Be warned, fellow detectives! This video contains some spoiler-y content from the latest series of Sherlock, so watch at your own risk!
The video essays by Evan Puschak, otherwise known as The Nerdwriter, are some of the most insightful pieces of video content on the web today. The manner in which he delves into a subject is always unique and causes us to come away from his videos with a lot to think about. His latest is no exception as he dives deep into the beautiful filming techniques utilized in Sherlock.
In the video, Puschak focuses on one scene in particular from a recent Sherlock episode and unpacks how brilliantly it’s shot and edited. Lasting only about three and a half minutes, the scene shows Sherlock doing what he does best: figuring something out. But Puschak points out that it’s the way that this is shown that makes it such a brilliant scene.
The series has always used editing and perspective in a way that’s, as Puschak puts it, “conversational.” This innovative technique not only shows what Sherlock is figuring out but also has the ability to bring the audience along for the ride. Although we’re only watching a television program, we’re given the unique (and otherwise impossible) perspective of how a genius like Sherlock sees the world. The scene that’s analyzed involves showing how Sherlock works through a problem in addition to dealing with the addiction and withdrawal from drugs which have been affecting his mind. The tempo of the scene seems faster than what we normally see when Sherlock figures something out, and the cuts are particularly sharp and jumpy. We’re brought through that struggle in those few minutes through the detective’s shifting perspectives. As Sherlock’s mind begins to clear, the answers begin to unfold.
Once again, The Nerdwriter has gone and shifted our own perspective which makes us want to re-watch every moment of Sherlock for the chance to appreciate how each frame comes together.
What’s your favorite Nerdwriter video? What show would you want him to analyze? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: BBC/PBS
