Another "Step" For ELEMENTARY

Article first published as Another "Step" For ELEMENTARY on TheTVKing.

The following review was posted before the episode aired, and so is mostly spoiler free, dealing with relationships and generalities, rather than details of the case. Enjoy!

The second season premiere of CBS's Elementary, airing tonight at 10 p.m. ET, is called "Step Nine." For those not familiar with the twelve-step program that Alcoholics Anonymous and other addiction treatment programs like to implement, the ninth step is to make amends. This makes sense, as Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) flies across the pond to help out former colleague Gareth Lestrade (Sean Pertwee, who used to co-own a production company with Miller, Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, and Sadie Frost), intending to right past wrongs.

I call Lestrade a "colleague" because, as pointed out in "Step Nine," Sherlock doesn't have friends. That is, until he meets Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) last year. Before Watson, no one could see past Sherlock's abrasive attitude enough to care about him and help him out. This informs very much Sherlocks' relationship with both Lestrade and the authorities on the other side of the pond.

Sherlock feels guilty for Lestrade's down slide because he allowed Lestrade to take credit for Sherlock's work repeatedly. This suited Sherlock's purposes, as well as Lestrade's, but gave the latter a yearning for the spotlight that didn't serve him well when he no longer had anyone feeding him the answers. It's an interesting thing for Sherlock to regret, as one could argue it was a mutual relationship that wronged no one, but it also makes sense as a thing to make up for, as Sherlock does feel above everyone else, and that he had influence over the other man's actions.

While in London, Sherlock and Watson encounter Sherlock's brother, Mycroft (Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man), who has moved into Sherlock's old flat, replacing the detective's possessions with his own. This riles up Sherlock, believing it to be a symptom of their longstanding rivalry. Yet, Watson sees something else in Mycroft, and works her way closer to him in order to gain greater insight into Sherlock.

This relationship is actually a two-way street because Mycroft quickly realizes that Watson has that special connection with Sherlock that no one else can ever have, similar to his own. These are two people who see a side of Sherlock that no one else does, and by combining what they know about him, they can form a fuller (yet still not complete) picture. This is definitely a couple of characters I want to see encounter one another again.

Mycroft has a secret that he isn't sure how to tell Sherlock. It's changed the way he feels about his brother, and spurs him to reach out. The way in which Mycroft does so is surprising, but feels right for someone who is kin to Sherlock. I'm hoping that Mycroft succeeds in beginning a new chapter with his brother, though given how Sherlock likes to keep things close to the vest, we won't likely know for sure if he's been successful for quite awhile.

That's what's disappointing about Elementary, though. There are rich characters and fascinating stories, but they are routinely pushed to the back burner for cases-of-the-week. Miller's talent is wasted in a standard procedural, and if it's not a sweeps-month episode, each installment tends to be numbingly boring, the same thing from week to week. The brilliant scenes are positively stunning, and everything else is drivel by comparison.

"Step Nine" is a good example of this. As excellent as the Mycroft and Lestrade bits are, much of the hour is given over to catching a singular criminal. This isn't strictly necessary; Elementary could have Sherlock just go over for a visit, or make sure that whatever he needed to do was dealt with quickly. They could even have made this a two-parter, leaving Sherlock in London long enough to have more interaction with the men from his past. Sadly, this is not to be.

And now, even though the opening of "Step Nine" is exciting and there are wonderful moments within, I wonder how long it will be before the next episode of the series deserving of praise airs. It likely won't be next week.

Elementary airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Island hits Blu-ray

     Coming to Blu-ray Tuesday, June 21st is The Island. This 2005 Paramount movie stars Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer, Big Fish) and Scarlett Johansson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Iron Man 2) as Lincoln Echo Six and Jordan Two Delta, two individuals living in a very structured hive, safe from the contaminated post-apocalyptic outside world. The residents hope for the day they will win the lottery and get to move to The Island, the only place that is still safe outside of their living quarters. But then Lincoln realizes that not everything is as it appears. For instance, the outside world is not post-apocalyptic. Lincoln and Jordan escape from the compound, pursued vigorously by a private security firm hired by compound director Dr. Bernard Merrick (Sean Bean, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings). Can they alert the public to their plight before they are killed or captured?

     If you missed this movie when it came out, it would be a good idea to check out this Blu-ray release. It's action packed, as expected for a movie directed by Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon), but it also has a lot of heart. The story of two naive individuals who figure out their world is wrong, and are willing to do anything to save not only themselves, but everyone else being manipulated, is a wonderful tale. Their plight is central to the story, and the Bay signature touches merely enhance the experience, rather than drowning it out.

     Also, performances by not just McGregor, Johansson, and Bean, but also by supporting cast Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, The Big Lebowski), Dijimon Hounsou (Gladiator, Blood Diamond), Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, the upcoming FOX series The Finder), and Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager) are all flawless. These actors give some of their finest work. I'd elaborate, but I hate to spoil the twists and turns of the plot. Trust me. It's obvious once you watch what I refer to for each one. 

     At around 135 minutes it may seem long to some, but the pacing is good in the first half, and frantic in the second, so there is little chance of getting bored. The special effects are top notch, and the futuristic hive is well designed. It is set in the future, but not very far, and still relatable. The new technology imaginings seem a bit far off for 2019, but still possible in our lifetimes.

     Blu-ray is definitely the right way to experience The Island, as the extended freeway chase comes alive, with all of its crashes and explosions highlighted nicely in the 1080p high definition. Of course, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound really puts the viewer in the center of it all, assuming you have a system to take advantage of it. The action sequences get a little loud, so keep the volume control handy, but it's all realistic, and picture and sound are crystal clear. It's just hard to imagine that the film will look half as good without the proper technology to experience it, because of the sweeping vistas and high octane effects. 

      That being said, the bonus features are a bit thin. There are subtitles available in English, French, and Spanish, and a commentary track by Michael Bay, but including none of the actors. Three featurettes give a look at how the action sequences are shot and the futuristic architecture designed, but none last more than fifteen minutes. They are interesting, but far from satisfying, leaving you wanting more. Luckily, the price point is relatively low, so you won't feel ripped off, even without many extras.

     Go out and buy The Island on Blu-ray, available this Tuesday, June 21st.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: The Island on Blogcritics.