Today, I must adopt a Zen attitude and find the joy of not-doing.
Having ended 2013 by biting my tongue on several fronts, I've warmed up to today's chore quite nicely. And what will I be not-doing today?
You know. Because if you're so disconnected that you don't know season three of Sherlock premieres today in Britain, you probably aren't reading this.
A number of American Sherlockians and non-Sherlockian friends have already announced they're going to the black market side of the internet to find ways to watch it before the January 19 PBS showing in the U.S. of A. And while I'm not at all pleased with that delay, I'm not quite willing to go to the dark side, with all its little issues. The idea of Sherlock Holmes turning people into criminals, as often happens when the love of one's hobby clashes with minor peccadillos of the legal system, has always had a certain amusing irony, though.
I remember when the original premiere of Sherlock showed up in chunks on YouTube for a time before the BBC pulled it down back in 2010. I started watching the first five minutes, then found it good enough that I didn't want to settle for the lesser quality experience being offered on the YouTube piracy. And when the second season came out, I toyed with the idea of getting a DVD player that was region-free and going that route to ease the ridiculously long wait between the premiere of the first episode and the PBS version (which they chopped, and made us look even more foolish for waiting).
A state of Zen non-being seems the most positive way to spend the next eighteen days this time around, as the enthusiasm about a show we can't properly see bubbles over across the internet. Practicing calm as one prepares for the spoilers that will inevitably happen with more people than ever paying attention to Sherlock than ever these days. Calm, inner peace, a Zen state of non-being . . . sure, I can master all that today. Of course, I can.
And then, tomorrow night, Elementary returns with Moriarty Barbie. So much for that plan.
Enjoy your day, though, British cousins and American Sherlockian underworld! Wish I could be with you for it . . . instead, at 3 p.m. Peoria time, while you're all letting the joy of Sherlock Holmes's return was over you, I'll be playing the soundtrack to the old TV show Kung Fu on vinyl and sitting in a lotus position attempting to achieve enlightenment. But enjoy!
The ongoing investigation of Sherlock Holmes, reported from the Peoria, Illinois outpost of Baker Street's dirtiest half a dozen.
For the record, this Sherlockian--while having seen every episode prior to its U.S. release through the magic of fairies and unicorns--always buys the DVD/Blu-ray as soon as it's available for pre-order. Sometimes several copies, as gifts. While that may be a lame excuse in the legal part of things, it serves to assuage my guilt and supports the writers, producers, actors, and such. My goal is not to get something for free, but to get something first. Or, in this case (since many saw the show at the BFI event weeks ago), to get it early. We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land. This Land of Sherlock.
ReplyDeleteAw, just embrace your dark side, Jacquelynn. You've got the Milverton burglary on your side. But if you're buying the DVD to assuage your guilt over watching the BBC release, shouldn't you buy a UK copy? Sure, you can't really use it, but technically you'd be paying for the one you watched. (And we should totally start a Sherlockian subculture where a Firefly quote is inserted in every undertaking.) So you aim to misbehave today. If I was guaranteed a decent watching experience on the black market, I'd be right there with you.
DeleteSince you've asked, I pre-ordered the UK Blu-Ray. Not entirely to assuage my guilt, but also because BBC shows the episodes in their entirety, while PBS seems to trim them down for unexplained reasons.
DeleteHave a look at that: http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Sherlock-versus-Elementary-homage-or-5105316.php#page-1
ReplyDeleteInteresting how many rip-offs she finds.
I see no evil in watching something earlier than it is offered in your own country. I watch lots of shows I can't get otherwise on the net. If I like them, I'll watch them again when they're finally shown here, where I live. If I like them very much, I'll buy the DVD. But the first and foremost thing is: I WATCH THEM. Which is far more important to the artists then any remuneration I should think.
I guess that I am one of the disconnected ones. I DO remember the Jan 19th air-date over here (happens to be one of my sons birthday) but forgot about the Brit opening - as it doesn't affect me. Don't see anything else, really, on the net than this blog. Also - have worked (to date) 29 straight days, mostly 12 hour shifts. Don't have much time for distractions. Hope I don't forget that premiere date of the 19th, or my son's birthday!
ReplyDeleteI have pre-ordered the DVD...and then I will give it as gifts. If I could pay a fee to the BBC to watch online, I would--as would tons of other people. But hey...last time around, I watched the most rinky-dink download ever... and even with some ads, it was so absorbing I may as well have been watching it all alone in an IMAX theatre. If PBS didn't cut things--good things--then perhaps I would wait, but...I am not one of the angels, I guess.
ReplyDelete(Leah)
I've heard PBS may be giving Sherlock a 2-hour window. To allow for the uncut show & a few special features. Of course, I'll still have to stay awake through Dreary Downton. Of course, I do subscribe to PBS....
DeleteI've used a VPN to watch shows on the BBC iPlayer, in the past. If you attempt to watch during the original broadcast, you get a message about the necessity of a telly license. For repeats--there's no message! (And those viewings count when ratings are figured.) So it's only a venial sin. (Sorry, I think outright piracy is tacky.)
Seriously, they count those for ratings? *feels so much better*
DeleteAnd yes. Downtown 1 and 2 were good. And then....well, I missed Matthew's death and didn't even care. Very glad to hear PBS may not cut them, though. That's a big deal.
(Leah)