New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
  2. Feminism
9 January 2012updated 03 Aug 2021 5:49am

Does Steven Moffat have a problem with women?

A debate over the Doctor Who and Sherlock writer's attitude to female characters.

By Helen Lewis

On 1 January, the first episode of the new series of Sherlock aired — a retelling of the Arthur Conan Doyle story A Scandal in Bohemia called A Scandal in Belgravia. Among several changes from the source material were a few which provoked comment; particularly the decision to adapt the character of Irene Adler (“the woman”, as Holmes calls her).

Instead of an opera singer, she was now a dominatrix. And — spoiler alert — instead of outwitting Sherlock, she was undone by her decision to make a crucial password dependent on her fearsome crush on the great-coated detective.

Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
More than a landlord: A future of opportunity
Towards an NHS fit for the future
How drones can revolutionise UK public services