#sherlock holmes and the secret weapon

[finalproblem]

Sherlockian Wednesday Watchalongs: Comfort Food

The world can be… a lot. So we're settling in with some of the faves we love to return to.

Wednesday, October 13 Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) Basil Rathbone's Holmes takes on the Nazis! (And wins. Just to be clear.)

Wednesday, October 20 Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four (1968 TV episode) Peter Cushing's Holmes tackles the second canon story in the second-to-last episode of this adaptation.

Wednesday, October 27 Sherlock Holmes: Die Bruce-Partington-Pläne (aka The Bruce-Partington Plans, 1968 TV episode) Our final premiere of homebrew English subtitles for this series!

Here’s the deal: Like Sherlock Holmes? You’re welcome to join us in The Giant Chat of Sumatra’s #giantchat text channel to watch and discuss with us. Just find a copy of the episode or movie we’re watching, and come make some goofy internet friends.

Keep an eye on my #the giant chat of sumatra tag and the calendar for updates on future chat events.

[randomnessoffiction]

[inevitable-destruction]

I think my main interest in this affair is the chance it gives me to battle with you again.

[bens-things]

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) dir. Roy William Neill

[blistering-typhoons]

the secret weapon + watson hair appreciation

[qaymaw]

I wrote a list of the crimes commited by important characters in Moriarty the Patriot. This is only the anime so characters exclussive to the manga won't appear, nor will crimes commited in arcs exclussive to the manga.

This is an extremley long list, also may contain spoilers if you haven't watched the anime/read the manga, however they shouldn't be to bad.

William James Moriarty 30 crimes

Intimidation

Bribing

Death threats

Threats of violence

Kidnapping

Accessory to murder

Impersonation/Identity theft

Inciting violence/murder/genocide

Arson

First-degree murder

Manipulation/Brainwashing

Contract killing/assassination

Coercion

Framing

Assisted suicide¹

Suicide baiting¹

Mass murder

Genocide

Destruction of property

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Manipulation of political affairs

Attempted suicide¹

Evading arrest

Obstruction of justice

Treason

Breaking and entering

Organised crime²

Illegal possesion of a firearm³

Albert James Moriarty 21 crimes

Leaking government secrets

Organised crime²

Accesory to murder

Assault with the intent to kill/assault with a deadly weapon

First-degree murder

Arson

Manipulation/Brainwashing

Contract killing/assassination

Coercion

Framing

Assisted Suicide¹

Suicide Baiting¹

Mass murder

Genocide

Destruction of property

Domestic Terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Treason

Patricide

Matricide

Fratricide

Louis James Moriarty 21 crimes

Intimidation

Death threats

Threats of violence

Accessory to murder

Arson

First-degree murder

Manipulation/Brainwashing

Contract killing/assassination

Coercion

Framing

Assisted suicide¹

Suicide baiting¹

Mass murder

Genocide

Destruction of property

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Organised crime²

Treason

Breaking and entering

James Bonde 18 crimes

Theft

High treason

Impersonation of royalty/Identity theft

Arson

Evading the police/goverment

Destruction of property

Extortion

Exploitation

Blackmail

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Assault

Conspiracy to commit mureder/genocide

Infiltration

Organised crime²

Treason

Contract killing/Assassination

Accessory to murder

Illegal possession of firearms³

Sebastian Moran 15 crimes

First-degree murder

Contract killing/Assassination

Assisted suicide¹

Suicide baiting¹

Mass murder

Genocide

Accessory to murder

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Assault

Conspircay to commit murder/genocide

Gambling

Organised crime²

Treason

Breaking and entering

Illegal possession of firearms³

Fred Porlock 15 crimes

Impersonation

Accesory to murder

Contract killing/Assassination

First-degree murder

Suicide baiting¹

Assisted suicide¹

Mass murder

Genocide

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Organised crime²

Treason

Breaking and entering

Desercration of a corpse

Jack Renfield (AKA Jack the Ripper) 11 crimes

Hiring a contract killer/Assassin

Desercration of a corpse

Assault

Impersonation

Evading the police

Accessory to murder

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Organised crime²

Treason

Von Herder 8 crimes

Accesory to murder

Domestic terrorism²

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Illegal weapons dealing/creating/inventing

