by T. Mack

Happy New Year, geeks! It’s 2016 and things are off to a beautifully geeky start with a new episode of Sherlock airing yesterday. Cumberbitches (or the “Cumber Collective” if you prefer) like me wait years for new episodes of this show and it always ends up being well worth the wait. This year’s The Abominable Bride is no exception.

This latest entry in the BBC series, Sherlock, finds our heroes working a case in the late nineteenth century. There are many familiar faces surrounding them and an intriguing mystery that seems impossible. So, basically, it’s the Sherlock we know and love dropped in the characters’ more traditional and classic setting. There are period costumes! Yes, please! And Sherlock utters a couple of classic lines that have previously been worked around but never quite uttered exactly in the series before. Squeee!

The thing about this is that unlike most movie previews these days, the marketing for this didn’t give away much as far as plot was concerned. That ended up being a terrific asset so I’m inclined to follow suit and give very little plot away. I will say that this episode throws back to the previous three seasons of the show in very fun and some incredibly surprising ways.

If you’re a fan of Sherlock or have simply checked out an episode in the past, I don’t really have to tell you that this show is always excellently put together and extremely well-acted. I will report, however, that this episode, while clearly removed from the others, does not end up feeling nearly as useless or throw-away as the Hound of the Baskervilles episode back in the second season (s02e02).

If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, either as a literary character or as a film and television staple, you should watch this. If you’re a fan of this particular series, you should watch it immediately (or immediately watch it again if you have already). If you’re a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch or Martin Freeman, I shouldn’t have to tell you to watch this. If you’re a fan of quality television and movies, this is also for you. You know what? Whoever you are, just watch it!

Rating: 5 SHIELDS!

The Abominable Bride will have a limited run in theaters here in the states. It is showing in select theaters this Tuesday and Wednesday, January 5th and 6th. I’ll be heading to the showing on the 5th. Yes, I’ve already watched it. Yes, the tickets are darned near $20. What’s your point?

If you’re not up for paying the price of a steak dinner to see the show, you can wait until the encore showing on PBS Masterpiece on January 10.

Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? What is your favorite iteration of him, character based on him or story featuring him? Will you be heading to theaters to see this latest installment of the superb BBC series? Let me know in the comments.