|
|
Post by KyleEl on May 13, 2016 13:27:11 GMT -5
I watched the second episode of "Houdini and Doyle", but I missed the pilot. The show is OK, but I would rate it a 7 out of 10. I think it's okay too. I had the pilot recorded but didn't pay enough attention to when shows were going to be deleted. I would have been okay if "Saturday Night Live" hadn't been recording at the end of the hockey game. But I guess they had to put something there, and I decided to go ahead and watch it. And eventually the "Houdini" pilot got deleted. I don't know if the female constable will be a regular. I don't remember her name, but she was pretty and once I found out her name, I can put her and others on the show on the list of my favorite characters. |
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 13, 2016 19:52:05 GMT -5
I watched the second episode of "Houdini and Doyle", but I missed the pilot. The show is OK, but I would rate it a 7 out of 10. I think it's okay too. I had the pilot recorded but didn't pay enough attention to when shows were going to be deleted. I would have been okay if "Saturday Night Live" hadn't been recording at the end of the hockey game. But I guess they had to put something there, and I decided to go ahead and watch it. And eventually the "Houdini" pilot got deleted. I don't know if the female constable will be a regular. I don't remember her name, but she was pretty and once I found out her name, I can put her and others on the show on the list of my favorite characters. The female constable is named Adelaide Stratton (played by Rebecca Lidiard). |
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 19, 2016 23:34:07 GMT -5
At the turn of the 20th century the Metropolitan Police were overwhelmed with bizarre cases so they turned to outsiders including Houdini and Doyle, who collaborated with New Scotland Yard on some unsolved and inexplicable crimes.
Arthur Conan Doyle - Stephen Mangan
Harry Houdini - Michael Weston
Adelaide Stratton - Rebecca Liddiard
Mary Conan Doyle - Emily Carey
Kingsley Conan Doyle - Noah Jupe
Horace Merring - Tim McInnerny
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 19, 2016 23:34:51 GMT -5
1.01 The Maggie's Redress
Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide investigate when a nun from one of the notorious Magdalene Laundries is murdered. A witness claims that the murderer was a young woman tormented by the nun - but she's been dead for 6 months.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 19, 2016 23:40:01 GMT -5
I decided to go back and watch the pilot because I could tell there was probably some worthwhile information contained in it. I am glad I did because it revealed details about the characters and some of the issues in their lives. We know Houdini and Doyle are good friends although Doyle readily believes supernatural occurrences are possible and Houdini does not.
Houdini bets $10,000 that the murder at the abbey can be explained with science and reason, to which Doyle puts up a first edition copy of his new book that there are supernatural elements at work.
Constable Adelaide Stratton is only paired up with the two famous friends because her commanding officer sees their investigations as extraneous; he tells her right away, “While they play detective, you’ll play nursemaid, nothing more.” Stratton has been working in the basement and never given any real police work because she is a woman. At the end, her commanding officer finally gives Stratton a better office, but only because Houdini praised her and even that causes her boss to immediately assume she’s having an affair with the magician. He told her when he proves she is having an affair, he will fire her and make sure no other woman is ever hired as a constable.
Doyle visited a medium to get information on his wife, whom the medium and others assumed is dead. We later learned that the wife is in a coma, and the medium must be a fake. But Doyle did not lose faith in mediums because of that.
Although Houdini believes the murders at the nunnery to be motivated by greed, our investigators discover in the end that the real motivator is revenge. The two murdered nuns that were responsible for Sister Lucy’s death 6 months ago were actually killed by Sister Grace, who we learn is Lucy’s mother.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on May 20, 2016 13:03:56 GMT -5
Oops! Spoilers! Can't read the above.
And I am reminded I probably shouldn't count on Fox to rerun the pilot again. Which means yet another episode to see online.
I didn't care for seeing what happened to Houdini after he criticized the preacher. I get that there are preachers who are trying to put one over on people, but he sincerely believed he had healing abilities. And I never really suspecting him of killing those people.
This week, Doyle was more of a detective. I didn't see him as showing he could have created Sherlock Holmes last week. Meanwhile, I find it surprising that cops don't want to use Sherlock's techniques.
I did like seeing Doyle's wife wake up and how happy it made both him and the children. I was confused because last week he didn't have a wife, but that was a flashback. I'm glad they kept her stuff.
Interesting that at that time black people seemed to be treated almost as equals. You can tell it wasn't the United States.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on May 20, 2016 14:03:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 21, 2016 12:28:04 GMT -5
1.02 A Dish of Adharma
Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide investigate another unusual case. A 12-year-old boy shoots a prominent suffragette, claiming that he is avenging his own murder - in a past life.
