#john hector mcfarlane

[allallestodo]

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

2.03 The Norwood Builder

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Aug. 12

The Norwood Builder, Part 3 of 3

It would be easy to write it so Lestrade ignored Holmes because of how sure he is that the case has already been solved, so making Lestrade still listen despite all the evidence is a good showing of his character.

They're gonna smoke out Oldacre!

I have to question the safety of starting an indoor fire, but I guess it's as safe as can be with buckets of water on standby and an open window. Part of having a dramatic flair is also having a present sense of danger, after all.

The story is titled The Norwood Builder and it didn't even occur to me that the architecture would play a role somehow. And not to give Oldacre any credit, but I want to say that I would also include secret rooms and hidden places if I were building my own house, just because it'd be fun.

Perfect is the enemy of good, as they say, in both creative and criminal efforts. Sometimes you have to know just when to stop when framing someone for your own murder.

Oldacre's one of those "It's just a prank, guys" sort of people. Somehow this makes him even more despicable to me, more so than trying to get an innocent man hanged.

I'd be curious to see what a sequel to this story would look like. I wouldn't want Oldacre to do something boring like try to shoot Holmes, so I think you'd have to lean into his architectural skillset. Like maybe he tricks Holmes and Watson into a Saw-style scenario (a saw-nario if you will), or a trapped house of some kind.

I like that Holmes tells Watson to just say the remains were actually rabbits, and instead Watson just writes out that Oldacre decided not to tell them.

Speaking of, how badly were those remains burned that they were indistinguishable from either a rabbit or a human? I assumed they were something like a charred human skeleton, but evidently not.

Always love to see more Mycroft. Hopefully I'll be able to keep on time with this one.

[edwardian-girl-next-door]

"There is a God in Heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that same God who's punished that wicked man will show in His own good time my son's hands are guiltless of his blood."

Little moments from Granada's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes S1Ep10. Dir. Ken Grieve. Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, David Burke as Dr. Watson, Colin Jeavons as Inspector Lestrade, Michael Solon as John Hector McFarlane, Helen Ryan as Mrs. McFarlane, and Johnathon Adams as Jonas Oldacre

[sssrha]

Client: As you know, I am the woeful John Hector McFarlane. Anyway- Holmes: idk who the fuck you are bro

[gilgamushroom]

Lestrade, all of the police force, and all the public press: Mr John Hector McFarlane must be arrasted IMMEDIATLY!!! On grounds of ARSON and MURDER. He NEFARIOUSLY took advantage of his BENEFACTOR. He is a CRIMINAL

The Criminal:

[holmesillustrations]

Left: “I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre.” Norwood Builder, FD Steele, Colliers Oct 31 1903 Characters: Watson, John Hector McFarlane, Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, Holmes

Right: “'Tell me everything," said I.” Yellow Face, Sidney Paget, The Strand Feb/Mar 1893 Characters: Grant and Effie Munro

[dathen]

More Norwood Builder illustrations, this time featuring the Unhappy John Hector McFarlane interrupting Holmes’ boredom pity-party. Bonus ‘can’t sit in chairs right to save his life’ Holmes!

[dailyjsa]

Happy Birthday to Hector Hall!

Art by Jerry Ordway, Mike Machlan, Alan Davis, Todd McFarlane, John Cassaday, Mark Lewis, David Baron

[fruitviking]

Hello friends! I have an EMOJI QUIZ for you

Guess the Sherlock Holmes characters:

1) 👵🧹🛌

2) 🪑🤫🤵‍♂

3) 😡🐈❄️

4) 👑🦸‍♂️💰

5) 👨‍⚕️🐍💪

6) 🇩🇪🚲💀

7) 🔎🎩🚬

8) ��‍🦰👗😨

9) 😭🖼️⚖️

10) 🩺👨📝

11) 🏦🕳️🧪

12) 👧🎹🚴‍♀️

13) 🐸🏏📜

14) 🦰📖😂

15) 📿⚰️😴

Answers under the cut - please don't spoil them for anyone else!

