DEVI

[mightymads]

I was listening to a Bert Coules adaptation of DEVI again, and again the depth of Watson’s love and loyalty blew my mind away. Watson agrees to proceed with Holmes’s batshit crazy idea because he can’t talk Holmes out of it and wants to keep him safe. Watson would rather be poisoned too than let a convalescing Holmes expose himself to poison alone. I just ASCGHUJKL

Also a quick recap of things which were pointed out elsewhere:

- ACD and and his wife Jean had a holiday in Cornwall in 1910 (DEVI was published in December 1910) when ACD was recovering from a surgery and Jean was expecting their second child;
- DEVI features two lovers who can’t marry due to “the deplorable laws of England”: ACD and Jean could marry only after ten years of courtship after ACD’s first wife died. Also quite a parallel with Holmes and Watson;
- In Bert Coules version Holmes and Watson quote Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde when they are almost dying from poisoning:

“So let us die and never part
Together for the rest of time
No more waking
No more fearing
Nameless, endless,
Loving, sharing.”

- Holmes lets go of the man who avenged his beloved, saying that he’d basically do the same if someone killed a person he loved, and then, in 3GAR, “If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive.”

Comments

[dorinda]

Agreed on all counts!

I love the Bert Coules adaptations SO MUCH. And that one in particular is absolutely turned up to eleven. ♥_____♥ Every time I chat with people who are interested in Holmes, I make sure to mention those radio plays, because just in case they haven't heard them yet, wow do they have a treat coming!

[mightymads]

Oh yes, the Bert Coules adaptations are such a treasure. They give so many headcanons and expand the Holmes and Watson universe in a unique way. Masterfully done; beautiful, beautiful voices. I'll definitely do a complete re-listen little by little.

[mightymads]

DEVI is one of my favourite Granada episodes :) And I’d recommend all of the Bert Coules radio plays, HOUND included. Btw, granada-brett-crumbs recently made a post with links to various Holmes adaptations. Bert Coules Holmes can be found there too!