In the beginning, we saw the boy “dreaming” of his past life event so I was inclined to think he was reincarnated. Later, it seemed the explanation was a woman had planted the information in his mind. The mark on the boy’s head that looked like a bullet hole was a huge coincidence.
I was trying to understand the relationship between the characters and determine who recurring characters were. That made it difficult to know what to believe.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 21, 2016 12:34:03 GMT -5
Very interesting article. I am a little disappointed that their friendship did not survive their difference in opinion. I wonder which one's personality really caused the friendship to end. |
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 21, 2016 14:08:45 GMT -5
1.03 In Manus Dei
At a public display by a faith healer, a heckler in the crowd is mysteriously struck down. Houdini and Doyle investigate if the healer is channelling the power of God as he claims, and if so can he help Doyle's dying wife?
I didn't care for seeing what happened to Houdini after he criticized the preacher. I get that there are preachers who are trying to put one over on people, but he sincerely believed he had healing abilities. And I never really suspecting him of killing those people. This week, Doyle was more of a detective. I didn't see him as showing he could have created Sherlock Holmes last week. Meanwhile, I find it surprising that cops don't want to use Sherlock's techniques. I did like seeing Doyle's wife wake up and how happy it made both him and the children. I was confused because last week he didn't have a wife, but that was a flashback. I'm glad they kept her stuff. Interesting that at that time black people seemed to be treated almost as equals. You can tell it wasn't the United States. I was very concerned for Houdini when I saw so many boils on his body. I never thought the preacher was killing anyone either. I was also surprised the cops did not want to use Sherlock's techniques. I guess they were resistant to change. The scenes with Mrs. Doyle and the family were very good. I was left with the impression that faith brought her out of the coma. Mrs. Doyle could not know about the ruse perpetrated by the preacher’s sister so I thought it was very strange that she slipped back into a coma around the time the ruse was revealed. Perhaps that meant Mr. Doyle's faith in the preacher was shaken. Although Houdini denied it, it seemed to me that he did go to see the preacher to get some help with his medical issue. I agree life was different for black people who lived in England during that period.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 21, 2016 14:13:20 GMT -5
1.04 Spring-Heel'd Jack (5-23-16)
The team go in search of a mysterious phantom stalking the people of London, said to have demonic eyes and the ability to perform gravity-defying leaps. Is it a case of mass hysteria or an entity feeding off fear?
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 24, 2016 21:50:52 GMT -5
I enjoy seeing Houdini doing sleight of hand magic each episode. He seems more lighthearted when he is either tricking someone or entertaining the children.
When I saw the entity on the wall before the first man fell, I went to the TV for a closer look and it was very scary looking. The man’s wife was a sound sleeper if she did not hear his screams. A person across the street from where the man fell said he saw something leap from the wall across to another building and it looked like a huge bird or something. A half-penny paper reporter spread the word about the creature.
Of course, Houdini did not believe for one moment that there was anything supernatural going on, but he tagged along to prove that it was a hoax and that science was behind it. Constable had invited Dr. Holmes because she knew he would be curious.
The Constable was handed a note and suddenly excused herself and said she needed to pick up medication. Houdini and Doyle were curious and went to the constable’s home the next day. When she did not answer the door, they entered and searched through her belongings for a clue to what was going on with her. They saw a man’s ring and realized she was married. Unfortunately for them, she entered while they were still there. Houdini saw her outside and did not warn Doyle so she would catch him. She was angry at both of them.
When I saw Houdini make a great show of itching and scratching, I caught on quickly that he was proving a point about mass hysteria.
Their investigation was smart and I noticed Doyle used some of the techniques that Sherlock uses. They solved some of the cases, but surprisingly, they did not solve the original one. I wonder if they will return to that puzzle.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on May 26, 2016 15:27:47 GMT -5
This doesn't mean anything, but if Adelaide is married and not living with her husband, so was Elizabeth on "Keeping Up Appearances". This gave Hyacinth an opportunity to be horrified when she saw a man. But it was her brother. The husband was always working elsewhere and never showed up for the rest of the series.
And it would be a lot harder for a husband working that far away to come home in that era.
I liked the car Houdini and Doyle were in.
On "Elementary" it's Sherlock who breaks in, but naturally it would be Houdini here. I was glad to see how he is considered a celebrity, and how disappointed he was not to be recognized.
