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The Waiting Game: 6 Things You Can Do To Tide Yourself Over Until Sherlock Series 3

by Alanna Bennett | 12:30 pm, August 8th, 2012

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1.Allow Us to Explain

It can be rough when your show goes on hiatus. It can be especially rough when your show goes on hiatus after one of the most emotionally harrowing season finales you've ever seen, with nary a promise of when to return other than "sometime after Peter Jackson frees Martin Freeman from New Zealand." And considering they're going back to film a third Hobbit film, that probably isn't anytime soon. BBC's Sherlock series said they'd start filming the third season "sometime in 2013," which could be anywhere from six months to a year and a half from now. In the meantime, we're still chock-full of what we can only call "Reichenfeels," and sometimes we just don't know where to put all of them. To help ourselves (and you), we put together this list of six things you can do to distract yourself while we wait.

2.Read: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Canon

The more hardcore Sherlock fans have already done this, of course, but if you haven't yet and you're looking for a way to simultaneously pass the time and develop deeper connections to the characters, I'd highly recommend it. Not only is it a really interesting exercise to see what Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat changed and adapted to fit the canonical stories into their modern retelling, but considering this is where they get all their stories from, it's the first place to check if you're wondering where the series might go in season three.

What more is there to say about it, really? It's the series that started it all. Go read.

3.Watch: Other Sherlock Holmes Offerings

When in doubt, just watch as much Sherlock Holmes as possible. There's the Granada Sherlock Holmes, the brilliantly acted and very book-faithful adaptation of the canon that ran from 1984 to 1994. It stars Jeremy Brett (pictured above), who many consider to be the definitive Holmes. There's the Sherlock Holmes that ran for just one year in the 1950s (most of it can be found on Youtube), and one episode features Holmes and Watson finding a baby on their doorstep and Sherlock getting flummoxed, suggesting to "make it some tea, John." Oh, and don't forget The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, which presents an alternative to The Final Problem wherein Holmes develops paranoid delusions because of his cocaine usage and travels to Vienna to be treated by a fictionalized version of Sigmund Freud--as played by Alan Arkin. There's also The Great Mouse Detective, which I know is a film that influenced quite a few Sherlockians of my generation in deep and stirring ways.

This is not even to mention the Robert Downey Jr./Jude Law-starring Holmes films, which for those slashers out there could just as realistically be called Sherlock Holmes: Gay of Gay as Game of Shadows. Every adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's canon could be considered to be some form of high-budget fan fiction, but this one takes the cake; Tumblr could have written it.

The moral is this: Doyle's characters have been adapted literally the most out of any literary work of all time. We know we missed some. We neglected to mention the one with Sherlock in the future with a robot Watson, as well as the one where they're doctors in New Jersey hidden under the pseudonyms "House" and "Wilson." We missed a lot, go forth and find them! If you love the Holmes/Watson dynamic and are willing to let any other plot restrictions fall away and have a little fun, you will not regret it. Hit the comments with your favorites.

4.Watch: All of Doctor Who

The masterminds behind Sherlock, Gatiss and Moffat, are sadists of the highest degree, and I'm pretty sure they feed off of fangirl tears for sustenance. They are also very good at making their audience feel things. Moffat, as you might have heard, is also currently in steering position over at that other little British show Doctor Who. And I'm sure they're out there (they're probably materializing in the comments section as I write this), but I for one have never encountered a person who likes Sherlock but not Doctor Who, or vice versa. Even if Moffat's seasons aren't your style (we've heard from people for whom they are not), there's plenty of other material out there to work with; ten whole other Doctors worth.

The point is: Doctor Who has a lot of history, a lot of ups and downs, and a whole lot more episodes than the total of six (six!) that Sherlock has. New Who is all available on Netflix Instant Play, as is much of Old Who. Years worth of mystery, intrigue, and space-hijinks and "feels" to tide you over until our more Earthly detectives return. Oh, and did we mention that Gatiss will be writing an episode for the upcoming season, and Rupert Graves will be making an appearance in an entirely separate one? Honestly, we miss those two enough that that would be enough; the fact that Doctor Who is a made-of-awesome cultural phenomenon in its own right is just the frosting on the cake.

