Dear Readers,
This post concludes the list of Canonical References in BBC Sherlock episode “The Hounds of Baskerville”.
Scripted by Mark Gatiss, this episode is based on the original novel: The Hound of the Baskervilles. Here are the references to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories:
1. Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) deducing that Henry Knight (Russell Tovey) took the first morning train from Devon – Sherlock Holmes makes similar deductions about Helen Stoner in The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
2. Sherlock's observation: “The girl, female handwriting is quite distinctive..” - Sherlock Holmes makes a deduction about masculine handwriting in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, and about feminine handwriting in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
3. Sherlock's line: “Off to Devon with you.. have a cream tea on me” – This is a bit tenuous, but reminded me of this line spoken by Sherlock Holmes to his prospective client, Jabez Wilson in The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes.”
4. Sherlock’s comments about John Watson (Martin Freeman): “Always rely on John to send me all the relevant data, as he never understands a word of it himself”–
In The Adventure of the Retired Colourman, Sherlock Holmes states: “You can thank Dr. Watson's observation for that, though he failed to draw the inference.”
In The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, Holmes remarks: “I have no doubt I can get details from Forbes. The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage.”
5. Sherlock's angry reply to John: “I am a showoff. That’s what we do”. Later, Dr Stapleton (Amelia Bullmore) comments about Sherlock's choice of Mind Palace to John: “Why a palace instead of a house or a street” – Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Naval Treaty: “I can’t resist a touch of the dramatic”
6. Sherlock's remark: “nicotine stains on your fingers...I know those” - Sherlock Holmes states in A Study in Scarlet: “Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are examined, and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert, and why? Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes' test, and there will no longer be any difficulty.”
Click on the link below to buy your copy of Season 2:
7. Sherlock tricks John into revealing where he hid the drug by pretending that he is sending Watson alone on the case - This is a reference to the plot point in the original novel, The Hounds of Baskerville, when Sherlock Holmes sends Dr John Watson alone to Dartmoor on the pretense of being busy on a case. Holmes' real intention was to travel to Dartmoor and work incognito on the case.
8. Sherlock's comment about his latest case: “Twenty year old disappearance... a monstrous hound? I wouldn’t miss this for the world” -
Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “I really wouldn't miss your case for the world.”
In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes remarks: “I would not have missed the investigation for anything.”
9. The bartender named Billy – Reference to Sherlock Holmes’ page from The Valley of Fear, The Problem of Thor Bridge and The Mazarin Stone.
10. Fletcher (Stephen Wight), the local Dartmoor tour guide – Reference to Bertram Fletcher Robinson, the journalist who collaborated with Arthur Conan Doyle on the original novel: The Hounds of the Baskerville.
11. Sherlock notices Fletcher being interested in racing from the Racing Post sticking out of his trouser pocket. Then Sherlock mentions about the bet of 50 quids to the latter in order to get information – In The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, Sherlock Holmes deliberately loses a bet to gain valuable information from a salesman. He explains his strategy to Dr John Watson: “When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of him, that man would not have given me such complete information as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a wager.”
12. After using Mycroft's ID to enter the Baskerville complex, Sherlock comments about his brother: “I’ve told you - he practically is the British government.”
- In The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, Sherlock Holmes explains about his brother to Dr John Watson: “You are right in thinking that he is under the British government. You would also be right in a sense if you said that occasionally he is the British government.”
13. Watson using his rank as a Captain of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers to get inside the main building in the Baskerville complex – In A Study in Scarlet, Dr John Watson writes: “In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon.”
14. Sherlock repeatedly explains to Dr Frankland (Clive Mantle) that the hat was not his personal property - Excellent reference to the fact it was the illustrator Sidney Paget and not Arthur Conan Doyle who created the image of a deerstalker wearing Holmes
15. Dr Frankland refers to a specific blog post written by John Watson: “that one about the aluminium crutch” - Sherlock Holmes mentions to Dr John Watson about this case in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “But there are some pretty little problems among them. Here's the record of the Tarleton murders, and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, and the adventure of the old Russian woman, and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch, as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot, and his abominable wife.”
17. When Dr Frankland jokingly says that he would have to kill Sherlock, the latter replies: “That would be tremendously ambitious of you” – This reminded me of the original story: The Thor Bridge. When Sherlock Holmes refuses to take up the case of the millionaire Neil Gibson, his prospective client angrily threatens Holmes. The Bohemian detective responds with a smile: “So many have tried and yet here I am”.
18. Sherlock's plan to solve the mystery is to deliberately provoke an attack on Henry Knight by taking him out on the moor. Sherlock optimistically predicts: “That should bring things to a head” – This reminded of a similar line spoken by Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “And now it is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head.”
20. A visibly shaken Sherlock remarks to John at the inn: “Once you have rule out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable must be true.” Later, Sherlock again remarks: “It is the simple process of elimination” -
In The Sign of the Four, Sherlock Holmes makes one of his most famous statements: “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
22. Sherlock's remark to John: “We’re looking for a dog, yes, a great big dog, that’s your brilliant theory. Cherchez le chien. Good, excellent, yes, where shall we start?”. Later, we see some French words flash across Sherlock's mind in the Mind Palace scene –
Sherlock Holmes explains about his ancestry in The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “But, none the less, my turn that way is in my veins, and may have come with my grandmother, who was the sister of Vernet, the French artist.”
