Producer: BBC
Writers: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat
Director: Douglas Mackinnon
Featuring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss, Rupert Graves, Natasha O’Keeffe, Andrew Scott, Una Stubbs
Release Date: Out Now BBC iPlayer

Watching Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, do you really care about the mystery? Yes, because as riveting as the pair are there are many fascinating riddles to solve in Sherlock Holmes: The Abominable Bride. And as a bonus the writers found a way to tell most of the episode in the original Victorian England trappings. This game is more than a foot it’s a whole leg and then some.

Interesting details abound. The original story of Holmes meeting Watson follows closely the first Sherlock story, Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet. Speaking of which, Watson’s tales in The Strand Magazine set up plenty of the humor inherent in Sherlock Holmes: The Abominable Bride. Witness: “I’ve had to grow this mustache just so people would recognize me,” states Watson about the periodical’s artists. As a bonus, Natasha O’Keeffe as the eponymous bride Elimlia Ricoletti is positively Jokeresque in makeup and attitude. Less Jack Nicolson; more Heath Ledger.

It’s not all staid British stiff upper lip either – fans will know this for a fact but newbies will need the reminder; Sherlock Holmes: The Abominable Bride has plenty of action, dark humor, banter and shrewd solutions to satisfy everyone. Writers Gatiss and Moffatt untangle a complicated narrative and alienate no viewer in the process; there are moments when the plot penny drops not because the plot is difficult but because the writing takes the viewer there.

Once again the BBC treats Sherlock Holmes with respect and quality the character deserves; this episode is a classic long before the end titles roll. Not bad for a publicly funded, non-commercial television station, pushing nothing but quality and entertainment.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker