Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

“The game is afoot”

When Sherlock first premiered on the BBC in 2010, there were numerous factors that contributed to the instant success of the show, including the modern setting, the thrilling plot, catchy soundtrack, and the well-written lines. However, none of these factors were as significant as the brilliance exhibited by the cast and the chemistry they shared. Amongst Sherlock, Elementary, and the two Sherlock Holmes movies directed by Guy Ritchie, it is in the vicinity of unanimous agreement by fans all over the world that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are the perfect embodiments of Holmes and Watson. In addition to this, Sherlock has been the most successful in capturing the soul of its source material, albeit in a contemporary setting. Given this, one could not help but wonder how well these actors would have performed in the original setting of the books. The closest fans got to see that happen was when Cumberbatch put on the classic Sherlock Holmes hat at the end of the first episode of season 3.

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This time around, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have delivered the perfect holiday gift for the fan-base. The Abominable Bride finds Sherlock and John trying to solve a strange case in their true home, the Victorian Era. The duo are approached by Lestrade who is baffled by the tale of Emilia Riccoletti, a woman who terrorized her street by openly firing at everyone, then committed suicide, returned from the dead to kill her husband, and started murdering other people living in London. As usual, Holmes takes a quick interest in the case and the rest of the episode follows the two trying to get to the root of the mystery with help from a few familiar faces. The plot may seem cliché at the first look, but rest assured, because The Abominable Bride packs a few neat surprises along the way that are guaranteed to give a slight satisfaction to the fans who have been waiting for two years now to see these beloved characters on the small-screen again.

The Abominable Bride is a fun, if not perfect, re-invention of the characters taking place within their classic setting. It opens with the Victorian version of a significant scene from the first season that fans are all familiar with. This particular scene gives the viewers a slice of what they can expect from the rest of the episode. It is one of the clues given to the viewers during the first half of the show which may be enough for a dedicated fan to figure out the bigger picture contained in the plot. Similar to the books, The Abominable Bride is presented from Doctor Watson’s point of view as one of the Sherlock Holmes adventures published by him, but manages to draw a contrast between the Sherlock in his stories and the real Sherlock he knows. The writers have thrown in a few meta-references in the episode regarding the books and the previous seasons as well. As the episode progresses, the plot gets bigger, but not too complex to take the fun out of it.

The highlight of this holiday special, of course, was to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman portray the original incarnations of their characters and proving that they are just as good in any setting. It was amusing to see Cumberbatch don the iconic cloak, hat, and pipe, and Martin Freeman with his moustache. The pair still, undoubtedly, entertains the viewers with the chemistry that everyone has become acquainted with over the past five years. It is a shame that the viewers will have to wait another year before watching these two interact on the screen again. Almost all the actors reprise their roles in The Abominable Bride including Amanda Abbington, Lousie Brealy, and Jonathan Aries, even though they do not get much screen presence. Mark Gatiss also returns as Mycroft Holmes with a slight difference in his appearance while maintaining the same character and relationship with his brother.

Sherlock’s soundtrack has been one of the best things about the show. Watching Sherlock and John run around London trying to prevent trouble while that music plays in the background is an absolute pleasure. The Abominable Bride brings more of the same treat to the table. But as catchy as it is, the music felt a little bit out of place for the Victorian Era and could have used some modifications as well. But still, David Arnold and Michael Price’s work complemented the narrative well enough, especially towards the end. The Abominable Bride worked out well on the humor-front as well, although it felt like they could have toned down a bit at times. It was fun to see Sherlock and Watson throw sarcastic remarks at each other with the Victorian lingo. There’s a scene where Sherlock and Watson speak to Mycroft’s butler in sign-language which was made particularly hilarious with the cast’s performance.

Even with all its merits, The Abominable Bride is far from Sherlock’s best episode. It lacked the fast pace and thrill which makes the series so entertaining. Towards the end, there are a couple of elements that breaks the flow of the narrative and leaves it open-ended. While this was intentional, the writers could have wrapped up the story and make it a self-contained adventure on its own, considering they probably will not be revisiting this setting again. The episode felt dragged out at certain places, even though a lot happens in it plot-wise. This shortcoming was felt in the third season as well. Hopefully, the writers will acknowledge this problem and rectify it in season four next year.

All facts considered, there’s plenty in The Abominable Bride to appease the fans of both the show as well the books. It recreates some iconic plot-points from the books while staying true to its contemporary setting, backed by the brilliant cast and supporting crew. It is impossible to further scrutinize this episode without letting out some important plot-points. Therefore, fans of the show would do well to stay clear of spoilers and watch this special episode as soon as possible. The hardest part, however, will be waiting till 2017 to watch season four, when the game really is on for Sherlock and his crew.

Score – 8/10

– By Nisanth Suresh

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