ANSWER KEY

1) Mrs Hudson - older woman, broom, bed (and sometimes breakfast)

2) Mycroft Holmes - chair, shush, fancy gentleman

3) Kitty Winter - angry, uh...kitty. winter.

4) The King of Bohemia - crown, stupid disguise, loadsa moneeeeyyyy

5) Grimsby Roylott - doctor (evil), snake, stronk

6) Professor Heidegger - German, cyclist, dead (RIP 😔)

7) Sherlock Holmes - magnifier, top hat, smoking to look mysterious

8) Violet Hunter - red hair, *electric*-blue dress, Fear™️

9) The Unhappy John Hector McFarlane (to give him his official title) - unhappy! Framed! Lawyer!

10) John Watson - stethoscope (to be stored in hat), a fine moustache, writing

11) John Clay - bank (for robbing), hole, acid!

12) Violet Smith - girl, piano, cyclist

13) Percy Phelps - frog (tadpole), cricket (wicket. Really, Watson?), scroll (important treaty that was stolen. Rude.)

14) Jabez Wilson - Red hair, the encyclopedia Britannica (volume 1), LAUGHING omg you poor gullible man

15) Lady Frances Carfax - necklace (for the pawnbrokers), coffin (out of the ordinary), sleepy time (okay fine she was drugged)

[skyriderwednesday]

So if Wisteria Lodge happens a month after Empty House, the early timeline of Holmes's return goes something like...

Early April: The Empty House, Holmes and Watson capture Colonel Moran

Mid to Late April: Holmes and Watson 'lock up Colonel Carruthers', an untold case

Early to Mid May: No cases. Holmes gets bored.

Late May: Wisteria Lodge, Holmes and Watson investigate the mysterious vacating of Wisteria Lodge and following events Watson will summarise as being to do with 'ex-President Murillo'.

Some time between June and July: Holmes and Watson investigate 'the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland' which nearly kills both of them, an untold case.

August: Norwood Builder, Holmes complains about being bored, though Watson claims this is unfounded. He works to exonerate John Hector McFarlane from being charged with the murder of Jonas Oldacre.

Meanwhile, at some point prior to the Norwood Builder case, Holmes has persuaded Watson to sell his practice and move back into Baker Street, giving a young cousin the money to buy it at the highest asking price. Then following that, they have enough cases to fill three volumes of Watson's yearbooks, including 'the repulsive story of the red leech and the terrible death of Crosby, the banker. [...]the Addleton tragedy, and the singular contents of the ancient British barrow. The famous Smith-Mortimer succession case [...] and the tracking and arrest of Huret, the Boulevard assassin' (all untold cases), and then The Golden Pince-Nez at the end of November.

So yeah.

[mariana-oconnor]

The Norwood Builder pt 1

Definitely remember the name, but do I remember the story? That is the eternal question. Well, hopefully not eternal. It should be answered soonish.

“London has become a singularly uninteresting city since the death of the late lamented Professor Moriarty.”

Woe, my arch enemy who tried to kill me and very nearly succeeded several times (but who only appeared in one story) is dead. I don't know if this is more indicative of Holmes' character or ACD's lamenting 'look, I raised the stakes so high that time that I'm never going to be able to do that again'. Probably both.

“The community is certainly the gainer, and no one the loser, save the poor out-of-work specialist, whose occupation has gone."

Watson has literally told us twice that 1895 was insanely busy for you. You did a case for the pope. You dealt with that canary guy. Your melodrama is noted, sir.

At the time of which I speak Holmes had been back for some months, and I, at his request, had sold my practice and returned to share the old quarters in Baker Street. A young doctor, named Verner, had purchased my small Kensington practice, and given with astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to ask—an incident which only explained itself some years later when I found that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes's, and that it was my friend who had really found the money.

