Elementary's Sherlock uses logic, reasoning and deduction to solve crimes. Sherlock's Sherlock uses magic and lazy writing to solve crimes.

Im so glad to see Elementary getting the love it deserves! So many praised Sherlock when it came out but scoffed at me when I recommended Elementary

I feel like in Sherlock managed to make more jokes about Holmes and Watson being a couple then Elementary did, and I was so worried when the show first came out that when they made Watson a woman they were gonna force the characters into a romantic thing but then they didn't even have pretend flirting or people always mistaking them as a couple

Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock Holmes is actually a true modernized interpretation of the original literary Sherlock from Conan Doyle's stories while Cumberbatch's Sherlock just raised the character's anti-social attitude up to 11 to the point he's an absolute unlikable jerk.

While Elementary does go off the chain at times in the later seasons, the last episode of Elementary is the only network TV show that has made me cry. I won't spoil the details, but it's so clear that Sherlock and Watson absolutely, unselfishly love each other. There's no romantic implications, no sexual tension. It's just two friends who love each other more than anything else in the world, and that relationship is what the whole show hinges on. And the payoff for seven seasons of it building is amazing. Meanwhile, I don't think the BBC's sherlock is capable of that kind of emotion.

I prefer Elementary mainly because they give exact, comprehensive reasons based on solid evidence and solve cases methodically with the addition of trademark sherlock genius. The show Sherlock is 100 percent Sherlock genius which is actually not such a great thing since all the thinking happens in his head with the occasional floating text on screen. We dont get a good enough look into his head!

Another reason why Elementary is better. It actually uses the source materials better. In fact some lines are lifted right out of the books and they don't look out of place. In the episode where EM (Elementary Holmes) describes Adler as someone who "eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex." That line is directly lifted from the book "A Scandal in Bohemia".

I was already a bit biased since I preferred Elementary over Sherlock before even watching this, but this video essay helped me clarify why I prefer Elementary. I also really enjoyed Sherlock, especially when I was younger, and I think I actually enjoy their mysteries more - or at least I used to. I actually haven’t watched it since the finale. But what you said about the characters and the Moriarty story is why I like Elementary better. It’s more satisfying, and as a fan who actually likes the characters and want them to be more than plot pieces, I thought Elementary gave their characters better storylines and development.

I think that one thing Sherlock does better than Elementary is Sherlock's brother, who is much more in line with the original character from the books, but obviously he isn't a character in the first season of Elementary so it's difficult to compare

I've seen both shows. And I, for one, absolutely loveeeeeeee Elementary. The relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson in that particular series is not given, but earned through trial and error - as is so often the case in real life, too. Joan Watson had to earn Sherlock's trust throughout the series, and in turn, Sherlock came to gradually learn and build trust and foundations for several meaningful relationships in the series. They also give a brilliant portrayal and unique perspective on Sherlock, and his constant battle with addiction and sobriety. Something no series has explored yet. And lastly, there was nothing sexual about their relationship in Elementary - it was truly, unadulterated, love between two people. Sherlock, on BBC, was a miss for me. The 1st series was spectacular. But the later series tried too hard to be clever, to the point where it had become too much about Sherlock and his obsessions, and not so much about the people, and relationships that surround him. I strongly recommend Elementary - 10/10. Sherlock is a pass for me.

Completely agree! especially the Irene Adler thing. I tried watching elementary many years ago when it was airing and it feels boring especially compared to Sherlock. But I binged it recently with a fresh mind and was completely blown away when I realized how much they were gonna focus on his struggle with addiction. That was a light bulb moment that hooked me in. ┻━┻ ︵ ＼( °□° )／ ︵ ┻━┻ I'm actually not even a fan of crime dramas but I still fell in love with the characters and all the little details For eg: Sherlock getting bored of attending AA meetings because he thinks he is better than everyone and Joan reminding him that everyone gets bored and he isn't extraordinary for feeling that way or Sherlock thinking that his work keeps him sober and later realizing that sobriety shouldn't be dependent on anything. Im now gonna go preach this show to anyone who'll listen. (✿◠‿◠)

Elementary wins every time, and you didn’t even have to bring up the awesome John Noble ❤ The growth both Sherlock and Joan show over the series, is beautiful (I do love Una Stubbs though, bless her - she’s often played slyly subversive characters)

I liked both shows, but I loved Elementary. It's so good to see it getting the respect it deserves.

