What combines corgis, supernatural phenomena and assassins all in one show? BBC America’s brand new show Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, a show that has been hyped up by the channel for the past couple of months. They delivered fantastically, and maybe even surprised a few people.
Based off of the book series by Douglas Adams, it follows lonely bellhop Todd Brotzman, an ordinary man who lives a supposedly boring life. Instead of going with the ’80s themes endowed in the book, we’re introduced in Seattle. Compared to other shows on BBC America, everyone is American except for Dirk. It’s been a refresher for those dedicated to the channel, and for those who tend to watch reality television, this may not be their cup of tea.
The pretense of this show being Sherlock-esque is promptly broken within the first ten minutes. The colors and vibrancy of the set and characters reminds me of The Grand Budapest Hotel, and it’s a nice coincidence that the setting is a hotel. Slapstick and dry humor line the show, and the darker humor is balanced out perfectly with the absurdity the viewer encounters. Deciding whether to like or dislike the show will definitely be sorted out by the second episode.
The mystery that will be ongoing throughout the season is both a missing persons and murder case, and that is what introduces us to the main characters, Todd and Dirk. Todd is played by Elijah Wood, who does a masterfully well-done job at being appalled at the danger and mayhem he encounters when Dirk (Samuel Barnett) pops into his life uninvited. One line he says is “I am not your Watson!” followed by a… choice word. The pilot centers on Todd finding his place in the world as it seemingly falls apart around him. But rest assured, Dirk is always there to give tidbits of advice and an explanation for what this “holistic detective” business is.
Overall, this can be expected to be a lively and fast-paced show, so be warned—it is not for the faint of heart. The combination may seem absurd, but it leaves off with a feeling of it all being connected.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency airs Saturday nights at 9/8C on BBC America.
Rating: 8/10
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