Elementary: The Fifth Season

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

I thoroughly enjoy this series. It is one of the few shows I sincerely have watched since its first season. I ABSOLUTLEY love the cast. Jonny, Lucy, Jon Michael, and Aidan are a breath of fresh air. They work very well together and I genuinely love how their characters seemingly truly care for each other. Take for instance, Marcus and Sherlock. Very rough at first, but they sincerely respect, work well together, and truly care for each other.

The writing, the guest stars, and the stories are thought provoking. I usually do not look at a lot of the bloopers, extras, contained on each DVD but I did on season 5. Just one of the producers stating how they challenge themselves as writers to truly stump one of the world’s greatest detectives is quite reassuring. I love how intricate little plots are contained to keep this from being run of the mill, ho-hum cases.

I enjoyed the late, RIP, Nelsan Ellis as Shinwell Johnson. His story, seemingly, run of the mill, contained interesting plot points and truly showed a man who wanted to change and repent for past sins but was unable to escape from some of his past indiscretions. His last encounter with Sherlock was totally unexpected.

I enjoyed Marcus’ storyline w/Chantell, too. Kitty’s return two -parter was very good. However, my favorite episode was the one with the brilliant, Isaiah Whitlock, Jr. It was brilliantly acted, well crafted(please look at the extras on this episode re: the flashbacks). Lucy and Isaiah were especially solid. There climatic scene in the diner and Isaiah’s realization as to what Joan did for him was full of emotion. I was actually brought to tears. It was a very, very, good scene, exchange between the two. Even, Gregson and Joan’s summation as to what just occurred in the diner was quite touching. Just a great episode.

Robert Hewitt Wolfe, one of my favorite writers from his DS9 days, pens some of the most interesting stories. It continues this season. Just not to single him out because of all the writers do an EXCEPTIONAL job with this show. Again, I am biased because Wolfe was an integral part of one of my all time favorites, DS9.

I have to mention the BRILLIANT composer, Sean Callery. His work is always exceptional. Solid work on past series like 24 and Homeland, continues on Elementary this season. His music and the songs he selects for usually closing scenes is just great. ‘My Morning Jacket’ and their ‘Waterfall’ album is a favorite of mine as a result of he using ‘Tropics(Erase Traces)’ at the conclusion of the Isaiah Whitlock episode.

Like many have mentioned, I watch all the episodes on CBS and I own every season on DVD, too. This series is a guilty pleasure of mine and I really wish it had better ratings on CBS. I really believe the suits know it is quality but one of these days Les Moonves is going to be forced to cancel it because of its so-so ratings. I know it is a mid season replacement, 13 episode series this fall, so I really hope this is not its swan song. Like Tony Randall told Jack Klugman during the Odd Couple’s, five year run on ABC, 70-75, their show will be found and appreciated in syndication. I think this is what will occur with Elementary. Its quality will be appreciated by a larger audience in syndication, DVD purchases, Amazon/Netflix viewing, etc.

– Steve Austin

Season 5 of “Elementary” returns to its roots with each episode’s primary focus being on Holmes and Watson solving specific crimes as consultants for the NYPD. Personally I found the past few seasons sub plots with Holmes’ brother Mycroft, father Morland, and protégé Kitty Winter (Ophelia Lovibond) all to be more of a distraction than anything else (lamentably Kitty makes a return visit for two episodes, I for one wasn’t missing her).

This season introduces Shinwell Johnson (the late Nathan Ellis) a former gang member whom was saved after a shooting by Joan when she was still a practicing surgeon. This ongoing Shinwell storyline is interesting and occasionally takes center stage in some episodes but does not degrade the overall viewing experience. Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu continue to have strong chemistry and watching them work as the modern day Holmes and Watson remains enjoyable. The supporting cast of Aidan Quinn as Capt. Gregson and Jon Michael Hill as Detective Bell are quite good and are a pleasure to watch.

The mysteries are quite creative and clever keeping viewers guessing most of the time. Sometimes things don’t make much sense such as Holmes and Shinwell boxing in an NYPD gym. Shinwell is supposedly acting as a CI for the police and has integrated back into his old gang so why would he risk being seen at a cop gymnasium? In another episode Joan is awakened by gun shots in the brownstone; her reaction is to hop out of bed and run downstairs unarmed potentially facing death (it was Holmes playing a recording loudly), she seems smarter than that. Also notice that the detectives and CSI folks never wear shoe covers at the various crime scenes, the writers should watch a few episodes of “Major Crimes”.

More unlikely is how much leeway Sherlock and Joan have with the NYPD, being permitted to lead interrogations in particular. I don’t know how ‘consultants’ work with law enforcement in reality and I realize they are the stars of the show after all but these two seem to get away with quite a lot. Hard to believe Captain Gregson and Det. Bell would be so passive and let civilians usurp their authority.

Sadly it appears that “Elementary” is on borrowed time, initially CBS only renewed the series for a short 13 episode run and scheduled it as a mid-season replacement instead of a fall release…not a good sign. Just recently it was announced that the network expanded their series order for another 8 episodes bringing the total closer to the usual number. Despite this news the internet has many rumors that the sixth season will be the last and it won’t be aired until spring of 2018. I for one hope the rumors are wrong, this is a quality program and they haven’t ‘jumped the shark’ yet.

– Colonel D

The strength of any television series that manages to make it through at least two seasons is the willingness of its writers to continue developing and deepening it primary characters.
In Season Five the writers of “Elementary” have done exactly that. The mysteries are still the primary focus of each episode but there was a concerted effort to help viewers get inside the heads of the main characters. Capt. Gregson, for example, wants to re-marry even though the woman he is in love with has a debilitating illness; Watson feels somewhat unfulfilled because she isn’t helping people the way she once did; Marcus Bell has a tragic secret that he has kept hidden for most of his life; and Sherlock has an unexpected issue to deal with.
This season also has an ongoing story that ties into some of those efforts to deepen the characters: The introduction of a former gang member that Watson once saved after he had been shot. It is an intriguing storyline for many reasons but chief among them – in my opinion – is the fact that the former gangster is a complex character. The complexity of Shinwell Johnson – the former gang member – throws Sherlock and Watson into a season-long conflict and is interesting all on its own.
The mysteries themselves are intriguing including one that re-introduces the character of former Sherlock protegee Kitty Winter.
It comes down to this: There is a very good reason why “Elementary” has lasted five seasons and, for me, the refusal of its writers to keep its characters static is that reason.

– Mike Billington

DVD Wholesale Main Features :   

Actors: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn
Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR – Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: August 29, 2017
ASIN: B071G57NKW