5.Watch: All of The Vlogbrothers Videos

Alright, so this one is not quite like the others. But if reveling in fandom is as fun for you as it is for us, we think you'll like these guys. They are John and Hank Green, and they have devoted their lives to making awesome things for us to watch and read. Beginning their vlogging time in 2007 when they decided to go a year without textually communicating with each other, the Vlogbrothers (one of whom is a New York Times best-selling novelist) have since been steadily growing their following to monstrous, inspiring proportions. Their fans are called Nerdfighters, and they even do things like flash their hand signal at the Olympics.

So how is this at all relevant to helping you get through this Sherlock hiatus? Well, in some roundabout ways as well as some slightly more concrete ones. Take this: I (Alanna) saw Hank Green in concert the other day in Portland, and during one of his songs he referenced Benedict Cumberbatch. The roar from the crowd almost took away my hearing it was so passionate. If you are reading this, their people are probably your people.

John and Hank consistently make hilarious, heart-touching, and incredibly intelligent videos. Whether it's just them in their basements talking into a camera, the songs Hank sings, or the books John writes, in my humble opinion it is all worth your time. They've also posted about a zillion videos, so if you watch all of them (which is not at all required), it might just take you from now until when The Hobbit finally wraps filming.

You should also consider the fact that the Green brothers talk fast and will feed your brain; it's always nice to add more of that to your life, especially when Sherlock himself isn't there to take us to his mind palace.

6.Revel in the Fandom

There are times when I'm not entirely convinced that Tumblr will survive this hiatus. Sometimes scrolling through my dash is like staring into an M.C. Escher painting of emotional turmoil and hedgehogs, with little bursts of Tom Hiddleston scattered throughout.

So, yes, there are others suffering through this hiatus alongside you. You are not alone. As more time goes by, the Sherlock fandom does not grow weaker, but rather more campily twisted. So go forth, dear fanpeople, and revel in the fannish glory. Lean on each other. There's fan fiction, mind-blowing fan art, and a whole lot of people waiting just as eagerly to see what happens next. Go draw something, or write something, or read something. Go create posters about how you still believe in Sherlock Holmes--or, alternatively, that you believe in Richard Brook. Or maybe just reblog some things. Listen to the Baker Street Babes. Draw a picture of Martin Freeman as a hedgehog. Ship Mycroft with an umbrella, or two mugs who maybe remind you of Sherlock and John. Fawn over how amazing Amanda Abbington is at twitter and at life, and curse Moffat for being such an unrelenting internet troll. Or try knitting yourself a John Watson sweater.

And sometimes you find fan fictions like this one:

“We could rule the seven seas,” Lobsteriarty says. “We could be mightier than Triton and Poseidon combined.”

So there's always that.

(Image via My-Mind-On)

7.And If All That Fails....Maybe Go Outside For A While?

Summer's almost over. I hear it's nice out there?

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http://twitter.com/LJo83 Lindsay Beaton

I’m actually one of those people who went, “I really like Sherlock. I will turn to dust before they make any more Sherlock episodes. Maybe it’s time to finally give Doctor Who a try…” That was about a week ago. I’m now in the middle of season 4 (started with the new series, thank you Netflix) and finally completely understand what “Curse you, Moffat!” means, right down to the deepest depths of my soul. Sadist, indeed.
Amanda W

I literally just watched ALL of Doctor Who that’s available on Netflix and OnDemand. Then I watched all of Torchwood. Just started watching Sherlock.
http://twitter.com/annathemoony Anna Moony

You forgot ‘temporarily find solace in the arms of another fandom.’

Sure, it feels like cheating, but what Sherlock doesn’t know won’t hurt him, will it?
http://twitter.com/7i7e 7i7e

What about if you’ve already done all of the above?
Anonymous

The #BelieveInSherlock Tumblr feed is located at

http://believeinsherlock.tumblr.com/

I can understand not including, say, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (directed by Billy Wilder, with Robert Stephens as Sherlock and Christopher F’ing Lee as Mycroft) in your list of adaptations, as it’s not too well-known, tough it should be. But not even MENTIONING the Basil Rathbone / Nigel Bruce films? That’s just rude.

Yes, they strayed far (FAR) from the original texts, but I could argue they exposed more people to the Consulting detective than any other interpretation, possibly even INCLUDING the original texts.
http://twitter.com/#!/alannabennett AlannaBennett

Hence the disclosure “We know we missed some.”(Basil Rathbone is amazing)
http://beinggeekchic.com Being Geek Chic

I have another suggestion: watch everything with Martin Freeman or Benedict Cumberbatch in it. For me, I enjoy the show because of my love of the Sherlock stories, but I’m deeply and powerfully obsessed because of the acting talents of the two stars.