That journalist did not have ethics.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 30, 2016 19:11:39 GMT -5
1.05 The Curse of Korzha (5-30-16)
NEW
Houdini attempts to figure out the tricks a traveling medium uses to help solve crimes, but Doyle believes she may truly have psychic gifts.
My guide listed this episode as "previously aired" and did not schedule it to record. I manually set it but I hope I remember to watch it when it airs because I do not trust it.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on May 30, 2016 23:41:54 GMT -5
I have not checked to see if most of the outdoor scenes are shot on a set or if there are a lot of cobble stoned streets in the location. They do a good job of making it seem like an older section of London.
Dr. Doyle was using an Underwood typewriter. I used one of those and the keys required a great deal more pressure than electric typewriters.
The case involved the kidnapping of an 8 year old girl. When Houdini read an article about a psychic leading the police to the girl, he approached Doyle and they visited the police.
Houdini was outspoken about the woman being a fraud. To prevent any tricks, Doyle tied the woman’s assistant to a post. After some wind howling and special effects, the psychic and assistant had switched places. Houdini was unable to explain how they could do that so quickly and Doyle was inclined to believe she was truly psychic. The psychic also gave Doyle a message from his wife and referred to his wife by a nickname only Doyle knew. Another interesting revelation from her was that by the stroke of midnight, Constable Stratton would “be no more”.
I think taking the mental leap from the assistant being able to untie knots to the grieving father being an expert at knots was rather sudden but helped them to solve the case. Houdini played the hero by jumping into the river to save a child and then giving her mouth-to-mouth. I thought Dr. Doyle would do the latter, but Houdini wanted to do it.
Although the psychic used Sherlock Holmes techniques to solve the murder, she still maintained an air of mystery.
I was a little surprised that Houdini was a mama’s boy because he seemed so much like a lady’s man.
The Chief showed a vulnerable side when he admitted he lost his son in the Boar’s war “which Doyle defends”. I know nothing about that and I still do not like the chauvinistic Chief.
“Constable Stratton” would be no more because she is actually “Penelope Graves”.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 3, 2016 15:46:33 GMT -5
I like the way a typewriter looks, but I could never use one again. And computers haven't made me more accurate because I sometimes miss errors. I actually end up with more errors. But I like knowing I can fix them.
I'm surprised anyone knew mouth-to-mouth way back then. But it was stated Houdini had worked around water.
I don't like the Chief any better even with this new information.
The Adelaide story looks interesting.
And once again, Doyle behaved like Sherlock. I liked how his daughter liked those stories.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 6, 2016 15:22:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on Jun 6, 2016 16:31:52 GMT -5
It is interesting and could also go in SoCal's Free Speech thread. |
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on Jun 6, 2016 17:09:27 GMT -5
1.06 The Monsters of Nethermoor (6-6-16)
NEW
The team investigates when a man claims to be the victim of an alien abduction; Doyle goes missing and Houdini and Adelaide have a close encounter of their own.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on Jun 7, 2016 20:44:53 GMT -5
They flipped the script on us and it was entertaining.
When Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide investigated a possible alien abduction, Houdini professed to believe it was possible and Holmes thought it was rubbish. Holmes accused Houdini of just being contrary because he wanted to disagree with him.
I think it is interesting the way the show starts immediately with the victims instead of showing scenes from previous episodes. I have to remember to be alert when the episode starts. A man and woman were lying in a field when a flaming object appeared in the sky and crashed nearby. When they ran to investigate, strange looking creatures chased them. When the man awakened, his wife was gone.
The story showed various instances of prejudice – people’s anger that a black man married a white woman, displeased that outsiders, especially a Yank, were invited to help with the case, and prejudice against everyone who was different. We learned more about Houdini’s formative years and that they were difficult. I was very pleased when he said he returned to the store where his father was refused service and stole as many vegetables as he could carry. I was surprised at the amount of anger Houdini hides under his casual demeanor. He was quite violent in the pub.
I was rather amused that Houdini nonchalantly got in bed with Doyle. When Doyle went outside to smoke, he encountered one of the mysterious creatures. I did not know what to think after that. Adelaide recognized a valuable clue and the team did a good job of tracing where the “ship” crashed and where the creatures were hiding. I think it was a good story.
Houdini continued to be curious about Adelaide’s past and once again invaded her privacy and he was not apologetic about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 10, 2016 14:41:43 GMT -5
Houdini doesn't look like he belongs to any ethnic group that would experience prejudice. Doyle looks more like he would be.