Sherlock Holmes also uses the word “recherché” in The Musgrave Ritual - “But there are some pretty little problems among them. Here's the record of the Tarleton murders, and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, and the adventure of the old Russian woman, and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch, as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot, and his abominable wife. And here—ah, now, this really is something a little recherché.”
23. Sherlock deduces about the financial state of one of the male customers at the inn: “He is hungry all right and not well off - you can tell that by the state of his cuffs and shoes.” -
In A Study in Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes writes: “By a man's finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”
24. Sherlock's comment to John: “I don't have friends. I've just got one” –
In The Five Orange Pips, Dr Watson asks Sherlock Holmes if he is expecting a friend at the sound of the doorbell. Holmes replies: “Except you, I have none”.
In The Valley of Fear, Dr Watson writes about Sherlock Holmes: “Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman, and smiled at the sight of him.” The big Scotchman in question is the Scotland Yard Inspector Alec MacDonald.
25. John's comment about Sherlock' sense of humor: “Funny does not suit you. Stick to ice” – In The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, Sherlock Holmes tells Dr John Watson that he expects to be murdered shortly. When Dr Watson replies that he must be joking, Holmes replies: “Even my limited sense of humor could evolve a better joke than that.”
26. Sherlock's statement to Lestrade: “You are as brown as a nut” - In A Study in Scarlet, Stamford remarks to Dr John Watson: “You are as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut.”
27. Detective Inspector Lestrade (Rupert Graves) confirms to Sherlock that his first name is Greg - In The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, Lestrade signs his note (sent to Holmes) as G. Lestrade
28. Sherlock asks John to get information from Dr. Louise Mortimer (Sasha Behar) and also send him her picture. He later checks if John got anywhere with Louise – Arthur Conan Doyle has often written about Dr John Watson being a ladies man.
In The Sign of the Four, Dr Watson himself writes: “In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents....”
In The Adventure of the Retired Colorman, Sherlock Holmes remarks to Dr Watson: “With your natural advantages, Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice...I can picture you whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange.”
29. The final resolution of the mystery - The explanation for the mystery is a reference to the plot of The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
30. Dr Stapleton explaining to John that the GFP gene from Aequorea Victoria, a species of jellyfish was used on the rabbits - This could be a possible reference to the original story: The Adventure of the Lion's Mane. In this story, the murderer is Lion's Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata).
31. A drug induced Sherlock “sees” Frankland as Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott). – Reference to the fact that the only person who ever created fear in Sherlock Holmes' mind is Professor Moriarty. As Sherlock Holmes mentions about Moriarty in The Final Problem: “My nerves are fairly proof, Watson, but I must confess to a start when I saw the very man who had been so much in my thoughts standing there on my thresh-hold.... The fact is that upon his entrance I had instantly recognized the extreme personal danger in which I lay.”
Readers are welcome to point out any references I might have missed.
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2016!!!
Click here to read all my posts about BBC Sherlock.
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This post concludes the list of Canonical References in BBC Sherlock episode “The Hounds of Baskerville”.
Scripted by Mark Gatiss, this episode is based on the original novel: The Hound of the Baskervilles. Here are the references to Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories:
1. Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) deducing that Henry Knight (Russell Tovey) took the first morning train from Devon – Sherlock Holmes makes similar deductions about Helen Stoner in The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
2. Sherlock's observation: “The girl, female handwriting is quite distinctive..” - Sherlock Holmes makes a deduction about masculine handwriting in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, and about feminine handwriting in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
4. Sherlock’s comments about John Watson (Martin Freeman): “Always rely on John to send me all the relevant data, as he never understands a word of it himself”–
In The Adventure of the Retired Colourman, Sherlock Holmes states: “You can thank Dr. Watson's observation for that, though he failed to draw the inference.”
In The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, Holmes remarks: “I have no doubt I can get details from Forbes. The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage.”
5. Sherlock's angry reply to John: “I am a showoff. That’s what we do”. Later, Dr Stapleton (Amelia Bullmore) comments about Sherlock's choice of Mind Palace to John: “Why a palace instead of a house or a street” – Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Naval Treaty: “I can’t resist a touch of the dramatic”
6. Sherlock's remark: “nicotine stains on your fingers...I know those” - Sherlock Holmes states in A Study in Scarlet: “Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are examined, and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert, and why? Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes' test, and there will no longer be any difficulty.”
Click on the link below to buy your copy of Season 2:
Sherlock Holmes states in The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “I really wouldn't miss your case for the world.”
In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes remarks: “I would not have missed the investigation for anything.”
9. The bartender named Billy – Reference to Sherlock Holmes’ page from The Valley of Fear, The Problem of Thor Bridge and The Mazarin Stone.