Holmes really Did That, huh? Wow. Guy has no chill in so many ways. "Come and live with me, Watson, and give up your practice! I'm sure you'll find someone to take it on. What's that? A convenient buyer of whom I know nothing. Nothing at all. Any family resemblance is purely coincidental!"

As it opened there came a tumultuous rush into the hall, rapid feet clattered up the stair, and an instant later a wild-eyed and frantic young man, pale, dishevelled, and palpitating, burst into the room.

What does 'palpitating' mean when referring to a human person?

Ah, so just sort of shaking, then. I've never seen it used like that.

He became conscious that some apology was needed for this unceremonious entry.

I mean, he just entered the dramatic bitch house dramatically, I'm not sure he needs to apologise. You and Holmes do worse once a day and twice on Sundays. Let the boy be dramatic. He's probably earned it. He fits right in, anyway.

"I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane.”

Once again, I see this and my brain immediately asks if there's a 'happy John Hector McFarlane' out there somewhere, just living his best life, not even palpitating slightly.

“I am sure that with your symptoms my friend Dr. Watson here would prescribe a sedative."

I'm sure he would rather prescribe brandy.

...it was not difficult for me to follow his deductions, and to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-charm, and the breathing which had prompted them.

OK, so Watson's doing really well at working out Holmes' thought processes from his conclusions.

But also, Freemasons really just walking around with their secret society symbol hanging from their watch chain? How is that a secret society?

"I am the most unfortunate man at this moment in London. For Heaven's sake don't abandon me, Mr. Holmes!"

Srsly, my boy is dramatic and he has found his people.

“Arrest you!” said Holmes. “This is really most grati—most interesting.”

Good cover. A+. No one noticed a thing.

“Here it is, and with your permission I will read it to you."

Odd decision to read the article rather than telling your own version of events. But I do love a dramatic reading.

And Watson, you're a bit slow with that brandy. Where is your medical expertise, did you sell it along with your practice to Sherlock's cousin?

"He has had the reputation of being a man of eccentric habits, secretive and retiring. For some years he has practically withdrawn from the business, in which he is said to have amassed considerable wealth."

How very Bilbo Baggins of him. This smells like a motive. I wonder if he has Sackville-Oldacre relatives.

"The police theory is that a most sensational crime has been committed, that the victim was clubbed to death in his own bedroom, his papers rifled, and his dead body dragged across to the wood-stack, which was then ignited so as to hide all traces of the crime."

They're really throwing all the information available out there to the public, huh? No concept of security or secrecy in Victorian London, oh no. We have to put all the dirty details in the paper for everyone to see.

"The conduct of the criminal investigation has been left in the experienced hands of Inspector Lestrade, of Scotland Yard..."

Oh hai, Lestrade!

"I knew nothing of this affair until I was in the train, when I read what you have just heard."

Yeah, that'll fuck up your morning and no mistake.

“‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.’"

No pressure. Just write up this legal document in front of me. Also, it's a will mystery. I love a good will mystery.

"I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me."

Of course he has, I knew he would from the moment you said he knew your parents. Also, this does nothing to make you less of a suspect.

Mr Oldacre is also a member of the dramatic bitch club, it seems. You couldn't just write out your will somewhere else. You had to get the beneficiary to write it out without even telling him he was the beneficiary? No one in this story has the slightest bit of chill.

"The will was duly finished, signed, and witnessed by my clerk."

This feels like a conflict of interest. I feel like the person receiving the inheritance shouldn't be the one to write up the will. I know that Mr Oldacre still had to read and sign it and there was a witness and everything, but it still feels weird.

"‘Remember, my boy, not one word to your parents about the affair until everything is settled. We will keep it as a little surprise for them.’"

I'm guessing that this is because the McFarlane parents have crucial information, such as 'he's a terrible person. we hate him. he will try to frame you for murder' or 'we have never met this man before in our lives'.

