The plot line is intriguing but not insoluble for the careful and observant viewer. What makes this episode of MYSTERY worth watching is the customary silk-smooth performance of Ian Richardson as Dr. Joseph Bell and the astonishing and subtle characterization of Rik Mayall as a police inspector. For all those who remember Mayall only as the egregious DROP DEAD FRED, his work here is of a completely different order of magnitude. The program is worth watching merely to watch his eyes, which tell dark stories barely hinted at in the script.
Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (TV Mini Series)
The White Knight Stratagem (2001)
User Reviews
Review this title2 Reviews
The Best.
missrljane4 March 2002
When shown on television the series was called 'The dark beginnings of Sherlock Holmes' and had Edwards with a voice over, on video it's called 'The mysteries of the real Sherlock Holmes' and there is no such voice over, I say this as this is the only episode I don't have on video. I prefer the original title as the new one seems cheesy. However there is nothing cheesy about the programme itself. Like the first episode 'The patient's eyes' white knight stratagem borrows conventions from Sherlock Holmes stories, the middle two doing this much less. It doesn't matter as all are top of the range programmes, made so by EVERYTHING involved from props to the extras the show could almost be carried off without the scripts and actors (which are of the highest quality I've ever seen all in one programme).
As usual there is wit threaded in-between drama and it is as sharp as ever. Bell being worried Doyle will be remembered as a writer rather than a doctor (which is what has happened), Doyle asking the cricketers if they've seen any cricketers and the alcohol conversation. The best part for comedy is when Bell wants to buy a deer stalker hat. No, it really is funny.
Doyle works out a lot for himself in this episode as Bell is the one caught up in personal vengeances for once but Doyle still needs a guiding hand and is facing problems of his own. Doyle's turmoil comes from having his father locked away in a mentalinstitute and his own disgust at himself. He finds it more difficult to cope with as he has to put on a brave face for Innes his little brother and receives no sympathy from Bell as they are against each other. Easily explained if you watch the episode but not in a review that doesn't want to spoil it for you.
Rik Mayall is a main character in this episode, as Bell's advisory with a brilliant mind and dark secret. I am used to Mayall in 'the young ones', 'bottom', 'drop dead Fred' and 'blackadder' so was unsure what to expect from him in a straight role. Well, expect a lot, he was brilliant, utterly convincing and I wish to see more of him as a serious actor.
I really feel sorry for Doyle. So far in the series he has done very poorly as a doctor, had two close friends murdered, fancied two murderers, been nearly killed over four times, been hunted, had his writing badly criticised, his father go mad, his little brother dumped on him, his religion changed, witnessed many deaths, got into quite a few arguments and fist fights and been arrested a couple of times. And yet he is still a very clever and moral and caring and attractive (oops, sorry) man.
The ending of this episode is very poignant and thought provoking. (but I dislike the dissolve from Doyle to Bell as it is freaky to watch)
The end is done in such a way to definitely be the end of a series but suggest the possibility of more to come. I really hope this is so, I wait patiently.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has always been my favourite author and recently my hero. Charles Edwards and Murder Rooms are fast becoming a favourite actor and programme.
As usual there is wit threaded in-between drama and it is as sharp as ever. Bell being worried Doyle will be remembered as a writer rather than a doctor (which is what has happened), Doyle asking the cricketers if they've seen any cricketers and the alcohol conversation. The best part for comedy is when Bell wants to buy a deer stalker hat. No, it really is funny.
Doyle works out a lot for himself in this episode as Bell is the one caught up in personal vengeances for once but Doyle still needs a guiding hand and is facing problems of his own. Doyle's turmoil comes from having his father locked away in a mentalinstitute and his own disgust at himself. He finds it more difficult to cope with as he has to put on a brave face for Innes his little brother and receives no sympathy from Bell as they are against each other. Easily explained if you watch the episode but not in a review that doesn't want to spoil it for you.
Rik Mayall is a main character in this episode, as Bell's advisory with a brilliant mind and dark secret. I am used to Mayall in 'the young ones', 'bottom', 'drop dead Fred' and 'blackadder' so was unsure what to expect from him in a straight role. Well, expect a lot, he was brilliant, utterly convincing and I wish to see more of him as a serious actor.
I really feel sorry for Doyle. So far in the series he has done very poorly as a doctor, had two close friends murdered, fancied two murderers, been nearly killed over four times, been hunted, had his writing badly criticised, his father go mad, his little brother dumped on him, his religion changed, witnessed many deaths, got into quite a few arguments and fist fights and been arrested a couple of times. And yet he is still a very clever and moral and caring and attractive (oops, sorry) man.
The ending of this episode is very poignant and thought provoking. (but I dislike the dissolve from Doyle to Bell as it is freaky to watch)
The end is done in such a way to definitely be the end of a series but suggest the possibility of more to come. I really hope this is so, I wait patiently.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has always been my favourite author and recently my hero. Charles Edwards and Murder Rooms are fast becoming a favourite actor and programme.
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