And then, there’s this for the real hardcore Cumberbitches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxJXHY92Ju4 BTW, NSFW.
KMC

Or you could search around your area for a Sherlock Holmes society…there are a lot of them out there. But be careful…I attended a meeting of my local one after the first series of Sherlock…you wouldn’t believe the scorn and dislike most of them had for it…of course…at 53 I’m the youngest in the group by at least 10 years so it could be a generational thing…some of these people grew up going to the movies to watch Rathbone and Bruce!
Anonymous

Oh, I know, but SOMEbody had to do the “How could you forget” post, I thought I’d just get it out of the way.
http://twitter.com/#!/alannabennett AlannaBennett

Hahaha, I get it. I’m pretty sure it’s in the bylaws of posts like these that people must point out what was forgotten.
Izzy K

I’m not sure that watching Doctor Who will make anyone less frustrated with Moffat. Then again, I tried to fill the void left by a year of no Doctor Who with Sherlock, it probably would have been better the other way around.
Anonymous

Sherlock Holmes was one of my very first fandoms–my dad read all of the stories to me when I was 8–so much love for this list! As delightful as Benedict Cumberbatch is, for me, no one holds a candle to Jeremy Brett’s Holmes. Basil Rathbone–meh. Jeremy Brett all day every day! (Still great for the slashers–”Oh Watson, you will stay? I am lost without you.”)

Favorite Watson? Martin Freeman.
http://twitter.com/allxthatxpunk Shannon S.

I’d suggest checking out TNT’s new show Perception. The premise is an (un-medicated, high functioning) paranoid-schizophrenic neuroscience professor helps a former student turned ex-FBI agent solve some of Chicago’s most bizarre crimes, while dealing with his own hallucinations. Think Monk meets House (substitute the medicine with psychology) featuring the lovely Eric McCormack as the main character. I love it and I think it’s worth checking out
R.O.U.S.

Oh hurrah, I love when Sherlock is on TMS! My people. We are all in this waiting game together, and everything is glorious.
http://twitter.com/rockinlibrarian Amy M Weir

That’s probably the ONLY thing for me. Actually for me it’s just Martin. Yes, I loved the show as a whole, but I NEED MORE MARTIN, ALL THE TIME, PLEASE HELP, WORLD, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER AND EVEN THEN THERE’LL BE ALL THOSE FRIGGIN’ DWARVES TRYING TO HOG THE SPOTLIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Unrelated, spellcheck thinks I ought to change “DWARVES” to “WHARVES.”

Anyway, yes, I really can’t watch other Sherlock Holmes adaptations now because I suddenly hate their Watsons even more than I used to hate crappy Watson adaptions before (seriously, WHY do so many of them have to play him so BUMBLING?). Except Jude Law because he’s dashingly handsome. But he still fails at being The Greatest Watson In the World. But this is also why I can’t watch the US version of The Office since I saw the UK version. John Krasinski probably doesn’t actually deserve the irrational hatred I suddenly have towards him.
Anonymous

Yes to this!
If anyone wants to see a truly heartwrenchingly awesome thing with Benedict Cumberbatch I recommend giving Hawking a go. It’s a biopic on the early years of Stephen Hawking’s career and it is beautiful and tragic and Cumberbatch does a hell of a job. It actually made me read A Brief History of Time, even though my physics ability is negligable.
Anonymous

Agree wholeheartedly about The Office. I didnt even really enjoy the UK version because I have an intense dislike of Ricky Gervais. I still watched every episode because of Martin Freeman and MacKenzie Crook.

