8.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sherlock Holmes stalks again in contemporary versions of the classic detective stories, translated to 21st century London, where the world's first "consulting detective" advises Scotland Yard with the aid of his friend and comrade, Dr. John Watson, a soldier recently returned from deployment to Afghanistan.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Louise BrealeyMystery | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
As per recent edition of the Season One Blu-ray
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Running for four seasons between 2010-17, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat's BBC series Sherlock successfully brought Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective stories into the modern era. Featuring great casting led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson as well as solid scripts, terrific production design, and long-form structures more akin to full-length films, each season consisted of just three episodes; a one-off special, "The Abominable Bride", was also produced between the third and fourth season. The easiest way to get everything in one fell swoop is via WB's complete series Blu-ray set... but a year after that box was released, the studio shrewdly re-released the first season in 4K UHD with upgrades to its audio, video, and extras. It presumably didn't sell well enough to continue, but can still be found for pennies on the dollar and is thus a solid buy for format enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
NOTE: As this release does not include a Blu-ray, these screenshots were sourced from the 4K disc and downsampled to 1080p/SDR. For that reason, they're not an accurate gauge of the true UHD presentation.
Sherlock's first season was released to Blu-ray all the way back in 2010 in 1080i, a format rarely seen on HD home video but one that nonetheless scored decent marks in our review linked above. One might expect that this 4K edition's 2160p/HDR upgrade would be a night-and-day difference, but the source materials native 2K resolution and particular aesthetic doesn't lend its to visual revelation. Even so, the upgrades are clearly there: largely in the form of fine detail and disc compression, as the UHD format's more efficient HEVC codec and more ample real estate -- roughly double, in this case -- means that "just an upscale" shouldn't be damning with feint praise. What's more is that it also features high dynamic range and thus shows a much greater and more refined variant in contrast levels and depth on both ends of the brightness spectrum; this frequently bolsters the show's shadowy cinematography, not to mention its generally muted but nonetheless particular color scheme which typically runs quite cool. Bit rate follows suit, again often more than doubling the numbers seen on the older Blu-ray edition, which results in fewer noticeable compression artifacts such as posterization and macro blocking. As usual, the Blu-ray still holds its own on smaller displays... but everyone else can and will notice the differences here and it'll probably harder to "go back" than you expect.
Warner Bros. had the bad habit of sticking with lossy audio tracks for years after Blu-ray's debut in 2006 -- not to mention other related audio issues that only began to go away a few years ago -- so it's no surprise that Sherlock: Season One's 2010 Blu-ray edition featured a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track. This beefier DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix obviously ups the ante but again not to a transformative degree, obviously offering an improved dynamic range and a better-balanced sonic footprint without venturing into full-bodied Atmos territory. No matter: what's here still gets the job done, and to decently stronger degree, as Sherlock features some very nice atmospherics and other appreciated elements such as Victorian-era music by series composers David Arnold and Michael Price, as well as plenty of discrete activity to ensure that the front channel doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting. It's a nicely-refined effort overall, and one that I'm certainly glad got the upgrade -- somewhat frustratingly, WB also saddled Sherlock's second season Blu-ray with Dolby Digital audio back in 2012, making it the only one of the lot still stuck in lossy audio land.
Much like Season One's Blu-ray counterpart, optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during all three episodes.
This two-disc release ships in a rather nondescript dual-hubbed eco keepcase with recycled cover artwork and no inserts; you may or may not get a slipcover. (I didn't.) The bonus features are spread across both discs and, as mentioned earlier, are mostly recycled from the older Blu-ray edition with a few nice additions.
DISC ONE
DISC TWO
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat's BBC series Sherlock was well-received during its initial four-season run in 2010-17 and has also left its mark on home video, which is perhaps best represented by Warner Bros.' complete series Blu-ray set. Soon after, the studio shrewdly released Sherlock's first season on 4K as a well-rounded set that improved upon its HD counterpart in every possible department. Now available for pennies on the dollar (right around $10, as of this review), it's an extremely low-risk upgrade for format enthusiasts and newcomers... and even if the full series gets a surprise full-series release in the future, this one's well worth picking up at the current price point. Firmly Recommended.
2010
2012
2014
2016
2017
2017
50th Anniversary Special
2013
2013
1943
The Sign of Four / The Hound of the Baskervilles / The Master Blackmailer / The Last Vampyre / The Eligible Bachelor
1987-1993
2018
1995
1996
1948
2013
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
2009
Sherlock Holmes
1945
2019
2018
1979
4K Restoration
1973
1988
1948
2009