Our dear WATSON

FANS OF THE Sherlock Holmes-inspired American TV drama “Elementary” are in for an exciting new season as the CBS series returns to the screen next Wednesday with a major twist and a new character.
The series places Arthur Conan Doyle’s deducing detective in present-day New York City, where Holmes, a former consultant to Scotland Yard played by Jonny Lee Miller, has moved to recover from his struggles with drugs. Dr Joan Watson, portrayed by Lucy Liu, is a former surgeon who enters his life in her new vocation as a “sober companion”. Their friendship grows as the two become partners in helping the New York police solve their most difficult cases.
The crime drama’s fourth season picks up pretty much where Season 3 left off, with Holmes reeling from a relapse into substance abuse. That paves the way for a family reunion and the introduction of Holmes’ estranged father Morland (John Noble), who initiated the relationship between his son and Watson in the first place.
While Holmes is busy redeeming himself and reconnecting with his father, Watson is shouldering an emotional burden of her own, as her friend and crime-solving partner goes through a difficult phase.
Earlier this week, we had a chat with Lucy Liu, and asked her about her character Watson and the direction the show is taking

ARE YOU A FAN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES?
I was brought up in a Chinese family and Arthur Conan Doyle wasn’t on our reading list, so I knew nothing about Holmes until just before we started the series. Then I read all his short stories in a couple of sittings and thoroughly enjoyed them!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?
I love the relationship that she has with Sherlock. I think that Watson and Holmes form a very dynamic team. Even in the novels and short stories, it’s amazing how they develop this relationship, how they fall apart and get back together again. Their relationship is actually the core of the whole story and that is what the series has built on. I like that fact that she started out as his “sober companion” at first, and then started to work on his cases. It’s very cool.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH HER?
I think she has sense of humour and is very down to earth. She also likes to eat a lot, which I do as well! Those are my three highlights!

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE ON THE SAME SHOW FOR FOUR YEARS NOW?
For me it’s amazing that we’re continuing to bring in so many wonderful guest stars. I’ve had people I admire come on to the show – people that you’d never expect to be on the show or are big fans of the show. It’s the longest show that I’ve ever done and because it has developed so strongly, we’ve all become family.

IS IT STRANGE TO TAKE ON A ROLE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY A MALE CHARACTER?
I didn’t think about it that much. Watson became a woman when Rob Doherty created the show and I think he did a great job turning the novel’s original male character into a female without any bumps and bruises. In all the books, Sherlock has been uncomfortable with women, and so Rob thought it would be interesting if Sherlock’s detective partner, the person he spent a lot of time with, was a woman. It’s a bit like wearing an itchy sweater.

HOW HAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHERLOCK AND WATSON DEVELOPED SO FAR?
So far, the characters have developed in a very good way. As we have progressed their friendship has become more intense. Now we are introducing his father and as the relational dynamics change again. Joan steps in as someone who really cares and protects Sherlock in a very different manner. That tells the viewer that the two now have more of an emotional relationship than a work relationship.

AT THE END OF SEASON 3, SHERLOCK HAD A RELAPSE. WILL WATSON RESUME HER ROLE AS A “SOBER COMPANION”?
For sure Watson is not going to be anything more than a friend to him. She’s not going to be a sober companion and you are not going to see her working with him in that capacity – Rob Doherty made that very clear. But she is going to be supporting him emotionally.

HOW HAVE YOU ENJOYED WORKING WITH JOHN NOBLE THIS SEASON?
John Noble is just an absolute gentleman. He is so sweet, so kind, and the complete opposite of all of the characters he plays that are really twisted and dark. He is just a lovely man. He loves his children and his grandchildren and he is a very family oriented person. I have had the honour of working with him on a few scenes featuring just the two of us and I just adore him. He is such a major figure in the show and I hope he can stay on longer.

CURIOUS INCIDENTS
The new season of “Elementary” premieres at 8.55pm on Wednesday on RTL CBS Entertainment HD.
For clips and other details, check www.Facebook.com/RTLCBSEntertainment.