The idea of taking modern Sherlock cast and having them play their roles in Victorian times has probably crossed every fan's mind at some point. With this slightly belated Christmas special, Moffat and Gatiss have finally scratched that itch. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman get to dress in the more traditional idea of the detectives clothing, Mrs Hudson is a landlady proper and Watson's stories are sold in the strand. The streets of London are as foggy as any old Sherlock Holmes pastiche. Fortunately, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are wise enough not to make this purely a retro show. The entire Victorian facade is the invention of the 21st century Sherlock, under the influence of drugs. Having heard of Moriaty's apparent return fromt he dead he is looking back in time at another case of a faked death, that of Emilia Ricoletti, the bride who apparently shot herself but returned hours later and killed her husband.
The juxtaposition between the old and new applies to the Ricoletti case itself, as it ties back to women's rights. This is not just a pleasure jaunt through the tropes of Arthur Conan Doyle as Moffatt and Gatiss use the status of the female cast to say something about the sidelining of women. Mrs Hudson, Mary Watson and even Molly Hooper are oppressed by the Victorian times, but by forming a movement they have used the fake Ricolletti to bring revenge on men. Watson takes on a typically chauvinist attitude, but Sherlock and Mycroft, the cleverer men, are able to see the importance of the women's rights movement.
As the narrative progresses Sherlock's drugs wear off the two realities start blurring together and a slightly Inception inspired moment when Holmes and Moriaty are at Reichenbach Falls. It shows that Watson is as ever John's hope. Part of me wishes that the whole thing could have been a pure Victorian melodrama, but this kept the modern series relevant.
The cast are as good as ever. Benedict Cumberbatch is continuing to show the lighter Sherlock whose attitude has been improved through experience with John. Martin Freeman is also great as a far more authoritarian version of Dr Watson. Louise Brealy is hilarious as the disguised Dr Hooper. It was also good to see Tim McInnery making a guest appearance as a wife of one of the women's rights cult.
Overall this was a pretty strong episode of Sherlock. The only downside is the agonising wait until Series 4.
9/10
That was the genuine riddle as Benedict Cumberbatch again wore the immense analyst's fluttering jacket for an energetically foreseen full length come back to Baker Street. It was in no way, shape or form basic that The Abominable Bride would carry on a drum-move of buildup that, even in the midst of the commotion and tumult of Christmas, has been stunning.
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