Organised crime²

Treason

Illegal possession of firearms³

Zack Paterson 8 crimes

Accesory to murder

Conspiracy to overthrow the system/nobility

Conspiracy to commit murder/genocide

Eavesdropping

Infaltration

Domestic terrorism²

Treason

Organised crime²

Sherlock Holmes 6 crimes

Breaking and entering

Destruction of property

Attempted suicide¹

Second-degree murder

Illegal possesion of firearms³

Arson

Mycroft Holmes 3 crimes

Accessory to murder

Affiliation with a terrorist organisation

Leaking government secrets

Notes

¹Suicide Act 1961. This act removed suicide as a crime in England and Wales, meaning those who survived a suicide attempt could not be prosecuted. Family members of those who did not survive could no longer be prosecuted either. However, under Suicide Act 1961, Section 2, it remains a crime for a third party to encourage or assist in the suicide of another.

²Terrorism or Organised Crime (or both)

Definitions:

Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

Organised crime: Criminal activities that are planned and controlled by powerful groups and carried out on a large scale.

The motive of organised crime is often, but not always, financial.

The Moriarty Plan is a force of violence with the intention of political change. This violence is commited against their home country meaning this is domestic terrorism. They have no wish for financial gain, however, because they are commiting crimes that are planned and controlled, this is also organised crime. Those directly involved in The Moriarty Plan and its execution are therefore guilty of both terrorism and organised crime.

³The Gun License Act 1870. This act meant that anyone may still purchase a gun, however a license was required to have one off your personal property for any reason. This means that James Bonde and Sebatian Moran are both guilty of illegal possession of a firearm as they are both legally dead and therefore cannot have a gun license. However, Sherlock, William and Von Herder are never disclosed to have a gun license but this does not mean they do not have one as they would be perfectly elligable to get one. If they do all own a gun license, this takes Sherlock's crimes down to 5, William's crimes down to 29 and Von Herder's crimes down to 7.

[lisbeth-kk]

Sherlock fandom.

Silvery Witchcraft

It is of course not a secret. Not per se. I don’t hide my true identity. It has more to do with what people observe. Or believe, I suppose. Coming to terms with the fact that the paranormal is real doesn't sit well with most people. Therefore, I always find it amusing when someone calls me a witch. Little do they know…

I took my time when I got to choose my appearance and colours. An image of an elderly, fragile-looking lady filled my mind. She fit my favourite colours perfectly. Purple and silver. 

My place of residence had already been chosen for me. 221 Baker Street, London. Such a pretty place. Victorian. Reminded me of my childhood. I immediately set about furnishing the place. 221A would serve as my quarters. I decorated it as a woman my supposed age would. Lots of lace curtains, antimacassars, velvet cushions, a Persian carpet, and mahogany furniture. I hid the modern kitchen appliances in old, almost ancient ones. My cooking and baking would not suffer because of an unpredictable oven, thank you very much!

I didn’t bother with 221C at first but moved upstairs. 221B was going to be rented out. I needed to earn a living. Keeping up appearances and all that nonsense. The flat was quite spacious and had two bedrooms. The empty space got my full attention, and I chose carefully. My intention was for it to look as if the previous tenants had left it fully furnished. 

The walls were covered with creamy-coloured wallpaper and a black lily pattern. Two mismatched chairs, one in worn, but exquisite leather, the other a faded red upholstery one, were positioned by the fireplace. Although they looked old, they weren’t. 

I used quite a few moments to get the bathroom and kitchen just to my liking. The space was scarce, but by using my silver sparks, my secret weapon, I got everything to fit without it seeming cramped. Letting the rooms expand unnoticed by the users, was quite a challenge.

***

My first tenant was Mycroft Holmes’ little brother, Sherlock. Witchcraft is surprisingly fully recognised by the British government. Not publicly, of course, and only a handful of ministries are aware of its existence.

Mycroft summoned me to the Diogenes club, and almost begged me to save his brother.

“He won’t listen to reason,” he sighed. “I have tried everything. You are his last chance, or he will end up dead under one of London’s bridges.”

Mycroft Holmes is just as much of a drama queen as his brother, but this time he wasn’t far off. I saw it in the lines around his eyes and mouth.

Arrangements were made, and I literally served my fake mafia husband to Sherlock on a silver plate. We got on like a house on fire after that.

