kingstoken

Challenge #5

Journaling prompt: Be a carnival barker for your favorite movie, book, or show! Write a post that showcases the best your chosen title has to offer and entices passersby to check it out.

This one isn't a favourite per se, but I did recently watch and enjoy it, it's Sherlock & Daughter.

Title: Sherlock & Daughter

Media: Television series

Approx length: 8 episodes, approx 8 hours

Where to find it: CW/HBO Max

What is it, in summary?: A young woman from the US named Amelia arrives at 221B claiming to be Sherlock Holmes' daughter. Holmes doubts this claim. At the same time Holmes is in a terrible bind, his dear friends Doctor Watson and Mrs Hudson have been kidnapped, and if he wants them to remain alive the kidnappers have said he is not to investigate any crimes. He takes Amelia on as his maid/assistant and she goes out into the world collecting clues and information so Holmes can make deductions and appear uninvolved.

What do you love about it?: First off I wanted to say if you are looking for a book accurate Sherlock Holmes adaptation this is not the show for you, I would instead suggest the Granada series which I talk about here. This show runs more on Holmes style vibes than anything else, plus this is supposed take place several years after the events of the books. It is also a very "CW" version of Sherlock Holmes, by which I mean there was a lot of focus on the young characters, in this case Amelia, who I did like, lots of drama and action. I'm probably not explaining it well, but if you've watched CW shows from the past you get their style and vibe.

Anyways, with all the caveats aside, I did enjoy this for what it was, and I found the overarching mystery interesting enough as they tried to figure out how Watson and Mrs Hudson's kidnapping was connected to other crimes. Also, the characters were likeable, I did like the actor who played Holmes, he's not my fave by any means, no one will probably ever top Brett for me, but I still enjoyed his take on Holmes.

As of right now, the CW has not renewed the show, however, I will say the main overarching storyline of the season is wrapped up by the end. There were a couple of minor plotlines left open for the possibility of a second season, but you can enjoy the one season as a complete story.

Content warnings: There is murder and violence, I say fairly typical of murder mysteries. There is a scene where a very minor character commits suicide.

Who do I ship?: Holmes/Watson. Watson is barely in the season and I still ship them! There are a few small moments throughout the season where you can tell that Holmes is thinking about Watson and they just tug at my heart. There is a scene at the end of the first episode where Holmes says to himself "My dear Watson, where are you?" then looks longingly at Watson's medical bag on his desk. Like come on! I tried to find a gif of it, but tumblr for once has failed me :( (if I find a gif after I will place it here).

There is also some fun tension between Holmes and a certain villain character that piqued my interest.

Snowflake Challenge promotional banner featuring an image of a coffee cup and saucer on a sheet with a blanket and baby’s breath and a layer of snowflakes. Text: Snowflake Challenge January 1-31.

Challenge #8

In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom.

I have gushed enough about Sherlock Holmes lately, so I will talk about one of my other fave fandoms from the past year Dead Boy Detectives!

Title: Dead Boy Detectives

Media: Television series

Approx length: 8 episodes, approx 8 hours

Where to find it: Netflix

What is it, in summary?: Two teenage ghosts who solve mysteries and help other ghosts move on to the afterlife, while they themselves avoid Death so they won't be separated. The two teens are Edwin, "the brains", an Edwardian ghost who is intelligent, a bit snarky, and does magic, but has difficulties with social interactions outside of his partner Charles. Charles, "the brawn", is a ghost who died in 1990, he's kind, funny, and protective of Edwin, but struggles with issues from his past. That's the dynamic, until one day they meet Crystal, an alive teenage girl who is a physic, who can see and talk to them.

What do you love about it?: I love this series and characters so much! The dynamic between Edwin and Charles is right up my alley. They bicker like an old married couple, because they have lived, worked and been friends for 30 years! The addition of Crystal obviously shakes up things between them, and you discover there are things they have kept from each other. Plus, the later addition of Niko, who is a complete cinnamon role of a character. They make the prefect mystery solving quad.

Each episode is it's own contained mystery, but there is also a couple of overarching storylines. One of which is Edwin trying to figure out his own sexuality.

There is also a whole host of great side characters: The Cat King, a cat who is also a man, and can change form at will; The Night Nurse, a being from the afterlife who is trying to track down the boys (played fantastically by SPN's Ruth Connell!); Tragic Mick, a man that owns a magic shop, but was once a mighty walrus; Esther, an immortal witch, who is the main antagonist, and does not like the boys interfering in her plans; plus others!

The show did get cancelled after one season, which I'm still so sad about. However the majority of the story was wrapped up, there was only one plot point left open that would have been explored in season 2.

Content warnings: Warning for some horror elements, the show is more supernatural than horror, but there is some gore in a few scenes but not a lot, I was able to watch it just fine and I usually can't take much in the way of horror.
There is also discussions of past child abuse with one character.
This is part of the greater Sandman universe, but you don't need to watch The Sandman to enjoy it (I didn't watch Sandman and I loved it).
Note: this is based on the comics by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman does get credit for the series, but did not write for the TV series or was involved in its production, if that is a concern.

Who do I ship?: My main ship is Edwin/Charles, their dynamic just speaks to me, I love friends that are so ingrained with each other lives they are basically married, and yet haven't taken that step towards being romantic. I also ship Edwin/Cat King, the Cat King is a sexy, pathetic beast that is down bad for Edwin. I also ship Crystal/Niko a bit, they are so cute together and I think have great femslash potential.

Lastly, please let these gifs persuade you:

The Boys, Edwin and Charles: