Shoscombe Old Place

Great seeing a young Jude Law. I don't really follow him but something seemed familiar so watched the credits attentively. Thought he did quite well.

Story was better than most. Great production as usual and all the acting is top notch. Edward Hardwicke is my favourite Dr. Watson but they all do a good job. Sad to read he passed away in May.

Love the locations and the production that goes into the series, especially all the horses and various hansom cabs and carriages. And the attention to detail of the period - can really lose oneself in the picture. Much better than merely reading it on the page.

It is a case of two Doctor Watsons. A young Jude Law has a minor role as a stable boy who would go on to play Watson in the Robert Downey jr Sherlock Holmes film.

Sherlock Holmes is urged to look into the behaviour of Sir Robert Norberton and his sister Lady Beatrice Falder who live in Shoscombe Hall.

Norberton is foul tempered and deep in debt but he is hoping his horse will come home at the race course. Lady Falder is seldom seen and the moneylender who Norberton owes money to has disappeared.

It is wonderfully produced but the producers had little option. It is a very inert and sluggish story.

The 1980s-90s Sherlock Holmes stories starring Jeremy Brett are a delight to watch if you revere the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. They are exquisitely made and are by far the closest to the original tales that I've ever seen. The episodes lack the bad cliches of other Holmes films and TV shows and are a must-see. That being said, "Shoscombe Old Place" is certainly one of the weaker stories brought to us by Grenada Television. It's not that Brett or the rest of the cast do a bad job...they are terrific. But the plot written by Conan Doyle is pretty easy to see through and I quickly guessed what was really happening in the story...and you likely will too.

This story begins with a horse trainer of all people approaching Holmes with a strange case. His boss, Sir Robert Norberton, has been behaving most strangely and the trainer is worried something horrible might have happened...though exactly what, he has no idea. Intrigued, Holmes heads to the English countryside to investigate.

The only thing outstanding about this one is a chance to see a very young Jude Law in a small role. Otherwise, it's very typical of the other episodes...which, if you think about it, is still awfully good! Well worth seeing, as are all these terrific installments.

John Mason is worried about his employer, Sir Robert Norberton. Sir Robert, a race horse owner, is under a lot of pressure due to his debts. His main creditor is Samuel Brewer, who has demanded payment but has now disappeared. In another strange turn of events Sir Robert has given away the dog belonging to his sister, Lady Beatrice Falder. Holmes and Watson head to Shoscombe Old Place, Sir Robert's stables, to investigate.

A reasonably intriguing and original episode of Sherlock Holmes. The twist is a tad bizarre and creepy but quite interesting.

A noteworthy feature of the episode is that it includes a 18-year-old Jude Law in only his third on-screen appearance.

I have always treasured this series and while Shoscombe Old Place is not one the best it is worth watching. It is not always very secure in the pacing, sometimes coming across as sluggish, and the story lacks the dazzle of some of the earlier episodes, though it does its best with a story that isn't Conan Doyle's strongest or even one of them in the first place. As with all the Sherlock Holmes episode, it is meticulously made with the attention to detail very realistic, the music sounds beautiful with the odd haunting moment and the dialogue while just lacking the wit and sparkle of previous adaptations is still thoughtfully written. It is interesting to see Jude Law in an early small role, but Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke and their chemistry together are the main attractions of the episode. Overall, decent and well made and acted but story-wise Shoscombe Old Place isn't one of the best to me. 7/10 Bethany Cox