Sherlock immediately fell in love with 221B, and he moved in the day after we returned from Florida and the execution. I hadn’t felt so alive in centuries!

“You will need a flatmate,” I told him after a while. “It’s too lonely for you. Don’t you roll your eyes at me, young man. I hear you during the wee hours. Playing your violin and pacing. A loyal companion is what you need.”

“Who would want me for a flatmate, Hudders?” he asked.

My heart nearly broke at that. Sherlock had become like a son to me, and I hated to see his loneliness. Few people were able to look behind his haughty façade. Greg Lestrade, Mike Stamford, and Molly Hooper being the exceptions. And me and Mycroft, obviously.

“Talk to Mike Stamford,” I urged him. “He will keep an eye out, and he certainly won’t pull someone like Sebastian Wilkes out of his sleeve.”

***

Before Sherlock left for Barts on January 29, I sent some silver sparks after him. For a moment, too brief for the human eye to discern, it lit him up, making him appear even more handsome. Not that he needed it. It was more for good luck, which he might have needed. It was difficult to use my magic on him due to his unpredictability and that monster of a brain.

The moment I laid eyes on John Watson, after Sherlock’s unprecedented hug, I knew he was just the one to share 221B with the genius detective. I didn’t even consider using my magic on him. He was already perfect for Sherlock. I just had to make sure that Sherlock didn’t push John away when he made his move to inquire about his romantic life and orientation. 

------------------------------------------------------------

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[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hiii. It's oddly specific but are there any Johnlock fics out there based on the movie Bodyguard? I feel that there is a potential in there. Thank youu!

Hi Nonny!

Okay, don't hate me but I have NEVER seen The Bodyguard so I don't know the plot aside from the fact that it probably contains a body guard, LOL.

Reading the Wiki about the plot of it, I don't know of any fics PERSONALLY that are similar to it, but you ARE right, it's RIPE for an AU for SURE. I'd love one too, if anyone knows of any!!!

THAT said, in the mean time, doing a tag search of my lists, here are the fics that came up that might be good to scratch that itch with a body / security guard AU:

====

Sanctuary by a_different_equation (E, 15,437 w., 7 Ch. || Medieval AU / Canterbury Tales Fusion || Blacksmith Sherlock, Guard John, Secret Relationship, Dom Sherlock, Sub John, Porn With Plot, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Anal, BAMF Female Characters) – England, 1230: John Watson is an ex-soldier who works as the head of the guards in his hometown. Sherlock Holmes, the local blacksmith, is his secret.

Real Time by Callie4180 (T, 74,935 w., 25 Ch. || 24 Fusion || Creepy Moriarty, Violence, BAMF Mrs Hudson, Suggestions of Torture, Biochemist Sherlock, Bodyguard John) – The world is under the threat of a biological weapon, and a brilliant biochemist needs protection. His own life is a mess, and he doesn't know who he can trust. He's going to have to be at his best every moment if he's going to survive. This is going to be the longest day of John Watson's life.

Northern Light Series by Minxchester (E, 93,412+ w. across 3 works || Series WiP || Security Guard AU || Security Guard John, Rape / Non-Con, Blackmail, Forced Marriage, Captivity, Assorted Pairings, Suicide Attempt, Depression, Non-Con Touching, Eventual Happy Ending) – Recently returned from the war and struggling to adjust back to civilian life, John Watson is given an unexpected opportunity when he's hired as a security guard by Charles Magnussen on the recommendation of his former comrade, Sergeant Murray. Before long, he finds himself assigned the unusual task of serving as personal bodyguard to Magnussen's reclusive husband. But not everything is as it seems in this household--and John gets a lot more than he bargained for looking after Sherlock Holmes.

=====

If you guys have anything more to Nonny's request, PLEASE let us know!! Or even if you have a guard AU to suggest for us too!!

[ogsherlockholmes]

I mention a modern day Holmes adaptation and they think I'm talking about BBCSherlock but I actually bring out my secret weapon (Sherlock Holmes x war propaganda made in the 1940s)

[finalproblem]

Join the Wednesday Watchalong in The Giant Chat of Sumatra! 🔗

Comfort Food month keeps calm and carries on with Rathbone & Bruce in 1942's Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon.

We'll watch & chat live at 8:30 pm US Eastern time (click for your local date/time) in the #giantchat text channel of our Discord server.

