The Solitary Cyclist

For me this is not one of the top episodes, although I cannot put my finger on why it doesn't work as well as it should: The story is not bad (Sherlock stories never are) the acting is great as always (well, mostly) but something is missing: Although I would really hate to admit it, the fact is that a man disguised with a fake beard is hardly exciting or thrilling for the modern audience.

A very young lady contacts Holmes and asks for his advice: She's been employed as a music teacher for a widower's daughter, but she has noticed that a man has been following her on the road to her employer's home.

The episode somehow doesn't work, but the dialogue is great. Also watch out for the inn scene, where Sherlock is hit with what is probably the most awkward punch in the history of television. Nevertheless, it's not totally unworthy of the series, just not one of the best additions.

This is an episode where the set-up is quite good, but the result (which I will not ruin) runs a little off the tracks. The suspense is quite good, however, as a beautiful young music teacher goes to 221B to talk to Holmes about a two-wheeled stalker who follows her on her path to her work. He never gets terribly close, stops when she stops, but his appearance is unsettling, to say the least. Holmes sends Watson to keep an eye on her, but the results are disappointing. Holmes goes to investigate the principles in the case, one of them, a man who is quite a bit older than the young woman, who has proposed marriage to her and been rebuked. By investigating this man, Holmes begins to piece together the web of intrigue that surrounds his client. I have to say that I felt that for all her fears, she was a pretty cool customer to put herself in potential harm continuously. Of course, she was being paid well at the job, but there were forces at work, and most of us would have found her actions foolish. When I first read this story, I found the ending laughable, but that's what the author wrote. You'll have to decide for yourself. Of course, there's great interaction between the detective and his sidekick which makes everything watchable. Another nice entry into the Granada series.

John Castle. If he had gone and based himself in the USA when he was younger, I am convinced he would had an Oscar to show for it.

Castle plays Carruthers a man who has arrived from South Africa along with the more brutish Woodley.

Carruthers has hired young Violet Smith to be the music teacher for his daughter. Carruthers knew Violet's uncle in South Africa and he makes sure that it is a well paid job.

Violet has consulted Sherlock Holmes because she thinks that she is being followed when she cycles to and from the train station when she visits her mother in London. Each time the strange looking man is there keeping a distance.

Holmes sends Dr Watson at first to keep a lookout and is most disappointed with his endeavours. Then Holmes goes to the country pub and meets Woodley where he engages in a fight with him. He also finds out about a nasty defrocked priest.

Holmes also reckons that Violet Smith is in danger and it is all to do with her uncle in South Africa.

Although this is in some ways a simple tale it is terrifically realised by Alan Plater. You have a sense of who the cyclist following the young lady might be but it takes Holmes to put it all together.

There are some lovely countryside scenes but you also get a sense that Jeremy Brett is already comfortable in the role and the way he shows his irritable side to Watson.

But having said that, it still keeps you baffled until Holmes clears up the whole mystery by deduction with just a little help from Watson. Jeremy Brett and David Burke are excellent as the sleuth and his doctor friend who are charmed by a young woman who tells them an intriguing story about being a solitary cyclist who is being followed by a strange man with a beard. She also tells them how she happened to meet two men, with a flashback showing how the younger man proposed marriage to her and became angry when she refused his advances.

John Castle and Michael Siberry are the gentlemen she describes as inviting her to teach Castle's daughter music lessons, but it turns out that there is an ulterior motive behind their seeking her to come and live in Castle's home. Some nice twists toward the end will keep the viewer engrossed in the story.

Nicely photographed in usual high style with lots of English countryside on display and some amusing banter between Holmes and Watson. One of the better entries in this series.

A sinister little tale involving a most beautiful female music teacher and some money hungry gents that just cannot seem to live up to the bargain of a card game.

The story was quite interesting as the female, Violet Smith who is also a bicycle enthusiast, is being followed while leaving her employment by a man in dark clothes also riding a bicycle. She is so worried that she employs Sherlock Holmes to look into the matter as she feels something or someone is out to get her.

But it will not be till further in the story that we, as viewers, learn of the plot that is afoot. It appears that there is more than one person that wants to marry the music teacher but all may not have the best plan at heart. Holmes, along with Dr Watson, must seek the reason for her troubles.

There are actually some nice scenes in this episode. From the exchange between Holmes to Watson about his useless undercover work, to Holmes fancy footwork in a fist-o-cuffs in a local pub- both very humorous situations. But do not think this is all smiles and laughter as some noticeable gun play will fill the afternoon air when the plot starts to climax. An entertaining show that was a pleasure to watch.