The Greek Interpreter

The story while interesting and well paced and constructed is a somewhat weird one this time around. Not in the story itself but in some scenes such the interrogation scene. However, The Greek Interpreter is fascinating, and worth seeing for the introduction of Mycroft, who is a shrewd and very intelligent character and just seeing him with Holmes is what makes the episode well worth watching. The acting is very good as is expected, Jeremy Brett and David Burke are both brilliant, and Charles Gray is also excellent. There is also George Costigan and Nicholas Field, who make a sinister pair. The production values are wonderful, the music is at its most beautiful and haunting and there is some strong writing throughout. All in all, fascinating episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

A Greek interpreter is taken to a house where two sinister types are trying to force a Greek man into signing a document. After he's released, he tells his story to his neighbor, Mycroft Holmes, who of course gets his brother Sherlock to look into the case.

This is one of my two favorite episodes from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which curiously have the lowest ratings of the series on imdb (the other being The Norwood Builder). It's noteworthy simply for the introduction of the Diogenes Club and the amazing Charles Gray as Mycroft Holmes, a role that's probably as hard to cast as Sherlock himself. Gray steals every scene, but this would've been a memorable episode even without him. Yes, this is not much of a whodunit, since the villains are apparent from the very first scene, but Sherlock Holmes stories aren't only about finding out who did what: they're about procedure, deduction, logic, great dialogue. In that sense, this is a wonderful, very memorable episode.

This adaptation has a gripping and suspenseful plot involving gang kidnapping as well as superb performances by Nicolas Field and George Costigan (doing an impersonation of Peter Lorre) as the sinister perpetrators. Also, Jeremy Brett and David Burke continue to be in fine form as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. However, what really makes this episode special is that it marks the debut of Holmes's brother Mycroft, wonderfully played by Charles Gray. He is what you would call an armchair detective, he tends to be lazy yet he's as brilliant if not more so than Sherlock himself. Although, it plays more like a crime story than a mystery it turns out to be a not too shabby entry.

This is a rather different type episode from the usual Holmes mystery as we, the viewer, know they villains right from the beginning of the show. The part that keeps us glued to the show is the fact of why a man is being beaten and starved in order to sign some sort of paper against his will. And with that comes Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to investigate this strange circumstance.

Holmes is visited by a man that is a interpreter of the Greek language. He tells of a strange situation where he has basically been taken to a house outside of town and forced to interpret into the Greek language to a man, Anton Alexander, that is being held hostage in the house. The bandits are wanting Anton to sign a paper that will bring to an end the torture that they are inflicting on him. Yet he refuses to sign and settles for the continuing whims of his muggers.

Holmes takes on the case and will need some help from his brother Mycroft Holmes (Charles Gray) that will lead to a train ride that will hopefully solve the entire hostage situation and bring peace to a family.

Jeremy Brett is again brilliant as the energetic detective and is joined by Charles Gray, playing his brother, that is just as intelligent yet coy about finding answers. This story is not a suspenseful as other but still makes for a nice watch.

Watson is shocked to learn Sherlock has a brother, that brother comes in handy during the case of Mr Melas, and his strange story.

A strong story and the first appearance of Mycroft make for a particularly good episode. As a story I've always found this one particularly nasty, it's one of my favourites. Particularly fine production values, it looks wonderful, the music also is excellent. The scenes on board the train in particular look excellent.

I love how evil George Costigan is as Kemp, one of the most memorable from the show, he's thoroughly evil and sinister. Charles Gray was very memorable in the part, and a terrific contrast to Brett.

Excellent. 9/10