[teaspoonnebula]

I dreamt there was a new Sherlock Holmes video game where you played Victorian Sherlock Holmes who has been somehow revived in the 21st century, except that barely matters because most of the game he is trying to retrieve a crown from an underground catacombs/labyrinth rigged with fiendish match four puzzles - so we don't see any modern tech.

(Also don't worry, Watson is with him)

When you find the crown and put it on, it responds to Holmes' DNA and opens a secret chamber where there is a recorded message from... Sheridan Holmes, the EVIL Holmes brother, who is voiced by Vincent Price.

He only has one eye, and has a pet ferret that slinks around his neck He tells the player that, due to the crown responding to their DNA he assumes they are his descendant, and therefore as part of his evil lineage he is going to help them to rule the world. Within this underground catacomb are a bunch of steampunk super weapons they may use.

Holmes is like "lol Sheridan, he couldn't have predicted I would be frozen in time and discover his sepulchre of evil"

And then he just leaves because only he can get in, he won't have any kids, and he's very sure Mycroft didn't.

[golden-earcuffs]

Pitching Shows to GMMTV [1/?]

Here, I ramble about some show ideas that I have and gmmtv should make because I need to see them being made. Lots of fangirling and heaps of delulu logic ahead!

Tagging: @dallasthetimetraveler

1. World’s Greatest Detective

GMMTV should make a series on Sherlock Holmes and call it “The Detective and The Doctor”. He is famous, interesting, and most importantly, queer. Why haven’t they capitalised on him yet?

It’s a surprise that they haven’t made this show yet. Ever since the copyright lifted, I was expecting some production company to make Sherlock Holmes explicitly queer and in love with Dr Watson (looking at you, RDJude). But since no one has done it (apart from “Furtive Festivity” and no, “The Irregulars” does not count), GMMTV has the golden opportunity to be the pioneer. The company is known for making QLs, then having a spin on the obviously queer detective–doctor duo will be iconic. 

I also think it will be a very profitable choice? Given that Sherlock is an insanely popular character among international fans and has also been a recognized part of fan culture. It was actually his stories that introduced me to the queer media.

I know it will be yet another adaptation, but hear me out. They don’t have to copy the stories as they are. It would not be a remake so one won’t know the story beforehand. And since Sherlock Holmes is public domain, they can just upload the show on YouTube (unlike “Cherry Magic”, “F4: Boys Over Flowers” etc)

And it will be relatively easy, a new case per week, while hinting at a bigger villain in the initial episodes and then setting him up for the finale (I know “Petrichor” is doing something similar but every mystery show isn’t about the consulting detective.) Sherlock Holmes is a character that works in every era– 1890s, 20s, 90s or the modern day, if you manage to capture his essence. Sherlock Holmes can be anyone from a 90 year old British man, a Japanese woman in her 20s or a pre–teen Canadian girl. 

I know GMMTV doesn’t make a lot of 2nd seasons (“TGG”, “Still 2gether” and now “Only Friends: Dream On” being some exceptions, and while “The Enigma 2” was announced, we know nothing else about it) but honestly? If they make this show, I hope they don’t stop at only one season. Milk it properly. Gimme like five seasons with six episodes each (no, it’s not a lot. “Granada Holmes” had 36 episodes, “CBS Elementary” had 154 episodes in total, spanning over 7 seasons).

The thing is, they have enough content to make it long. Plenty of source material (4 novels and 58 short stories is no joke) and several adaptations to draw inspiration from. Asian ones too– “Miss Sherlock” and “Sherlock: Untold Stories”. I watched the former and it was so good. A Thai adaptation will be thrilling if they utilise the local stories and settings and have a good direction. 

And that’s the thing.

They’ll need a very good director (and writing team) to pull it off. Mystery and plot twists are hard to do, if I take examples, “Not me” revealing Todd as the villain wasn’t shocking (perhaps they weren’t going for it), “The Gifted Graduation” overdid it with it’s plot twist after plot twists and the secret weapon suspense in “Home School” was straight up bad.

However, I’m sure they can pull together a good team to work behind the cameras. I hope a team that actually likes the characters and is willing to tell a good story. There is no scarcity of great detective shows, what makes Sherlock Holmes special is its characters. 