We are now getting into the familiar vibe of 'rich person coerces young not-rich person into doing things against their better judgement by promising them money'.

"He remarked that we must not disturb the housekeeper. He showed me out through his own French window, which had been open all this time.”

“It strikes me, my good Lestrade, as being just a trifle too obvious,” said Holmes.

I know I say that all the time, but I have the benefit of knowing that I am reading mystery fiction and therefore the most obvious solution is probably not the correct one. Holmes is just being contrary by saying it here. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the obvious solution is going to be the correct one.

I agree that it would be a stupid move on Mr McFarlane's part, but even so you can't really fault Lestrade for following the evidence to this point.

“Why should the tramp burn the body?” “For the matter of that why should McFarlane?” “To hide some evidence.”

The obvious conclusion to draw here is that it's not Mr Oldacre's body. And he has buggered off somewhere quite merrily with the contents of his safe having suitably fucked over Mr McFarlane for as yet unknown reasons. Hope it wasn't a random passing tramp that he beat to death and burnt. Because that's a dick move. If you're going to kill someone, at least have a personal reason for it.

"I dare say that in the course of the day I shall drop in at Norwood and see how you are getting on.”

I assume after your trip to Blackheath? To see what the elder McFarlanes have to say about Mr Oldacre and if they've ever met him. Maybe had him bury someone in a wall or under a patio for them. Normal things.

I don't seem to remember this one, either. Man I really did not pay attention as a child, huh? Makes it more fun this time around, though.

[allallestodo]

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

2.03 The Norwood Builder

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Aug. 10

The Norwood Builder, Part 2 of 3

I feel like Holmes and Watson have been through enough that there doesn't need to be some prospect of danger for Watson to tag along. I mean, Holmes asked Watson to sell his practice so they could live together again, so why not have him go with you for some standard investigating? What else could Watson be doing?

Alright, so Oldacre was a terrible person, and he was especially terrible to McFarlane's mother. This means it's incredibly suspect for him to bequeath young McFarlane everything in his will.

Side note, but I initially read this as the photo being of her mutilated face, not the photo itself being what was mutilated, which gave me an entirely different image of this woman.

Maybe the charred remains belong to this "Hyams" fellow if the name was on the button. Or perhaps another client of Hyams? I just don't think it's Oldacre what with the lack of positive ID on the burnt corpse, but I guess this would be the best positive ID back then.

Based on the way Oldacre treated McFarlane's mother, I could see Mrs. Lexington here being intimidated into whatever plot is going on and thus not revealing the truth. There is of course the possibility she's willingly involved, but I think that's much less likely.

Now that is a case I would like to read. Every client of Holmes and Watson has had at the very least some real problem at hand. But a genuine guilty murderer having the gall to go to Holmes to help him? Presenting as an innocent young man? He sounds so evil and I so want to see how Holmes and Watson dealt with it.

Mr. Cornelius, another possible candidate for the victim of the fire? Or actually an acquaintance? Perhaps Oldacre didn't want to send him any more of these large cheques, and saw a good opportunity to get rid of a body.

I have to admit, it's kind of fun to see Lestrade get one over on Holmes, even if I know he'll be wrong in the end in some way. It's sort of like letting a kid beat you at a game before annihilating them; he thinks he's won, so just let him have his moment.

I like this line because it shows that Lestrade has really gotten under Watson's skin, and we haven't really gotten Watson's reactions to much of the case so far.

No wonder Holmes is so happy, Lestrade found a damning piece of evidence against his own case.