And now I have mental images of The Hobbit, starring Bilbo Baggins and thirteen wharves. Thanks.
Olivia Allen

Ooh, and Third Star. That was AMAZINGLY sad and beautiful at the same time. Warning: I cried and I’m not emotional.
http://www.facebook.com/Travis.K.Fischer Travis Kyle Fischer

He’s Sherlock Holmes…
Kirby Burt

Hmm, I think you should add Cabin Pressure to this list. It’s a brilliant radio show that I started listening to because of Benedict and continued to because it hilarious and cleverly-written, and I’ve fallen in love with all of the characters. I think a little comedy should do Sherlock fans some good, especially after Reichenbach. (Not that it won’t give you feels as well. But at least you’re laughing and crying at the same time.) Otherwise, I strongly second all of the above here! (Except maybe going outside, that’s very last-resort.)
http://twitter.com/literatewench literatewench

1) yup 2) yup 3) yup 4) yup 5) nope
http://www.facebook.com/stephanie.a.smith.7731 Stephanie Ann Smith

Seriously. Done it all. Still dying.
https://twitter.com/lyssiefikse Lyssie89

I’m right there with you! I just started S5, and I have only been working on it for 2 weeks or so. MOFFAT!!!
https://twitter.com/SeeSome Charley Sumner

I know that there are an insane number of Holmes adaptations, but not mentioning either “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother” starring the incomparable Gene Wilder or the legendary “Young Sherlock Holmes” is shameful.
http://www.facebook.com/michael.emig.50 Michael Emig

I really liked Sherlock Hound as a kid. It was my first exposure to Sherlock Holmes, and it was one of the earliest works of Miyazaki. I found most of it on Youtube (it was a couple months ago though, so not sure if it’s still there.)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=780031472 Melanie Gießler

THIS THIS THIS.
I was completely flabbergasted when I finished the list and hadn’t seen Cabin Pressure mentioned. Right now I’m even more obsessed with CP than with Sherlock and that’s an impressive feat. It’s like a cross of Black Books and Fawlty Towers on a plane, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Roger Allam! What could possibly be better?
Roxanne Broda-Blake

AHHH I was not expecting JOHN AND HANK. Also I adore the Jeremy Brett series. And of course, can’t forget about Wishbone’s adaptation of “The Hounds of the Baskervilles.” DFTBA, TheMarySue!
Anonymous

”A cross of Black Books and Fawlty Towers on a plane, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Roger Allam”

…okay, I’m there!
http://wrongsirwrong.blogspot.com/ Magic Xylophone

What with The Hobbit’s shooting schedule, it seems Martin is anything but a “Free man.”

HAW! I kill me.
http://wrongsirwrong.blogspot.com/ Magic Xylophone

Are you Kate Beaton’s sister?
http://wrongsirwrong.blogspot.com/ Magic Xylophone

Solve crimes.
http://wrongsirwrong.blogspot.com/ Magic Xylophone

Basil of Baker St. was named after him, wasn’t he?
http://wrongsirwrong.blogspot.com/ Magic Xylophone

Go back inside.
Anonymous

Wait, has no one said Zero Effect yet? Because, THAT. Also, watch ST:TNG Elementary, My Dear Data over and over like I have (even though Dr. Pulaski is the meanest person ever). And read every single one of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries.
http://twitter.com/AmyTheFreak Amy C.

Everybody watch Jekyll!!!
http://emmagrant01.livejournal.com/ Emma Grant

I must be a sadist, because I love long hiatuses (hiati?) between releases of canon. (Compared to the wait between the two Star Wars trilogies, this is really not much, yanno?) What I love most about a long hiatus, though, is the kind of fan creativity it inspires. Epic fanfics abound, each one with its own spin on what might happen next. I’ve read a dozen versions of how Sherlock will come back, and I want more. All those fics will get jossed by the new season, so I’m happy for them to have their glory days for a while. :-)
Vanja

YES! I found them a couple of months ago and got through them in weeks. It is hilarious and I was laughing out loud while listening. Poor Martin&his hat, and Douglas is a combination of Kerr Avon and the Dowager Countess of Grantham, full of snark.
http://profile.yahoo.com/JYTWCV7OYMXXL645HTRNUGKYGQ Alicia P

The Masterpiece Contemporary series “Last Enemy” has five episodes full of Benedict’s glory. He plays mathematician, Steven Ezard who gets caught up in a government conspiracy. I watched it on Hulu last year, looks like it’s on Hulu Plus now and available on Netflix
Anonymous

This is literally my life right now. DAMN YOU MOFFAT!!!
http://twitter.com/diva_doodles Heather

“Young Sherlock Holmes” is a fluffy bit of fun. :-)
MyFeelsAreBroken

I literally just finished Sherlock, so I almost started crying when I read the quote on the second slide. OMG. I’ve finished all available Doctor Who and almost all of Torchwood and I simply do not know what to do with my life now.

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