S1.E3

The Second Stain

Episode aired Jul 23, 1986
TV-PG
51m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Jeremy Brett and Patricia Hodge in The Second Stain (1986)

Holmes is asked by the country's Prime Minister to aid in the recovery of a stolen diplomatic letter, which, if published, might lead England into war.Holmes is asked by the country's Prime Minister to aid in the recovery of a stolen diplomatic letter, which, if published, might lead England into war.Holmes is asked by the country's Prime Minister to aid in the recovery of a stolen diplomatic letter, which, if published, might lead England into war.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

992

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Watson passes a newspaper seller announcing "Evening Standard!" This sound is edited into the opening credits of every episode from The Empty House (1986) onwards.

Goofs
After leaving the house at Godolphin Square Holmes and Watson pass the statue of Clive of India in King Charles Street, Whitehall. The statue wasn't unveiled until 1912.

Quotes
Dr. John Watson: [reading from a newspaper] Murder in Westminster... crime of a mysterious character... Eduardo Lucas, unmarried, 34, well-known in society circles on account of his charming personality... valet out for the evening...
Sherlock Holmes: [interrupting] They always are!
Dr. John Watson: [still reading] ... elderly housekeeper... sleeps at the top of the house... heard nothing...
Sherlock Holmes: [interrupting] They never do!

Connections
Version of The Second Stain (1922)

User reviews12

Review

Featured review

8/10

Intriguing episode

Sherlock Holmes meets the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Europe around a matter of extreme national importance. The Secretary of State was in possession of a letter from a foreign power, the contents of which if revealed could lead Britain to war. The letter has been stolen and the government want Holmes to retrieve it as a matter of urgency.

A fairly intriguing episode of Sherlock Holmes. Not the most engaging or interesting: there no murder to solve (well, there is eventually, but it is a secondary matter) and the "crime" seems a bit overblown. The plot also isn't exactly watertight.

Still, a decent mystery and Holmes gets to demonstrate his diplomacy skills.