Elementary is quite a gem!

Yea! 👏 Jonny killed it. Still watch a little Elementary every week. Performance and writing are the comfort food of content.

Wish Elementary’s Ms. Hudson had more screentime 😭 I loved her

I definitely was a bigger fan of Elementary, I watched only the 1st season of Sherlock and wasn’t interested in more. Honestly though, I never finished all of Elementary and was sad to hear that Moriarty doesn’t play as big a role in the last seasons as I hoped she would. All that said, I do have plans to finish the remaining seasons of Elementary (I got to mid season 4)

i loled multiple times during the comparison bc ITS SO HONEST LMFAO. i loved sherlock as a kid mostly bc of the great production value, and as a kid i thought it was funny how sherlock had a genius complex and was immature and ugly to everyone around him..bc i was going thru my teenage years and was in some ways very similar lol. the writing is to be brutally honest childish and delusional, but i won’t forget how the show made me want to visit london! on the other hand it’s quite obvious how superior elementary is just objectively based on quality of writing representation of women in the writer/producers’ rooms (and it really shows). the women characters in this show are quite outstanding and it’s very enjoyable to watch. the character development is stellar. every character from main to extra are treated as human beings and each case feels 3D. the logic is tight and very smart. it refuses to fall into the mad/misogynistic genius trope by exposing how actually, sherlock isn’t actually superior to people around him, he’s only deluded himself of that in order to cope with fear of vulnerability. it’s just not in the same ballpark as BBC’s sherlock - like comparing a real apple to a plastic one.

I’m super biased because I prefer Elementary. (I’m a total slut for copaganda I can’t lie) Specifically how they portrayed Watson and Holmes as platonic soulmates without forcing heteronormativity

And i love how in Elementary at first ep We probed Sherlock's character. He was very British, wearing a scarf and a coat, but then the writers walked away from it. And it was better for show

There is another modern day Sherlock Holmes adaptation now- a podcast called Sherlock and Co. I have not watched either Elementary or Sherlock, so I can't say as to how it compares to them, but it is really good so far. It is fairly new (the first episode came out in october) and they are planning to adapt every single sherlock holmes story (including the novels at some point). The stories they have done so far have been really well adapted but my favourite part is that their Sherlock canonically has autism and adhd! It's a great podcast and I highly recommend it, there are lots of funny moments to enjoy. There's also a new episode every Tuesday!

When Elementary first came out 10 years ago, I remember everyone hating it, dismissing it as an inferior knockoff of Sherlock. Like, if those "mom, can we watch x" "no, we have x at home" jokes existed 10 years ago, people would say Sherlock is X and Elementary is X at home. Even Honest Trailer sort of made that joke in their Sherlock video (because of course a stupid garbage web series like Honest Trailers would). The point is, I was really bummed out because I loved Elementary from the start. Now, nothing makes me happier to know that Elementary is getting the praise it deserves, even if the praise is retrospectively and/or late.

Thank you! I’ve been saying this since the beginning and people acted like I was not high brow enough to get “Sherlock”.

