Rent Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016)

An Abominable Travesty - Sherlock: The Abominable Bride review by Count Otto Black

Benedict Cumberbatch has been quoted as saying that when the BBC first proposed setting a special episode of "Sherlock" in the Victorian era, he thought they'd "lost the plot". Hang about - why is it crazy to set stories written in the 19th century about a character who lived in the 19th century in the 19th century? Are we to assume the viewers are idiots who have already forgotten that any versions of a character called Sherlock Holmes ever existed before he was played on BBC TV by a guy called Benedict Cumberbatch?

The sad thing is, he was right. Thanks to a contrived plot-twist you'll probably see coming long before it's revealed an hour into the tale, this is a ludicrously over-the-top parody of Victorian times, featuring endless clumsy in-jokes, lots of those flashy "look what we can do with computers nowadays!" visual effects that are mostly both distracting and unnecessary, and a desperately unsubtle tub-thumping feminist agenda because anything the BBC spends money on these days has to include lengthy sermons about various types of prejudice being wrong, no matter how much they get in the way of the plot.

We're also treated to the supporting cast going all meta and complaining about their fictional portrayal, Mycroft Holmes as a slightly thinner version of Mr. Creosote from "The Meaning Of Life", attempts to lampshade the silliest aspects of the story by having the characters admit they're silly, and of course Moriarty. Andrew Scott, the world's worst actor, once again portrays the Napoleon of crime as Graham Norton's evil twin, and repeatedly reminds us, whenever he isn't too busy pulling pantomime scary faces and randomly licking things, that although he's most definitely dead, he'll nevertheless be popping up regularly to ruin every episode he's in for as long as the BBC continues to make "Sherlock".

What started out as an excellent modern adaptation of one of the most iconic characters in fiction almost immediately began to drift into self-parody, and has now jumped the proverbial shark. Like the new "Doctor Who", it's up to its eyebrows in excess baggage that's been tacked onto a perfectly good and very straightforward franchise in an attempt to include something for everyone and thus sell it to the largest possible overseas market, and still they're finding new, ever more absurd ways to furtle around with it. Perhaps the writers know they're going to lose Benedict Cumberbatch unless "Doctor Strange" is a dismal flop, so in the time they've got left they might as well try out their craziest ideas. Whatever. After two very short series and one Xmas special it's already not as good as it used to be, and as of now I won't be wasting any more time on it.

Terrible... - Sherlock: The Abominable Bride review by CP Customer

Instark contrast to the first 6. Which were so good. Imajine if they had taken their time and not rushed. They always do this, if something is popular they panic and rush it. Please dont force female characters in just for the sake of it. It just doesnt work if you are so completely contrived. Like the sherlocks sister character who is SO stupid and boring. mary morson is also horrible ,typical of what upper middle class media thinks is trendy, yet these ideas of what modern women and or feminists are , are coming from extremely contrived media in the first place. The news media is not a vox pop, it is black propaganda run by the ultra elite. It does not reflect the experience of 98.5% of people.

I was a left wing activist and a social worker, yet i never came across annoying and needlessly aggressive women like this. It actually characterises an insecure person who feels impotent deep down, all that neurotic grand standing is BS . That is not what empowerment is. The best most bravest female activist, i knew who put her money where her mouth is, was very polite and nice. Thats the point, if you understand the anatomy of oppression ,people on the side of good must support each other and be easy to get along with. That is why i hate the handmaids tale so much.