Doyle Deduces Best Sherlock Holmes

Since the Immortal Writers have trusted me with their story, William Shakespeare has also entrusted me to post his and other writers' responses to adaptations of their work, fan fiction, and other material. Here is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's response to various interpretations of his Sherlock Holmes stories. -Jill

I'm going to use my considerable skills of deductive reasoning to solve a mystery that has troubled many Sherlock Holmes fans throughout the ages. In point: who best portrayed Sherlock Holmes?

There have been many interpretations of the detective Sherlock Holmes. The late Douglas Wilmer is an iconic Holmes, though contemporary audiences would more likely recognize Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, and Johnny Lee Miller. Bowers is also pestering me to consider some mutt named Wishbone as Sherlock Holmes, as she says this is her favourite rendition of the character. I find myself a bit miffed at the idea of Sherlock Holmes being a dog, so I have used my deductive reasoning to decide he is not the best Sherlock.

So we're down to Wilmer, Downey, Cumberbatch, and Miller.

Writers want their work to remain relevant and popular, and for that reason, I require a more contemporary interpretation of my characters. Unfortunately, I must cast aside Wilmer, though I admire his work as my beloved Sherlock.

However, I do not want the work too contemporary. So while Miller is fairly decent as Holmes, and while Cumberbatch plays him brilliantly as a high-functioning sociopath, I must respect the success of Robert Downey Jr.'s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes in the time period in which it was meant to take place.

My opinion is not the only one that matters in this case. As an Immortal Writer, my characters have come to life, and I've met the real Sherlock Holmes. He states that his favourite interpretation of himself is Benedict Cumberbatch. When I inquired as to his reasons, Holmes gave me a look that clearly declared my stupidity, told me to stop trying to use deductive reasoning and told me to instead try using inductive reasoning, and then walked away, grabbing a blue scarf and a pipe as he did so.

And then there's Bowers, blubbering on about that bloody dog.

We are of three opinions, it seems. I personally prefer Robert Downey Jr., while Sherlock Holmes himself prefers Benedict Cumberbatch. Bowers here insists the best is Wishbone.

What do you think, dear reader? Vote in the comments of this post or on... what's it called? social media?... and we shall see who wins.

The game is on!