A Scandal in Belgravia | Episode 1 | Season 2 | Sherlock TV Serial On DVD | Personal Reviews

When the first episode of Season 2 of British TV Serial A Scandal in Belgravia aired it have to deal with even more expectations of the viewers. And we must say that the makers succeed in providing the content expected from them.

The episode is largely based on A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but have adaptations/influences/references to some other works related Sherlock Holmes as well:

• A Scandal in Bohemia
• The Greek Interpreter
• The Speckled Band
• The Naval Treaty
• The Priory School
• The Illustrious Client
• The Hound of the Baskervilles

Be warned that the episode contains some “adult only” viewing material as part of it.

The episode starts with a mysterious murder which is seen by a car driver (or it is not seen). Actually he was going somewhere and his car broke down. He came out to make attempts to start it, and at a moment he saw a man at distant, looking somewhere. He sat back in the car and tried starting it, the car backfires and when was looking in surrounding, he found the man was now standing where he was. He saw him collapsed and after investigation, he found dead. DI Lestrade asked the investigation officer to let Sherlock Holmes visit the accident site for few minutes, as his observation skills may prove important in this rather strange case. Dr. John Watson was sent there and he walks Sherlock through the site via video conferencing.

This episode keeps the tradition to use the latest technologies, gadgets and locales, to provide a contemporary look to this famous detective.

And that is not the main thing Sherlock have to worry about. His brother Myrcroft called him to meet (it was a kind of kidnap we can say) to discuss a high profile case which has to remain top secret! A female member of the royal family was facing danger from a lady named Irene Adler (known as dominatrix or the woman). She have the photograph of the royal family member (the identity of the family were never disclosed) in compromised situation. Sherlock however was not interested in the case. But ultimately decide to go for it.

He and Watson makes a plan to meet Irene in a way that looks like they are unintentionally land to her place. Though Irene was very smart and was expecting them! She came nude in front of Holmes so he cannot apply any of his theories to determine any detail about her and she succeed in the same. They were attacked by the people interested in the stuff available in Irene’s phone (which hold those photos as well). Adler, Holmes and Watson overpower the attackers bravely. By proving herself much smarter, Adler makes Holmes unconscious and runs away with her phone!

So this is once more Holmes get someone who outwitted him! Remember, Jim Moriarty?!

But what the case of the murder we saw in the beginning have to do with Adler? Will Holmes be able to track Adler again and capture her phone? And as the phone is locked, Holmes anyway need the passcode for the same, and getting it from Adler seems impossible! It seems that after Moriarty, Holmes got another tough opponent who is capable of outsmart him!

The background music is really good and sets the environment pretty well. Same you can say for the cinematography. The makers have spend enough resources to find the right locations and it pays off. Actually when right actors are cast for the right roles, almost half the battle is won; this happens in the case of this episode as well. Of course Benedict and Freeman are the top performers, but there is no one who is under-performer. Lara Pulver (playing Adler) and MArk Gattis (playing Mycroft) are equally competent.

The credit should go to the script and dialog writers as well for setting up the thrilling experience. The action sequences are filmed pretty well too. You have to be attentive to not to miss anything. Hence, you may like to watch the repeat telecasts or may be possessing the DVD set for home entertainment is a better choice to visit the episode more than once, to get whatever details are missed when you viewed it first time.

So if you love thrillers, and detective fictions are things of your choice, you should not miss it.

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