I want GMMTV to make it because I know for sure that they won’t queerbait me. They won’t make Sherlockians like me cry like the BBC version or leave us hanging like the Ritchieverse. No, they’ll have Mr Holmes and Dr Watson make out hotly in 221B Baker Street as soft violin plays in the background. 

Now, onto the Fancasts, because I obviously have some.

I want to see Sing Harit as Sherlock Holmes. Call me biased but I love him AND he’s a great actor whose potential GMMTV hasn’t fully utlised and that drives me insane. I just want to see him play a serious character without being the villain or the pervert.

helppp i cannot decide on a watson fancast

Either Namtan Tipnaree or View Benyapa would make a fantastic Irene Adler. And if they want to treat fans, they can genderbend Godfrey Norton and have her played by Film Rachanun. 

I watched that last one scene from “Home School” and since then Khaotung Thanawat as Prof. James Moriarty is stuck in my brain. He’ll be effortlessly good.

Also, Ohm Pawat as Col. Sebation Moran? I’ve seen people complaining that he’s been in too many serious roles and not to typecast but Ohm would work perfectly in action roles.

This post got way longer than I expected and I got to talk about only one potential show. I’m ending it here so more parts of pitching shows to GMMTV will probably come.

[inevitable-destruction]

I think my main interest in this affair is the chance it gives me to battle with you again.

[noforkingclue]

The Body in the Library Chapter 2 (Sherlock Holmes x reader)

Everything tag list: @greenrevolutionary, @byebyebreezywrites, @spngingerbread21, @layazul, @lov3vivian, @simonsbluee

You folded your arms and crossed one leg over the other as Lestrade gave you a tired look.

“Are you serious?” he asked

“What do you think?” you asked, “I find a body in my library-“

“Having two book cases in your living room does not mean it’s a library.” Interrupted Sherlock

“And a body which was clearly murdered in the same manner as one of my best sellers,” you continued, ignoring what Sherlock had said, “what was I meant to do?”

“Call the police and not him.” Lestrade said

“Well I did,” you said, rolling your eyes, “and if you were a bit quicker you might’ve been my top suspect Greg.”

“But you called Sherlock first.” Lestrade said, exasperated

“He didn’t pick up,” you replied curtly, “John did.”

Sherlock scoffed as he continued to pace about your kitchen. You glared at him out of the corner of you eye before sighing and resting your elbow on the table.

“Ok,” you said, “look, I know Sheer Luck didn’t kill that person. I was just pulling your leg! However, that doesn’t explain why there’s a body in my lib- living room. Am I being targeted?”

“Unlikely.” Said Sherlock

You turned around in your seat and glared at him. Sherlock’s back was facing you and you snapped,

“What makes you think that? There’s a dead body in my house, killed in the same manner as one of my best sellers.”

“One of your best sellers.” Muttered Sherlock under his breath

“How is that someone not targeting me!”

“The person murdered was clearly the target,” Sherlock pulled out his phone and started texting, “not you. You were just a convenient place to dump the body. If you will insist on not having suitable alarms then these things will happen.”

“Convenient?”

You stood up and Lestrade sighed and left the kitchen. He was getting a headache from listening to you and Sherlock argue. John, who was lurking outside the kitchen, looked up.

“So,” John said, “how exactly do those two know each other?”

Lestrade opened his mouth to answer but a shout cut him off. He sighed and nodded towards the outside. When they were both outside, he lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply.

“That,” he said eventually, “is something they neither of them really talk about.”

“They’ve fucked,” Anderson said, “almost certain they have.”

“Really,” John didn’t sound so sure, “neither of them seem to like each enough for that.”

“You can’t really blame her for hating him though,” said Anderson, “although you’ve got to question her intelligence if she did sleep with him.”

“Who slept with who?”

You asked them as you joined the group outside. You folded your arms as you leant against the wall and said,

“I left Holmes in there. If I spent another minute in there alone with him there would’ve been another body. At least if I did kill him it would be in my kitchen and that’s tiled. A lot easier to mop up blood from tiles instead of hardwood.”

“I thought poison was more your taste.”

You looked over your shoulder and glared at Sherlock who just raised his eyebrows in response.

“I’m sorry I don’t have any arsenic at hand,” you said dryly, “Rest assured that if I did I would certainly use it. Also, I am glad to know you are aware of which methods I usually go to in my books. Are you a secret fan?”

