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Sherlock
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A Study in Pink

  • Episode aired Oct 24, 2010
  • TV-14
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
8.9/10
35K
YOUR RATING
Rupert Graves in Sherlock (2010)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

War vet Dr. John Watson returns to London in need of a place to stay. He meets Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective, and the two soon find themselves digging into a string of serial "suic... Read allWar vet Dr. John Watson returns to London in need of a place to stay. He meets Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective, and the two soon find themselves digging into a string of serial "suicides."War vet Dr. John Watson returns to London in need of a place to stay. He meets Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective, and the two soon find themselves digging into a string of serial "suicides."

  • Director
    • Paul McGuigan
  • Writers
    • Steven Moffat
    • Mark Gatiss
    • Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Martin Freeman
    • Rupert Graves
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.9/10
    35K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul McGuigan
    • Writers
      • Steven Moffat
      • Mark Gatiss
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Martin Freeman
      • Rupert Graves
    • 55User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos48

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Sherlock Holmes
    Martin Freeman
    Martin Freeman
    • Dr. John Watson
    Rupert Graves
    Rupert Graves
    • DI Lestrade
    Una Stubbs
    Una Stubbs
    • Mrs. Hudson
    Louise Brealey
    Louise Brealey
    • Molly Hooper
    Vinette Robinson
    Vinette Robinson
    • Sgt Sally Donovan
    Tanya Moodie
    Tanya Moodie
    • Ella
    Siobhan Hewlett
    Siobhan Hewlett
    • Helen
    • (as Siobhán Hewlett)
    William Scott-Masson
    • Sir Jeffrey Patterson
    Victoria Wicks
    Victoria Wicks
    • Margaret Patterson
    Sean Joseph Young
    • Gary
    • (as Sean Young)
    James Duncan
    • Jimmy
    Ruth Everett
    • Political Aide
    Syrus Lowe
    • Political Aide
    Katy Maw
    • Beth Davenport
    Ben Rufus Green
    Ben Rufus Green
    • Reporter
    • (as Ben Green)
    Pradeep Jey
    • Reporter
    Imogen Slaughter
    • Reporter
    • Director
      • Paul McGuigan
    • Writers
      • Steven Moffat
      • Mark Gatiss
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews55

    8.935.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10margheritaaroli

    Excellent episode that leaves you wanting more!

    Absolutely fantastic episode in the series of Sherlock Holmes!

    This series is a great remake of the original Holmes series and novels. The character Holmes is a complex, borderline insane man who loves solving crimes. With his new partner Dr. Watson, they participate in solving the murders happening around town in Central London. This leads to a lot of evidence, weird coincidences, and dangerous situations for both of the men.

    I was rather skeptical before watching the episode but was left speechless in the end. The film was funny, exciting, and kept you on the edge of your chair at some points.

    Benedict Cumberbatch, playing Sherlock Holmes, is a fantastic actor for this series and handles the character perfectly. His facial expressions are on point and his rude remarks concerning the CSI Anderson and Sergeant Donovan make the room fill with laughter. Holmes' mind is intriguing and his explanations of his discoveries leave you wanting more insight of his overactive mind.

    I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who gets a kick out of crimes and solving them. It is a very enjoyable episode that makes you want to watch more. Suddenly, all your spare time will be spent on watching the nine episodes in the three seasons that right now have been aired.

    Enjoy your life being taken away by Sherlock!
    10Sleepin_Dragon

    Dazzling

    It is no wonder that fans adore the early years of Sherlock, after re-watching the first episode I was once again drawn back into the magic that was created when Sherlock first debuted. I cannot throw enough plaudits at 'A Study in Pink,' it's intelligent, funny, dramatic, bursting with energy, and just generally fabulous in every possible way. The whole premise and setup are beyond genius, I love how the scene was set, with introductions and back story.

    Jeremy Brett will always be Sherlock Holmes to me, but Cumberbatch is Sherlock, a new and updated version, his performance was simply iconic.

    I found Series Four a bit of a disappointment on the whole, finding it somewhat self indulgent, none of that here, yes it's clever, but not smug.

    Superb production values, amazing script, captivating performances, in particular from Phil Davies, what a stellar talent that man is.

