Watch The Return of Sherlock Holmes

TV-PG
1969
1 Season
8.7 (13,686)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a British television series revolving around the iconic character of Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The show premiered in 1986 and ran for two seasons until 1988. It was produced by Granada Television and distributed by MPI Media Group.

The series stars Jeremy Brett as the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, along with David Burke and later Edward Hardwicke as his faithful friend and sidekick Dr. John Watson. The supporting cast includes Rosalie Williams as Holmes' housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, Colin Jeavons as Inspector Lestrade, Brian Miller as Dr. John Watson's friend and fellow physician Dr. Percy Trevelyan, Eric Porter as Professor Moriarty, and Charles Gray as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's elder brother.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is based on the original stories and characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with each episode adapting one of the original stories or creating a new one in the spirit of Doyle's work. The series stays true to the Victorian era setting of the original stories, with meticulously designed costumes, props, and sets.

The show's atmosphere is dark and mysterious, capturing the essence of Doyle's writing. The music is haunting and evocative, setting the tone for the ensuing drama. The lighting and cinematography are used to great effect, creating a sense of foreboding and suspense.

The heart of the series is Jeremy Brett's performance as Sherlock Holmes. Brett's portrayal is considered one of the most authentic and faithful adaptations of the character, capturing both his intellectual brilliance and the emotional detachment that characterizes him. Brett brings a depth and complexity to Holmes that has rarely been seen before or since, making the character more than just a caricature.

David Burke and Edward Hardwicke are both excellent as Dr. John Watson, playing the part of the loyal companion to Holmes with equal parts humor and pathos. Rosalie Williams' performance as Mrs. Hudson adds warmth and charm to the series, providing a much-needed counterbalance to the cold and aloof Holmes.

Colin Jeavons is a standout as Inspector Lestrade, the bumbling police detective who often relies on Holmes to solve his cases. Jeavons brings a comic touch to the character while still maintaining his dignity and professionalism.

Other notable performances include Charles Gray as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's brother, who inhabits a world of power and influence that Sherlock eschews. Eric Porter is chilling as Professor Moriarty, Holmes' arch-nemesis and the mastermind behind many of the series' most gripping cases.

Overall, The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a masterful adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories, imbued with a sense of nostalgia and reverence for the source material. It is a must-watch for fans of Sherlock Holmes and lovers of classic mystery-drama.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a series that ran for 1 seasons (11 episodes) between and on MPI Media Group

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Seasons

11. The Bruce-Partingon Plans

April 27, 1988

Plans for a secret submarine are found in the pocket of a young man brutally murdered on a railway line leading from the underground. Co-stars Charles Gray as Mycroft Holmes.

10. Wisteria Lodge

April 20, 1988

Mr. Scott Eccles, a guest of Mr. Aloysius Garcia of Wisteria Lodge, awakens to find his host, the footman and the cook all had vanished in the night! Holmes and Watson enter into one of the most baffling and intriguing cases of their careers when a foreign tyrant, an English governess and an unorthodox police inspector lead them on a wild goose chase, that starts with murder.

9. Silver Blaze

April 13, 1988

A highly prized racehorse disappears on the eve of a big race.

8. The Devil's Foot

April 6, 1988

Winner of a Mystery Writers of America Award 1989When Watson insists Holmes take a vacation in a small Cornish village, he spends his holiday unraveling the mysterious death of a young woman.

7. The Six Napoleons

August 20, 1986

Busts of Napoleon are being found smashed to bits all over London. Holmes and Watson are asked to investigate the bizarre events, and a murder that may be related. Is it the work of a madman who still harbors hatred for the dead emperor, or perhaps the work of the Mafia? The case takes the famous sleuth on a chase to find a killer, and to solve the mystery before all six Napoleon statues are destroyed.

6. The Priory School

August 13, 1986

The son of the wealthy Duke of Holdernesse is kidnapped from his preparatory school. Holmes and Watson are asked to investigate, but the trail is cold and the boy seems to have vanished. A search of the surrounding moor uncovers surprising evidence that leads the famous sleuth to the trail of the missing boy, and a murderer.

5. The Man with the Twisted Lip

August 6, 1986

A worried wife consults Holmes about her missing husband.

4. The Second Stain

July 30, 1986

A secret letter is stolen from the house of the Secretary of European Affairs. It is feared that the contents to the letter could cause a "great war" by falling into the wrong hands, and Holmes and Watson are called in to get the letter back. But when the person Holmes suspects of stealing the letter is found murdered, the great detective is led into a tangled web of international intrigue.

3. The Musgrave Ritual

July 23, 1986

Winner of a Mystery Writer of America Award 1988The mystery behind the Musgrave legend unfolds after the death of Reginald Musgrave??s butler and the disappearance of his maid.

2. The Abbey Grange

July 16, 1986

Sir Eustace Brackenstall, one of the richest men in Kent and the last of the Brackenstall line, is found murdered. A notorious gang of thieves is suspected of the crime, until Holmes and Watson make some startling discoveries, including a charred dog collar. Holmes and Watson must piece together a strange puzzle of love, violence, and deceit to solve the case of The Abbey Grange.

1. The Empty House

July 9, 1986

It is three years after Sherlock Holmes plunged to his death at Reichenbach Falls while fighting with his fiendish adversary Professor Moriarty. Watson and Lestrade take a crack at the unsolved murder of Ronald Adair, yet their efforts produce nothing but a shocking inquest. Lost without Holmes talents to help them, Watson spots a mysterious visitor in court listening to testimony about the murdered man. Could it be the return of Sherlock Holmes?

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Where to Watch The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is available for streaming on the MPI Media Group website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Return of Sherlock Holmes on demand at Vudu and Tubi TV.