Note: The following will contain spoilers for "The Abominable Bride," so avoid if you must or proceed with caution.
The BBC's hit show Sherlock, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved detective, is known for many things: its slick presentation, attention to detail, and mind-boggling story lines, showcasing the lead actors' skills. It's also known for its ridiculously long hiatuses between seasons, which is why fans everywhere were delighted by the special New Year episode entitled "The Abominable Bride."
Although the show is originally set in contemporary London with Sherlock Holmes as an outlandishly brilliant consulting detective and John Watson who tags along and blogs about it, "The Abominable Bride" takes viewers back to Victorian London, a sort of reintroduction but in a new, old way that parallels the first episode. John Watson comes back to London fresh off the battlefield and finds himself meeting the eccentric Sherlock Holmes, eventually becoming his partner, a well-known author recounting their various cases, and a married man, etc. It reworks everything, from the theme song down to the tasteful transitions unique to Sherlock. There are hat-tipping references to some of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, the now-outdated idioms, and a believable presentation of Victorian life and fashion.
While refreshing, it's also mysteriously exciting, what with the titular murderous ghost bride on the loose and Sherlock Holmes standing firmly in his logic and reasoning despite the panic and doubt of those around him. Deductions are made, zingers are exchanged, and people die in puzzling ways, but about halfway through, everything the episode has been building up to just falls apart.
What was assumed to be a one-off episode made for fun and games turns out to be a drug-induced hallucination taking place in the contemporary Sherlock Holmes' mind palace, directly following the purported comeback of Moriarty in the season three finale. The remainder of the time is spent see-sawing between Sherlock's Victorian mind palace and reality, but rabbit holes and red herrings abound. The two completely different settings clash uncomfortably, and the smooth, fast-paced storytelling splits into two, becoming increasingly complicated and confusing.
Despite its somewhat disappointing resolution, it's clear that "The Abominable Bride" was not meant to be taken seriously. It's certainly no Doctor Who Christmas special, but call it what you will, whether it's a filler, a bridging episode between the seasons, or an intensely roundabout character study. "The Abominable Bride" has its shortcomings, but there's no such thing as perfect and it manages to be aesthetically enjoyable and gripping while it lasts.