[thefisherqueen]

Reading Letters from Watson's The Norwood Builder now! Here we go :)

“From the point of view of the criminal expert,” said Mr. Sherlock Holmes, “London has become a singularly uninteresting city since the death of the late lamented Professor Moriarty.” You literally killed him, Holmes, then faked your own death and spent years in hiding because of him, and now you're complaining that he's dead and you're bored - to the very one who's still recovering from the shock that you're alive? I diagnose you with some major Readjustment Issues and should consider therapy instead of just trying to cope with inappropriate humor. Watson is very valid in calling you whimsical

"At the time of which I speak Holmes had been back for some months, and I, at his request, had sold my practice and returned to share the old quarters in Baker Street." Of course. No news here

“I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes,” he cried. “You mustn't blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane.” Quite the introduction! By the way, why are so many of Holmes' clients young men on the verge of a nervous breakdown?

"Familiar as I was with my friend's methods, it was not difficult for me to follow his deductions, and to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-charm, and the breathing which had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in amazement." Character growth! Well done, Watson. I'm proud of you. Freemasonary, by the way, is so broad a movement it barely means anything. This quote prompted me to do some research into the symbols of freemasonry. The watch in itself isn't the symbol, a combination of a builder's square and compasses (used to draw perfect circles) with the letter G was the most common one. I guess Watson is referring to the fact that this gentlemen's watch has an added engraving or something similar with this symbol. Also, I wonder about the connection between freemasonary and the murdered man being a builder in this case.

“Arrest you!” said Holmes. “This is really most grati—most interesting. On what charge do you expect to be arrested?” Omg. Barely caught himself there

"My companion's expressive face" Oh, the contradictions in Holmes' character writing. Is Sherlock Holmes that expressive suddenly, or is Watson just able to read him really well?

"He was flaxen-haired and handsome in a washed-out negative fashion" Watson was that judgement really necessary

"For some years he has practically withdrawn from the business, in which he is said to have amassed considerable wealth." Not working, yet amassing wealth. I'd say that's suspicious but, really, under capitalism the only people who are able to gain wealth are those not working - either exploiting or investing (likely both)

"It is known that Mr. Jonas Oldacre had received a late visitor in his bedroom upon that night, and the stick found has been identified as the property of this person, who is a young London solicitor named John Hector McFarlane." Inviting young sollicitors into his bedroom at night. Creepy behaviour. (can't help but think about Dracula's Jonathan Harker). Also, I'm glad the openly naming of suspects is restricted nowadays. No opportunity of a fair trail otherwise

"The conduct of the criminal investigation has been left in the experienced hands of Inspector Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, who is following up the clues with his accustomed energy and sagacity.” Yay, we'll get to see Lestrade again!

"One moment, Lestrade,” said Holmes. “Half an hour more or less can make no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an account of this very interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing it up.” “I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up,” said Lestrade, grimly. Power struggle. Bless Holmes for working independent and not afraid to tell the police off

“‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.’ “I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment when I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me." Strong Jekyll and Hyde paralell here. I wonder, is murder conviction a legal reason to exclude someone from a will? I guess that doesn't even matter anymore if McFarlane would be executed. And who will the inherentence go to then? The next in line family member? Strong motive for framing McFarlane for murder, then. Next line of inquiry, I guess: who else knew about the will?

Already really liking this story! Protect this poor young sollicitor from injustice, Holmes

"He was a strange little, ferret-like man" Comparing people to animals again. Did McFarlane really say that, Watson, or was that one of your fancy additions?

“You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, and all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular." Dosing so might cost you your life, McFarlane. *mutters about power imbalace*

“Not until I have been to Blackheath.” “You mean to Norwood,” said Lestrade. “Oh, yes; no doubt that is what I must have meant,” said Holmes, with his enigmatical smile." Oh, Holmes is delightful here! Wasn't Blackheath where McFarlane lives? My guess is that Holmes wants to know what the connection between Oldacre and McFarlane's parents was. Were they both in a same freemasonry community? That would tie it neatly together

I don't trust Oldacre's motivation in leaving his inherentance to McFarlane. Seems a bit like whitewashing of ill-gotten money to me. Then, again, he wouldn't have arranged his own murder. Or - wait - is he really dead? Since there's only some blood and charred remains found. Easy enough to fake. I have a Theory. I feel Clever (likely wrong but who cares)

