Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Movie, 2016, Victorian London, Set in 1895, in Sherlock's mind
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride is #18 of 26 in release order and #16 of 26 in chronological order in the Sherlock Holmes.
The story
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in 1890s London in this holiday special.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride recap
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016) is the BBC Sherlock special that puts Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in the Victorian London of Conan Doyle's stories, and it won the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. In 1895, Emelia Ricoletti, in a wedding dress, shoots at passers-by and then herself, yet that night she kills her husband. When the Bride seems to strike again, Holmes is called in to protect Sir Eustace Carmichael, who is stabbed despite his watch. The case is happening inside the modern Sherlock's drug-fuelled mind palace, on the plane bringing him back after Moriarty's face appeared on every screen.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride ending explained
In the dream, the Bride's killings were the work of a secret society of women, who used a double to fake Emelia's death. Sherlock faces Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in his mind, and Watson kicks Moriarty over. Waking on the plane, Sherlock concludes that Moriarty really is dead but planned for others to carry on after him, as the Bride did. The Victorian Holmes ends by describing visions of aeroplanes and mobile phones to Watson.
Where to watch Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride is streaming on PBS and KQED in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Mr. Holmes, before Holmes & Watson.
- Chronological order: after The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, before Sherlock & Daughter.
What to watch before Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Sherlock (2010), which Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016) continues.
Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes
- Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson
- Una Stubbs as Mrs. Hudson
- Rupert Graves as DI Lestrade
- Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes
- Andrew Scott as Professor Moriarty
- Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper
- Amanda Abbington as Mary Watson
- Jonathan Aris as Anderson
- Yasmine Akram as Janine Donlevy
- David Nellist as Stamford
- Catherine McCormack as Lady Carmichael
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.