Books to Movies: Conan Doyle's Holmeses and Watsons and the Problem of Making a Genius Appear a Genius

Holmes and Watson are the definitive detective couple. Just about all future couples pay tribute to them in some way. "Scully and Mulder" have the same charisma and for much the same reason:

Holmes is the genius maverick. Watson is the steady straight man or action man or supporter. 

The book-to-movie problem here is also a writing problem: How does a genius look like a genius without making everyone else simply look stupid? 

It helps if the genius actually is a genius, but that characteristic rather depends on genius writing. Unfortunately, too many scriptwriters settle for rudeness as a signal of genius, a la House, and this approach sort of works. Randomness also works--the Holmes doing the unexpected. 

However, absent intelligent writers, the burden of not-looking-stupid-so-Holmes-looks-like-a-genius-not-merely-a-smart-guy rests almost entirely on the Watson. 

David Burke and Edward Hardwicke opposite Jeremy Brett come across as pure gentlemen, especially Hardwicke. They are smart and capable. They are also really, really, really good guys. Their appealing decency highlights Holmes's maverick side.

Lucy Liu opposite Jonny Lee Miller is a powerhouse. Fairly early on, it is made clear that Joan Watson, like Archie Goodwin with Nero Wolfe, is a detective in her own right, not simply a chronicler. I also consider the Elementary writers the most rational and perceptive of all the writers for the shows/films on this list. The writing is high caliber. Both Sherlock and Joan come across as outside-the-box thinkers.

Jude Law opposite Robert Downey, Jr. comes across as belligerent and relentlessly active. Since Robert Downey, Jr. plays Sherlock Holmes as Robert Downey, Jr. (which is the fun of Robert Downey, Jr.), this interpretation works. "Genius" isn't on the table as much as nuttiness. They become foils to each other.

Ben Kingsley opposite the hapless Michael Caine in Without a Clue is actually smarter than his "front." Without a Clue is actually the only version here that makes a genius look like a genius by having the people around him look stupid. Michael Caine's Sherlock is affably witless, playing the "canny dope" for the sake of laughs. He does have his canny moments!

I left Martin Freeman for last on this particular list, not because Benedict Cumberbatch is my favorite Holmes but because of how much that series depends on this particular Watson. 

The two work well together, and Martin Freeman's Everyman persona (which serves him so well as Bilbo) goes a long way to selling Cumberbatch's Holmes. Freeman has the impressive ability to be laid-back and then fierce and quizzical when demanded. His Watson brings an independent perspective to each problem, which perspective functions as a catalyst for Holmes's insights. He isn't afraid to say, "What are you talking about?"

The answer to how a show sells the genius as a genius comes down to having the appropriate foil. To go to a non-Holmes example, Monk does well opposite Stottlemeyer because Ted Levine is so entirely confidant and tough as Stottlemeyer. He could easily look like Scully and Hitchcock from Brooklyn 99. Instead, his persona keeps him looking smart and, therefore, Monk looking even smarter.