I watched Sherlock first and thought it was a brilliant, modern take on such an iconic character. Watched Series 1 and 2 and thought, by and large, the series was high quality from top to bottom. I had no interest in watching Elementary as I thought it would be a typical American-ifying of a British show. Then Series 3 came out of Sherlock and wow was that a disappointment. Then i started watching Elementary and right off the bat, I loved it. Again, it worked and actually being a British character in America made the show work in an ever better way than Sherlock does in modern London. The good for me in Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal is great. The plots in Series 1 and 2 were pretty well executed and the production values were very high. The teasing of Moriarty was perfect: sinister and manipulative and gives a great sense of someone not to be trifled with. Mrs Hudson was a fun character too. There but not so much as to be in the way, and the Doyle tropes were also present in good qualities. The bad for me in Sherlock: Watson. WTF. What exactly does he bring to the show? "What's going on?" "Who are you?" "why's that?" "not clear to me" "that's amazing" "how did you do that?" - that's his entire character. He's supposed to be a medical man first and foremost. In the first episode he's out medicaled by Sherlock at the crime scene. In the 2nd and 3rd episodes he's captured, he goes on a self-righteous dialogue about the kidnapped woman in the 3rd episode and tries to prove that you should care about people, that Sherlock admits he doesn't, and then gets his point across by NOT helping to find them?? And he directly leads to Chinese lady getting killed in the 2nd episode because he "has to go and help Sherlock" when he's being shot at (which he doesnt). The show would be better off without him as he offers nothing. Also Moriarty is wayyy too camp, theatrical and over the top and not the character we are led to believe would be appearing by his off-screen interactions in the previous episodes. Would've been better and more threatening with a more understated performer. The good for me in Elementary: JLM is a more rounded, fleshed out Sherlock and has a full character arc and has a proper backstory. He's a more nuanced character and therefor more easily relatable. Watson is more believable and the fact that she shows strengths and weaknesses of her own and has an arc and her own story is also more believable. The supporting characters are all well fleshed out. The bad for me in Elementary. Continuity across the series as a whole. A minor gripe but still. Overall i enjoy Elementary far more as a more complete show than Sherlock and the fact that Series 3 and 4 of Sherlock was absolutely dire doesn't help where the quality of Elementary was consistently high across all seasons.

I've never seen Elementary, but a good friend forced me to watch Sherlock with her. The whole time she was raving about how awesome Sherlock was, and I uhh... well, I watched the hbomberguy video several years later and it basically summed up my every thought about that terrible show. Really wish I'd watched Elementary instead.

Elementary is an amazing show and it genuinely brings me such elation to see more people appreciate it

Elementary.

100% Elementary

So to summarize, the two points that Sherlock actually got were: - A character who was barely in season 1 of Elementary, but Elementary got a half point for her anyway. - A character who in Elementary was only a fake persona, used by a different character that Elementary got the point for. I find this hilarious. And I agree, Elementary is the much better modernised TV adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

I love both Shows

sometimes i feel like sherlock is the holmes adaption for extroverts and elementary for introverts lol

When I watch a novel adaptation series or movie, I want one of two things: complete faithful to the original from casting to plotline (think David Suchet's Hercules Poirot), or creative retelling of the story while keeping the true essence of the original work (Elementary in this case).

Loved this. Only critique is that I would give one additional point to Sherlock for its superior production values and visuals

I haven't watched the BC version of Sherlock, but I did love Elementary. Especially for JLM, who I thought was an American actor when I first saw him in Hackers (cult classic). WP is right though.. As good as BC is, he doesn't have the depth and versatility of JLM. JLM may become the future Gary Oldman..

I read the Sherlock Holmes books growing up (still have a few) and enjoyed the stories, plot twists and friendship between Watson and Holmes. I see that in Elementary and did enjoy the show when it was on. Never saw Sherlock so I can't judge.

THANK YOU!!!! I LOVE ELEMENTARY, AND I SORT OF LIKE SHERLOCK. I LOVED JOAN A LOT!!! Especially when she became a detective herself

This is the best and most solid comparsion of both shows. I really enjoyed Elementry and I need to rewatch!

Yes! I loved Elementary. Seeing the gradual growth and emotional complexity of Sherlock was amazing

Funny....why choose...i like them both!!..now we need a 3rd one

While waiting for the upcoming seasons of Sherlock (hopefully), I will watch Elementary. First time hearing about the show.Thanks for sharing this! Sorry I didn't finish the video to avoid any spoilers. I'll just come back after😅

My favorite version is Sherlock

How many times in the show did they refer or "make fun" of Sherlock and John being a couple vs How many times do they refer as Joan or Sherlock. May be wrong but it may have been once.

There’s literally only 1 tv show I’ve ever seen thats rated 100% both from the critics and audience for every season it has and it managed it for 7, elementary is clear not just of Sherlock but of any tv show that’s existed

This review is such good shit as well. I am currently on my xth rewatch (I've lost count...) This time, I'm focusing on the two lead actors' acting, how they portray the development of their characters and relationship with each other. The nuanced performance is really impressive.

