The Great Game

Episode aired Nov 7, 2010
TV-14TV-14
1h 29m

IMDb RATING

9.0/10

27K

YOUR RATING

S1.E3

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Crime

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Mycroft needs Sherlock's help, but a remorseless criminal mastermind puts Sherlock on a distracting crime-solving spree via a series of hostage human bombs through which he speaks.Mycroft needs Sherlock's help, but a remorseless criminal mastermind puts Sherlock on a distracting crime-solving spree via a series of hostage human bombs through which he speaks.Mycroft needs Sherlock's help, but a remorseless criminal mastermind puts Sherlock on a distracting crime-solving spree via a series of hostage human bombs through which he speaks.

IMDb RATING

9.0/10

27K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Paul McGuigan
Writers
- Mark Gatiss
- Steven Moffat(created with)
- Arthur Conan Doyle(based on the works of)
Stars

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Photos47

Rupert Graves, Martin Freeman, and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock (2010)

Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock (2010)

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Director
- Paul McGuigan
Writers
- Mark Gatiss
- Steven Moffat(created with)
- Arthur Conan Doyle(based on the works of)
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
All cast & crew

Storyline

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Mycroft wants his brother Sherlock to investigate the murder of civil servant Andrew West and theft of the Bruce-Partington missile plans. Sherlock, however, prefers to assist Lestrade following a massive bomb blast. The sadistic bomber abducts a string of hostages, who will be released after Sherlock has solved a series of puzzles, including a twenty year old murder, an insurance scam, and the alleged forgery of a long lost painting. —don @ minifie-1

crying

grammar correction

three word title

murder

bomb

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Trivia
The plot of this episode was inspired by the Holmes short story, "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans."

Goofs
It's a common movie myth but firearms cannot be used to set off plastic explosives, which require an electric detonator to explode. It is also very unlikely that a semtex explosion could be mistaken for a gas mains explosion (by an expert), as they have entirely different profiles.

Quotes
Dr. John Watson: There are lives at stake... Sherlock. Actual human li... Jus-just so I know, do you care about that at all?
Sherlock Holmes: Will caring about them help save them?
Dr. John Watson: Nope.
Sherlock Holmes: Then I'll continue not to make that mistake.
Dr. John Watson: And you find that easy, do you?
Sherlock Holmes: Yes. Very. Is that news to you?
Dr. John Watson: No. No.
Sherlock Holmes: [pause] I've disappointed you.
Dr. John Watson: That's good... that's a good deduction, yeah.
Sherlock Holmes: Don't make people into heroes, John. Heroes don't exist, and if they did, I wouldn't be one of them.

Connections
Featured in Timeshift: How to Be Sherlock Holmes: The Many Faces of a Master Detective (2014)

Soundtracks
Opening Titles
(uncredited)
Written by David Arnold and Michael Price

User reviews29

Review

Top review

Thrilling but incomprehensible in places

Despite gluing my eyes to the screen, and my ears to the speakers, I lost the plot in several places while watching this. I have a number of unanswered questions, but I won't go into them for fear of spoiling the enjoyment of those who haven't seen it yet.

However, it is no secret that Moriarty (not credited) reveals himself in this episode, which is exciting.

In fact the whole thing is thrilling and the fact that I am baffled half the time doesn't put me off.

Cumberbatch is excellent, and so is Freeman, whose role as Watson is harder to make interesting.

Watch this series - it's great.

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