So much for my statement about how black people were treated in England.
So this time Houdini is the skeptic and Doyle believes in logic.
|
|
skylander
Smallville High Graduate
God Friended Me
Posts: 657
|
Post by skylander on Jun 10, 2016 15:39:31 GMT -5
Houdini doesn't look like he belongs to any ethnic group that would experience prejudice. Doyle looks more like he would be. So much for my statement about how black people were treated in England. So this time Houdini is the skeptic and Doyle believes in logic. I was also surprised that Houdini was subjected to prejudice. Black people were treated better in England but interracial marriage apparently was not welcome, especially in small backwards villages like the one they were in. |
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 14, 2016 15:35:27 GMT -5
Since I don't know how much time I'll have later this week, I'll just go ahead.
That was an uncomfortable episode to watch, but it was funny at the end. I especially liked the man who thought the was Sherlock Holmes. And the way accused Doyle of misrepresenting him.
I did like how Doyle got to speak to his father and his wife. I just wonder how much of what his father said might have been true.
And I knew Doyle should never have taken any drink offered to him at the hospital.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 14, 2016 15:36:41 GMT -5
Since I don't know how much time I'll have later this week, I'll just go ahead.
That was an uncomfortable episode to watch, but it was funny at the end. I especially liked the man who thought the was Sherlock Holmes. And the way accused Doyle of misrepresenting him.
I did like how Doyle got to speak to his father and his wife. I just wonder how much of what his father said might have been true.
And I knew Doyle should never have taken any drink offered to him at the hospital.
|
|
|
|
Post by AntiArbitrator on Jun 21, 2016 10:33:14 GMT -5
1.8 Strigol (6-20-16) I enjoy the historical characters that join Houdini and Doyle and I do not plan to check the accuracy of the information. Based on what we saw, Stoker’s interest in writing about Dracula was stoked by his own illness which had symptoms of sensitivity to sunlight, teeth that became pointed, and anemia. Stoker was a close friend of Holmes and came to him for help. When his maid was murdered, it became an official police case. Houdini had no respect for the myth that vampires exist, but his mother and Holmes were open to the possibility. The case was complicated by Stoker not telling them the entire truth. Holmes was determined to believe his friend would not lie to him. There are some things that I do not think were explained. How did Stoker and others enter and leave locked rooms? How did Stoker leave the upper level of the hotel without being seen until he was walking down the sidewalk? What happened to Houdini’s mother?
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 21, 2016 14:55:56 GMT -5
For reasons mentioned on the Tanmi thread, I chose to read newspapers last night. Actually, it doesn't matter whether I go anywhere, but I'm already wearing my bifocals and I can read better with them. I could just switch to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 24, 2016 16:03:42 GMT -5
So Houdini and his mother are going back to the United States. That should be interesting.
I liked the reference to Sherlock's hat and pipe. Jonny Lee Miller, of course, would never use either.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jun 27, 2016 14:58:38 GMT -5
On another show, I was reminded of this. Some people on this show have electricity and others still use candles.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jul 1, 2016 16:55:04 GMT -5
Well, we never saw the United Ststes once the funeral was over. Was the funeral even in the U.S.? I forgot Houdini was Jewish. I thought with the beard the man speaking at the cemetery might be Orthodox since he's from Eastern Europe. Then I recognized those words spoken by every boy at his Bar Mitzvah. And girls at a Bat Mitzvah.
Still, Houdini is not a believer.
It was neat seeing Thomas Edison, and I guess we should expect him to be socially challenged. And once again, someone came up with a complicated and interesting plan to deceive people. I find it hard to believe Edison's invention was real, but it seemed to be based on Marconi's radio.
|
|
|
|
Post by KyleEl on Jul 8, 2016 16:34:14 GMT -5
Another episode in Canada. And a great mystery.
And we saw Sherlock. Certainly a different one from Jonny Lee Miller, but more like we are used to. I liked him.
I was surprised the Indian knew who Houdini was. But he definitely seemed to be aware of what was going on in the world.
And we know where the Baskervilles came from. Sort of.
I meant to watch the pilot yesterday, but I kept getting distracted. Besides, Fox lets us watch old episodes for free for only one hour, and with commercials included, that doesn't leave any time for possible problems. Because even if there is a problem the clock keeps ticking. then you have to wait for another day to watch the rest, under the same rules. And I was trying to catch up on Facebook.
Watson was disabled from serving a war, but exactly where depended on which version. I learned that on "Jeopardy".
|
|
