Poll of the Day > Things I Don't Understand 01 - Professor Moriarty's Popularity

(+) Yeah! (+)

I just don't get it. His name often comes up in discussions of great antagonists in works of literature and I'm just not having it.

I have read EVERY Sherlock Holmes novel and short story. I can tell you that Moriarty was shoehorned in to one of the short stories solely as an excuse to kill Holmes off as Doyle had tired of writing the novels. There was absolutely no foreshadowing to Moriarty's existence in all the works that existed prior to that short story. All of a sudden it was just revealed out of nowhere that Holmes had some kind of antagonist with far-reaching connections that was masterminding much of Holmes' obstacles. It was downright atrocious storytelling. Moriarty himself is often praised for being so "mysterious", but that's utter nonsense. That's just fanboy speak. The translation to "Moriarty is mysterious" is "Moriarty is a horribly bland and underdeveloped villain". No personality. No background. No character.

Doyle would go on to retcon Holmes' anticlimactic death with the excuse that he somehow survived. Moriarty made, like, one other brief appearance and there was some interaction with Moriarty's henchmen in a couple of other short stories. That's it.

Now, I understand Moriarty has generally been given more exposure in other forms of Sherlock Holmes media such as television and film. I can understand liking him in that regard. But the fact that his name is frequently mentioned among the best antagonists in literature specifically is just laughable.

He was kind of forgettable in the Sherlock Homes stories.

Moriarty on the latest TV show is great though. Granted, the latest season kind of had him become the brainwashed bitch of Holmes sister, but he is still miles better then he was in the novel.
---

I agree, Ratigan was better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP8QdFttugg
---

Dikitain posted...

He was kind of forgettable in the Sherlock Homes stories.

I'd say that "kind of forgettable" is far too forgiving.slacker03150 posted...

I agree, Ratigan was better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP8QdFttugg

The funny thing is, Ratigan actually was better.

the newest series did him a pretty good job though, until recently.

The movies also made him a good villain but yeah ni the stories he wasn't that good

Is this gooing to be a series? i like the concept
---

Computer, in the Holmesian style, create a mystery to confound Data with an opponent who has the ability to defeat him.

Dikitain posted...

He was kind of forgettable in the Sherlock Homes stories.

Moriarty on the latest TV show is great though. Granted, the latest season kind of had him become the brainwashed bitch of Holmes sister, but he is still miles better then he was in the novel.

I assumed you meant Natalie Dormer in Elementary until you mentioned the sister part, then realised you were talking about that awful version of Moriarty on that terrible Sherlock show.

Anyway, to address TC, Moriarty's great in that he only ever appeared in two stories, yet was memorable enough to be seen as Holmes' arch-nemesis. Literally, his first appearance is as a secondary character and his second is when he and Sherlock go over the Reichenbach Falls to their deaths (until fan pressure forced the author to bring Sherlock back nearly 20 years later).
---

He's only considered to be an arch nemesis because Sherlock explicitly describes him as such.
---

Currant_Kaiser posted...

Now, I understand Moriarty has generally been given more exposure in other forms of Sherlock Holmes media such as television and film. I can understand liking him in that regard. But the fact that his name is frequently mentioned among the best antagonists in literature specifically is just laughable.

Without this closing statement, I would've had to disagree. But this pretty much sums up my thoughts.
---

enterthemadrox posted...

Dikitain posted...

He was kind of forgettable in the Sherlock Homes stories.

Moriarty on the latest TV show is great though. Granted, the latest season kind of had him become the brainwashed bitch of Holmes sister, but he is still miles better then he was in the novel.

I assumed you meant Natalie Dormer in Elementary until you mentioned the sister part, then realised you were talking about that awful version of Moriarty on that terrible Sherlock show.

Anyway, to address TC, Moriarty's great in that he only ever appeared in two stories, yet was memorable enough to be seen as Holmes' arch-nemesis. Literally, his first appearance is as a secondary character and his second is when he and Sherlock go over the Reichenbach Falls to their deaths (until fan pressure forced the author to bring Sherlock back nearly 20 years later).

Blighboy posted...

He's only considered to be an arch nemesis because Sherlock explicitly describes him as such.

Currant_Kaiser posted...

The funny thing is, Ratigan actually was better.

Out of curiosity have you read the basil of bakerstreet books? I was wondering how Ratigan was portrayed in those, but I have never met anyone who has read them.
---

Currant_Kaiser posted...

I have read EVERY Sherlock Holmes novel and short story. I can tell you that Moriarty was shoehorned in to one of the short stories solely as an excuse to kill Holmes off as Doyle had tired of writing the novels.

And if Moriarty solely existed in that one work, you might be right.
---