I agree for the most part. What i don't really agree with is Irine, i liked Irine from BBC but i liked more Irine's relationship with Sherlock from Elementary. Other than that, i agree with everything and i really liked the video and your jokes. I watched both shows and i was sceptical before starting Elementary as i watched BBC Sherlock first and i was a fan. From the first episode, Elementary captivated me and after the first season i already liked it more than BBC Sherlock. I now watched Elementary two times and i still watch some episodes from time to time because this is my favorite show and it makes me feel good (i usually forget who the killer was so it's not even boring to think about the case). I recommend any Sherlock Holmes fan to watch this show and i thank you for doing this video so more people watch Elementary because it's underrated (in contrast with BBC Sherlock witch is overrated)

Lucy was the best Watson IMHO. The chemistry between Johnny Lee and Lucy was top notch

I prefer BBC Version of Sherlock. I love the Mycroft in it. I love the relationship between the brothers. I like the relationship between Sherlock and Watson. I Love Mrs. Hudson. I watched the first season and couldn't get into elementary. Something in it really turned me off.

SPOILER for one episode: I knew elementary was my favorite Sherlock show when a scene of a murder showed Sherlock open a fridge and looking confused, then pays it off by showing that neither of the occupants could've drank milk as one was vegan and the other lactose intolerant leading Sherlock to deduce it had to be something other than milk which lead to the killer being identified. The best part is that the camera didn't focus on the milk at all and while it was front and center so everyone saw it, it didn't draw attention to it in any way

Thought you were gonna bash elementary none stop, pleasantly surprised and wholeheartedly agree with you.

As sm1 who likes both, I suppose it's telling that I've rewatched the full series of Elementary multiple times but have yet to finish the last season of Sherlock (it's still in my queue 😅). I like a lot of the humor in _Sherlock_ and I thought Cumberbatch and Freeman were magnetic and the show was still pretty fun, but I really felt the connection with _Elementary._ Overall, I thought it was the better adaptation, esp with how the characters were interpreted and how much it still played homage to its origins while providing a fresh and more modern focus. _Elementary_ was very rich in its side characters and world building and fleshing them out too. Sure, it had its flaws, but the vast majority of it was immaculately done.

I like them both a lot, but I agree with your points for the most part.

Great video I have been debating weather to give elementry a go and I think I will after your vid I already knew about the Janie twist. Its a, shame after the reveal Irene doesn't come back but makes sense. Yet after Janie is captured we never see her again 😒. Do you feel the show ended well it is, worth sticking through all 7 seasons??

This is just. Yes. You are correct.

Your line of "because...Stephen Moffatt." is such a true line. Moffatt as a showrunner is a cancer, he single handedly drove Doctor Who down the tracks to bring us to the crap we are at now.

tbh just watching this bc elementary is my favorite show ever

I watched both, liked them both...While Sherlock was more into Technologically superior, Elementary was superior into Acting & humor & everything....Without doubt Elementary was THE BEST.

Hi i love both shows. I loved Jeremy Bret's show so much back in the day & I'm old enough to have enjoyed Basil Rathbone's portrayal . I just freaking love Sherlock oh & young Sherlock too. I haven't seen Mr.Holmes yet but it's Ian ..its got you be good. Enjoyed the irregulars and Enola Holmes. Everything you said was spot on between the 2 shows but i just cant get enough Sherlock so it would have to be terrible for me to not watch. I guess i don't want to Pit any depiction against each.. ever ... But i totally can appreciate your thoughts.i look forward to your other reviews✌

Dorner's American accent sounds almost identical to Miller's intentionally bad New York accent lol

I felt like Sherlock become more of a drama then a crime drama, while Elementary did keep up with the crime. Though I do wish they had done more with the episode that reference the books instead of just little nods towards them. Like they were actual adaptation of them.

