**Score: 10/10 — A Masterpiece of Character, Chemistry, and Quiet Revolution**
*Elementary* is not just a great adaptation; it is a perfect television series. What begins as a clever, modern-day New York reinvention of Sherlock Holmes evolves over seven seasons into one of the most profoundly human, intelligently written, and emotionally resonant dramas ever to grace the screen. A reconsideration reveals its true stature: this is a **10/10 show**, a landmark achievement where the mystery-of-the-week is merely the elegant framework for a breathtaking exploration of recovery, family, and platonic love.
**The Unparalleled Core: Joan and Sherlock**
The series’ immortal legacy is the **masterpiece in writing and chemistry between Joan Watson and Sherlock Holmes.** In Lucy Liu’s Joan—a former surgeon turned sober companion and then partner—the show found not a sidekick, but an intellectual and emotional equal. Jonny Lee Miller’s Sherlock is a raw, vulnerable, and brilliant portrayal of addiction and genius. Their relationship, built on unwavering respect, forensic teamwork, and a deep, chaste love, **is more reminiscent of a UK series in its restraint and depth** than a typical U.S. procedural. It is television's greatest depiction of a chosen family.
**A Constellation of Standout Characters:**
**All of the main characters are a standout.** The supporting cast is never sidelined. The **evolution of the relationship between Joan and Kitty** (the superb Ophelia Lovibond) is a heartbreaking and brilliant study in mentorship and trauma. The complex, fraught dynamics with **Sherlock's father, Morland** (the magnificently shrewd John Noble), and his brother, **Mycroft** (a perfectly cast Rhys Ifans), provide Shakespearean layers of familial conflict, betrayal, and fragile reconciliation. Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn) and Detective Bell (Jon Michael Hill) are far more than cliché cops; they are integral parts of the family unit, each with their own powerful arcs.
**The Emotional Spectrum: Laughter and Tears**
The show’s genius is its tonal range. **Many times throughout this series I have laughed *with* them and cried *both for and with* them.** The humour is sharp and character-driven, often stemming from Sherlock's bizarre literalism or Joan's dry wit. The sadness is earned and profound—stemming from loss, relapse, betrayal, and the painful cost of doing their work. The happiness is hard-won and therefore infinitely more precious.
**The Verdict:**
*Elementary* is a quiet revolutionary. It took the world's most famous detective and gave him something more compelling than a puzzle: a journey toward humanity, anchored by a partnership that redefined "soulmate." It is endlessly rewatchable, not for the whodunit, but for the who-they-are. It might absolutely **be time to watch it again!** You will find even more layers, more grace notes in the performances, and more appreciation for a show that believed the greatest mystery to solve was the human heart.
**Watch if:** You crave intelligent character drama, flawless acting, stories about recovery and found family, or a fresh, definitive take on Sherlock Holmes.
**Skip if:** You require fast-paced, action-heavy plots or prefer your Sherlock adaptations to be strictly period pieces. This is a slow-burn, emotional, and deeply cerebral masterpiece.
