A series of murders with mysterious symbols start showing up throughout London. The victims include a banker and a journalist. As Holmes and Watson investigate they discover that the symbols are part of a Chinese numerical. Eventually, the case leads to a smuggling ring operated by a crime syndicate called The Black Lotus.
This episode influenced by the short story called "The Dancing Men" as it too revolves around obtuse symbols that happen to be a hidden message. The story here is watchable enough but it bogs itself down into clichés and typical Asian stereotypes with the episode's female villain having her thugs that wear oriental costumes, know martial arts, and throw knives. The climax seems like it could have come from a typical Hollywood action film. Then again, I have never been a big fan of stories in which Sherlock Holmes is battling gangsters. I much prefer mysteries where Holmes dealing with the bizarre or the macabre.
Still, it's not all bad. There is a lot of wonderful Sherlock and John camaraderie particularly when Holmes annoys Watson by getting into apartment buildings through the back balcony and never letting him in when he searches the rooms looking for clues. I also think that Sarah made for a lovely girlfriend for Watson but oddly the makers of the series got rid of her.
So "The Blind Banker" isn't horrible but it is still without a doubt the weakest episode in this series so far.
This episode influenced by the short story called "The Dancing Men" as it too revolves around obtuse symbols that happen to be a hidden message. The story here is watchable enough but it bogs itself down into clichés and typical Asian stereotypes with the episode's female villain having her thugs that wear oriental costumes, know martial arts, and throw knives. The climax seems like it could have come from a typical Hollywood action film. Then again, I have never been a big fan of stories in which Sherlock Holmes is battling gangsters. I much prefer mysteries where Holmes dealing with the bizarre or the macabre.
Still, it's not all bad. There is a lot of wonderful Sherlock and John camaraderie particularly when Holmes annoys Watson by getting into apartment buildings through the back balcony and never letting him in when he searches the rooms looking for clues. I also think that Sarah made for a lovely girlfriend for Watson but oddly the makers of the series got rid of her.
So "The Blind Banker" isn't horrible but it is still without a doubt the weakest episode in this series so far.