I'm only one series into Elementary and do think overhaul its the better show so far. I'll have to rewatch Sherlock once I finish this to judge fully. A few ticks in the BBC shows box thou, I preferred his apartment in sherlock! I don't know why but it just stood out to me the moment I started the first episode. It seems too non-descript and adds nothing. Whereas in Sherlock it's at the center of the show. I think the reason is related to my second tick to Sherlock, which is the general atmosphere (look and feel) to Sherlock was better. It look and feels like a quirky unique show where as Elementary feels like your watching a standard CSI type show. I also loved the blog in Sherlock, which I believe was a modern take on something from the books (not sure thou haven't read them). And lastly his landlady, I loved the relationship between her and Sherlock. If I remember right she is the only person he seems to care about in Sherlock, where as in Elementary he is overall a better human so has more meaningful relationships with a few people, which might end up being better in the end (just about to start season 2) we'll have to see. I liked this clip but my conclusion is, I think it's probably best to not actually compare them! lol. I know it's obvious and interesting to compare them because they are both based on the same characters and books. But as a piece of art they are so different its like saying what films better, Die Hard or Schindler's List? Put these in order best to worst - The Rolling Stones, the Godfather Part 2, and the Mona Lisa lol Ok maybe I took it too far with that one but you get my point. Oh I forgot to mention, I absolutely hated Moriarty in Sherlock, almost ruined the whole show for me, if he was in it more I wouldn't have watched it. I don't understand why they made him like that, was just dreadful and completely out of place. It reminded me of the brother and sister from the original Resident evil games. The ones that owned the company Umbrella lmao. In fact it reminded me of the voice acting in allot of those old games, like time cop as well. "I'M EVIL AND I'M HERE FOR YOUR DEMISE!!! MWWAHA HA HA HA!! In conclusion I like both shows for completely different reasons! lol Good video thou:)

I'm about to give Elementary a try

Okay. You've talked me into checking out Elementary. I gave up Sherlock in Season Two for reasons you gave.

Couldn’t agree more. Benedict cumberbatch is a good actor but Jonny lee Miller is a superior one. BBC Sherlock is a big steaming dog turd of a show! Completely unwatchable even though una Stubbs put in a good performance. Elementary for me 100%, 1st season especially had me gripped till the very end

Loved them both. IMO Elementary is the best iteration of SH.

Recently started watching Elementary, hands down better than Sherlock in most aspects. I can't praise JLM enough; the frantic genius energy in his acting is lovely, Watson is so cool while the supporting characters are good as well.

I a huge sherlock holmes fan...elementry was just AWSOME....the relatin ship between watson and holmes is just SSSOOOO REAL...example...watson didnt start off as a detective, she slowly falls into it...its cool how they show her over time make the switch to detective..and to see sherlock teach someone his craft was cool too....not to mentin the character himself serms so organic ALSO..he dosnt out people down ALL THE TIME like the other version..(still like the other version too)...in short..same character TOTALLY different ways of showing use sherlock holmes...love em both😏

I like both Sherlock and Elementary, but I think the main issue with Sherlock is that it just felt rushed. The writers tried to squeeze in the little character development they could into too little time, or all development was just temporary. I remember during Watson and Mary's wedding, Sherlock seemed to be a decent man genuinely trying to help Watson and his marriage, but right after the wedding, it was back to business as usual and Sherlock being an asshole. Season 4 had some more development, but by then it was kind of too little too late. Development should start right after the very first episode once the characters are properly introduced, not years after two seasons of sameness. I think if Sherlock was spaced out over more seasons or episodes, and more time was given to developing the characters and their relationships, it would have been a much better show. I also like how Elementary weaved in character development with the murders and cases. One example I remember is when Holmes was assigned by his druggie friend Oscar to find his missing sister. While Sherlock was investigating the case, he had to grapple with visions of his past as a heroin addict, before they ultimately got to him and caused a relapse. On the other hand, the little development in Sherlock is kept separate from the cases and mysteries, which kind of makes it feel bland and insignificant. Sorry for the huge paragraphs, but I just wanted to share my thoughts. Great video essay, you earned yourself a new subscriber! You should do a review of the Sherlock Holmes movies next. I personally enjoyed them and want to know what you think!

