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Sherlock Holmes. It's a name that keeps popping up these days, and every new adaptation offers a different way of enjoying the crime-solving antics of the famed detective and his sidekick Dr. Watson. That's why I've put together a little guide of today's Sherlocks, so you can choose the right one for you depending on what you're into.

sherlock (2010)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are the new detective-and-doctor duo residing at 221B Baker St, in this modern revamping of Sherlock Holmes. Although it is set in current-day London, many elements of the classic story are maintained, including most of the supporting characters and that wonderful line "Come if convenient... If inconvenient, come anyway". Every Sherlock is different, and Benedict Cumberbatch has to be one of the most intelligent and observant, yet the most arrogant and self-assured Holmes that has ever been. And yet, though he might appear cold and unaffected, mess with Dr. Watson or his landlady Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock will TAKE YOU DOWN. 

This is my personal favourite of the recent adaptations, because weirdly enough creating a seemingly heartless Sherlock has made the show all the more emotional. Then it's even more special when he and Watson forge a deep friendship and caring for one another (that we are assured multiple times throughout the series has no homosexual basis whatsoever). While the shows are long (90 minutes each!) and the seasons short (3 episodes per season!), each episode gets the audience guessing about who's behind the crime and even though some of the plots are convoluted and full of twists-and-turns, they're generally easy enough to follow, have some thrilling fight scenes, and you're bound to get a giggle or two from their adventures.

Go for this Sherlock if you like: arrogance, slight gay-subtext, crazy plot twists, long hours spent in front of the tv, and Martin Freeman (who doesn't?).  

sherlock holmes: a game of shadows (2011)

So far Robert Downey Jr. has graced our screens as the rather eccentric, erratic and just a little bit drunken Sherlock Holmes for two films, the most recent being Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. This is the most traditional of the Sherlock adaptations, as on top of featuring Sherlock's nemesis, Moriarty, it is also set in the 1890s, so if you're into period Sherlock then this is the one for you. Robert Downey makes a more believable Sherlock who draws conclusions that are actually in the realm of possibility (no gauging a person's marital status by their show-size or whether they take sugar in their tea by the way they part their hair). He has flaws, he makes mistakes, but all up he's still the amazing detective we know and love.

The movie itself is action-packed and super-fast paced, with quick, witty dialogue that you really need to concentrate on to follow the plot. There isn't really a 'whodunit' element either; you know who the enemy is from the get-go, so the audience can't really join in with the problem solving. In saying that, it has some great comedic moments and if you're looking for a thrill, the slow-motion action sequences are INCREDIBLE. The Watson-Holmes relationship maintains that classic formula, and even though Holmes frequently annoys the shit out of him (and sometimes throws his fiance out of moving trains), Watson will follow Sherlock to the ends of the earth, as would the detective for his doctor.

Go for this Sherlock if you like: comedy, explosions, a super-speedy script, hectic olden-day garb and a Holmes with a bit o' heart.  

elementary (2012)

Elementary, Watson! The most recent Sherlock Holmes adaptation features Jonny Lee Miller as the detective and, with a twist on the classic tale, Lucy Liu as the first female Watson. This one has changed up the story the most, and while Sherlock is still a Londoner himself, the show is set in New York City. Most of the book's original supporting characters haven't made it into the series either (although the name 'Irene' did resurface in ep 6!). This Sherlock certainly knows his stuff, and sits somewhere in between the first two Sherlocks in intelligence, which is a pretty good amount if you ask me. He is another narcissistic bastard, but we know he's hiding some secrets from his past that are sure to reveal he has a softer side too.

This show is probably the most accessible to the general populous as its easy-to-follow, but still interactive so we can have a crack at solving the puzzle too. It's a procedural show with a new mystery every week, which can a times feel repetitive, but the more mysteries the merrier, right? Its mostly dialogue-based and its not nearly as visually dynamic or as action packed as the other adaptations, but there's something so... reliable about this show. And even though the Watson-Holmes relationship is at this stage a little under-baked, I'm sure we'll be watching a friendship blossom over the coming episodes (which the producers have assured will only ever be a friendship, a refreshing take on male-female crime solving duos). Jolly good!

Go for this Sherlock if you like: procedural shows with a comforting formula, girls and boys being friends without benefits, involving yourself in the crime-solving, and a Holmes with a mystery of his own.