11. Sherlock notices Fletcher being interested in racing from the Racing Post sticking out of his trouser pocket. Then Sherlock mentions about the bet of 50 quids to the latter in order to get information – In The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, Sherlock Holmes deliberately loses a bet to gain valuable information from a salesman. He explains his strategy to Dr John Watson: “When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of him, that man would not have given me such complete information as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a wager.”
- In The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, Sherlock Holmes explains about his brother to Dr John Watson: “You are right in thinking that he is under the British government. You would also be right in a sense if you said that occasionally he is the British government.”
13. Watson using his rank as a Captain of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers to get inside the main building in the Baskerville complex – In A Study in Scarlet, Dr John Watson writes: “In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon.”
15. Dr Frankland refers to a specific blog post written by John Watson: “that one about the aluminium crutch” - Sherlock Holmes mentions to Dr John Watson about this case in The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: “But there are some pretty little problems among them. Here's the record of the Tarleton murders, and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, and the adventure of the old Russian woman, and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch, as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot, and his abominable wife.”
17. When Dr Frankland jokingly says that he would have to kill Sherlock, the latter replies: “That would be tremendously ambitious of you” – This reminded me of the original story: The Thor Bridge. When Sherlock Holmes refuses to take up the case of the millionaire Neil Gibson, his prospective client angrily threatens Holmes. The Bohemian detective responds with a smile: “So many have tried and yet here I am”.
18. Sherlock's plan to solve the mystery is to deliberately provoke an attack on Henry Knight by taking him out on the moor. Sherlock optimistically predicts: “That should bring things to a head” – This reminded of a similar line spoken by Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “And now it is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head.”
In The Sign of the Four, Sherlock Holmes makes one of his most famous statements: “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
22. Sherlock's remark to John: “We’re looking for a dog, yes, a great big dog, that’s your brilliant theory. Cherchez le chien. Good, excellent, yes, where shall we start?”. Later, we see some French words flash across Sherlock's mind in the Mind Palace scene –
Sherlock Holmes explains about his ancestry in The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter: “But, none the less, my turn that way is in my veins, and may have come with my grandmother, who was the sister of Vernet, the French artist.”
Sherlock Holmes also uses the word “recherché” in The Musgrave Ritual - “But there are some pretty little problems among them. Here's the record of the Tarleton murders, and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, and the adventure of the old Russian woman, and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch, as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot, and his abominable wife. And here—ah, now, this really is something a little recherché.”
23. Sherlock deduces about the financial state of one of the male customers at the inn: “He is hungry all right and not well off - you can tell that by the state of his cuffs and shoes.” -
In A Study in Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes writes: “By a man's finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”
24. Sherlock's comment to John: “I don't have friends. I've just got one” –
In The Five Orange Pips, Dr Watson asks Sherlock Holmes if he is expecting a friend at the sound of the doorbell. Holmes replies: “Except you, I have none”.
In The Valley of Fear, Dr Watson writes about Sherlock Holmes: “Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman, and smiled at the sight of him.” The big Scotchman in question is the Scotland Yard Inspector Alec MacDonald.
25. John's comment about Sherlock' sense of humor: “Funny does not suit you. Stick to ice” – In The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, Sherlock Holmes tells Dr John Watson that he expects to be murdered shortly. When Dr Watson replies that he must be joking, Holmes replies: “Even my limited sense of humor could evolve a better joke than that.”
26. Sherlock's statement to Lestrade: “You are as brown as a nut” - In A Study in Scarlet, Stamford remarks to Dr John Watson: “You are as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut.”
28. Sherlock asks John to get information from Dr. Louise Mortimer (Sasha Behar) and also send him her picture. He later checks if John got anywhere with Louise – Arthur Conan Doyle has often written about Dr John Watson being a ladies man.
In The Sign of the Four, Dr Watson himself writes: “In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents....”
In The Adventure of the Retired Colorman, Sherlock Holmes remarks to Dr Watson: “With your natural advantages, Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice...I can picture you whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange.”
29. The final resolution of the mystery - The explanation for the mystery is a reference to the plot of The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
30. Dr Stapleton explaining to John that the GFP gene from Aequorea Victoria, a species of jellyfish was used on the rabbits - This could be a possible reference to the original story: The Adventure of the Lion's Mane. In this story, the murderer is Lion's Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata).
31. A drug induced Sherlock “sees” Frankland as Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott). – Reference to the fact that the only person who ever created fear in Sherlock Holmes' mind is Professor Moriarty. As Sherlock Holmes mentions about Moriarty in The Final Problem: “My nerves are fairly proof, Watson, but I must confess to a start when I saw the very man who had been so much in my thoughts standing there on my thresh-hold.... The fact is that upon his entrance I had instantly recognized the extreme personal danger in which I lay.”
Readers are welcome to point out any references I might have missed.
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2016!!!
Click here to read all my posts about BBC Sherlock.
Image Source: BBC Wales, Hartswood Films, Masterpiece Theatre, Wikisource, Cumberbatchweb
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