Maintaining the stellar quality that was present in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984-85), The Return of Sherlock Holmes sees the famed fictional detective take up new mystifying and dangerous cases. Exceedingly faithful to the written works of Arthur Conan Doyle, the show excels in every aspect, be it the masterful acting, the detailed period-appropriate sets and costumes, or the haunting music.
In my opinion, Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes can never be topped. The extreme mood swings, the manic laughter, the nervous twitches, the subtle expressions, the pain behind the eyes ... it is as if the character in the stories has sprung to life. The show also impeccably captures the gloominess of London, the wildness of the moors and countryside, and the opulence of the manors and mansions. Furthermore, it showcases the contrasting behavioural norms and societal differences between the nobility and the multicultural working class that were characteristic of the Victorian era.
As for criticisms, one complaint is that some of the stories adapted are individually nothing to write home about. For example, cases like The Devil's Foot or The Man with the Twisted Lip are straightforward and make for forgettable television from a plot-driven standpoint. But this is not a fault of the show inasmuch as the source material. Also, in certain episodes, the acting of the side characters felt a little lacklustre, and the decline in Brett's health and his changing appearance too became more apparent during the second season.
Nonetheless, The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a great treasure for Holmes aficionados. It adapts the literary works perfectly, realizing the words on the page into compelling real life characters and featuring them amid captivating settings and scenes. The show has not lost its splendour or elegance with age and should make for an absorbing watch to lovers of mysteries and detective stories.
In my opinion, Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes can never be topped. The extreme mood swings, the manic laughter, the nervous twitches, the subtle expressions, the pain behind the eyes ... it is as if the character in the stories has sprung to life. The show also impeccably captures the gloominess of London, the wildness of the moors and countryside, and the opulence of the manors and mansions. Furthermore, it showcases the contrasting behavioural norms and societal differences between the nobility and the multicultural working class that were characteristic of the Victorian era.
As for criticisms, one complaint is that some of the stories adapted are individually nothing to write home about. For example, cases like The Devil's Foot or The Man with the Twisted Lip are straightforward and make for forgettable television from a plot-driven standpoint. But this is not a fault of the show inasmuch as the source material. Also, in certain episodes, the acting of the side characters felt a little lacklustre, and the decline in Brett's health and his changing appearance too became more apparent during the second season.
Nonetheless, The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a great treasure for Holmes aficionados. It adapts the literary works perfectly, realizing the words on the page into compelling real life characters and featuring them amid captivating settings and scenes. The show has not lost its splendour or elegance with age and should make for an absorbing watch to lovers of mysteries and detective stories.