Why did the film industry stop treating the Oscars as the ultimate lifetime achievement goal for directors and actors? Because insiders could clearly see: the Oscars no longer cared about the themes or depth of a film. What they truly cared about was whether a film aligned with what they wanted to see. It wasn't about awards choosing the film—it was about films catering to the awards.
Back in the bizarre social climate of Earth, Edward figured that a movie jam-packed with different gendered colored leads, marginalized groups, and maybe even a gender-affirming attack helicopter character would likely earn the approval of the Academy.
But in this world, the movie scene didn't suffer from those problems. If a film was good, it was good. If it had depth, then it had depth. You wouldn't get an award just for casting a colored lead. That's why Edward could freely focus on shooting his own stories. Still, he hadn't watched many art films. Though Forrest Gump was excellent, it would be tough to adapt. By comparison, something like Manchester by the Sea might be easier.
"What was Manchester by the Sea about again?" Edward scratched his head, struggling to recall the plot. He didn't usually watch movies like that. Art films weren't his style—he mostly preferred commercial films.
And if a horror film wanted to win major awards, that was almost impossible. Even if it did, it would likely be limited to the horror genre awards. That would give his haters more ammunition—"He's just a cheap thrill guy."
So, Edward had made up his mind: he would aim directly for the Pokémon League's Best Film and Best Director awards, and shut those critics up for good.
While Edward was busy writing his script, Zoroark was on her phone, browsing reviews for Sherlock Holmes Season 2.
On a popular storytelling platform, a trending thread had climbed into the top three:
*[How would you rate Sherlock Holmes Season 2, Episode 2: TheMurder on the Galar Express?]
Seeing this, Zoroark tapped in instantly.
…
[@ForTheSakeOfChampionLeon]:
Thanks for the tag. Reporting live from Galar—I just got off the Galar Express and visited the now-legendary luxury train that made cinematic history. I even went to several key locations featured in TheMurder on the Galar Express
[PHOTO WARNING: MANY IMAGES AHEAD – data users beware!]
I even stepped inside the cabin where Sherlock Holmes stayed during the case. It's been preserved with all the props from the show—even the blankets and pillows are fixed in place! I swear, it felt like Holmes himself was sitting there thinking through the case. It was such a moving experience!
Now, to get to the point—let's talk about Sherlock Holmes Season 2 and what's arguably the best episode so far: TheMurder on the Galar Express.
I've got to say, watching it felt like watching a feature film. Director Edward always shoots his dramas with cinematic quality. The mystery was tight, the clues interconnected beautifully, and when the truth was finally revealed… I was holding a chip in my hand the whole time and forgot to eat it!
It wasn't until the credits rolled that I realized I had been frozen, chip raised mid-air. The logic, the setup, the twists—masterclass. Honestly, in my opinion, this episode deserves the Best TV Series award at this year's Pokémon League Grand Awards. If it doesn't win, then there's definitely some shady business going on!
Director Edward is clearly a man of detail. The show is packed with clues for viewers to pick apart. A few of my friends even pause the episode before Holmes reveals the killer and try to deduce it themselves. That's the real fun.
Up to now, Sherlock Holmes hasn't had a single logical flaw in its cases. Every conclusion is convincing. The way the show respects the intelligence of its audience makes me so happy. Finally, a writer and director who doesn't treat us like idiots.
But what satisfies me most is that Sherlock Holmes hasn't been bogged down by romance. Well, except that woman, of course.
…
"Hm, good taste." Zoroark nodded approvingly. She agreed— TheMurder on the Orient Express (as they called it internally) was indeed excellent. The name "Orient Express" was actually coined by Edward, so that's what the employees at Ghostl Film Pictures used. But the publicly released name was "TheMurder on the Galar Express," as a gesture of thanks to the Galar League for sponsoring the show.
The Galar League, naturally, was overjoyed. They had loaned out one luxury train and reaped a flood of tourists in return. It was a bargain!
Now, the other regions' League's were all itching to get a slice of that pie. They were lining up, hoping to invite Edward over to film next. After all, none of Edward's films had flopped so far. Tom and Jerry alone had brought the Hoenn League massive profits. Finance ministers all over the Pokémon world were going green with envy.
Next, Zoroark opened the "RottenBerries" (a popular review site):
(Sherlock Holmes Season 2, Episode 2 – Rate the Characters!)
Director/Writer/Producer – Edward Stone: 9.9/10
User123: [Absolutely deserves full marks. Where else are you going to find a genius director like this? Thank you to the Stone family for giving birth to Edward!]
Oran-nge: [Even though I wanted to give him a zero for tricking us with One Missed Call, I have to admit, Sherlock Holmes is a masterpiece. So full marks anyway!]
MynameisSherlock: [I'd give more than 10 if I could—my parents are thinking of renaming me Sherlock Holmes!]
"Pfft—!" Zoroark couldn't hold back a snort of laughter.
In fact, there had been a recent trend online where people were changing their names to "Holmes" or "Sherlock" just to ride the hype wave. Most of it was a joke, but a few people actually went through with it.
Lead Actor – Sherlock Holmes: 9.9/10
DeductiveEmployee: [Deductive Reasoning Methodology Master!]
YourFired: [The sound of his thoughts is too loud!]
Mamamia: [He doesn't even act like he's putting on a persona—but somehow, you still feel like he's always in character. That's how good it is.]
Crobatman: [Also, no one's talking about that old man? He's definitely not just a background character…]
The ratings for Holmes were just as high. Even the "low" scores usually came from people trying to stand out with contrarian takes.
Zoroark put down her phone and rubbed her hands together excitedly. Should she ask the boss to give her a role too?
She thought her acting wasn't half bad.
(End of Chapter)