planktonrules

I've reviewed all of the "Father Brown" episodes until now. I mention this, as I'm feeling very ambivalent towards watching any more of the shows. On one hand, I like the neat 1950s look and many of the characters. However, on the other, Inspector Mallory is simply the worst written police detective in the history of TV or movies. The episodes before this one-dimensional idiot was introduced on the show were definitely among the best. But Mallory has the exact M. O. each episode...he arrests the wrong person, refuses to allow Father Brown to assist AND when the Father solves the crimes, Mallory is sullen and nasty. He never varies...and this pattern simply makes no sense at all. There is zero growth with the Inspector and zero believability and it's hard to imagine him keeping his job! Once again, Mallory is true to form.

The episode is set at one of those old boys schools...the type that thinks torture is a rite of passage and a good beating is just part of being a good headmaster. A young woman from a nearby school is beaten with a cricket bat...and left for dead at this boys school. Later, there is an actual murder and the trail leads to a sadistic jerk...a trail that Mallory completely misses because he has hummus for a brain.

Overall, not a terrible episode but a tiresome one...with just one too many Mallory performances. I think replacing him with a rabit terrier would be an improvement.

Unlike most of the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes, this one was not a short story but a full-length tale. As such it's about double the length of a usual Jeremy Brett story and was not meant as part of any collection..more a stand-alone TV movie.

Another thing which should be pointed out is that this Sherlock Holmes story is the most often filmed and there are countless versions of the tale. Because of this, it's highly probable that you are already very familiar with the story.

A strange doctor arrives at 221B Baker Street to consult with Sherlock. I say strange because he's not consulting for himself but for a friend AND the man envisions himself as an expert phrenologist (a person who studies the shape of skulls and thinks this will somehow give insight into a person's intellect). Holme rebuffs the guy's attempts to touch his head...and insists he get to the reason he's there.

It seems that a friend has inherited an estate out on the moors and there is supposed to be a family curse. According to the curse, a gigantic dog will kill the friend sooner or later. Holmes sends Dr. Watson to stay with the friend, Sir Henry Baskerville, while Holmes supposedly attends to business back in London.

I don't really want to talk more about the plot, as I already said that it's a VERY familiar story. Instead, I should point out that the story is very faithful to the book, features some very nice acting AND is never dull and keeps your interest. Very enjoyable and worth seeing.

"Blood at the Wheel" begins with a lady driving a racing car and one of the wheels falls off! Obviously, someone tampered with it and the car hits a tree. But she SHOULD have survived the accident...but didn't. The autopsy explains this...someone strangled her AFTER the accident! However, unlike most mysteries, Phryne has two unusual problems...Jack is very distant and uninvolved compared to most cases AND there is a LOT of sexism. Apparently many of the men in the racing business think women cannot race...as if their wombs will be ejected due to the high speeds!

This is a very good but not an outstanding episode...well worth seeing but not one that is a standout among others. An unusual mystery...and a chance to actually see Dot pretending to be a Russian race car driver!!