“You mostly use strychnine.” Sherlock said

“You counted how many methods of murder I used.”

“I was merely curious how many times you reused a plot.”

“Reusing a murder weapon is not reusing a plot. Would you say that Agatha Christie reused plots?”

“Unlike you, she had some element of talent.”

“Now listen here-“

“We should probably leave,” Lestrade said to John, “they’re going to be like this for a while.”

“Is it always like this between them?” asked John

“No. Usually it’s a lot worse.”

[idlesuperstar]

My favourite Baz!Holmes disguise, Captain Basil in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

[mariana-oconnor]

A Scandal in Bohemia

A slight rant about Irene Adler and her portrayal in adaptations.

Irene Adler is so often portrayed as a love interest (romantic/sexual/intellectual) of Sherlock and I understand why, I do. Sex sells. People want a romance in their story. People historically have been unable to imagine any possible situation in which a man shows interest in a woman that is not romantic or sexual in nature.

It also, in more recent times, allows adapters the chance to extend her part so there's a canonical multilayered female character in their adaptation and they don't have to make one up. BUT

a) Irene Adler isn't a love interest for Sherlock Holmes

and

b) She's not even really an adversary.

People portray Irene Adler as this cunning, often criminal, female character, going through life manipulating people and often as a straight up con woman. And it's dramatic and it's fun and she's really cool like that.

But really, at heart, A Scandal in Bohemia is about a woman who wants to move on and her creepy ex who has some sort of power over her that she's trying to escape.

The line from the original story, in Irene's own hand is:

The King may do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future.

And based on what we've seen of the King, I'm really more inclined to believe her than him. His repeated exhortations of 'what a queen she would have made' if she were 'on his level', when he's marrying an entirely different woman. And multiple other weird and borderline creepy things he says in reference to her.

But look at her actions: She marries in secret. She marries hurriedly. She has been forewarned that the King might approach Sherlock to an extent that she is looking out for him. On realising that Holmes is close, she ransacks her own home and leaves the country. That's not the actions of someone who is in control of the situation. That's the actions of someone who is scared. Someone who has a powerful enemy and is taking measures to mitigate the issues that causes.

We're never told how the king 'cruelly wronged' her. It could be any number of things. Perhaps she's lying. The only facts we have on the matter are these:

The King and Irene had some sort of a relationship that resulted in an indiscreet photograph.

The King wants that photo back.

Irene believes she needs to be married quickly and in secret.

Irene leaves the country rather than risk a confrontation or give up the photograph.

That's a very different story from any adaptation I've seen. And like I've said, I get why, but I feel like we're missing the adaptation of a woman outsmarting and outplaying her abusive ex and making a new life for herself.

Maybe the people writing the adaptations find this motivation boring and unimportant. They want the woman who outsmarted the Great Sherlock Holmes to be worthy of that title and they don't find the tale of a woman outrunning an unpleasant, if not outright abusive ex to marry someone she actually loves to be grand or dramatic enough (and given the way his story changes, I'm not going to rule out extreme gaslighting here, man seems unable to keep his story straight and weirdly possessive). Of course 'The Woman' must be a brilliant mastermind. Of course she's manipulating everyone around her. Of course she is. Only that kind of woman could possibly outwit our hero. /sarcasm

Also, Godfrey Norton deserves to be adapted more. This is a man who clearly trusts and supports his fiancee/wife. He's totally prepared to drop his very respectable job as a lawyer at the drop of a hat to run away with her. I assume from those facts that he has at least some awareness of the situation and supports her. Godfrey Norton is a gentleman and a scholar.

ETA: I'm not saying that she's not brilliant. She is brilliant. Her disguise fools Holmes, she sees through his disguise and his scheme. She manages to keep him out of her plans to the extent that he's playing catch up the whole time. She absolutely defeated Holmes. But she's also compassionate - she cares for the old man Holmes portrays - she's in love with her husband, and she's understandably scared. None of that detracts from her brilliance, in fact it serves to make her more brilliant if anything. She's capable of doing these things while she's clearly upset and worried.

Adaptations tend to ignore those qualities - the more feminine qualities? She's not brilliant in the way that people want her to be brilliant. It often seems like they're not looking for Irene Adler, they are looking for a female Moriarty.