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.

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

No Christmas season would be complete without watching this marvelous adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Blue Carbuncle.

This is such a wonderful episode that descriptions tend to fail me. Everything and everyone is at peak form here. Jeremy Brett's performance as Holmes is absolutely delightful (even by Brett standards), as is Burke's Watson, and their interplay in this episode is among the very best in the series.

There is a great deal of humor to be found here, including some genuine laugh-out-loud moments...and, of course, a nice little mystery at the heart of it. The production design, as always, is excellent, and the direction top-notch. There is a very authentic feeling of Christmas here, and it really shines through. And it's nice to see that even the dour Sherlock Holmes has a bit of the Christmas spirit in him...in his own way.

A wonderful episode, from start to finish. I can't praise it enough. I could say more, I could be more specific, but I don't want to ruin the fun for any first-time viewers. See it for yourself and it will quickly become a Christmas tradition, as it has for me.

It is always nice to have seasonal themes and in this episode Christmas is alive and well in the streets of very late 19th century London. And at 221 1/2 Baker Street, Holmes is investigating, rather coyly, why a value gem has appeared in the guts of a Christmas goose.

The gem has been stolen from a wealthy widow and it is believed that a local plumber is the bandit. He has already been arrested and placed in jail. But with the stolen gem turning up in such as odd place, Holmes will investigate this case leaving no goose uncooked.

The story is wonderfully written and takes us, as viewers, into many different places as we track the goose's previous path along with Holmes and Dr Watson. But it will be an advertisement that will close this mystery and set the holiday season back into motion. Another fine episode as we close out the first season. Good watch.

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.