Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

:

Season 1
  • Network: PBS , BBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 1, 2016
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 86
  3. Negative: 12 out of 86
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. in_obsession
    Jan 3, 2016
    7
    I adore this show, but I very much like that it is set in the modern age and--say what you will of the movies--I like to leave Victorian London Sherlock to Robert Downey Jr, thank you very much. There is very little more I can say about this without spoiling the entire thing for you, but instead of being disappointed with this little foray into the past, I was very much pleased with howI adore this show, but I very much like that it is set in the modern age and--say what you will of the movies--I like to leave Victorian London Sherlock to Robert Downey Jr, thank you very much. There is very little more I can say about this without spoiling the entire thing for you, but instead of being disappointed with this little foray into the past, I was very much pleased with how they worked it all out to connect with the present day story.

    Sherlock is the most explored character for the most obvious reason, as the show is literally named after him and the Special gives us a literal front row view of how Sherlock interprets himself and those around him. Not much has changed from the regular series there. John is still his most trusted friend and Moriarty is...well...Moriarty. Very little development happens here for any of them except for one particular character.

    Surprisingly--or perhaps unsurprisingly considering he is the co-creator of the show-- Mycroft Holmes's character was uniquely touched on. Many may have missed it, focused as they were on the relationship between John and Sherlock, but Mycroft has been peeling back layers like an onion for us to see all through Series 3. He, not John or Moriarty or Mary, is the character to watch in this. Despite the outwardly antagonistic relationship they seem to have, the Holmes Brothers depend on each other in very unique ways. Not to mention how he relates to others now in contrast to how he was in the beginning of the series.

    Can you tell who my favourite character is yet?

    The visuals are all there, beautifully crafted and delivered with that Sherlockian perfection that has made it so popular. Though it did have it's moments where I thought it was shaky, it's nowhere near as choppy a storyline as series 3. I do think that it was unnecessarily patronising in some parts. I understand that he was trying to portray the exact opposite of what actually came across, I'm just very concerned that no one on his team cringed at the way some people were treated.

    The mystery itself was hilariously easy to solve and I wondered why it took Sherlock so long. Am I Mycroft now? It seems so. Unlike many others, however, I did enjoy the fan service. Didn't think it was over the top at all. It might annoy others but subtext is kind of my thing so I really can't be subjective about this particular debate so I'll leave that to others.

    Overall, I found it enjoyable to watch. Obviously not up to par with the first and second series but not as bad as series 3, mansplaining aside. Seeing it in the cinema helped, with it's little extras at the beginning and end. Though a few people left before the interviews were done and I couldn't help but whisper 'fake fans' to my friend jokingly as half of the cinema cleared out before Mark Gatiss was through talking.    … Expand
  2. vrso
    Jan 8, 2016
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was happy to be able to see a bit more of Sherlock before Season Four airs, and curious because this special promised to show the era of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And the series does it very well.

    I also liked how this episode changed from past to present times, but still focused on the case from the 19th Century.

    Only the solution for the case seemed a bit... off. However, it appears to confirm what I already thought when seeing the end of Season 3: Moriarty is dead, but an impersonator is using his likeness to spread fear through England.    … Expand
  3. TrilobiteG
    Jan 1, 2016
    8
    A blend of what seems to be Sherlock and Inception, also burrowing it's way as a lead to the next series, this proves to be a great episode. It's not the greatest Sherlock episode, but it's editing, writing, performances and interweaving messages prove undoubtedly that it is great and wonderfully sets up the next series. Underlings afoot for the future for Sherlock in praise, this featureA blend of what seems to be Sherlock and Inception, also burrowing it's way as a lead to the next series, this proves to be a great episode. It's not the greatest Sherlock episode, but it's editing, writing, performances and interweaving messages prove undoubtedly that it is great and wonderfully sets up the next series. Underlings afoot for the future for Sherlock in praise, this feature does lose some applause in it's cloudy pacing in the decency for murder due to misogyny. Victorian society was eagerly misogynistic...but it never proposed the victims as awful people. Which is somewhat disturbing as an ideology. Nonetheless, a good tie in with a old fashioned Sherlock for classic buffs whilst letting fans of the modern salivate of what's to come.… Expand
  4. Bluesmanuk
    Feb 27, 2016
    9
    A very typical Sherlock episode that has you guessing and wondering all the way through. Not that you would want it any other way and if you have watched previous episodes then you will know that whilst there are things that seem to make little or no sense at the moment of watching, everything gets wrapped up in complete understanding by it's conclusion. Mark Gatiss is a true genius whenA very typical Sherlock episode that has you guessing and wondering all the way through. Not that you would want it any other way and if you have watched previous episodes then you will know that whilst there are things that seem to make little or no sense at the moment of watching, everything gets wrapped up in complete understanding by it's conclusion. Mark Gatiss is a true genius when it comes to writing and always manages to bring surprises to the characters that I am sure makes the lead actors want to come back for more, which is all to the benefit of us the viewers. Long may it continue.… Expand
  5. TimW001
    Jul 19, 2016
    10
    What a wonderful series. One of the best television shows. An achievement of the BBC. This episode was movie length and well worth every second. A must watch.
  6. eagleeyeviking
    Jan 8, 2016
    7
    An interesting, but not entirely successful experiment, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride is a welcome return to the TV show with fantastic dialogue, high production values and an interesting mystery despite becoming needlessly convoluted in the second half.
  7. DanBurrito
    Jan 3, 2016
    7
    Although sometimes a little too convoluted, "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" is an enjoyable special about the original Sherlock Holmes. There is a good blend of darkness and humour, with some excellent set pieces. As I mentioned before, it gets a bit confusing towards the end, but you might be able to work it out if you familiarize yourself with the rest of the series. BenedictAlthough sometimes a little too convoluted, "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" is an enjoyable special about the original Sherlock Holmes. There is a good blend of darkness and humour, with some excellent set pieces. As I mentioned before, it gets a bit confusing towards the end, but you might be able to work it out if you familiarize yourself with the rest of the series. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are as good as ever and even in the special's weak points, they manage to elevate it with their chemistry. So overall, despite its flaws, this was an intriguing and enjoyable episode that I would certainly recommend to fans of the show. 7/10.… Expand
  8. SomePersona
    Jan 18, 2017
    8
    This episode really works as a Christmas special while working to progress the show further into the fourth series. Andrew Scott is awesome as Moriarty, and Cumberbatch and Freeman fit well into the clothes of 19th century Holmes and Watson.

    The Abominable Bride: 7.5/10

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Allison Shoemaker
    Jan 2, 2016
    58
    "The Abominable Bride" poises itself to become one of the best episodes the series has offered thus far. And then it doesn’t stop. And it still doesn’t stop. And it keeps on not stopping.
    Read full review
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Kaite Welsh
    Jan 2, 2016
    100
    If it takes talent to make a good cliché work, making a bad one brilliant is Holmes-level genius.
    Read full review
  3. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jan 2, 2016
    30
    The special ... didn't just irritate me; it made me actively angry at how it wasted a great idea in the name of pointless complications and fan service.
    Read full review