I THOUGHT I liked Sherlock so much that I didn't even try elementary. What a mistake. Elementary is the FAR superior show. I don't really understand where the motivation to make Sherlock such a jerk of a person comes from. I've read all the stories and novels a few times and while Doyle's Holmes has his character flaws, he is almost always kind to the people he interacts with, he'll reassure an old lady or befriend a child. It's just bizarre to me

I think the problem people initially had with Elementary when it first came out was that it was less accurate to the characters of the book. But that makes for more interesting characters for the show. There was also probably a bias since Sherlock came out first and everyone has a crush on Benedict Cumberbatch whether they admit it or not. I also find it funny how you mentioned Sherlock makes a bunch of queer jokes about John and Holmes getting together, whereas there's not a single joke like that in elementary. But in the end Joan and Holmes do end up together, but more for convenience.

Elementary's Sherlock and Watson👍🏻

9:27 is that a JLC Reverso on M's wrist?

Elrmentary is my second favourite adaptation after the jeremy brett one

LaStrad shows up in ELEMENTARY👍👍👍

Elementary is such a great show

What a totally unbiased comparison of two different interpretations of two main characters who are represented incorrectly in both productions. But hey, as if we did not guess that a huge episodic production from the U.S. would win out. Sherlock Holmes was, is & always should be the subject of the observations of Dr. Watson, no more, no less, so both productions should concentrate on that & not the intelligence/arrogance of Sherlock more on the diary if Watson. To finish, why if Moriarty was in need of a challenge why did he not turn his focus into Mycroft as, as we know, he was the smarter Holmes & would have been more if a challenge for Moriarty?

I quite liked Sherlock till season 3,then season 4 came and my god what a wonderful writing was done,still gives me nightmares.

I actually liked both shows. I will admit Elementary is my bias, but I watch both over and over. Probably because they are so different. Sherlock is more traditional to me where as I can relate to Elementary being more current in my eyes. Great analysis I found your take interesting agreeing with your decision to give it to Elementary. Thank you for the time you spent making this for my entertainment. ❤😂🎉👍

Finally someone said it

Can you do more let’s duel videos?

I gave it a like after the first minutes and went on to continue watching ELEMENTARY

As someone with only a passing knowledge of Sherlock Holmes, I was pretty indifferent to Sherlock when I watched it, just seemed like an okay crime thriller, but Elementary, despite having a more procedural and on-the-surface traditional appearance, hooked me with the lead performances, and I remember being absolutely floored by the Irene/Moriarty reveal. Honestly, the only negative thing I have to say about Elementary is that Natalie Dormer was not in nearly as many episodes as she deserved to be in.

Your next video could be about what Sherlock and company is closest to the OG Works from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!!!

Hmm

I dont know why people bash Elementary, I honestly like it the most out of all the modernized adaptations. The Moriarty twist was actually quite clever, IMO. I like SOME of Sherlock BBC but the writing and plot logic just doesn't make much sense. And honestly, Milller Sherlock feels very based and relatable.

7:40 How do you know it was her photos on that phone?

LOVED "ELEMENTARY" FAR MORE THAN "SHERLOCK"❤❤❤❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤

@Woodstockprop hey there is a character you don’t mention that I am curious about. Which series do you think had the best Mycroft Holmes? Both VERY different characters. I am more inclined towards Sherlock but which did you think?

Elementary❤

Elementary😍

Personally liked both shows.

I may be a minority, but I prefer Hercules Pirot over Sherlock and Elementary.

Professor X and Magneto don't hate each other...

Why the shots of anderson cooper? Why him?

here from twitter!

love lucy our lesbian king 🥺❤️

Tbh I think you were even a bit generous awarding Sherlock the Irene Adler point, like she's basically Moriarty you can't really separate the two, if you think Elementary's Moriarty is great then Irene Adler also is. Also Irene's characterization in Sherlock isn't very good in spite of the first impression she makes (which honestly is still very sexually objectifying), it's basically another "lesbian back on the straight and narrow" sorta deal and once it's done she's basically just a woman in love with the protagonist.

Natalie dormer (irene) IS moriarty also you keep showing moriarty from robert downey jr movie

I agree with everything Jonny Lee Miller is amazing and Elementary is the much better show!🎥🤯🔫

Hard disagree about Irene. If they'd stayed consistent with how badass she was in Sherlock, then maybe, but the face that she ended up becoming the damsel in distress to Sherlock just ruined it imo.

UGH i love elementary