Sherlock Holmes takes on New York
IN ELEMENTARY, the latest re-imagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's eccentric investigator, Sherlock Holmes, is an Englishman finding his feet in New York City.
Jonny Lee Miller stars as the insightful, if unsociable able, Holmes who is fresh out of rehab after relocating to the US following an incident which forced him to leave his unofficial post with Scotland Yard.
But the biggest twist in this modern crime drama is his sidekick Dr Watson, played by Lucy Liu.
Rather than being a friend and understudy, Watson is an addiction therapist of sorts who has been employed by Holmes's wealthy father to help him adjust to life after rehab.
As his companion, she gets roped into his consultations with the New York Police Department, and Holmes quickly discovers she's a useful assistant.
Elementary - Ten - Sunday February 3 at 8.30pm
With Benedict Cumberbatch already playing Holmes in the modern British drama Sherlock, and Robert Downey Jr receiving critical acclaim for his starring role in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes action films, it was no small feat for Miller to find his own interpretation of the famous sleuth.
"I was taken by how gritty Jonny, as the choice for Sherlock, was; he's great," Jon Michael Hill told The Guide.
"His workload is really incredible; I've never seen anything like it. He not only manages to get it all memorised but he brings something unique and specific. He's also just a very funny guy. He's a lot of fun to work with."
Hill plays Detective Marcus Bell, the right-hand man of Captain Toby Gregson (played by Aidan Quinn) who initially feels threatened by the mysterious Holmes who swans about, dissecting his crime scenes.
"There's a territorial issue," Hill explained.
"He's been Captain Gregson's No 1 for a while and all of a sudden there's this consultant on the scene.
He has to swallow his pride. There's this genius in the house and Marcus has to take his lead every once in a while.
"But Sherlock is not without his flaws. He's a little reckless sometimes, whereas Marcus has a strong mind for bureaucracy. He knows what has to be done."
Hill also has plenty of praise for Liu, who is playing a completely new version of the traditionally male Dr Watson.
"In the first episode she has something very vulnerable and strong at the same time," he said.
"It's a great combination."
The show will have a special episode air in the US straight after the Super Bowl on February 3, a slot which American broadcaster CBS has historically used to showcase its big shows to the sporting event's more than 100 million viewers.
The show debuts in Australia on Sunday, February 3, in Ten's traditional drama timeslot of 8.30pm, which before Christmas was occupied by Homeland.
