Sherlock's Nod to Source Material in A Study in Pink Only True Fans Would Notice
Did you observe?
The BBC's take on the story of Sherlock Holmes has always been pretty frivolous when it comes to canon, but it has never shied away from the occasional nod to source material. As it turns out, such a practice has been the norm from the very beginning, with a small reference cleverly tucked away in season 1 Episode 1, titled A Study in Pink, for those who like to reread Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books from time to time.
In the TV adaptation by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it takes Benedict Cumberbatch 's Sherlock only a few minutes to learn more about the victim in the bright pink coat lying on the floor with the word "rache" scratched near her body.
In Conan Doyle's novel A Study in Scarlet, it was the German word "rache" ("revenge"), and only Sherlock was able to figure it out, although the inspectors believe it was the name "Rachel" that the victim couldn't finish.
However, the TV series decided to turn it around; when Sherlock analyzes the word, he thinks it is the unfinished name Rachel, not a German word. When Anderson tries to chime in with the German word, Sherlock dismisses his "input" and slams the door in his face.
But while some fans appreciated the little nod to Conan Doyle, others felt it was an early sign that the show would not treat the source material with the respect it deserved.
"Switching the genius of Holmes with the ineptitude of the inspector was the first hint that the show was going to [be] dumb lol. That and the fact that the end to that episode's dilemma of "how did he get them to choose the poison vial" was "oh it was just luck," Redditor ArmanDoesStuff noted.
Many fans are still upset with the direction Moffat and Gatiss have chosen for the modern version of Sherlock, especially the fourth season. However, some fans are still hoping that the BBC series could make a bombastic comeback and make up for the season 4 finale. So far, however, there has been no indication that the adaptation will be revived.