The Musgrave Ritual

The Musgrave Ritual stands as one of the most unique episodes of Sherlock Holmes, it is totally different to all others. The approach, tone and story themselves are all different. Normally the crime is the focal point, here the crime is almost incidental. Holmes is involved in a treasure hunt, where he discovers a crime, and has to solve it. Even the second body seems almost a side story.

Terrific casting in this one, James Hazeldine had bags of charisma, which allowed Brunton to shine over Musgrave, not that Michael Culver is any less an actor, he's again just perfect casting.

Brett is terrific, as is Hardwicke, it once again touches on the addiction of Holmes.

Excellent. 9/10

A servant at the Musgrave Manor disappears after one them finds out an obscure written document that has been in the family history for generations, whose meaning remains unknown. This episode is stylish and atmospheric. The final minute at the closing credits is especially creepy. Patrick Gowers music in this one is quite unique and helps pack the punch. Jeremy Brett as usual continues prove why he is the definitive Holmes, Edward Hardwicke as expected makes an excellent Watson, and Michael Culver is a standout as Reginald Musgrave. Also, worth noting is that Jeremy Paul (who wrote many of the Granada episodes) won an Edgar Award for his adapted script.

It's been said a million times before and I'll point it out again, Jeremy Brett was born to play the great detective. He not only breathed new and invigorating life into the well-worn character, but became the blueprint for those that came after him. The mannerisms, movements, cadence and quirks. The organic humor. You name it, he had it in spades. 'The Musgrave Ritual' is one of my personal favorites; not only within the Granada series, but of the whole Sherlock Holmes canon. The story as told here has a couple of clever work-arounds, while remaining faithful to the original text. The addition of Watson in this episode, as well as moving the happenings forward a few years, makes complete sense; and it's handled very well. The acting is top notch and Brett is the ON. The subtle humor in the first act is worth mentioning, because it gets the ball rolling before the tale takes a darker turn. I hope more people unfamiliar with the series find it. It truly is fantastic.

Holmes and Watson are visiting with a member of Parliament in the countryside. Holmes is more excited to see the man's Gentleman's Gentleman, as he sees this man as having a strong intellect...unlike his master. However, the servant disappears and soon another member of the household disappears and Holmes think it has something to do with an old family ritual.

This is a pretty good episode and ample proof that people who are smart in some ways can be idiots in others. In this case, the missing man dug his own grave, so to speak, because of the abominable way he behaved towards his wife. Overall, a very interesting tale.

A faithful adaptation of one of the best of the Holmes stories. It has to do with a butler who gets wind of a document that is actually a kind of treasure map. Unfortunately for him, he hooks up with an unstable maid who gets in the way of his realizing an end to all this. The butler is caught in Musgrave's study, rifling through important papers, and is summarily fired. Despite pleading for a couple days to prepare (and do whatever it is he is going to do), Musgrave give him till the next day. This sets up a series of events based on a set of statements that have come to be known as "The Musgrave Ritual." They have to do with locations and positions, but are also threatening in their own way. Holmes and Watson begin to sort out the craziness, involving the disappearance of the butler and the crazy chambermaid, and in the process begin to decipher the Ritual. Clothing has been found indicating that people may have drowned, but that makes no sense. It leads to a cellar and a series of discoveries. It is kind of like Poe's "The Gold Bug" in some ways. Holmes always has a great sense of spatial relationships and this is his top asset here. There is atmosphere and suspense and a wonderful conclusion to this. Brett and Hardwicke really do themselves proud here. One might compare this to one of the Basil Rathbone Holmes efforts.