The Blue Carbuncle

This is an episode that surpasses the original Conan-Doyle story. Not to diminish the master's work, it's just that the screenwriter took the original, extrapolated from it, and gave us a lovely holiday story. This, of course, has to do with the disappearance of a monumentally expensive gem that has passed through many hands and, ultimately, down the gullet of a Christmas goose. The joy comes from the classic efforts of the characters to retrieve the stolen article and the lengths to which they will go. We are caught up in the thing because we don't want anyone hurt and we want so badly for the family man to come out on top. The term "wild goose chase" was invented for this episode which unfolds nicely. One thing I enjoyed about the Holmes stories is that the crime isn't always murder. There is frequently a humorous side (often at Watson's expense) that probably made the stories more endearing to the readers. The chaotic nature of the story, the initial hopelessness, and, finally, joy, are what make "The Blue Carbuncle" worth the effort. As usual, Jeremy Brett and David Burke are splendid as are the cast of character actors that pass through this.

Wonderful! The question remains. How do Holmes and Watson spring Horner from jail without giving up the carbuncle or giving up Ryder?

How can I add to the previous reviews, as they have said a lot of what is so good about The Blue Carbuncle so excellently? This is a truly brilliant episode and among the best of the entire Granada Sherlock Holmes series, of which there are several standouts(The Crooked Man, The Devil's Foot, Sign of Four, Hound of the Baskervilles, The Master BlackMailer, The Speckled Band, The Cardboard Box, The Norwood Builder, The Final Problem and The Dying Detective). The story always was one of Conan Doyle's best, and it in adaptation-form is still as clever and compelling as ever. The script is sophisticated with delightful bouts of humour as well, while with the evocative atmosphere, almost cinematic photography and incredibly well-detailed costumes and sets the episode is so well made and the music is haunting and almost melancholic. Jeremy Brett never put a foot wrong, and he is as ever commanding here. David Burke gives his personal best performance of Adventures as a thoughtful and composed Watson, and their scenes here are some of the finest Holmes-Watson scenes of the entire series. All in all, one of my favourites and one of the best too, simply fantastic. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is one of Arthur Conan Doyle's popular Holmes mysteries and it is beautifully and tightly brought on screen. A delight from beginning to end. It features a nice Christmas setting, clever mystery, and a very satisfying ending. The production and photography are as usual splendid. Even Brett's performance is especially in this one, is excellent with him having Holmes at his snooty, twitchy best, I just love the scene where Holmes makes deductions about the black hat in the beginning of the show. Also, Holmes and Watson have great camaraderie in this one too as well, as I always enjoy their banter. In my opinion, this marvelous episode shows Granada and Conan Doyle at the top of their form.

The Blue Carbuncle is a large, extremely valuable gemstone owned by the Countess of Morcar. To her horror she finds that it has been stolen. To Sherlock Holmes's surprise he finds himself in possession of it, via a Christmas goose. Tracing the previous owners of the goose Holmes sets out to find out who stole the Blue Carbuncle.

A wonderful Christmas episode of Sherlock Holmes, one of the best, if not THE best, episodes of the show. There's a very interesting mystery, solved by tracing the path of a goose. The perpetrator is a bit obvious but in the grand scheme of things this is a minor negative.

Moreover, there is a great Christmas "vibe" to proceedings, making it a great episode to watch at that time of the year. Even rational, curmudgeonly Holmes gets into the spirit of things. On that note, we do see a more friendly, common man representation of Holmes in this episode and it is very refreshing.