.

This scene is going back in time to when Sherlock faked his death and Moriarty killed himself. Non-continuity editing is common in crime dramas as they look back on things that have happened to help push forward the story. Suicide, or what looks like suicide is also another convention as it always creates an enigmatic effect of why it happened, or was it not all what it seemed?

Another key element of crime dramas include sneaking off through forbidden passage ways. The darkness and body language normally tells the audience that they shouldn't be there, but the way that Sherlock does this so casually out in the open adds a humorous effect to the scene.

This is another instance where blurred vision is used to create a disoriented effect, to portray the characters state of mind.
using heat detected tracking cameras and devices make the scene more intense, and that something is not right. The audience are given the enigma of who and what are they looking for.

Many, and almost all crime dramas, include secretive codes or riddles for not only the characters on screen to work out, but the audience as well. This way the audience stay engaged and focused on trying to figure out the narrative, so in result want to keep on watching.

At the very end of the episode, it shows a man watching many cameras videos, creating the audiences suspicion. It then shows a close up of the man sitting in the chair with an ominous stare, leaving the audience at unease of whats happening. It is then left on a cliffhanger for the following episode so that the audience will tune in to watch again.

The narrative structure of the programme:

• Problem from previous episode is solved
• Two new problems (states of disequilibrium) begin
• One solved(resolution), another left unsolved
• New state of disequilibrium left unsolved until next episode.

The overall soundtrack of the show includes their signature, unique and iconic music, but also dramatic orchestras at times, along with some humourous pieces, differentiating it from other crime dramas as the audience do not expect to hear.