Cult Fix
  • TV
    • UK SHOWS
      • Black Mirror
      • Doctor Who
      • Electric Dreams
      • Humans
      • Red Dwarf
      • Sherlock
    • DC TV SHOWS
      • Arrow
      • The Flash
      • Gotham
      • Legends of Tomorrow
      • Supergirl
    • OTHER SHOWS
      • Agents of SHIELD
      • Daredevil
      • Game of Thrones
      • Iron Fist
      • Jessica Jones
      • Luke Cage
      • The Walking Dead
    • ENDED SHOWS
      • Agent Carter
      • Atlantis
      • Being Human
      • Broadchurch
      • Hannibal
      • In The Flesh
      • Merlin
      • Misfits
      • Primeval
      • The Fades
      • The Musketeers
      • Wizards vs Aliens
  • Films
    • FILMS
      • News & Updates
      • Reviews
      • Trailers
    • MARVEL
      • Ant-Man
      • Avengers
      • Black Panther
      • Captain America
      • Captain Marvel
      • Doctor Strange
      • Guardians Of The Galaxy
      • Inhumans
      • Iron Man
      • Spider-Man
      • Thor
      • X-Men
    • OTHER
      • Batman
      • James Bond
      • Justice League
      • Star Trek
      • Star Wars
      • Superman
      • Suicide Squad
  • Reviews
    • Film Reviews
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Review Archive

Reviews/ Sherlock/ TV

Sherlock: 201 “A Scandal in Belgravia” Spoiler-Free Review

December 30, 2011

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit

After a lengthy wait, Sherlock is finally back on our screens this weekend. The good news is it’s still one of the best, if not the best show on British TV.

The opening episode of the second series, A Scandal in Belgravia, wastes no time in resolving the huge cliffhanger from the first series finale. Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and John (Martin Freeman) were in the deep-end quite literally, locked in a standoff with arch-villain Moriarty (Andrew Scott). We’re not going to spoil anything about how this is resolved, save to say it’s surprising and bound to anger a few who will feel it’s a bit of a cheap get-out. The rest will be smirking at how outrageous it is.

With that out the way, we move on to the main plot. Sherlock is asked by brother Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) to retrieve some saucy photos from Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), a dominatrix “professionally known as The Woman.” Initially Sherlock is reluctant to help, but quickly changes his mind once he realises Adler is playing some powerful games of her own. So Sherlock takes on a “disguise” and tracks her down. What follows is a series of mind games between the two.

Lara Pulver is excellent as Adler. She’s super-smart, sexy and more than a match for Sherlock, or so she thinks. Her first scene with Sherlock is particularly hilarious as we see our hero truly stumped and speechless at the sight of a “defrocked” Adler.

Benedict Cumberbatch is riveting to watch as the master sleuth. He’s still arrogant, cold, and calculating, but we also get a slightly more vulnerable side to Sherlock, now faced with his female equal. Does he have feelings for Adler? Can Sherlock love anyone else but himself? We’re not saying, but it is explored in a totally unconventional way.

Interestingly Martin Freeman’s role as John Watson seems a tad reduced in the first episode, which may have just been an inevitable consequence of the story focussing so much on Adler. That’s not to say John doesn’t share some great moments with Sherlock. Freeman still plays off Cumberbatch perfectly and his comic timing shines through at just the right moments.

Andrew Scott only appears in a few scenes as Moriarty. He still has a presence though, lurking in the background inevitably setting things up for a face-off in the third episode, The Reichenbach Fall.

Of all the supporting characters, Mark Gatiss’ Mycroft gets a much bigger role this time around and is clearly relishing it. Una Stubbs also has a little more to do as Sherlock’s land lady Mrs Hudson, and she even gets into a little bit of trouble leaving Sherlock to come to her aid.

Special mention has to go to director Paul McGuigan. This episode is incredibly stylish and inventive, with some clever transitional shots. The on-screen text returns and is used to great effect once again. This is all complemented by a wonderful musical score by David Arnold and Michael Price.

All in all, if the other two episodes can match the opener, this will easily be the best TV treat of 2012.

A Scandal In Belgravia airs Sunday 1 January at 8:10pm BBC1.

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit

Related Posts

Red-Dwarf-The-Promised-Land

Reviews /

Red Dwarf: “The Promised Land” Review

dracula-Claes-Bang

Sherlock /

Sherlock Creators Cast Claes Bang as Dracula

the-sandman-netflix-2022

TV /

The Sandman Date Announcement Trailer

‹ Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia Trailer › Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia Teasers

Back to Top

RSS Cult Fix

  • Prey Trailer
  • The Sandman Date Announcement Trailer
  • 1899 Trailer
  • Andor Teaser Trailer
  • Thor: Love and Thunder – New Trailer

Find us on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
Original content © Cult Fix 2010-2021

Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Write for Us

This website uses cookies to improve your experience.OK Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Posting....