    Virtually perfect. 10/10
    9grantss

    A great start to the series

    John Watson (played by Martin Freeman), an army doctor, is wounded in Afghanistan and invalided out of the Army. Back in London his search for a place to stay leads him to share a flat with Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant but eccentric private detective. He has hardly met Holmes when Holmes gets called in by Detective Inspector Lestrade to help on a case. People have been committing suicide in identical fashion - by a poisoned pill. The police are calling it "serial suicide" but it is clearly the work of a serial killer.

    A great start to the series. Intriguing, engaging and sets the tone and background for the series. We are introduced to Holmes' methods and genius, see how Watson and Holmes met and see what Watson brings to the partnership.

    Case itself is quite fascinating and a good test of Holmes' intellect.
    10blanche-2

    very impressive

    They say a true classic is something that, despite costumes and taking place in another time, remains timeless. And we see with Shakespeare and other great writers, their plays are often put into modern settings and still work. The same is true of classic characters.

    "Sherlock" brings Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into the 21st Century. This isn't, of course, the first time these two have worked and lived in modern times, as the Sherlock Holmes film series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce was used as propaganda during World War II.

    This time, though, Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) is young, working in the lab where he met Watson (Martin Freeman), the army doctor. Here, Watson has just returned from Afghanistan and is trying to adapt to civilian life. In need of a roommate, but feeling that no one will want to live with him, a friend introduces him to someone else no one wants to live with - Sherlock. Sherlock's landlady, Mrs. Hudson (Uma Stubbs) has given Holmes a deal on an apartment at 221B Baker Street. Watson moves in, with some trepidation.

    This first case, A Study in Pink, concerns a series of suicides from the same poison, committed by three unrelated people. Holmes thinks they were driven to it, but how? He is called in by Lestrade (Rupert Graves) when a woman is found dead and Lestrade becomes desperate. Watson goes along and soon finds himself caught up in Holmes' deduction.

    Fast-moving, fascinating, and delightful, Holmes and Watson now have use of the Internet, GPS, and cell phones. Sherlock, in fact, is a great texter. He wears three nicotine patches because smoking in London has become impossible, and he meditates on a crime while wearing them. The other modern touch is that everyone thinks Holmes and Watson are gay lovers. Instead of stories, it's looking like Watson is going to be writing a blog. All of these modernisms are very effective and work well in the story.

    Stage and TV actor, 34-year-old Benedict Cumberbatch is Holmes, thin, youthful, fast talking and attractive; and the slightly older Freeman is a serious and troubled Watson, not the buffoon of Nigel Bruce, but a person who perks up when he becomes involved in the excitement of Holmes' case. They make a good team.

    Really can't wait for more of these - very enjoyable, suspenseful, and entertaining.
    9clarasofie

    Very good, something for everyone.

    The show is very good and well-made. Every detail is thought through, and it is very interesting to follow the mind of Sherlock through every moment of the series. Even if you don't like the plot or the acting, then the beautiful scenes of London by day, evening and night will create a atmosphere, you might never forget. In Sherlock you will find something for everyone - whether its the plot, the actors or just the classic story of a detective and his helper. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great choice of actor, and with Martin Freeman on the side they create a powerful match. The long, slim silhouette that is Sherlock next to the small and grey Dr. Watson is a vision you will always remember.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sherlock kissing Mrs. Hudson on the cheek wasn't scripted. Benedict Cumberbatch had known Una Stubbs since he was very young, and it was his reaction on being able to work with someone who was like a mother to him.
    • Goofs
      Sherlock and Watson agree to meet at 7 p.m. to view the flat. When they get there, it's broad daylight. This is not quite possible in London unless it's summer, which, judging from the clothes they wear, is not.
    • Quotes

      Anderson: So we can read her emails, so what?

      Sherlock Holmes: Anderson, don't talk out loud. You lower the IQ of the whole street.

    • Connections
      Edited from Sherlock: Unaired Pilot (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Opening Titles
      (uncredited)

      Written by David Arnold & Michael Price

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 24, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • 187 North Gower Street, Somers Town, London, England, UK(exterior: 221B Baker Street)
    • Production companies
      • Hartswood Films
      • BBC Wales
      • Masterpiece Theatre
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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