"You are too many for me" Love that expression. Going to use that

"It is curious—is it not?—that a man should draw up so important a document in so haphazard a fashion. It suggests that he did not think it was going to be of much practical importance. If a man drew up a will which he did not intend ever to be effective he might do it so.” He did not ever intend the will to be effective. I think we have our villain! *Points to my theory* And - did he hide McFarlane's walking cane on purpose? Motive still not entirely clear to me. Fake your own death for life insurence, sure, but not to claim an inherentence that is currently already your own. Something most be up with that money to devise an elaborate, dangerous plot like that

“Well, it is quite possible; but the case is not clear to me yet.” “Not clear? Well, if that isn't clear, what could be clear?" Oh, Lestrade. You started so well by being picking up that Holmes had Thoughts and being willing to listen to him. But now...

Holmes thinks a bypassing third person did it. I'm not buying that. And, after Lestrade's remark that no papers were taken while a third person would have done that, I don't think Holmes is convinced anymore either

"But it is evident to me that the logical way to approach the case is to begin by trying to throw some light upon the first incident—the curious will, so suddenly made, and to so unexpected an heir." Yes! Investigate that!

"There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of stirring out without you." Awww! Also, famous last words, Holmes

I had to look up what black-guard means. According to the cambridge dictonary, apperently a word for someone who has no moral principles.

Holmes did you really just call a human being 'fluffly?"

Yet another murder victim who was a terrible person and is not mourned. This is really a repeating theme

“‘You knew him at that time?’ said I." “‘Yes, I knew him well; in fact, he was an old suitor of mine. Thank Heaven that I had the sense to turn away from him and to marry a better, if a poorer, man." Oh, it's personal! Good for her for getting away from him

"She rummaged in a bureau, and presently she produced a photograph of a woman, shamefully defaced and mutilated with a knife. ‘That is my own photograph,’ she said. ‘He sent it to me in that state, with his curse, upon my wedding morning.’ What the fuck. Please let Oldacre be the villian of this story

"I crawled about the lawn with an August sun on my back, but I got up at the end of an hour no wiser than before." Another very amusing image

"Unless some lucky chance comes our way I fear that the Norwood Disappearance Case will not figure in that chronicle of our successes which I foresee that a patient public will sooner or later have to endure.” Holmes! Be more kind to your chronicler!

"But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.” Don't give up Holmes! *points to my theory, somehow it all still fits*

"I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night, but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and harassed, his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them." Now I'm feeling sad :( Please, Watson, cheer him up

"Take your breakfast, Watson, and we will go out together and see what we can do. I feel as if I shall need your company and your moral support to-day.” Awww

“At present I cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion,” he would say in answer to my medical remonstrances." Damn it Holmes, that not how that works. Please take care of yourself

"He led us through the passage and out into a dark hall beyond. “This is where young McFarlane must have come out to get his hat after the crime was done,” said he." Wait, didn't the housekeeper say that McFarlane left his hat behind?? *beep beep* tempered with evidence?

“What a providential thing that this young man should press his right thumb against the wall in taking his hat from the peg! Such a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it.” Holmes was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of suppressed excitement as he spoke. “By the way, Lestrade, who made this remarkable discovery?” “It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington, who drew the night constable's attention to it.” This is hilarious. Holmes is so ready to tear this 'evidence' to treads

"The fact is that there is one really serious flaw in this evidence to which our friend attaches so much importance.” “Indeed, Holmes! What is it?” “Only this: that I know that that mark was not there when I examined the hall yesterday" Yes :) Now just find the evidence to convince the police. I also wonder how Oldacre attained McForlane's thumb imprint? Perhaps he just asked for it, since McForlane was not in a position anyway to refuse even an odd request?

