Showing My Prejudices

[poliphilo]

The trees along King's Rd are turning. Some are now bright yellow all over, others have patches of red. Those that are not yet rusting look sorry for themselves.

I sit in the waiting room at the health centre while Ailz goes through diabetic clinic. First I read the publicity pamphlet for the Alpha course, which aims to turn turn run-of-the-mill people into happy, shiny Christians. It carries endorsements from Cliff Richard and Old Beardie the archbishop of Canterbury and some smooth chopped catholic and- oh my God- Hercule Poirot. Yes, folks, Hercule Poirot- I mean actor David Suchet- has had his life turned round by Alpha and has celebrated by shaving off the moustache.

I scan the pictures of happy shiny faces (so many, I had not thought death had undone so many) in search of black ones. On the second run-through I find my first example- miniscule- and then another- so tiny you almost need a magnifying glass.

Then I read Emmel- the glossy "magazine of Muslim lifestyle". After the white-bread wilderness of Alpha it is nice and warming to look at pictures of people with a bit of colour in their cheeks. Emmel is liberal. It has pieces about criticising Islam and how good it would be to have female Imams. I'm thinking of taking out a subscription.

Seriously.

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

I don't think Brett grasps the subtleties of Holmes at all; he plays him accurately if one looks only at the surface of the stories, but there is a lot under the surface and it matters immensely. I don't, for example, ever get the genuine fondness Holmes clearly felt for Watson from Brett's performances, nor do I think he understands Holmes' sense of humor at all. Of course, I'm sure there are people who would disagree with my understanding of Holmes, and I can't necessarily prove them wrong, not being Conan Doyle. ;)

I haven't seen Douglas Wilmer, but a knowing twinkle is a good thing, so I hope I come across some.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's interesting.

I remember an interview Brett gave in which he said he started off not liking Holmes at all but then gradually warmed to him.

BTW. I thought David Burke, who played Watson in the first two seasons and then became unavailable, was the best ever. The guy who replaced him did a good enough job, but Burke was incomparable.

[jenny_evergreen]

That doesn't surprise me; it's in line with my belief that Brett doesn't "get" Holmes. ('Cause, of course, as far as I'm concerned, if one doesn't love Holmes (and quickly!), one doesn't understand his character. ;)

I'd have to watch some episodes to remember the Watsons; I suppose I've been too busy being annoyed by the Holmes to really notice them.