"And now, Watson, let us have a little stroll round in the sunshine.” I'm making a lot of awww-sounds while reading this story. This is just so cute. I love them going out for walks!

"Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words. He laid down his pen and looked curiously at him. “What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?” “Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen.” “Can you produce him?” “I think I can.” I'm excited! Is this where Oldacre is shown to be not dead at all? Hiding in one of those attic bedrooms, is my guess?

"Holmes stood before us with the air of a conjurer who is performing a trick." Of course Holmes can not help but be Dramatic (TM) about this. What is he going to do? Smoke the man out?

"A door suddenly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the end of the corridor, and a little, wizened man darted out of it, like a rabbit out of its burrow. “Capital!” said Holmes, calmly. “Watson, a bucket of water over the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you with your principal missing witness, Mr. Jonas Oldacre.” Can't believe I got it right! A fake door, no less. Such a fun, dramatic reveal

"It was an odious face—crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and white eyelashes." *Sigh* There we go with the criminal faces again

Lestrade really owes Holmes a lot this time

“And you don't want your name to appear?” “Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps I shall get the credit also at some distant day when I permit my zealous historian to lay out his foolscap once more—eh, Watson?" Now this is just flirting. I approve

“There's the advantage of being a builder,” said Holmes, as we came out. “He was able to fix up his own little hiding-place without any confederate" Nice tie-up. I wonder about the other loose ends? Will the freemasonry still come up?

"I thought he had not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of fire. We could, of course, have gone in and taken him, but it amused me to make him reveal himself; besides, I owed you a little mystification, Lestrade, for your chaff in the morning.” And this is 100% Holmes. I love that man

"It was amusing to me to see how the detective's overbearing manner had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions of its teacher." I adore Watson's narration here. He is just shamelessly laughing at Lestrade

"He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine, himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet, but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere.” So that was how he intended to do it. Clever scheme.

It takes a special kind of evil to be angry at a woman for rejecting you and then, as revenge, frame her child for murder. Wow.

[bakerstreetbabble]

Granada TV Series Review: "The Norwood Builder" (S02, E03)

[Apologies that this review is just over a day late. I had some technical difficulties that prohibited me from posting the review on the regular Saturday. Next week's should be on time, God willing!]

I am very happy to report, the Granada adaptation of "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder," a story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes, is my favorite episode thus far! The writers took an enjoyable enough story, remained very faithful to the plot, and tweaked it just enough, resulting in a beautifully paced and gripping piece of storytelling. In the original, much of the story is Holmes telling Watson what he's been up to. It works fine for me as a reader, but would be exceptionally dull as a television program. By giving Watson more to do, and showing much more of the action onscreen, the pacing and flow of the story are improved tenfold. I found myself glued to the screen for the entire 50+ minutes of the episode.

Jeremy Brett is in absolutely top form, showing us Holmes at his lowest of lows, wallowing in despair that he may fail his client, as well as showing us Holmes at his most delightful level of playful deduction once the pieces fall into place. There's no shortage of interplay here between Holmes and Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade (played perfectly by Colin Jeavons). Matthew Solon is very well cast as the nervous, excitable Mr. John Hector McFarlane. He seems a bit younger than the character is described in the story; I would say he's in his early twenties, rather than his late twenties, as Watson describes him. Honestly, all the casting is perfect, but I was particularly struck by the excellent writing mentioned above. I felt like there was not a single minute of screen time wasted. There were some brilliant moments with no dialogue here and there that did a tremendous job of conveying the state of mind of the characters: Holmes's melancholy when he can't figure things out, Watson's concern for his friend, and Mr. McFarlane's despair when it looks like he may be hanged for murder.

I honestly can't say enough good about this episode. I have really enjoyed watching the Granada adaptations so far, but this one was a noticeable step above many of the other episodes. One gets the distinct feeling that the production team and the regular cast had really hit their stride by this point in the series. "Norwood Builder" is HIGHLY recommended!